Poll: Are You Finding Sonic Origins' Various Editions And DLC Packs Confusing?

I might wait for a physical, chances are it will be packed alongside sonic mania, or just come with all of its DLC.

Still this is really hype for me!

From the looks of it, pre-ordering Digital Deluxe includes everything I'm guessing. You get the base game and everything in the Start Dash Pack (does say free pre-order DLC). I'm just looking at the chart and seeing the free pre-order DLC filling in the blank spaces under Digital Deluxe. Voted "a bit convoluted, but got a handle on it."

I'll see how much it costs me, it's rare I pre-order games anyway. Wouldn't mind with this given it's pretty much the mobile versions on console and PC.

What asinine corporate mandate caused this?

@SalvorHardin Probably the same one that has consumed SquareEnix.

It's not that confusing, but absolutely stupid.
Stuff like this doesn't belong in Retro Collections.

I'm not finding them confusing, I just can't see the point in doing it like this.

It's almost like they made it confusing as possible on purpose.

Should have included a SUPER ULTIMATE MEGA DELUXE version but just called it FOMO for those stressing about which one to pick.

The fact that literally not a single version on that chart includes every possible thing seems insane.

At this point if you are making your customers who just wanna play some sonic jump through so many hoops, might as well emulate

this is so ridiculous XD... there is DLC that is essentially a totally normal part of the game and now we should pay extra for it... so this is the next step after NFTs to get the money from the poor people (not to say that this handfull of old games cost 40 and people complained about the mario 3d allstars collection lol)

I‘ll wait for a *heavy * discount on this. £33 for 4 Mega Drive games and that’s without everything included lmao, Sega is run by bozos

If you buy this game, you encourage bad people to keep doing bad things.

Make a game. Put everything in it. Sale it for one price. Why is that so hard for these companies to understand?

I like Sonic, but I will NOT be rewarding their bad behavior by buying this game.

I'll probably just get the standard edition, the bonus stuff doesn't really interest me, so that works for me.

These games are $4.99 each on Steam. They drop to $1.25 each when there's a sale.

Save your money. Avoid the headache.

Uhm...what is all this?

I'm positive when people said they wanted the old Sonic classic games available with a modern style they meant resolution, wide screen and small QOL changes, not the release to have the same confusing mess of different editions and DLCs some modern games like to do @.@;;;

The issue is they've labelled DLC alongside editions of the game. In reality there are just two editions, two normal DLC packs and a pre order DLC pack. One version is without the two normal DLC packs and one is with. And the pre order DLC is exactly that.

If you pre order the deluxe edition you get everything.

I'll wait for a physical release. No physical no buy is my personal approach. ✌️

I will go for standard edition for this

Whyyyyyyyy SEGA whyyyyyyy? Every good idea you have you instantly have a bad idea ready to go with it

Long live retro gaming! Sonic Origins and its tiers is the reason why I hate current gaming!

@sketchturner Pre-order the Deluxe versión and you get everything since the Start Dash Pack is included for free.

Already bought sonic 1 & 2 through sega ages I'm not going to pay 33 quid just for sonic 3 & sonic cd if they had included sonic R , sonic the fighters & sonic 3d blast I'd buy it

@AndyC_MK111 I mean. The Standard version contains the main games. Just Buy that and that's it, I guess.

All other things look like gimmicks or fanservice for me.

How is it that Sega keeps taking step-backs with Sonic when their other games don't have to go through with this?

It's simple but they made it look more complicated, you can only buy 2 versions, the standard or deluxe. The latter gets you everything and the former misses out mainly on some extra music and harder missions, these can be later bought as dlc. I'm just getting the deluxe as it's only £5 different so problem solved

@Olmectron Thanks for explaining, but then the chart should have a ring in those 3 spots. But it doesn't because why? Oh, because it isn't included. It's only included IF you pre-order the Deluxe version. SMH

I was super hyped for some more Sonic Mania style gameplay and then I read "DLC" and "bonus coins" and I'm out!

@AndyC_MK111 I'm only guessing because they did do a pack with sonic mania racing and forces, and it would make a lot of sense to include sonic mania on a physical seeing how some of manias devs had a hand in this.

Not saying it will happen by any means, if not that at least the physical should come with all the DLC right?

You know the Sega Genesis Classics collection is like $30. It may not have the bells and whistles, but it has like 46 other really cool games. Some of them come with Sonic!

@sketchturner Yeah, that's why I said if "you pre-order".

Not confusing once you read everything, but a bit messy when it doesn't need to be. There's no need for an EA style chart when announcing the release date for a collection of retro games.

I just don't understand SEGA when it comes to Sonic.

You could say... SEGA wants their customers to jump through Rings to get everything... 🤣

@Alundra-1998 Take a heart and go away LMAO!

I smell a lot of controversy.

What a mess...
Just put it all on a cart, and I'll be happy.

Also interestingly, looked at the JP site, and it's promoting that the 'letterbox' background in the Start Dash Pack is an exclusive one, a Mega Drive blueprint design.
The Premium Fan Pack will instead come with ten 'letterbox' backgrounds.

So it's possible one design might be locked behind the Start Dash pack...

Japanese prices for the two DLC packs were announced, and they're 400 yen each... So western prices would likely be $€3.99 / £3.59 each.

I just want to ask why they made the chart. If they hadn't made the chart, people probably wouldn't be anywhere near as angry, since it's really just 2 dlc packs and a pre-order bonus. But, no, this is Sonic, so they had to screw it up, because Sega just doesn't know how to do Sonic. Honestly, I just hope that this can compare to the old Mega Collection in the end.

