I’m not one of those Sonic fans that can look at these remastered classics and tell where they went wrong or where they nailed the conversion, but what I CAN tell you is I really needed my 2D Sonic fix and this game came through in spades. Each Genesis game seems to be lovingly brought up to speed for modern consoles, and I actually enjoyed the added mission modes. Normally I don’t poke around Boss Rush game types but something about this one felt inviting. The lollipop presentation and stunning new animated intros to each game feels like the team making it felt proud of the legacy and their work.

In an era of remakes, remasters, and rebootquels, sometimes just making HD ports with a fresh coat of paint is a decent option. I’m any case, Sonic Origins acts as a decent appetizer before the inevitable Sonic Mania 2 (except consider skipping Sonic CD, it feels like molasses and will do nothing to fulfill your need for speed!)