I previously wrote an exhaustive and frankly unfocused review on the base version of Sonic Origins, a game I paid 45$ for because I just had to get at a disorganized collection of improperly labeled music and borders for the bastardized 4:3 mode. I won't bother to link that review and save you all the trouble of trying to parse my thoughts. The short version is this: I own these games across an obscene number of platforms, but to have them in 16:9 and playable on my TV sounded nice. It's just too bad Sega put a buggy product to market that was outshined by fan projects like Sonic A.I.R., which released years prior.
But that was way back in June of last year. Sonic Origins has now received its first and presumably only major content update and physical release in the form of Sonic Origins Plus, and as I've established numerous times throughout the last two years, I am bad with my finances. At least I waited for the physical edition to hit 20$ this time!
Plus is a mixed package. It proudly advertises new characters, plural, but only justifies this by adding Amy and making Knuckles playable in exactly one more game than he previously was, Sonic CD. Mechanically, Amy plays very similarly to Sonic, albeit with a wider insta-shield and a weaker drop dash. Though I wish her drop dash had more oomph and lasted longer, I can respect the fact that she doesn't play wildly different, as she needs to slot comfortably into the level design of four whole games. Amy's sprites are excellent, and she has a lot of cute animations, like her victory pose in Sonic 3. She is arguably the main draw to Plus and while she could've felt a bit better to play as, I had enough fun to justify another run through each game.
You also get all the Game Gear Sonics, and if you've been following me as I played through those this year, I think they're pretty bad. However, my problem isn't so much their inclusion (it's good they're on here at all), rather that Sega and Sonic Team still refuse to acknowledge the better Master System versions of some of these games. Sonic 3D Blast and Sonic Spinball are still absent despite being represented in the music gallery and in the main menus, and I know Sega has the ROMs and a good Genesis emulator. I guess they're saving those and Mean Bean for Sonic Origins Plus Deluxe.
I still think Origins is a disappointing collection, and I wouldn't recommend getting it or Plus at full price, but if you don't have multiple Sonic 3 carts laying around, can't be bothered to set up A.I.R., or an emulator for that matter, then... yeah I guess 20$ is ok.
But that was way back in June of last year. Sonic Origins has now received its first and presumably only major content update and physical release in the form of Sonic Origins Plus, and as I've established numerous times throughout the last two years, I am bad with my finances. At least I waited for the physical edition to hit 20$ this time!
Plus is a mixed package. It proudly advertises new characters, plural, but only justifies this by adding Amy and making Knuckles playable in exactly one more game than he previously was, Sonic CD. Mechanically, Amy plays very similarly to Sonic, albeit with a wider insta-shield and a weaker drop dash. Though I wish her drop dash had more oomph and lasted longer, I can respect the fact that she doesn't play wildly different, as she needs to slot comfortably into the level design of four whole games. Amy's sprites are excellent, and she has a lot of cute animations, like her victory pose in Sonic 3. She is arguably the main draw to Plus and while she could've felt a bit better to play as, I had enough fun to justify another run through each game.
You also get all the Game Gear Sonics, and if you've been following me as I played through those this year, I think they're pretty bad. However, my problem isn't so much their inclusion (it's good they're on here at all), rather that Sega and Sonic Team still refuse to acknowledge the better Master System versions of some of these games. Sonic 3D Blast and Sonic Spinball are still absent despite being represented in the music gallery and in the main menus, and I know Sega has the ROMs and a good Genesis emulator. I guess they're saving those and Mean Bean for Sonic Origins Plus Deluxe.
I still think Origins is a disappointing collection, and I wouldn't recommend getting it or Plus at full price, but if you don't have multiple Sonic 3 carts laying around, can't be bothered to set up A.I.R., or an emulator for that matter, then... yeah I guess 20$ is ok.