I wonder if they had to change the music because of the Michael Jackson business, and they are selling that seperately to cover royalty fees etc? (No idea, just a guess.)

@GrailUK They comment it in the article and say it's not that likely.

The problem is the chart but basically you choose between regular and deluxe and you can upgrade later if you want. There are three pre-order exclusive items, two of them you can get by playing and the other one is the only exclusive item that appear in the DLC packs (if it's the same letterbox background). Like @Fizza said, there's no point in a deluxe edition when the price difference is minimal. The only good thing about this is that you can pre-order the deluxe edition without regrets and get everything. Forget about Sega's stupid marketing team (just this time).

@bluesun The link is not working.

The fact that you have to pay extra for the classic music pack, for a classic game collection that… should have the classic music already within the games? Did they redo all the music or something too? This mentality is straining my grammar. Ugh.

@Olmectron Doh! Glossed right over that bit

@VR32X The extra music is from other Sonic games.

@Banjo- Thanks, replaced the direct link with their image viewer page, hopefully that fixed it.

@bluesun Thanks to you for sharing that. It works now 👍.

Really wish you could play the unlocked/DLC music in place of the background music during stages, like in Sonic Generations! I love the original music but Ive played these games to death, being able to mix it up would be fun!!

F SEGA and their tendency to release standard and digital deluxe editions. Why not just release the digital deluxe one (withou calling it as such) and call it a day?

I also hate how they make some things "bonus" DLC in some regions but offer it as normal DLC in others. They did it with the Nightmare Zone in Sonic Lost World and with the Avatar SEGA costumes in Sonic Forces Switch, in America (not sure about Europe) they were bonuses for first-run copies as download codes without giving a chance of late adopters to get them while also offering them as normal DLC in Japan.

@LexKitteh That thing about Sonic Generations is awesome and it's still the best Sonic 3D game, even better on Series X (60fps 4K).

So is any of this available with a physical release...? That's what's confusing me.

Sega had the gamers hype for the collection and now they had to ruin it with this. For once they could had just release one perfect collection and be done with it but it seems they wanted the controversy. This is coming from the same company that are still all in about NFTs in the future similar to another douche-bagging company, Square Enix.

@Baker1000 It's a "digital release on all major platforms" according to the official trailer. No physical version is mentioned.

It would have made more sense to release a limited physical edition with a ring or a Sonic or Mega Drive figure... or a Mega Drive Mini!

This digital deluxe edition is unnecessary. I'm getting it because the price difference is minimal but some of the locked features are ridiculous (locked menu animations?).

The full article linked above is worth reading (use your browser translator), has more information about this release:

https://www.famitsu.com/news/202204/20258988.html

Boss Rush Mode.
There are 10 letterbox backgrounds in total.
Classic mode has limited lives and it's 4:3.
Anniversary mode includes infinite lives, the new animations and 16:9 presentation.

Sega acting like this is a damned kickstarter campaign. It’s an anniversary of classic games but they completely betray the joy simpler times with up-sell garbage like this. Clearly they’ve ported Sonic too many times and they’ve now gone stupid with it

@HammerGalladeBro
"with the Avatar SEGA costumes in Sonic Forces Switch, in America (not sure about Europe) they were bonuses for first-run copies as download codes without giving a chance of late adopters to get them"

In Europe, the digital version is labeled 'Digital Bonus Edition' and apparently includes the Sega/Atlus costumes.
Instead, we had the Shadow Costume become completely unbuyable after the free period ended. (In America you can still buy it for $0.99, even if you missed it.)

Does it matter? They'll probably release a physical one with everything at one point that gets a permanent price drop a month or two later like most of these collections.

@bluesun It seems that it was made available afterwards, at least on Xbox:

https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/shadow-costume/BT55Q4VWJ9B8/0001

Charging extra for basic things like a a presentable title screen with animations and borders... seriously? What kind of an EasyJet/RyanAir business model is this...

I’ve played these games to death as they are rereleased so many times that I just can’t get excited for this at all.

All of this DLC is stupid like animated title screens

Assuming a physical version will come out down the line with all of the content so I'll hold off on purchasing, especially at that price

@Snatcher Sorry to break it to you, but SEGA just confirmed on Twitter that there are absolutely no plans whatsoever for a physical version of Sonic Origins.

So get ready to buy the game DIGITAL, fam.

@ianl579 A physical version is not happening.

SEGA confirmed this info on Twitter because people kept asking.

Too expensive for such old games even though having it in widescreen would be great. I’m really hyped for Frontiers though

@GC-161 Do you have a link to the tweet? Can't see anything on the @SEGA account...

@Clyde_Radcliffe Its not on the sega account.

That info came from the social media manager of the Sonic acount.

Here's the link:

https://twitter.com/KatieChrz/status/1516791500381646849

I'll add my own choice to the poll; "Would have bought day one, but the high price, coupled with content removed for DLC and pre-order 'bonuses' to increase FOMO, means now Sega won't see a penny from me."

@GC-161 Damn really? Welp there loss LOL. I'm still going to get it, but so many people weren't going to get it unless it got physical.

What the hell is "Sonic Origins"? Even after reading this article I still don't know what it is.

Imma be honest, I dont really hate the price on this, its clear that a lot of love was put into these ports and for me the new cutscenes made for the games are worth the price alone. Of course if you dont like it vote with your wallet, I’ll probably end up pre ordering the deluxe version just to make sure I get everything the game has to offer

This is a disaster. I haven't been disappointed like that since Super Mario Bros 35th anniversary. 50 bucks to own a decent version of a long awaited Sonic collection is insane. Not even Mega Man Zero games costed us that much.

