Sonic Origins Review

Sonic is back! This time, members of the Sonic Mania team have updated Sonic for 16:9 with Sonic Origins, a Sonic compilation featuring Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic 3 & Knuckles. While Sonic Origins isn't the first time we've seen a compilation, it's the first time we've seen Sonic remade from the ground up with an updated aspect ratio. Sonic Origins releases June 23, 2022.

[DaveControlLive]

Hey guys - I edited this video.
I’m sorry I used the incorrect Hidden Palace Zone - I played through the game in Story mode and missed the zone (which I’m guessing you have to do something special to find, as running through normal didn’t get me there). I didn’t have time to go back and capture it - so I made the wrong decision to put the other one. I should have put generic Sonic 2 footage, and I goofed, im sorry.

And yes - I put the cut Sonic 3 tracks on purpose. OG Launch Base Zone & IceCap Zone rock and it felt like honoring those tracks.

[otogiokami]

Bruh. Using ice cap music in the video when it has been removed is just twisting the knife.

[romeostruedude]

This really needs a physical release! This collection would sit so nice next to Sonic Mania!

[AnthonyMcNeil]

Sonic 3 music being changed is so sad. Michael Jackson's influence brought something special to it.

[RoyAlWhicheez]

Wait... dying automatically from spikes was a bug!?!?

[BRoboto]

1:39 - Couldn't be more wrong.
Knuckles' gliding & wall climbing are very well suited to CD's level design and it's exploration-focused game structure.

[videogameobsession]

Sega really should be going all out with this collection, seeing how many times they've sold them in a collection...

Sonic Jam (Saturn) has 3D world exploration, Sega commercials, and box scans.

Sonic Mega Collection (PS2/GC/Xbox) has the really high quality box art scans, comic book scans, original Sonic 3 music.

Sonic Gems (PS2/GC/Xbox) Collection has bonus unlockable Sonic games, such as Sonic R, Sonic the Fighter, and six Game Gear games, which really should have been here.. Where else are they going to release them?

Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (PS3/360), includes: 50 games (including Sonic 1-3, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic 3D Blast, Sonic Spinball, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine), and many others. Videos of developer interviews.

Sega Genesis Collection (PS4/XBO/Switch), has a ton of audio/video options, CRT filters, tube curvature, save states, a 3D 80s bedroom UI, rewind/fast forward, and even a VR option, and more. Imagine if Sonic Origins combined many of those features.

[TheSektorz]

Great review. And really well said, that no matter what happens to the Sonic franchise (and we know exactly what this means), we'll have the awesome classics to fall back on. Plus there's tons of great mods like Sonic 3 Complete, because I really prefer the original Sonic 3 music...
Real sad there's no new artworks to unlock, just things we've already seen. Poor Cybershell will be disappointed.

[iownu]

Carnival Night, Ice Cap, and Launch Base music has all been swapped out for new songs. Kinda misleading to use those songs as background music for this video review when they’re not in the game.

[PMZaphod]

Whoever edited this messed up the Hidden Palace part

[andreasrutledge]

Solid review, classic sonic is still the best to me when ever I think of the blue blur.

[blkmattymatt]

sonic cd was always my favorite sonic game, can't wait to replay that.

[nbttl]

Besides the music, this collection is spot on accurate with controls and visuals. Playing on the Series X with a TV that supports 120 Hz and Dolby Atmos/Vision… it’s the way these games were meant to be played. The price tag is fine by me for 16:9 and, again, the most accurate input since Sonic Jam (which I argue was actually better than the Genesis).

[videogameobsession]

The Japanese version of Sonic had the instant spike death fixed, as well as many other enhancements, such as faster clouds, and raster water ripple effects, in the water stages. USA received Sonic first, and Sonic Team used the extra time, between USA and JPN versions, to further enhance it.

[RhythmGrizz]

It really sounds like the positive vastly outweighs the negative

[sandman]

I'm still buying it love my blue blur!!!

[thabreez]

Tails getting stuck and trying to spin dash his way out of trouble and eventually just flying back to you is not at ALL a new issue. It’s been there from the original, which is why for many years Tails’s Poor AI in the original game was the subject of many jokes. Maybe play the original version next time?

[DaimeneX]

Sonic Origins was actually mostly developed by SEGA, the actual devs behind Sonic Mania had little work here from what I heard.

[TheDanimatorsChannel]

Good review, you guys showed the wrong hidden palace zone though!

[gezeo]

lol "I know a lot of my problems with Sonic Origins sound like nitpicks..." that's because they are. You're a reviewer and reviewers gotta nitpick. Just comes with the territory.