Sonic Origins Plus Reviews
The addition of 12 underplayed Game Gear Sonic titles and a playable Amy Rose are more than welcome in this beefed up version of Sonic Origins.
Sonic Origins Plus is an interesting package in theory, but it doesn't add enough relevant content. Amy is definitely cool to be playable, but her moves are pretty simple. And Game Gear games are a good way to remember the past (even with the strange sound), but it's inexplicable not having Master System games. PS: the score reflects the entire package with the base game and not just the DLC.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Sonic Origins Plus is a complete and thrilling collection of Sonic's heyday, at least if you stick with the core four remastered games. Because the addition of a couple of playable characters and 12 inconsequential Game Gear games with the Plus expansion to this package doesn't necessarily move the needle, it's impossible to boost the rating from the review of the original base game.
Longtime Sonic fans should scoop up the physical edition of Sonic Origins Plus if they missed out last year, but the new content may not be worth a paid upgrade for existing owners.
Although it still drags some shortcomings, it is a very complete compilation with some irresistible incentives for fans of Sonic in particular or platforms in general.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Sonic Origins Plus still can't be considered the most comprehensive collection of the classic Sonic the Hedgehog titles. From a completionist's standpoint, it would've been nice to have Sonic 3D Blast, and the Genesis version of Sonic Spinball and Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine. Others will lament the fact that the original music for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 remains missing. The inclusion of 12 Game Gear titles makes this feel like a better value, while the modified versions of the original four titles are still a great way for new players to experience these classics without dealing with the things that don't fly in modern game design. For fans of old-school platformers, Sonic Origins Plus is well worth checking out.
Sonic Origins Plus contains some cracking Sonic games, but the collection is somewhat lacking and the added content is average at best.
Sonic Origins Plus is the definitive way to play the classic Sonic games, and it's great to have a new way to have the Game Gear titles, but there is no much relevant improvement between this one and Sonic Origins.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The inclusion of Amy Rose in Sonic Origins Plus is most welcome, but everything else in this DLC is roughshod. The poor port job of the Game Gear titles makes them borderline unplayable, and the package is a bit light when it comes to any other additions.
This release is a slap in the face to Sonic enthusiasts, game collectors in general and those concerned with video game preservation, and I sincerely hope that Sega — and the gaming community — learns from this.
Sonic Origins Plus is inching toward being a definitive Sonic the Hedgehog anthology of classic games, some of which are remastered. The inclusion of Amy and the Game Gear titles are arguably two steps forward, but the quality of those emulated titles in comparison to their remastered counterparts and lack of Genesis and Master System titles are two steps back. Either way, for Sonic fans who do not yet own Sonic Origins on their PS5, Sonic Origins Plus should be a very easy recommendation.
While Sonic Origins Plus' additions feel like they should have been in the base game, Amy is a delight to play as. She'll have you playing these four excellent games in new ways, despite some odd design decisions. Unfortunately, the selection of Game Gear games have not aged well and are marred by some terrible sound emulation.
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.
I don’t particularly think any of the inclusions in this package are game changers, be it the inclusions of new characters on older games or the many, many emulated ROMs of Game Gear titles, but the overall package is quite good. Considering the price tag and amount of content on offer, I’d say this is an easy recommendation.
Sonic Origins Plus is an even more definitive version of all those classic games that defined Sega's mascot as we know it today. Now with 16 games from the old Game Gear to his credit and that will surely make us remember old times. Let's not forget that it also includes the DLC packs that were released separately with the base game last year, plus the ability to play Amy Rose in all installments and Knuckles the Echidna on Sonic CD. A juicy treat for every fan only darkened by the absence of the original songs from some phases of Sonic 3 & Knuckles, a real shame to lose songs like the one from Ice Cap Zone, possibly one of the best of that installment.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you hadn’t previously been enticed by the quartet of Genesis classics, you are unlikely to be swayed now. In a vacuum, this is fun and gratifying DLC for a certain breed of loyal hedgehog fan, whereas the remainder of consumers may be decidedly non-plussed.
While the Game Gear games in Sonic Origins Plus don’t look, sound, or play great, the problem comes down to these games not being that good originally — not that they're bad ports. Buy Sonic Origins Plus for the Genesis games and to play as Amy, but don't expect the Game Gear games to run away with your heart.
Sonic Origins Plus may not be essential for more casual Sonic fans, but those who want to experience the Game Gear titles and play as Amy Rose are in for an all-around great time. If you want to take on the included classics with a new playstyle or see where Fang comes from before Sonic Superstars, this is the ideal upgrade to your Sonic Origins experience.
Such is the wrinkle here. My final score applies to the expansion in particular. Taken as a complete product, my previous review (right here) is a more accurate assessment. But man oh man, that expansion. If you’ve already got the base game, I can’t imagine you’ll get much out of Origins Plus. If you grew up playing the Game Gear, great news! These are twelve colorful trips down memory lane. Otherwise, I don’t recommend it. Turns out Sega’s first portable gaming experiment aged rather poorly. Sonic Origins is a fun and accessible way to play Sonic’s greatest hits. But Origins Plus spends too much time on bland, awful games.