I...um...wow.

The cheapest option is 40 bucks?

What in damnation

Are we getting a physical version for any of the consoles? I'm mainly asking for the nintendo switch but i didn't see anything about a physical version.

Look, if you preorder the digital deluxe edition, you get everything. It’s pretty simple

@ShadowofTwilight22 was I not showing enough loyalty to Sega’s insane price tier chart for a classic Sonic game to be counted as a Sega True Fan? Lol

@Nintendude78 So simple they included a feature chart that would spin eyeballs at a travel agency lol

I need an algorithm to find me the best Sonic Origins price package with no hidden fees and taxes and verified reviews 😝

You guys said it, I’m just confused. Honestly, I feel like there’s a good chance they release everything as a physical bundle. I’d rather get that instead or just wait for the inevitable sale.

It's literally not complex. The problem is Sega made a chart that makes it look complicated at a glance. Bit of a blunder, considering this poll result.

I found this streamlined chart for Sonic Origins in case anybody needs it.

Credit: https://twitter.com/LephemStar91/status/1516809135232360451

@Moonlessky Thats what I think, I'm willing to give them money because damn at least there is clear effort, sure collections like mega man are cheap, and have a bunch of content, sure fine.

But new animated cutscene's and four games? I have never played S&K and even tho I have played CD three times, and played 2 about two (LMAO.) I'm more then willing to spend 40$ on it, I mean look at how many of us spent cash on 3d all stars, Did 3d all stars have any knew content? they were "Remastered" but nothingyou couldn't get if you owned the orginal, and this game is 20 bucks cheaper.

Sorry for the long post LOL.

Charging extra for DLC menu animations...haha.

Sadly people will hop on this allowing companies to see it's okay for this sort of BS. Congrats to those who are being part of the problem by paying for this trash!

If I do get this it'll be heavily discounted. I already have Sonic 1 and 2 on Switch and CD on Xbox, so not feeling a lot of urgency to buy this.

It's certainly not ideal the way they did this but I'm still excited to play this. I only have Sonic 1 and Mania and I've never played CD or finished 3/Knuckles so I'm looking forward to it.

In the most simplest and shortest way: as soon as you decide you need a chart to explain how you’re releasing the game, you’re doing it wrong.

Its not complicated at all, though the chart makes it look so. The Digital Deluxe version is $4/£4 higher and contains everything currently available, if you pre-order it.

At only $4/£4 more, I don't know why they just didn't scrap the base version and just call that the standard price, and say there's (very minor, unlockable anyway) bonuses if you pre-order.

Personally, I think the price for the digital deluxe is great. I was expecting a full price release. Its far more than just "a few megadrive roms", and should be the ultimate way to play some of my favourite games of all time.

I don't believe for a second that there won't be a physical version. They'll say there won't be one of course, like they did with Mania. They'll maybe release some dlc further along the way with more games or characters (let's call it "Origins Plus"). And then "by popular demand from fans" they will release a physical version of that including everything. And I shall clap my hands with glee and buy it again because I'm a gullible fanboy who likes things on my shelf.

@SuperWeird
A collection of four Sonic games, including upgraded versions of Christian Whitehead’s Sonic 1, 2, & CD remasters and a brand new Sonic 3 & Knuckles’s remaster made by Headcannon (Both of whom worked on Sonic Mania as well).
The collection will also include new animated cutscenes for each game, a ranked mission mode, blue spheres game, “new areas to explore”, a mirror mode, a museum to spend collected “coins”, a music player, boss rush modes, and the original 4/5 games.

@Snatcher Thats an extremely good point. Many of us, myself included, paid £60 for Mario 3D All Stars and that was basically just 3 roms/isos that had minor patches, and a tacked on mp3 player in a terrible barebones menu. It felt about as lazy as it could possibly be and we all moaned and whined and bought it anyway. We were buying games we knew were great, but it still felt like Nintendo was disrespecting the fans and the legacy of their own games and just doing a simple cash grab.

This is the opposite of that, Sega and Headcannon are going above and beyond for these 4/5 games. Sure, charging an extra $4 for a deluxe version seems complicated and pointless, but Sega always make slightly weird decisions that should never have made it out the boardroom. The Deluxe version is priced just fine, and looks like they've done an outstanding job respecting the fans and doing the games justice.

I was just going to get the standard until I digested it and saw the price for digital deluxe was marginally more....

@samuelvictor Yes, Precisely my point, It’s a complete 1.80 from what 3d All stars did, can things in this pack be done better? Of course, is there effort? Yes, yes, yes, yes!

I slowly came to the realization today that this game was not confirmed for physical release. So .... that makes me very sad. Now I have to wait and hope. Wait ... and hope.

A chart like that is typically what I expect from expensive software suites or lame subscription tiers.

I'll get all the extra modes and am grateful for the efforts of Headcannon. I appreciate that Sega nevertheless allows fan projects and perhaps a fair few of us have been spoiled by projects like Sonic 1 Forever, Sonic 2 Absolute and Sonic 3 A.I.R. But that said i loathe the current days in which deluxe editions arent strictly non-game extras or physical content but instead game content held to the side. It spoils the feeling of a complete experience if what we get clearly isn't the full experience without tiered costs.

This is likely a common response, but I waited a year for the physical copy of Mania; I can do the same for this.

❗️I hate Sonic.

They repackage all the usual old games I already own three times over, add some pretty shoddy new animation and STILL have me interested in this new collection.

