Sonic Origins Plus

Sonic Origins Plus is an expanded version of Sonic Origins released in June 2023 physically and digitally for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles and as a digital-only release on Steam for the PC. Origins Plus adds emulated versions of the Sonic Game Gear titles, as well as Amy Rose as a playable character in the main titles. The content introduced in this version is available as downloadable content to digital copies of the original game for all platforms. The addition of Amy was well received, although critics noted sound issues with the Game Gear games.

Sonic Origins compiles and remasters the first four platform games in Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog series—Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992), Sonic CD (1993), and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (1994)—originally released for the Sega Genesis and the Sega CD. The player controls Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles “Tails” Prower, and Knuckles the Echidna as they attempt to stop Doctor Eggman from stealing the Chaos Emeralds. They traverse side-scrolling levels at high speeds while collecting rings, defeating enemies and bosses, and finding secrets. Unlike the originals, the player can control Tails and Knuckles in most games.

Origins features two gameplay styles for each game: “classic mode” presents the games in their original 4:3 aspect ratio with no gameplay changes, while “anniversary mode” features support for widescreen displays, replaces lives with coins, and allows Sonic to use the “drop dash” from Sonic Mania. A “story mode” allows players to play through the four games sequentially as Sonic in anniversary mode, with new animated cutscenes that bridge their stories, which are also seen when launching for the first time or clearing each game in either mode, respectively. When played through this mode, the games are in chronological story order, meaning that CD is played in between 1 and 2, rather than after. 

New modes include a boss rush mode; a mirror mode that reverses the level layouts; and a mission mode featuring 60 additional standalone challenges, such as collecting a target number of rings within a time limit or reaching the goal without destroying any enemies. The “Blue Spheres” minigame from Sonic 3 & Knuckles is also included, along with an all-new version called New Blue Spheres, which adds additional sphere types from Sonic Mania (2017). An in-game museum allows players to view a collection of music, artwork, and videos, including the Sonic Mania Adventures animated shorts originally released in 2018.

Players can unlock additional museum content, such as music arrangements from later games, concept art, and cutscene animatics, by completing in-game achievements or spending coins earned through gameplay. Coins can also be spent on additional attempts in Special Stages. Players who pre-ordered the game started with 100 Coins and mirror mode unlocked, which is available after clearing each game for the first time. Menu aesthetics, a set of 11 harder missions, and tracks from Sonic Spinball (1993), Knuckles’ Chaotix (1995) and Sonic 3D Blast (1996) for the museum music player were released as downloadable content (DLC), later being incorporated into Sonic Origins Plus.