We’re sure many of you were as excited as we were to finally see official confirmation that Sonic Origins will arrive on June 23, the 31st anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog’s release on Mega Drive. They’re some of the most ported games in history, true, but this collection – which brings Sonic 3 back into the mix on console for the first time in years – is shaping up to be a tasty package.
However, we’re also sure that, like us, many of you were baffled by looking at Sega’s unnecessarily complicated chart detailing the different editions of the game and the DLC on offer. Let’s take a closer look at what’s included, shall we?
Sonic Origins Different Editions and DLC Packs – What You Get, How Much They Cost
First of all, here is the table of Sega website again if you missed it:
So, let’s break it down, according to the chart and our current understanding. We’ve used pricing from other platforms for now, as the game’s Nintendo eShop page isn’t live at the time of writing.
Sonic Origins Standard Edition
Cost: $39.99 / £32.99
Understand :
Sonic Origins Digital Deluxe Edition
Cost: $44.99 / £36.99
Understand :
- The basic game
- Challenging missions
- Main menu character animation
- Main Menu Island Camera Commands
- Musical island character animations
- Additional tracks from Mega Drive Genesis titles
Faded away:
- 100 bonus coins
- mailbox background
Sonic Origins Start Dash Pack
Cost: unknown (but included free with digital pre-orders of both game editions)
Understand :
- 100 bonus coins
- Mirror mode unlocked*
- Letterbox Background (also included in the Premium Fun Pack, but do not digital deluxe edition)
* It looks like mirror mode can be unlocked in the base game and it’s just unlocked from the start with this DLC, according to Japanese press release
Premium Sonic Origins Fun Pack
Cost: unknown (“COMING SOON” according to the site)
Understand :
- Challenging missions (also included in the Digital Deluxe Edition)
- Letterbox Background (also included in the Start Dash Pack, but do not digital deluxe edition)
- Main menu character animation (also included in the digital deluxe edition)
- Main menu island camera controls (also included in the Digital Deluxe Edition)
- Music Island character animations (also included in the Digital Deluxe Edition)
Sonic Origins Classic Music Pack
Cost: unknown (“COMING SOON” according to the site)
Understand :
- Additional tracks from Mega Drive Genesis titles (included in the Digital Deluxe Edition)
Uh, why is it so complicated?
On the one hand, expect Sega to want to squeeze every penny out of some of the most popular video games in history, even though you have around 40 other ways to play some of the included games.
Again, surely it wasn’t necessary this complicated. The lack of clarification on what exactly is unlockable in the base game versus what is exclusive to DLC – as well as the lack of individual DLC pricing – makes this whole graphical “solution” almost like Nintendo’s in its own right. convolution.
At first, we thought DLC music might be Sega’s way of covering the licensing costs of original Sonic composer Masato Nakamura, or even the rights holders to Sonic 3 compositions (which would have been written long ago by Michael Jackson and his team of composers). However, it looks like this DLC pack can add music for other Sonic Games not included in the collection (as far as we know) such as Sonic Spinball, 3D Blast and Chaotix Fists. These games have bangers, sure… but we’re just not sure we’re paying extra to hear them through a BGM menu.
There is also the irritation of Sega trigger modes behind the launch of DLC for games that are available to play in many, a lot other ways. On Switch alone, there are already at least three other ways to play Sonic 1. Charging extra for the DLC is sure to stick in the throats of fans who have stuck with Sonic and Sega through thick and thin. .
Don’t get me wrong, we’re excited about this collection, especially now that Sonic Mania developer Headcannon’s involvement has been confirmed. It’s just irritating that having apparently done the hard work and involved the right people in development, Sega has gone and spoiled things with a series of unnecessarily convoluted options that delight the company’s most loyal fans.
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We’ll update the information above as new details come in regarding pricing and unlocks. In the meantime, be sure to let us know your thoughts below.