It probably won’t even have my favourite, Master System Sonic The Hedgehog 1.
I am also excited to see the new movie. The blue blur just has this timeless appeal no matter how few good games there’s been this millennium.

I love Sonic.

What a shambles! Was considering getting this then I discovered it isn't coming out on a cart. I will keep my cash now and just enjoy the first two Sonic's I picked up for less than £3 each in a sale, thanks Sega for the money saving tips 👍

Could have been worse, with NFT involved…

When I first saw the table I was worried Sega had been copying EA & Ubisoft’s homework not realising it was filled with errors.

It's been confirmed Mirror Mode can be unlocked so I can assume the Digital Deluxe is for those not willing to do it the hard way.

I'll take the challenge if that's the case.

SEGA, doing what Nintendon't. Right guys?

@ShadowofTwilight22 every article you say? What if I only moan in 2 out of every 5 articles, would I be acceptable to you and Sega? Or no moaning whatsoever?

@ShadowofTwilight22 I appreciate your comment. I’ll try to hate (modern) Sega less (summoning inner-strength here). But I am looking forward to Sonic 3 on the Switch (sweet sweet nostalgia). A fun day to you too

@ShadowofTwilight22 is that story mode what they call the anniversary mode?

I’ll get it when it’s on sale. Even the standard edition is too rich for my blood. I’m a casual Sonic fan interested in having the classics in one easy collection, but the bells and whistles driving this up to a premium price tag mean nothing to me.

im not a big fan of the way its done however as long as the base pack has what i came for, that being sonic 1,2,3k, CD on switch with widescreen then im fine (also from the trailer it seems that were getting content from the Taxman versions since hidden palace is seen)

This article is confusing people. Curse you Nintendolife, curse you!

@ShadowofTwilight22
Oh do tell.

Oh heavens no.

Everyone knows that I adore me a classic Sonic romp. However complicated purchasing systems means I end up not buying. My usual plan is to buy all main games for the Switch. It used to be:

Buy every game that didn’t have a Gamergate supporter in its team

Which was easy enough. But the Switch grew popular, probably partially in part to how much I’d wax lyrical about it around friends and family, at private events, at media events. God knows just how many systems I have sold through my antics.

And then it became “buy any majornon shovelware game”. But also no game that has even been near one of those ***** up (you’d have to be) gamergate ”””people””. I’m just kidding they’re not people. They’re animals.

I digress as you all know I am prone to. Too many modes to buy there. When companies treat customers like ***** they tend to lose sales from me and those I tell.

It’s sonic. It’s old now. You do the usual and stick it behind an existing premium service OR you charge 7 quid per title… so that’s £21 and done. [not buying the “hi I’m Sega I want more money so I’m going to split one game into two, release them months apart, and charge you for one game price each time”. So sonic 3 and knuckles gets one game only.

Finally don’t we all just hate the sonic fan base though. The only ones worse are Megaman fans. I don’t know why people are so broken in their heads that they feel the need to make sonic versions of themselves. It makes no sense. Most go the extra mile and even opt to smell like wild animals. (Have you BEEN to a convention?!)

What's the thing about 100 bonus coins? Sounds like they're going to put micro transactions in the games?

This is looking pretty bleak, as is crazy taxi and jet set radio

@Snatcher @samuelvictor I was about to post that, that Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a collection of three roms with minor on-the-fly patches and it's criminal that Nintendo didn't include Super Mario Galaxy 2. Extras? A bare-bones music menu. Pre-order bonuses? None but the title was available for months only.

This collection includes five remasters: 1, CD, 2, 3 and S&K. This is the first time that 3 and S&K are remastered. This is the first time that you can play 1 as Knuckles. There are lots of little extras: animations (story mode), missions, museum, mirror mode and two main modes although I wouldn't have made two main modes but allow players to select aspect ratio and infinite lives separately.

The chart is ridiculous and the "locked menu animations" are counter-productive but if you pre-order the deluxe edition, which is just four more pounds, you get absolutely everything. The marketing of this release is bonkers but this is a legendary collection because it's not a collection of roms (GC, PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3...) nor poor ports (GBA, DS).

I like Sonic and I like polls, but I don't like the old 2D games

@ShadowofTwilight22 Apparently, the story mode includes the cinematic animations. The anniversary mode is the 16:9 mode with infinite lives. The classic mode is 4:3 with limited lives.

@DiggleDog The price is not "high" because of the little extras but because they had to remake 3 and S&K for the first time.

@Doktor-Mandrake There aren't microtransactions. The coins are earned by playing and you unlock stuff at the Museum with them. You get 100 if you pre-order but pre-ordering doesn't raise the price.

@Banjo- 100% with you on all of that. 3D All Stars was almost as underwhelming as when they put SNES Mario All Stars on a disc and tried to sell it as a full price special edition Wii game. Once again, many of us continue to by these lazy efforts because we love the (incredible) original games and are aware they are still very much worth playing (I've put at least 20 hours into 3D All Stars so far, and loved it, because the originals were already near perfect) but it doesn't change the fact they feel insulting and exploitative of fans. And yeah, no Galaxy 2 still has me scratching my head.

Sega is not exempt from making lazy decisions or milking its fanbase for a bit of cash of course. But Sonic Origins is 100% NOT this, infact its the opposite. Its a love letter to fans, created by fans, with the blessing and full cooperation of the company. Infact, its sort of akin to what Nintendo did back in the early 90s with Mario All Stars in a way - that was far from a lazy rerelease. A shame they have lost their way somewhat on this stuff.

