Color Power

Color Powers (カラーパワー) are a special powers used by Sonic the Hedgehog. It first appeared in Sonic Colors, and has since reappeared in Sonic Generations, and is set to appear in Sonic Lost World as well. They serve in the gameplay as power-up gimmicks that are needed to either traverse the Acts or performing unique attacks fitting a given situation.

The Color Powers are the power of the Wisps' Hyper-go-on unleashed that Sonic can harness by temporarily absorbing a Wisp, which grants him new powers and abilities.

Description
Color Powers are unique abilities for Sonic that are unleashed when he harnesses the power of a Wisp by temporarily absorbing it. After absorbing the Wisp in question, Sonic is able to tap into the Wisp's innate reserves of the powerful energy known as Hyper-go-on, allowing him to use the Wisp to grant himself new abilities and/powers that he would otherwise not have, such as shooting himself forward as a laser, create explosions of fire or even manipulate certain objects within the area. When using a Color Power, Sonic only need to harness a fraction of the Wisps' total of Hyper-go-on reserves. Color Powers can only be maintained for a short period of time, however, meaning that their effects will only last for a short while, and constantly requires more Hyper-go-on from the Wisps to be maintained.

Each type of the Wisp Sonic can absorb, grants him a different type of Color Power with its own unique abilities; the Yellow Wisps grant Sonic the Yellow Drill, the Green Wisps grant Sonic the Green Hover and so forth. Most Color Powers cause Sonic to physically transform into a new form that is better suited for the Color Power's abilities, while others simply allows him to execute powerful attacks, such as the Boost or the Final Color Blaster. After a Color Power runs out, the Wisps will pop back out of Sonic, unharmed.

When activating a Color Power in gameplay, an in-game announcer will say the second word of the Color Power, such as "Laser" for the Cyan Laser, "Drill" for the Yellow Drill, or "Hover" for the Green Hover.

Combined Form
In the 2 Player mode in the Wii version of Sonic Colors in Eggman's Sonic Simulator, two players are able to combine the Acts Color Powers with each other by activating the two Color Powers at the same time when they are within a certain distance, to create a new special Color Power move, with the combined effects of both Color Powers. However, not all Color Powers are compatible, resulting in separate effects. The Color Powers that can be combined and their effects are:


 * Cyan Laser + Cyan Laser: Two lasers that shoot in a specified direction, spiraling around each other
 * Yellow Drill + Yellow Drill: Two drills that steer cooperatively, spiraling around one another with magnified power, while attracting Rings.
 * Pink Spikes + Pink Spikes: Two spikeballs that are connected by a white beam of light, which destroys any enemy upon contact.
 * Yellow Drill + Cyan Laser: A drill that can turn into a laser before the Color Power ends.
 * Yellow Drill + Green Hover: A drill that can drill through air as well as it can water, attracting nearby Rings.
 * Orange Rocket + Cyan Laser: A rocket that can turn into a laser before the Color Power ends.
 * Yellow Drill + Orange Rocket: A drill that can rocket upward. This Color Power ends once aboveground.
 * Green Hover + Green Hover: Creates a white beam of beam between the two player which can be used it to knockout enemies when they come in contact with it.

Sonic Colors
The Color Powers first appeared in both versions of Sonic Colors and serve as the games' main gimmick. Each version of the game have its own unique Color Powers, such as the Blue Cube, Green Hover, Purple Frenzy and Pink Spikes on the Wii version, and the Red Burst and Violet Void on the Nintendo DS version.

To activate a Color Power (besides the Boost granted by the White Wisps) in the Wii version, the player has to shake the Wii remote, and on the DS version, the player has to press the X Button.

The player can obtain a Color Power by collecting a Wisp from a Wisp Capsule. The Color Powers' duration is determined by the remainder of energy in the player's Wisp/Boost Gauge. Activating the Color Power will cause the Wisp/Boost Gauge to be used, and once it is depleted, the Color Power will end, and the player will have to collect a new Wisp to activate a Color Power again. While the Color Power is in effect, collecting a new Wisp of the same kind will replenish the Wisp/Boost Gauge and extend the duration of the Color Power.

Sonic Generations
The Color Powers returned in all versions of Sonic Generations, though only in the games' final regular Acts, namely Planet Wisp on the console/PC version, and Tropical Resort on the Nintendo 3DS version. Also, the console/PC version only featured the Orange Rocket and the Pink Spikes, while the 3DS version featured only the Cyan Laser and the Red Burst.

To activate a Color Power in the console/PC version, the player has to press the Y/triangle Button, and on the 3DS version, the player has to press the X Button.

The player can obtain a Color Power by collecting a Wisp from a Wisp Capsule. In the console/PC version of Sonic Generations, the Color Powers' duration is determined by a set time limit rather than an energy gauge. Once the time runs out, the Color Power will end, and the player will have to collect a new Wisp to activate a Color Power again. While the Color Power is in effect, collecting a new Wisp of the same kind will increase extend the duration of the Color Power. On the 3DS version of Sonic Generations, however, the Color Power's duration are determined by remainder of energy in the player's Boost Gauge. Once it is depleted, the Color Power will end, and the player will have to collect a new Wisp to activate a Color Power again, like in Sonic Colors. Also, like in Sonic Colors, while the Color Power is in effect, collecting a new Wisp of the same kind will replenish the Boost Gauge and extend the duration of the Color Power.

Sonic Lost World
"New and improved" Color Powers are set to appear in Sonic Lost World, such as the Indigo Asteroid, Crimson Eagle, and the Magenta Rhythm.