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Sonic Origins Plus

The classics remastered in Widescreen

11 months ago
2023-11-12
gaming
Platform

Game review

Release date2023-06-23
PublisherSEGA
DeveloperSonic Team
PlatformPlayStation 5
Playtime12,5 hours
ProgressCompleted

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.


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 date1991-06-23
Playtime3 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 date1992-11-21
Playtime2,5 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 date1993-09-23
Playtime2 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 date1994-10-17
Playtime5 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