In June of last year, SEGA surprised Sonic fans with a new collection of classic titles for modern consoles. The compilation, Sonic Origins, received mixed reviews (including from us) for bugs, glitches, AI issues, and audio cutouts. Needless to say, fans thought the package was quite underwhelming. So one year later, SEGA revealed Sonic Origins Plus. A new version of the collection has to prove to players burned last year that issues have been corrected. Adding some new features and games can help with that too! Let me explain.

What is Sonic Origins Plus

As discussed above, Sonic Origins Plus contains all the content of the original compilation that arrived digitally last June. This includes the classic Sonic titles Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic The Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles. The big draw to the collection was the Anniversary mode. This runs the titles through the same retro engine that 2017’s Sonic Mania ran on. It also gives each game a widescreen resolution that looks fantastic in most instances. 

You could choose what game to play on a menu UI that featured a beautifully rendered island with characters in specific animations. The base game also included a mission mode and digital art book that went over the history of the Sonic franchise in its early days. DLC also added hard missions, supplementary music from other Genesis Sonic titles like Sonic Spinball and Sonic 3D Blast, and more animations for characters to utilize on the home menu screen. 

All and all, the collection was a solid package, but the glitches and issues held it back with most fans. Many considered it a downgrade from Sonic Mega Collection on the Gamecube 20 years ago. I was also in this camp as Mega Collection has much more life and personality in its presentation. It also offered more games, including ones outside of the Sonic franchise. So what can Plus offer to entice fans and owners of the original Origins?

A new character arrives! 

So how does Sonic Origins Plus offer a different experience than the first package? Well, Knuckles is now playable for the first time ever on Sonic CD. But that’s not the big draw here. Joining the playable character roster in each classic title is Amy Rose! With her hammer ready, Amy is playable in 1, 2, CD, and 3 & Knuckles for a different experience in each title. 

This is a pleasant surprise and an adequate reason to give Plus a go. Amy is a beloved character in the fandom. Many have been waiting to play with her in a 2D game again since her appearances in the three Sonic Advance titles. She played noticeably differently from the rest of the cast, with a slower speed but a satisfying flip attack mechanic using her hammer. Whether they keep those mechanics in the original titles remains to be seen. I can’t deny that I’m curious to find out.

Wait? Game Gear titles?

Oh right! The other significant draw of Sonic Origins Plus! For those unaware, the blue blur and pals had some memorable adventures on SEGA’s handheld, the Game Gear. And ALL of them are coming in the collection. This includes:

• Sonic the Hedgehog 
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 
• Sonic Chaos 
• Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble 
• Sonic Labyrinth 
• Sonic Blast 
• Sonic Drift 
• Sonic Drift 2 
• Sonic 2 in 1 
• Tails Adventure 
• Tails’ Skypatrol 
• Sonic Spinball

Personally, I’ve only ever played three games above. They are significantly different games than the ones fans grew up with on consoles. So this group alone might be worth the price of Plus’s upgrade alone. 

Sonic Origins Plus arrives in June!

Sonic Origins Plus is heading home sooner than you might think. The game will release on June 23, 2023, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC (via Steam & Epic). Unlike the original collection, Plus will have a physical edition for all consoles! The physical edition will include an art book and a reversible Genesis-style cover. It will run at a price of $39.99 at all retailers. 

If you own the original Sonic Origins digitally, you can buy an expansion pack that will give you all the content included in Plus. At the time of this writing, the price of the expansion has yet to be revealed.

Are you excited to give this compilation another shot in June? Let us know in the comments below!