‘Sonic Origins’ Review: A Fitting Celebration Of The Blue Blur's Legacy?
For Sonic the Hedgehog's 31st anniversary, SEGA released a compilation of the blue blur's major 16-bit outings called Sonic Origins This has been as anticipated as the upcoming Sonic Frontiers but does it deliver, especially when compared to the variety of ways these games can be played already.
I recently picked up the game on the Nintendo Switch, and I honestly had a blast playing through these games again. If you are hesitant about picking up this compilation, don't be! Hopefully, by the end of this, you'll see why this is more than just yet another Classic Sonic compilation.
Gameplay
The games play pretty much exactly how you remember them, with a few added tweaks. Included in this collection are Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic CD, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 &Knuckles. This compilation is the first in a long while to include Sonic the Hedgehog 3&Knuckles (more on why this is later). Each game has been painstakingly remastered by Head Hunter Studios in collaboration with SEGA using a similar engine used for 2017's Sonic Mania. You are given three options for each game: Anniversary Mode, Classic Mode, and Boss Rush. There is also a Mirror Mode that can be purchased through additional DLC or the Digital Deluxe edition.
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Anniversary Mode features the game in a stunning 16:9 resolution and adds the drop dash from Sonic Mania into the blue blur's arsenal of moves. Though I don't use it often, it adds a whole new sense of speed to the games. The mode also features infinite lives and continues. This is an incredibly useful addition for those who struggle with the difficulty of these titles. Another quality of life addition in this mode is the function of coins. Coins are tokens that can be found throughout the stages or earned through completing the Boss Rush mode for each game. In the Anniversary Mode, they can be used to retry the special stages, giving players an easier time gathering the chaos emeralds. Players in this mode are also able to play as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles (though Knuckles is not playable in Sonic CD).
Classic Mode features the games in 4:3, and they play closer to their original versions. Lives and continues work as normal, and the only available characters to play as are those who were available in the original versions of the games. The movesets in the games are also representative of their original versions (except the spin dash in Sonic the Hedgehog). This mode is good for those who want a no-thrills, down-to-earth experience of these classic titles.
There is also a boss rush for each mode. As the name implies, the player goes through all of the bosses of each game one after the other. The life system is also employed once more. Depending on the game and the boss, the player is given either minimal or no rings. Once the player loses all their lives, they are sent back to the first boss of the game. This is a fun little challenge mode that can be used to earn coins.
In addition, there is also a story mode that allows you to play through all the games back to back as Sonic. This is a good little marathon for those willing to go through it and connects the games as one story. There are also missions for the player to do, earning coins as they complete each challenge. In addition, there is a mirror mode that has the player go through each stage in reverse, though this mode is available through either DLC or the Digital Deluxe Edition. All in all, there is a lot of content to satisfy any devout Sonic fan and encourage replayability.
Graphics
Graphically, each game looks pretty much how they did on the SEGA Genesis. However, there are notable improvements. For example, there are more animations for certain movements, and the special stages in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 appear to have more depth. Furthermore, graphical quirks that would have occurred on the original hardware are either adapted into the animations (such as the flickering chaos emeralds) or ignored altogether. Overall, the game features a good graphical remastering of each title.
Sound
The games sound accurate to how they sounded on the SEGA Genesis/SEGA CD. There are some notable omissions, however. For example, in Sonic CD, Amy’s scream is missing when she is kidnapped by Metal Sonic. The most notable change, however, is the music featured in Sonic the Hedgehog 3&Knuckles. Certain stages, such as Carnival Night Zone (pictured above) and Ice Cap Zone, have their music swapped with their tracks from the prototype of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. This is due to the music in that game featuring contributions from the late Michael Jackson and his keyboardist Brad Buxter. Jackson was not satisfied with how the music sounded on the hardware at the time, and most of his contributions were thought to have been removed from the initial release of the game on the Genesis/Megadrive. However, contributions from both survived, and it was initially only on the PC port that these tracks were replaced by their earlier versions not composed by Jackson or Buxter. Overall, however, the sound presentation is accurate to the original Genesis games.
Story Presentation
The story of each game featured is pretty basic and par for the course for most titles in the franchise. However, it is how the story is presented that is most interesting. Sonic Origins features new animated cutscenes that play at the beginning and end of each game. These cutscenes feature glorious animation and storytelling without even saying a word, and they were lovingly written by famed Sonic comics writer Ian Flynn and animated by Powerhouse Studios, led by longtime fan favorite Sonic artist Tyson Hesse. These cutscenes serve as connective tissue between the games and are especially welcome during the game’s story mode.
Bonus Content
Sonic Origins features a museum filled with bonus content that can be unlocked throughout the game. These items include character art, manuals for the games in various regions, and music, among others. Players can also spend coins to unlock other items, including the Sonic Symphony performance from 2021 and the Sonic Mania Adventures shorts. There is a lot of content that should encourage players to continue to explore the games in the collection, and it is a fitting tribute to the blue blur’s legacy.
Pros And Cons
Let’s begin with the “pros.” Each game in the collection is beautifully and accurately represented. It is clear that a lot of work went into the remastering of each title. Furthermore, Sonic Origins features a huge amount of content and playstyles that will add to replayability a lot. The animated cutscenes are a great addition to the game and add a breath of fresh air to games that have (mostly) been re-released to death. In addition, the games themselves have held up well. Several fans consider this era to be the best time in the franchise. Each game features a mix of fun platforming, exploration, and exhilarating speeds. There’s always something new to experience in the games featured in this collection, even if you have been playing them for 31 years!
The cons, however, are many. First, let’s address the elephant in the room: the music in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles. Jun Senoue recreated the music for the title based on the music from the prototype of the well-beloved title. Not only do the tracks lack the same punch as the ones featured on the original release, but the way Senoue rendered them is not exactly doing them any favors. The instruments chosen for each track are not indicative of the energy and intensity of the game and are rather bland, especially when compared to both the originally released soundtrack and the prototype tracks upon which these replacement songs are based. Furthermore, it is a shame that Knuckles is not playable in Sonic CD, and Amy Rose is not playable at all despite being featured heavily in the game’s marketing. More games could have been added to the collection as well, such as the SEGA 32X title, Knuckles Chaotix, or any of the Game Gear/Master System titles, even as just small little bonuses. There also is not much in the way of visual options, such as a scanline mode to recreate the experience of playing the games on an old tube TV. Several players have also been reporting several graphical and audio glitches, causing Headhunter games dev Simon Thomley to blame these on SEGA’s crunch time for the glitches. There is no word on whether these issues will be fixed, but it is worth noting that I have yet to encounter any glitches while playing the title. Lastly, it seems confusing that some of the features and content are locked behind a DLC or edition paywall
Verdict
Sonic Origins is more than just a fun little trip down memory lane. It offers a fresh new take on these classic titles and adds plenty of extras to celebrate Sonic’s 16-bit legacy. The compilation is available on the Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Steam, and the Epic Games Store in two editions: $39.99 standard and $44.99 Digitial Deluxe. The Digital Deluxe Edition features the Premium Fun Pack and Classic Music Pack DLC (which can be bought separately). If you are a hardcore fan of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise or just want to relive the 16-bit glory days of gaming, I highly recommend you check it out. There are some issues with the compilation that hopefully will be addressed in later patches, but it is still a blast playing through these titles. Relive the games that started them all while you wait for the upcoming Sonic Frontiers!
Rating: 8.75/10
Developers: Sonic Team, Headcannon; Publisher: SEGA; Players: 1-2; Released: June 23, 2022; ESRB: E for Mild Cartoon Violence; MSRP: $39.99
Review played on Nintendo Switch
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