When something is described as 'ultimate', you'd be forgiven for thinking that this essentially means "the best of the best', or "the most complete package". Heck, just look at the cast of Danganronpa; they're the "ultimate" in their respective fields, showcasing talents that no one else could possibly match, right?
So when Sega launched the "Ultimate Sonic Bundle" on the Switch eShop just yesterday, it's quite natural to assume that this encompasses all major Sonic releases on the Switch. As a reminder, this consists of Sonic Mania, Sonic Forces, Team Sonic Racing, Sonic Colours Ultimate, and the recently released Sonic Origins. You've also got the Sega Ages branded releases of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for good measure, if you're a completionist.
The problem, however, is that this ultimate package only contains three of the aforementioned titles: Sonic Mania, Sonic Forces, and Team Sonic Racing. We say "problem", but just to be clear, we're not exactly crying over this; the title of the bundle certainly suggests something a bit more substantial, though, and we were definitely surprised to see key titles from the franchise missing from this release. Not only that, but the standard price of £64.99 is pretty steep when you consider that all three titles have been included in some pretty generous sales in the past.
We've seen Sonic Forces go down to as low as £8.74, Sonic Mania go down to £7.99, and Team Sonic Racing reach £8.74 as well. All together, that comes to a rather appealing £25.47, which is undoubtedly a more digestible sum of money than £64.99. Granted, we're almost certain that the bundle itself will receive some hefty discounts in the future, but consider this a polite public service announcement: buying digital games separately will often be much kinder on your wallet than going for such bundles. Keep it in mind!
Do you already own the titles included in the "Ultimate Sonic Bundle", or will you be checking this one out? Let us know with a comment!
[source nintendo.co.uk]
Comments 41
SEGA, squeezing as much money from the Hedgehog as possible
Looks like SEGA become so unprofessional to handle this Sonic games.
This feels like a marketing stunt to make the Sonic brand look more valuable than it is.
Why not just buy Sonic Mania separately and be content in making the right decision?
Correct me if I’m wrong but this bundle has been on consoles (Not switch) or at least Xbox since 2019.
If that’s the case the bundle is pretty old, and even then it’s different on pc, as it really is the ultimate bundle, but even then The original was just these three games. What I’m trying to say is sega just ported a three year old bundle to the switch. So if people thought it was coming with other stuff which they never said, well, it’s not really there fault.
(Doesn’t change the fact that’s it’s overpriced)
What a bundle of joy... It seems a very steeply priced bundle and you're right, these games go on sale more often than there have been bad Sonic games, so that's quite a lot.
@snatcher
This bundle has been available on Switch (in Canada) for a while now.
Maybe it's newly released in other regions?
@adam9431 It has? Huh, so its new for other regions.
Which makes me even more confused as to say anyone would think it would get anything else even tho the name is over selling it lol.
The only good one in this bundle is Sonic Mania, and even that game is only 1/4 new, the rest is recycled elements from Sonic's glory days.
@Pikki mind if I share the dream with you!
@Snatcher @Pikki I dream three!
Kinda seems redundant in my opinion. Considering these three had been on sale for quite many a time.
When they aren't on sale all 3 of them bought separately are about 86 pounds. But you could shop arround physically and probably get them for same price or cheaper even. all being under 10 in multiple sales now on every platform and think mania was given away on psn plus at some point, makes it a crap deal and ulimate moniker without colours is just pants
I mean TECHNICALLY, ultimate means "Final," which is something to consider when getting ultimate nachos.
It can be correctly used to mean, "The last version, because there's no reason to even TRY to make it better," but most people don't mean that either.
@Snatcher
As per nintendo's web page, Jan 27, 2022
“It was a bad decision, meaning it HAD to have been a SEGA decision!” - Scott the Woz
As much as I'll defend 3D Sonic in general, I think there are only 2 Sonic games worth playing on the Switch: Sonic Mania and Sonic Origins.
The former is arguably the best 2D Sonic of all times, whereas the latter is a decent (albeit flawed) compilation of some classics.