But yeah, even when they are doing something very right, Sega always seems to make some kind of weird last minute mistake or weird choice, and this £4 DLC and the convoluted explanation is the one this time round. Very easy to overlook though, this is more than worth the cash, and I'll happily buy a physical copy again when it inevitably happens "due to popular demand". I guess thats where the milking of the fanbase comes in, but its fair enough - they aren't forcing you to buy both. £60 for Mario All Stars along with only a few months to buy it was far worse imo and stunk of "they'll complain but they'll buy it anyway"... and we did. Not sure what the lesson is there!

@samuelvictor I wholeheartedly agree. The Super Mario All Stars Wii release was shameless, literally a 4:3 rom on disc, and I remember that Nintendo didn't release it on the SNES Virtual Console to force fans to get the expensive and disappointing release. Super Mario All-Stars is wonderful, I never had the NES but I think that the remakes look and play the best. No Super Mario Galaxy 2 in Super Mario 3D All? Stars is beyond my comprehension when the previous collection even included The Lost Levels, released in Japan only.

Sonic Origins is at the remake level and that makes the collection worthy but the deluxe edition for £4 more with complicated chart included is absurd and unnecessary. There should be just one edition. Listing the upcoming DLC bundles on the chart and listing things like "menu animations" shows that the marketing of this release is silly. Sonic Origins, however, is as legendary as Super Mario All-Stars and a must-have.

@Banjo- Yeah totally. As the Deluxe version is only £4 more, they should have just realeased that version as the only edition, and at that price. £44 is still a steal for the amount of content, and the work that has been done to make it happen, especially when I was fully expecting £60.

As a side note rant: The Wii Mario All Stars disc didn't even include the improved later SNES version which included the upgraded version of Super Mario World. If I remember correctly it was £30, when a Virtual Console SNES game would have cost around £7. Its the only official Nintendo mainline Mario release that I point blank refused to buy brand new... a few months later, I got it (for completion's sake) second hand for £4.99 - there were many copies lining game store shelves.

@samuelvictor You're right, it didn't include the second SNES version that added Super Mario World ages ago, I guess that Nintendo wanted fans to get Super Mario World on the Virtual Console but they should have added Super Mario All-Stars to the Virtual Console independent of a physical release. I wanted to had that "channel" next to Super Mario World. I don't remember the Wii disc price but I'm glad you didn't pay the full price, I didn't either.

Someone said above that Sonic Origins is "a handful of old games [that] cost 40" but that's not correct because they are 4-5 remakes in a bundle with some little extras so the price is right but the two editions are unnecessary. In any case, this will the be the best way to play some of the best platformers ever made. I say "platformers" but I don't consider them that because in my opinion these games were a new genre on their own.

@Banjo- Certainly agree on 95% of your post there

Early Sonic games are (to me at least) "platformers" because they follow all the previous features (sidescrolling, button to jump, enemies to avoid or jump on, level system, end of world boss... and perhaps most vitally, platforms. However, I certainly see where you are coming from because Sonic 1 added SO many more features that had never been seen before that it almost reinvented the genre... but all that means is it redefinied what people expect from "platformers" at the time. Games like Bubsy, Zool, Jazz Jackrabbit, Aero the Acrobat etc copied the formula and tweaked it in their own minor ways, but still seemed like Sonic clones... not to mention the literal hundreds of platformers based on licenses from tvs, movies, comics, music etc. Most of these included Sonic's innovations such as speed, momentum based movement, extreme verticality, multiple paths, hidden areas, "3d" (or some other technical showpiece) bonus stages, etc etc. All of these games were labelled as "platformers" at the time. If anything, for people who were kids in the early 90s, Sonic was THE typical example of what they thought a "platformer" was - even more so than Mario to many, as even Super Mario World was more reminiscent of mid to late 80s platformers in its mechanics. Less generic mainstream games tried to emulate/clone Mario's style, after Sonic was released - for a few years at least.

I assume the reason you don't categorise Sonic as a "platformer" is because you feel platformers are more simple? Less organic shapes and more "box tile" based things, straight walls, flat moving platforms? Like Super Mario Brothers, or Celeste even for a modern example? Forgive me if I've misunderstood, I'm actually very intrigued as to why you categorise it differently. If its simply that Sonic games are more complex in level design, physics, etc, then thats a fun thing to consider, as someone who grew up with Pitfall on 2600 or Jet Set Willy on Spectrum might have felt Super Mario Bros wasn't the same genre as it was such a big step up. Thats a fascinating thought to me. To be clear, I'm not saying that you are wrong - I'm really interested why you feel that way. You're clearly a fan of both Sonic and Mario

That said, of course there is a huge difference between the actual gameplay of a traditional 2d Mario and 2d Sonic. Though I love both series, I actually much prefer Sonic style games where you have a huge area to explore, you can make your own paths, and through trial and error you can teach yourself the layouts and try and beat your best times, high scores, etc etc. Mario Platforming is far more straight forward and "simple" but many would argue the level design is tighter with a better paced difficulty curve and they are more friendly to beginners and less frustrating with less "leaps of faith" before you learn the layouts. Which one you prefer depends on your preferences but it always triggers me when someone worships one series and completely derides the other, both are equally great, but in different ways.

