The presence of the Game Gear games also begs the question: Why not include other more popular or less easily accessible Sonic games? Where’s the Genesis version of Sonic Spinball, for instance? What about Sonic 3D Blast, or Knuckles’ Chaotix, a genuine curio from the 32X that many 2D Sonic fans would love to try? The absence of these games is even more baffling when you head to the museum and see content from them sitting there. You can listen to the soundtrack of 3D Blast, but no, you can’t play it. Maybe there’ll be a ‘Plus Plus’ update in another year where Sega tries to sell you these games for another $10, but for now it just feels like a minimal amount of effort went into building out the value of this update.
As for the new playable characters, we most appreciated Amy’s inclusion given what she brings to each game with her somewhat unique moveset. She controls a lot like Sonic does, but her Piko Piko hammer makes her a little easier to play given the enhanced offensive capabilities. Lining up a Drop Dash and watching her tear through foes is quite satisfying; she feels like a natural addition to the playable lineup.
Playable Knuckles in Sonic CD is great to see, too, even if the levels clearly weren’t designed with his gliding and climbing in mind. In some ways, he almost feels like the ideal pick here given the heightened focus on exploration in that entry, and there are some new routes that were added just for Knuckles to find.
Everything included in this update is fine, but once again it’s difficult to escape a sense of what could have been if you’re a Sonic fan playing through Sonic Origins Plus. Especially when comparing this effort to the rich work done in past compilations like Sonic Mega Collection Plus (which even featured other Genesis hits like Comix Zone and The Ooze), it’s clear that Sega could’ve done a whole lot more for this release, and we can’t help but wonder why the company held back.
We wouldn’t necessarily say that you should forget this update, but at the same time, it teeters precariously on that line towards being not worth your time if you own previous compilations. Newcomers picking up the physical version will get the new content regardless of when they buy—assuming you don’t get used cart—and the overall package including the original Origins content is a strong one, but we’d encourage those who own the base game to take a mindful pause and consider whether the ability to play as Amy is worth it. For us, it is, just.
Conclusion
In keeping with tradition, Sonic Origins Plus is a bit of a mixed bag. The new playable characters, Game Gear games, and other content feel just barely worth the upgrade fee, but there’s no escaping the sense that Sega could’ve done a lot more for this update and chose not to. While the overall package is a strong one, we’d give the new content of this expansion a very light recommendation as it does ultimately feel worth the price tag (for existing owners). But how much value this will hold to you depends heavily on how much nostalgia you have for the Game Gear and how badly you want to play as Amy in the classic games. Here’s hoping that Sonic Superstars provides an old-school Sonic experience that feels less underwhelming.
The presence of the Game Gear games also begs the question: Why not include other more popular or less easily accessible Sonic games? Where’s the Genesis version of Sonic Spinball, for instance? What about Sonic 3D Blast, or Knuckles’ Chaotix, a genuine curio from the 32X that many 2D Sonic fans would love to try? The absence of these games is even more baffling when you head to the museum and see content from them sitting there. You can listen to the soundtrack of 3D Blast, but no, you can’t play it. Maybe there’ll be a ‘Plus Plus’ update in another year where Sega tries to sell you these games for another $10, but for now it just feels like a minimal amount of effort went into building out the value of this update.
As for the new playable characters, we most appreciated Amy’s inclusion given what she brings to each game with her somewhat unique moveset. She controls a lot like Sonic does, but her Piko Piko hammer makes her a little easier to play given the enhanced offensive capabilities. Lining up a Drop Dash and watching her tear through foes is quite satisfying; she feels like a natural addition to the playable lineup.
Playable Knuckles in Sonic CD is great to see, too, even if the levels clearly weren’t designed with his gliding and climbing in mind. In some ways, he almost feels like the ideal pick here given the heightened focus on exploration in that entry, and there are some new routes that were added just for Knuckles to find.
Everything included in this update is fine, but once again it’s difficult to escape a sense of what could have been if you’re a Sonic fan playing through Sonic Origins Plus. Especially when comparing this effort to the rich work done in past compilations like Sonic Mega Collection Plus (which even featured other Genesis hits like Comix Zone and The Ooze), it’s clear that Sega could’ve done a whole lot more for this release, and we can’t help but wonder why the company held back.
We wouldn’t necessarily say that you should forget this update, but at the same time, it teeters precariously on that line towards being not worth your time if you own previous compilations. Newcomers picking up the physical version will get the new content regardless of when they buy—assuming you don’t get used cart—and the overall package including the original Origins content is a strong one, but we’d encourage those who own the base game to take a mindful pause and consider whether the ability to play as Amy is worth it. For us, it is, just.
Conclusion
In keeping with tradition, Sonic Origins Plus is a bit of a mixed bag. The new playable characters, Game Gear games, and other content feel just barely worth the upgrade fee, but there’s no escaping the sense that Sega could’ve done a lot more for this update and chose not to. While the overall package is a strong one, we’d give the new content of this expansion a very light recommendation as it does ultimately feel worth the price tag (for existing owners). But how much value this will hold to you depends heavily on how much nostalgia you have for the Game Gear and how badly you want to play as Amy in the classic games. Here’s hoping that Sonic Superstars provides an old-school Sonic experience that feels less underwhelming.
