It’s a pretty, ahem, way past cool time to be a Sonic fan. With a hit movie collecting millions of rings in theaters, now is the perfect time for the blue blur to have a major video game announcement. Enter Sonic Origins, a game that had been announced during last year’s Sonic Central showcase. At the time, we knew what games would be part of the collection (Sonic the Hedgehog 1, 2, 3 & Knuckles, and Sonic CD) and were told that there would be extra content and features, but like any good teaser, that was all the information we got.
Until today.
What we know about Sonic Origins now
The four games have been fully remastered, and you’ll be able to choose between Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles when starting your adventure. This means that you’ll be able to play Sonic games with characters who didn’t even exist when they were released (ie: playing as Tails or Knuckles in the original Sonic the Hedgehog). Granted, old-school fans know that this is a thing that was possible via the highly advanced “lock-on technology” from the Genesis days, but it’s still a neat feature to include.
What I’m really excited about is seeing that beautiful Sonic Mania animation, especially since it’s not just for the opening cinematic. Apparently, we’re getting animated content for Sonic Origins, as demonstrated in the battle between Sonic and Knuckles that takes place in Sonic 3 & Knuckles. I’m really looking forward to seeing iconic Sonic Genesis moments brought to life like this. I will most definitely scream until my throat hurts if one of the scenes is Super Sonic vs the Death Egg Robot in space.
With this Sonic Origins trailer, we now know what the extra content is that was mentioned back in May. You can choose to play in Classic Mode or Anniversary Mode, which changes the view you get while playing the game. According to Polygon, there will also be missions to complete where you can earn in-game medallions to spend in an in-game vault. A Digital Deluxe edition will come with bonus hard missions, additional music tracks, letterbox backgrounds, character animations, and an island camera. If you preorder the game, you’ll get 100 bonus medallions, unlock a brand-new Mirror Mode, and the ability to customize your playthrough with a themed Letterbox Background.
When will the game speed by onto consoles?
Sonic Origins will be released digitally on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on June 23, 2022. Fun fact: June 23rd is Sonic’s birthday and the original release date of the original game. The game will cost $39.99 with the deluxe edition costing five dollars more at $44.99. There’s no word on a physical release.
While this isn’t the first time Sonic has gotten a collection for his classic games, and I do own his previous collection packs, I’m thrilled to see him getting so much love with this upcoming release. I’m still feeling a pleasant emerald-powered buzz from the movie, so I can’t wait to revisit these classic games and cheer for the animated scenes we get.
And inevitably panic when I remember that classic Sonic didn’t let you go into final boss fights with rings.
(Image: Sega)
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