@ShadowofTwilight22 Nintendo is totally shameless and stingy when it comes to re-releases except for Super Mario All-Stars (SNES) and Metroid Prime Trilogy and Metroid Prime Trilogy was Retro's idea. Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a collection of three roms with on-the-fly patches, they excluded Super Mario Galaxy 2 and yet they called it 3D "All" Stars. All these Wii U ports for Switch are fine but with minimal additions, no cross-buy nor cross-discount, sold separately as brand-new games and full-priced are meant to milk fans to the fullest. Nintendo is the worst company when it comes to customer and fan service. They are the stingiest and the most paranoid. Activision released three Crash Bandicoot remakes for the price of one. Same with Spyro. Microsoft released a collection of Halo remasters for the price of one. When they are mere roms, Sega releases over 50 for €$30 while Rare released 30 almost-remastered games for €$30. Meanwhile, Nintendo, that became even greedier after Switch's success, releases a premium subscription to play Nintendo 64 roms with no purchase option at all and the full-priced Wii U ports.

@samuelvictor Yes, both old Sonic and Mario are great in different ways. You're right, Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) was innovative but still a platformer. The Mega Drive sequels improved every aspect of the original game. I guess that what makes them unique and almost a new genre to me is that the platforms are integrated into the environment organically, kind of what Donkey Kong Country did masterly in 1994. Actually, Donkey Kong Country also included that momentum somewhere between Mario and Sonic and collecting all the items is dynamic and satisfying. Combine that with beautiful visuals, superb soundtrack and tight controls and you get Rare's master trilogy, better than Retro's platformers, in my opinion. If I had to choose the best platformers ever made, Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, 3 & Knuckles and Donkey Kong Country 1, 2 & 3 are all included.

The replayability of the topic games is huge because of many reasons, some listed by you. I still find new ways to play every level. The usual three-path design and the verticality adds a lot of depth. The missable loops also present different ways to go. The satisfaction I got when I beat a level in less than 30 seconds (I don't remember which one) to unlock something in Sonic CD (Time Trial) was incredible because I'm not a YouTube speedrunner. All this contribute to the uniqueness of the mainline 16-bit Sonic games but what makes them a different kind of platformer most of all is the momentum and that unlike traditional platformers the horizontal platforms are combined with verticality, loops, etc. So it's about platforming but also about racing, rolling and flying! The traditional platformer presents a challenge to the player one after another and you do them one by one while these Sonic games is almost like a fish playing inside an aquarium or a bird playing in the sky and there are optimal ways to complete each level that only skill and practice can trigger. Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) didn't get enough praise and the Mega Drive sequels only improved the scope and a brilliant programming idea that was matched by incredibly detailed and charming graphics and characters.

@ShadowofTwilight22 Right, Xbox is full of Rare and Sega goodness for the cheapest price. It's an essential console for retro gaming.

@ShadowofTwilight22 I'm more an Xbox guy. More Japanese games are coming to Xbox these days 👍. It will be interesting what Sony does with the announced retro PS games. I bought a PS4 at launch thinking I could access the digital PS2 games available on PS3 such as Project Zero/Fatal Frame and then I realised the PS4 store was a separated one 😂. Those games were never released for PS4, not even when some PS2 arrived in the PS4 store. Hopefully, they are porting or remastering them soon 🤞.

@Banjo- Yes, I 100% agree with everything you said, and those reasons are why I personally prefer the 2d Sonic games to the 2d Mario games (even though I really like them both) - funny you mentioned DKC also taking on Sonic's more organic environments and adding momentum-based movement etc, certainly when I was younger and owned a SNES, I vastly prefered DKC to Mario World - I actually remember seeing a demo unit in a shop and turning my nose up at how basic it looked, and a 1 night rental later on didn't change my mind. Whereas DKC (along with Star Wing/Fox and Street Fighter 2) were the reason a Sega fanboy like me finally broke down and asked for a SNES for Xmas 94. I adored the first 2 DKC games. I also don't enjoy the Retro Studios titles as much, though I keep meaning to go back and give them a proper chance as I own them both.

Nowadays of course I have a far more nuanced opinion on Mario World and can see why its such a classic and the level design especially is far better than I realised when I was younger. Funnily enough, it was playing the NES version of Mario 3 at a friend's house that truly converted me to "liking" Mario games and made me give Mario World another chance after completely dismissing it. After that I went back in and played through All Stars, and got Super Mario Land on the Gameboy, and DK 94 which is actually one of my top 10 favourite games ever. Once it "clicked" I really enjoyed all the 2d Marios - I just had to get past the hurdle that from a technical point of view they were all so much more limited than Sonic or DKC, and the character didn't appeal to me as much. It was Super Mario 64 that 100% completely won me over as far as the character himself - that game made him feel far more real, and cute and round and cartoonish, and the moveset and levels finally truly won me over and made me want to live there, just as Green Hill Zone had in 91. So nowadays I'm an equal fan of both Mario and Sonic... although Sonic will always be my first gaming love

Hold up, does letterboxed mode mean original 4:3? You have to preorder or pay for that? That's dumb.

@samuelvictor Wow, I really enjoyed your last post 👌. I also wanted to live in Green Hill Zone and I thought that Sonic and Tails were so cool running, jumping and saving animals in between. Super Mario World was the first game I owned and I really appreciated it from the start but like you said Super Mario 64, the first 3D game I played, made everything more real. Mario was right there moving in different ways, in 3D, blinking, talking. It made me want to climb trees in the real world and that's exactly what I did in the park 😊.

@Gryffin There is a "classic mode" which is 4:3 and there are ten letterbox backgrounds for that, one of them is a pre-order bonus (the Mega Drive/Genesis design).

@Banjo- Oh I see, so it's just the design for the background. I'm more cool with that.

@Banjo- Yes, it’s just so crazy how people are acting like this is the worst thing ever that just doesn’t deserve any money, when this has a 1,000 more times effort then 3d all stars that let’s be honest, everyone bought.

