Like Sonic Mania before it, Sonic Origins is on the receiving end of DLC that adds new gameplay options and more to the title at a reasonable price. With Sonic Origins Plus, players can take control of Amy in its original line-up of games for the first time, Knuckles is playable in Sonic CD, and 12 Game Gear games have been thrown in for players to revisit. It makes this new content drop a bit of a bargain, all things considered. But it’s those who have yet to jump into Sonic Origins that perhaps get the best deal. Especially if they also have a penchant for physical game releases.
We really liked Sonic Origins when it launched last year. Bundling up some of the best Sonic games that have been remade to make them more accessible to modern audiences, all the while adding a wealth of museum content alongside fun gameplay challenges, it’s a genuine celebration of SEGA’s speedy mascot. Only issues with some replaced music tracks in Sonic 3 & Knuckles lets things down, but that’s something we suspect is out of SEGA’s control. In any case, if you want to discover the origins of Sonic, or are an existing fan wanting to replay these classic titles, Sonic Origins is the way to go. But if you want even more fun, the Plus DLC is also worth picking up.
For a start, being able to play as Amy in all four of the games included – Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic CD and Sonic 3 & Knuckles – is pretty neat. Like all the other characters available across the game, she shares a basic moveset that allows her to run at great speed and spin jump, but she has some unique abilities, too. She can perform an attack while jumping, for example, her spin gaining considerable size upon pressing the jump button again for a brief moment. She also has a unique drop-dash that sees her charge forward while swinging her mallet.
While Amy is thew only genuinely new character addition, Sonic Origins Plus also makes Knuckles playable in Sonic CD. What’s more, a new route has been added for players to discover, making use of his unique skills. It certainly makes the game worthy of another playthrough with the hard-headed echidna, and that’s about all you could ask for.
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What might be most enticing about Sonic Origins Plus, however, is the inclusion of 12 Game Gear titles. Included are Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic Chaos, Sonic Drift, Sonic Drift 2, Sonic Spinball, Sonic Triple Trouble, Tails’ Skypatrol, Tails Adventure, Sonic Labyrinth, Sonic Blast and Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine. Sonic Drift, Sonic Drift 2 and Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine even have separate versions for two local players.
As nice as it is to have these Game Gear games included, your enthusiasm for them might drop off a cliff when you give them a try. None of them have aged particularly well, and some of them weren’t even good all those years ago. It is neat seeing how different the likes of Sonic 2 is on Game Gear versus its Mega Drive/Genesis counterpart though. The biggest disappointment here is that games such as Sonic Spinball and Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine were also available on Mega Drive/Genesis – why not include those much better versions?
Still, some will get a kick out of being able to access this collection of Game Gear classics, that would now cost and arm and a leg to buy physically. And even if you’re not interested in them, being able to play as Amy and Knuckles in more titles might be enough to make this worthy of a purchase. But as previously mentioned, it’s those new to this collection that get the best deal; the Sonic Origins Plus all-in-one bundle also includes the Premium Fun and the Classics Sounds pack, adding new missions, music tracks and more to the game. Buy it physically and you even get a mini art-book.
If you were thinking about buying Sonic Origins, picking up this expanded and enhanced edition instead is pretty much a no-brainer. Even though you might not get much fun out of the Game Gear games, the benefits provided by the other DLC packs plus being able to take control of new characters makes it worth it. For those who already own Sonic Origins, however, whether or not to upgrade is something that should be given some thought. Do you remember these Game Gear games fondly and want to revisit them? Consider it a must-have. If not, weigh up just how much you’d like to play as Amy, as well as Knuckles in Sonic CD. That’s your answer.
Sonic Origins Plus Review – GameSpew’s Score
