Review: Sonic Origins Plus Gears Up with New Content

A new Sonic game being announced usually means that fans are going to split hairs about it, with people debating whether or not it will be a worthy successor to the series. The only exception to this happens with new classic Sonic entries like Sonic Mania or the upcoming Sonic Superstars. It seems that, for all fans of the blue hedgehog, classic Sonic is where the golden standard is. Sonic Origins aims to please everyone by making four classic side scrolling entries available on modern platforms. Furthermore, with the recent release of the Sonic Origins Plus expansion, Sega is bringing new Sonic legacy titles from the Game Gear, as well as new content to the original games in the collection.

For those who don’t know what Sonic Origins offers, the title acts as a compilation that includes Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles from the Sega Genesis, as well as Sonic CD from (you guessed it) the Sega CD. This collection also acts as a remaster of sorts, as each title has been reproduced in the Retro Engine (also used in 2017’s Sonic Mania) and offers updates and new content for each title. However, the changes included are few and far between, with the most prominent ones being the selection of characters available in each game.

Image via Siliconera

Tails and Knuckles are now playable characters in Sonic the Hedgehog, while also being available as a new pair in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Meanwhile, Tails was included in Sonic CD in Sonic Origins, and Knuckles was recently introduced with the new Sonic Origins Plus release (also available as an Expansion Pass for the original game). Other new content added to Sonic Origins Plus includes Amy Rose as a playable character for the first time in the classic series, a vast list of 12 Sonic games previously available only for the Game Gear, and the Classic Music and Premium Fun DLC packs that include new Hard Missions, letterbox backgrounds, bonus character animations in-menu, a music player, and additional re-mastered music tracks other Sonic games.

The new Game Gear games offer a really interesting look at the past of the series, and include adaptations of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which still surprise due to the clever compromises made to be able to run on the hardware. There are also titles such as two Tails solo adventures and the first Sonic racing games. Some of those included are Japan exclusives that make their way overseas for the first time now. While these titles are a fun addition and the price point of $9.99 for the expansion pass is affordable, I have a problem with these games not being available as standalone releases. For those who want the Game Gear games and already own Sonic Origins, they can opt to get the expansion. But for people that don’t own it and want only the Game Gear titles, there is no other alternative. I feel similar about Knuckles in Sonic CD only being available with the DLC. It is such a small addition that it should have been available for all players, not gated behind a paywall.

Image via Siliconera

Fortunately, the original main Sonic games are still a fantastic way to play thanks to the previously mentioned Retro Engine. While other official re-releases of classic titles used emulation, Retro Engine is smoother and comparable to the Sega Genesis and Sega CD versions. Additionally, being able to play as Tails, Knuckles, and Amy Rose in games where you couldn’t before is a nice addition. Just for those two reasons, this collection might be one of the best ways of experiencing these games. The inclusion of a mirror mode and a mission mode is also welcome, and some of these tasks can prove really challenging. The menus in the collection are gorgeous and have a lot of fun references that longtime fans will be able to spot, and the main menu being rendered in full 3D graphics in a very similar style to Sonic Superstars is very charming.

The Anniversary Mode in each game allows players to experience the games with the new content in mind, but the original versions of the games are also included for those that want the original experience. Furthermore, a Story Mode was included to seamlessly play all four games in chronological order, but it only lets you play as Sonic and includes Tails as a partner in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

Image via Sega

My only gripe with these titles comes from Sonic & Knuckles, where three songs in the game were replaced with versions of prototype songs that were included in the original 1997 Japan-only PC release. This might be because the original three songs were often rumored to be composed by Michael Jackson, and including them would have been complicated due to licensing reasons. The original tracks are way punchier and interesting than these prototypes, but I can imagine most people wouldn’t have a problem, especially if they haven’t heard the originals before. Thankfully, Composer Jun Senoue remastered these prototype tracks, so they end up sounding considerably cleaner than their first versions did.

The inclusion of coins as a reward from completing content and used to unlock artwork in the gallery mode as a sort of virtual museum is also a fun addition. Special mention goes to the beautiful new animations created by Powerhouse Animation Studios and added as intros and outros for each game. Each one serves as short plot summaries of each game.

Image via Siliconera

For those looking to get their fix of classic Sonic, Sonic Origins is a great way to do so. However, the content added in Sonic Origins Plus runs a bit thin. While Amy Rose being playable is a fun addition, it doesn’t change the games much. It is clear that the 12 Game Gear titles are the focus of the new content. If you’re looking to get into the game, the new Sonic Origins Plus release is the best option for doing it, but those that already own the original release might not get as much value out of it unless they really want to get those retro Game Gear games.

Sonic Origins Plus is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The Plus Expansion Pack is also available as an add-on for Sonic Origins.