As a sonic fan, this collection is just a love letter, I mean look, they have sonic CD they could have just thrown in 3 games and called it a day, but no, remasters, animations, all that for only five bucks extra, on top of that the game is still around 20$ less then 3d all stars and it’s more of a collection then That ever was

Edit: And my stupid self didn’t even know they had S&K till you said something.

@Snatcher You hit the nail on the head. Why some people are saying that they've changed their minds and that this doesn't deserve any money because... there's superfluous and cheap DLC? Yes, the marketing is messy but either pay those extra 4 pounds or just get the regular version! Like you said, Super Mario 3D All-Stars was more expensive and skipped Super Mario Galaxy 2. Sonic Origins is the definitive collection of all mainline 16-bit Sonic games, remade for modern hardware and TVs and the most important extras are included in all versions: story mode with cinematic animations, museum, mirror mode, classic mode, Knuckles in Sonic 1, boss rush mode...

@Banjo- It’s so crazy, you don’t even need to get the deluxe version, you don’t have to buy the dlc, and let’s not forget people were willing to pay for galaxy 2 as dlc.

In all honesty I have yet to see all the content in includes because I haven’t looked into to much yet but from what you said, this is just a amazing collection, that had heart, that wanted to please fans.

Don’t know why sega is all of a sudden the bad guy just because they charged you 40 for a good collection lol.

And that’s not saying things couldn’t have been done better, but dang.

I wrote a summary.

ALL EDITIONS:

Anniversary mode: free character selection except in Sonic CD (Knuckles available in Sonic the Hedgehog for the first time), 16:9 aspect ratio, infinite continues and time.

Story mode: adds cinematic animations.

Classic mode: 4:3 aspect ratio, limited continues and time.

Mirror mode: inverted levels (unlocked if you pre-order).

Boss rush mode: grants coins.

Missions: grant coins.

Museum: automatically unlock section and unlock with 3,000 coins section.

Worldwide leader boards.

START DASH PACK (FREE PRE-ORDER DLC):

100 coins.

Unlocked mirror mode (mirror mode can also be unlocked in the base game).

Start Dash Pack limited letterbox background addition (Mega Drive design).

DIGITAL DELUXE EDITION:

Includes all the DLC except the Mega Drive/Genesis letterbox background which is a pre-order bonus.

Hard missions (11 types in total).

Letterbox background added (10 types in total).

Characters appearing in the main menu (Sonic, Tails and Eggman).

Island camera function in the main menu.

Added character effects when playing sounds.

Added music the museum: 73 remastered tracks from Sonic Spinball, Knuckles' Chaotix and Sonic 3D Blast.

@Snatcher That's right! The thing is that the "deluxe" DLC is superfluous and cheap. I just posted a summary, I think that this recaps everything.

@Banjo- various reports suggest a physical release is "hinted" though I don't know where those hints are.

@Banjo- recaps everything very well.

Just visited the Sonic Origins website, and Nintendo Switch isn’t on the list of platforms in the preorder section anymore, previously it was there with “coming soon” written over it.

@Snatcher
People are literally comparing this to a Ubisoft release, with how they make 5 different editions, each having unique content, with no way to get them separately. Also how some games have exclusive content included in preorders,
Sonic Origins has two editions, one of which comes with everything, then it has dlc, and a preorder bonus of early unlocks, so no matter when or how you buy Sonic Origins you can still get all the content.
The deluxe edition is also only $5us $8aus extra.

Sonic Origins is a proper anniversary collection with 4 full remasters, new features, new cutscenes, music player (with optional add ons), and a museum, all for $40us, with no “delete” date”, plus a $5us extra deluxe edition (and a graph that fans have made better versions of).
Super Mario 3D All-Stars has 3 slightly modded games, with no new features, a basic music player, $60us, and was limited time.

Sega has done a better, and more consumer friendly job then both Nintendo & Ubisoft have done, so why is Sega in such a big controversy? Just cause they made a not so good graph, and NO ONE IS READING IT PROPERLY.

@Banjo- Thanks! Yes thats exactly the feeling I got the first time I saw Green Hill Zone, and I never experienced that same level of complete awe and wonderment after that until I first saw Mario 64. Both games completely captured my imagination and made me want to live in that world, be friends with the characters etc. Like you I'd run around in the park and stuff singing Sonic/Mario tunes in my head pretending I saw in the games! Simpler times, that I will never forget.

@Baker1000 There will be "no" physical version of Sonic Origins just like there was "no" physical version of Mania. They will wait for a while, release "Mania Plus" style DLC, then "due to overwhelming fan demand" will release a physical version. But they still "didn't lie", because its "Origins Plus", not Origins. I'd be willing to bet everything I own that this is exactly what will happen.

They know the fanbase is strong enough that we'll all buy it digitally first, then the DLC, then buy it all again physically if they put it in some sparkley packaging with a nice manual or artbook... and the slightly less rabid fans who didn't buy digital will finally jump on board. Then 6 months or so later they will release a double pack for those on the fence including Mania/Forces/Racing, or maybe wait and do a double pack with Frontiers, after thats already been out a while and sold to the hardcore.

As for the DLC (not the announced stuff, I mean a "plus" style later pack in maybe 3-6 months that will then all be included in the physical version), I'm keeping fingers crossed for Chaotix, Spinball, Mean Bean, Sonic 3D and the 8bit games, which if just included as roms playable in the museum wouldn't take much effort... but extra playable characters or reimagined levels like Plus seems plausible. Would be easy to add Ray and Mighty back in, personally I'd really love 32x sprite Vector, Espio and Charmy in there, so we finally have all the classic era hero characters playable in all the main games of their era, and preferably playable Amy using a new full sprite based on her Sonic CD design. If ALL that was included I'd literally burst lol.