Team Sonic Racing is okay but underwhelming compared to other Sonic racers as well as the competition (Mario Kart, Crash Team Racing). Colours is an overrated 2D game masquerading as a 3D one (but without the excellent controls and mechanics of the actual 2D games IMO). And Forces is...Forces.
This isn't really a new bundle. It's just that the author is talking about the European release of the bundle, it's been available for a while in North America.
If you want to be pedantic, it's missing Mario & Sonic Tokyo 2020, you be the judge if Smash Bros. Ultimate is also missing.
A bundle of games I own, and games I've deliberately skipped? Sign me up!
@Buizel EXACTLY. If you want Colors as an ACTUAL 2D Sonic game, play the DS version - much better than the console versions, and it has a plot that makes much more sense.
SEGA have sold out, haven't they. Whatever they had during the golden age of arcades just seems to be missing. It's so sad
I have these already but for those that don't I would definitely recommend Sonic Mania. Sonic Colors Ultimate is outright broken so just stick with the Wii version.
@GrailUK
I feel the same way now, since they sold their arcades. I can still hope they will find their way again.
Sega please release a physical edition of Sonic Origins.
I've seen a few companies are doing multiple game bundles on the eShop at the moment and I've noticed the prices are not particularly great value. But I guess they're designed to be perceived as good value. This one is the biggest joke of them all!
Thanks for the warning. I'll be sure not to waste money on these games.
Classic Sega
Perhaps it's the Penultimate Bundle?
Sega being stupid as usual. No wonder their hardware business failed.
Doesn't matter to me. I have pretty much everything Sonic-related that has been released on Xbox and Steam/PC for the last decade or two, plus pretty much everything released on Switch and 3DS in their entire existence, and whatever really matters on PS4. They can keep their stupid incomplete bundles, they have nothing I don't already own several times over.
I can't pick the most bizarre choice: the bundle princing being higher than the individual games together or the fact they put Sonic Forces as one of the 3 games in a "Ultimate Bundle"
I wish they port sonic adventure 1 and 2 in a bundle.
Already got all of them, some more than once. If Sega took the effort they spend on reselling old content and invested it into making good Sonic games, now that would be great.
@Gamergirl94 A proper remake of SA1 and 2 would be awesome. The games aged poorly and the voice acting is some of the worst I've ever heard. The weird facial animations are creepy too.
@RareFan You're not wrong, but you're not right either. Mania takes the old zones, and uses the first act as an homage to the original level, usually incorporating the iconic set pieces and level design from Acts 1 and 2 of the original game into Act 1 of Mania. Act 2 is a level with the same aesthetics of the original zone, but the ideas are new and twisted around. Saying it's 3/4th recycled zones just isn't true for what the game is. The game heavily uses stage elements and iconic designs from the series history, but puts them together in new and interesting ways.
Of course, I'd have preferred Mania to be entirely new zones, but Sega said they were going to do something else, and the Mania team did the best they could under those restrictions.
C'mon Sega give us all the games that you put on your other collections, minis, and bundle. Y'all should be doing what Capcom is doing and make some Arcade, SMS, Genesis, Saturn, Game Gear, Dreamcast bundle collection that feature 32 games or more like the their Arcade Stadia. I'm sure the fans would love that. I know I'm having a blast with every one of those right now.
Ol' Sonic is involved in discounts quite often anyway. shrug.
I have all the games I want there.
Just get Mania and call it a day. It wasn't made by Sonic Team and it's the only good game in the bundle.
@Gamergirl94 That would be nice, but I believe both are available on Xbox and PC/Steam if you have one of those platforms. I wouldn't bet on them porting the games to Switch; if they ever had any intention of doing that they would have done it a long time ago.
I get what you are saying about digital often being cheaper, but I tend to balk more at prices of digital games. I'll see years old games on the eshop or elsewhere that are still priced as new, all the time. Meanwhile I can order a cart for tens of dollars less.
It's also hideously over-priced, in my opinion
@Snatcher this bundle has been available on PS4 and Xbox One sometime after Sonic Team Racing. It launched December 5 2021 on PS4 and Xbox One. Sonic Colors Ultimate wasn't released yet.
Still too expensive though.
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