Game review

Release date	2023-06-23
Publisher	SEGA
Developer	Sonic Team
Platform	PlayStation 5
Playtime	12,5 hours
Progress	Completed

All I wanted was the classic 16-bit games in proper widescreen mode and that is exactly what I got. I did not care anything else this collection/remaster. I am reviewing the "Anniversary mode" since I don't care about the classic mode because it offers nothing more than a 4:3 port which provides nothing more than a emulator.

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I take notes as I play the game for things that I think deserve a mention. If something was not mentioned, it is considered "fine" and not noteworthy in any sense.

Origins Plus

Pros

• Cartoon
  The 90s FoxKids cartoon style cutscenes and animation is fantastic, just as with Sonic Superstars.
  
  
• Widescreen
  All the games is remastered in proper widescreen and it's using proper pixel filtering (Nearest neighbor) for the upscaling and is just how I want a modern port to be.
  
  
• Gameplay
  All the games is very response, fast and pure gameplay goodness. Playing with the Playstation controller for Sonic 2D games feels so natural.
  
  
• Intro/Endings
  Every game has an great intro and ending in-game as well with the added 90s cartoon
  
  

Neutral

• Unlimited lives
  Many modern remaster of classic games, same with the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy removes the limited lives and give you unlimited continues. For the original crash game which is a hard game it made sense, but the second crash game didn't need it. And I feel the same here. Most games especially Sonic 2, since this remaster have unlimited lives at the checkpoints even. This is also reflected in the lower playtime.
  
  
• Underwater levels
  They sucked back then and they still suck today. It's even worse as there's underwater bosses.
  
  

Sonic the Hedgehog

Release date	1991-06-23
Playtime	3 hours

Pros

• Easier to spin
  Compared to the original game, it's easier to spin in this version.
  
  

Cons

• Instakills
  This game has a lot of instakills instad of loosing all your rings. It's unforgiving.
  
  
• Vertical platforming
  Sonic is the worst when there's too much vertical platforming. This game suffer from it quite a lot.
  
  

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Release date	1992-11-21
Playtime	2,5 hours

Pros

• Sense of speed
  Sonic 2 brought the sense of speed to the series and it feels fast once u learn the levels.
  
  
• Level design
  This is some peak sonic level design
  
  
• Soundtrack
  Soundtrack is awesome and the boss music is even better
  
  

Cons

• Multi-stage bosses
  The idea of multi-stage bosses is cool but this game introduced the game design of if you loose you have to redo the earlier stages. So for me, if I lost to Eggman I had to repeat the fight Mecha Sonic over and over. I find this to be bad game design which sadly was brought back to Sonic Superstars because how old-school inspired that game was.
  
  

Sonic CD

Release date	1993-09-23
Playtime	2 hours

Pros

• Visuals
  The colors and popping visuals is amazing in this game.
  
  
• Little Planet
  I love that u became smaller and experienced the level in a different way.
  
  
• Amy
  I loved the love chase in this game and with the introduction of Amy
  
  

Neutral

• Time travel
  I didn't care much for the whole future/past thing, i don't think it even needed to be in the game at all.
  
  

Sonic the Hedgehog 3/Knuckles

Release date	1994-10-17
Playtime	5 hours

Pros

• Boss music
  This game has the best boss music. It's just awesome. Like the arpeggio in Act 1 boss just amazing or the lead melody in the Act 2 boss.
  
  

Neutral

• Knuckles
  Knuckles in this game reminds me a lot of Proto man from Mega Man 3/5. I found it fine but never felt special as in mega man.
  
  

Cons

• Beginning
  I find the intro/beginning to be quite bad compared to all other sonic games where the introduction levels are just amazing.
  
  
• Upside down
  Playing as upside down just sucks and doesn't improve the gameplay or fun, just adds annoyiences.
  
  
• Sky Sanctuary
  This was the game originally to feature sky sanctuary and it's in the top of all zones ever. Amazing experience.
  
  
• Snowboarding
  This was also an awesome part of the game. Fun and what I think is the origin of what would become City Escape in Sonic Adventure 2
  
  

Cons

• Medicore zones
  This game was filled with quantity over quality amount of zones. There was a few that was amazing but overall most was pretty mediocre.
  
  

Overall

It's all about the classics for me and they are better than ever. All of the games are 9/10 bangers