@Pandy-the-Panda Yeah I noticed that too - but it still has the Switch logo at the bottom with the platforms its coming to, and of course the Switch logo on the trailer. Its 100% coming to Switch (it would be insane not to, the majority of retro Sega fans now own a Switch and prefer it for retro/indie titles).

Compared to the other platforms, Nintendo are quite strict with their approval of content addition to eShop and legality regarding linking to it, using graphics/logos etc, so this is probably why. They will probably have been asked to remove that "coming soon" graphic because Nintendo will have received a whole bunch of fans bothering them about it, and as a dev myself with plenty of dev friends, it seems they do not seem to take pressure or polite requests to speed things up or hit a certain date into consideration at all. They manually check all listings by hand and if they request a slight change either to the software or to the legal wording/graphics of the listing itself, you have to start the entire process again and go to the back of the queue.

It may signal a slight delay in release date for Switch if Nintendo don't approve it in time, but hopefully not. The re-applying doesn't typically take too long either way unless they require changes to the actual game itself in which case they have to do all their safety testing of the new version again.

Also on the subject of website updates, they've now updated the graph to be far clearer that the Deluxe version contains everything, as long as you preorder. Now if only they'd add the prices so people can see its only $4 more there would be zero stuff to moan about. lol

@samuelvictor
I’m sure the Switch version is still coming on the same day, it would have no reason to take longer, and is still listed in the trailer along with the other consoles, without a note about the release being different.
Great note about Nintendo being very strict, they may have disliked the coming soon being plastered over it, but now people may be asking them and Sega if it’s even still coming…
Also it’s an $8 different between versions here in Australia, still not outrageous in my opponion.

Apparently the Japanese website says “in anniversary mode, you can spend the coins to retry special stages”, I’ll gladly except this over save states since you have to now play the game and earn the right to keep retrying.

@Pandy-the-Panda Yes I'd definitely be surprised if it is delayed for Switch, but if it is, it will just because during the approval process to add to eshop Nintendo have asked for a minor change to be made. This is why we often see Switch versions launching just a few days after the planned date, when the other digital services get it on time. Its very rarely more than a week or so, I'm not concerned either way.

A link to the Japanese website, it actually has a proper English language option. It confirms more features, such as the museum included brand new never seen before content. ://asia.sega.com/SonicOrigins/en/mode/

@Pandy-the-Panda Thank you for sharing that link. The Japanese website is much better than the other one, AND their purchase options are presented in a way that's so much simpler to understand. No silly table. Although it does say "Nitendo"! lol.

@Pandy-the-Panda Nintendo being Nintendo LOL.

@samuelvictor I feel that you and I would have been best friends if we were in the same school! 😊 I'm not involved in the film industry but the music industry.

In regard to Origins Plus, if it was Nintendo I'd be really concerned (separate purchase, full-priced release, etc.) but Sega would add all the extra content as a digital upgrade like Disney did with their current-gen collection. I pre-ordered Sonic Mania (Xbox, digital) and then I upgraded to Plus.

@Banjo- Haha we certainly have a lot in common, I'm sure we would have gotten on too Funnily enough, I started off in the music industry then moved into film slowly as my contacts and skill sets increased (I've also been involved with animation, visual effects, videogames, comic and graphic design, advertising. To me, its quite natural for them all to merge together and support each other, all just different ways to express creativity and ideas and my main skillsets are imagination and knowing my way around computers/software/equipment to make my ideas real.)

No space to explain here but the biography text on IMDb gives a fairly detailled rundown of how/why that happened. Of course, I'm still very passionate about music and still work on the soundtracks for various movies I produce. So yeah, another thing we have in common, always glad to talk to creative people here, found through a shared love of games

As for "Origins Plus" (or whatever it ends up being called, I imagine it will be exactly the same as Mania Plus, in that for digital downloads you'll just buy Origins and then be offered the DLC (theres still no way to buy "Mania Plus" on the eshop - its Mania and then the Encore DLC. When I said I (or we as fans) would pay full price all over again, I meant because we'll first pay full price for digital, then digital dlc, and then full price for physical. Sorry if I was unclear or said it in a confusing way.

@samuelvictor Don't worry, I understood what you mean and it made sense because you were talking about a physical release and, naturally, a physical release means full price again 👍. I was just comparing what Nintendo and the rest of the publishers would probably do.

I just read your profile, it's so cool that we share that love for music, it is (it would be) a pleasure to meet you! 😊

@Banjo- You too! Once the world goes back to normal, and our superhero movie is allowed to move forward again, I'll be on the promo rounds at many comiccons and gaming cons around the UK, USA, Canada and parts of Western Europe for the next 2 years at least (possibly for the rest of my life if the planned sequels and spin offs come to fruition lol), so I'm sure that could happen! (Hopefully some events round the rest of the world too, depending on safety, politics and budgets, but the areas I mentioned are pre-booked already)

@samuelvictor That's fantastic, things going well after the last few years 😊.

@Banjo- Thanks! Yeah its been a weird few years for sure, but has been for the whole world, and I don't feel I can complain. Hopefully will be a fun ride over the coming years though

@samuelvictor It has been hard for me at least but everything's fine now 😊.

@Banjo- Sorry to hear that but glad things are looking up

I'll only get it when it comes physically.

I like Sonic games only enough to buy one of them for my Switch. I was debating between this collection and Sonic Mania. SEGA's making the choice easy.