PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

Sonic Origins is a definitive anniversary title that delivers everything I want from a series’ remaster. While a few more customization options and restored songs would’ve put it over the top, technical updates polish these four emeralds for a new generation.

Sonic Origins is a fantastic celebration of 30 years of SEGA's spiky blue mascot, offering four of the best platformers money can buy and chucking in a bunch of great extras that long-time fans can appreciate. Regardless of where the Blue Blur head next, Sonic Origins is a reminder of just how damn good these timeless classics are.

Sonic Origins takes us back to that time where it had strong competition from Nintendo's Mario Bros. This time we have four games adapted for this gen and the ability to play it with Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. This is the best way to enjoy these classics.

Each Sonic game presented here in Sonic Origins has something that makes it stand out from the rest. But they all share a certain magic that means we return to them, time and time again, year after year; that's why this collection exists, after all. And it's thanks to this collection that yet more players, young and old, are going to be able to enjoy these classics. Hardcore Sonic fans will rue the music changes in Sonic 3, for sure, but everything else new or tweaked here is for the better. Sonic's 3D offerings over the years have been sketchy at best, but as long as we can still enjoy his origins, we'll love him regardless.

These games look great and play better than they ever have in HD. But what else do you get? As far as extras, not a ton. You do get a small museum mode, a boss rush, and some bonus missions. But compared to, say, the 3D explorable world with its multiple media museums from Sonic Jam, it’s a bit bare. But, hey, I’m not really here for bonuses. I’m here for those four games. And a few oddities aside, these are fantastic remasters. Even if you’re a Sonic fan who already owns these games in other compilations, Origins is worth it.

Sonic Origins is the Sonic anthology that Sonic the Hedgehog fans, including myself, have been waiting for years to play. Being able to play the classic Sonic titles in their original glory AND in an updated fashion thanks to Anniversary Mode should make newer players’ journeys less perilous than the journeys we had on our Sega Genesis in the 90s. Sonic is more forgiving than ever. You’ll be hit with all the nostalgia from Sonic 1, 2, 3, and CD, although some of the content has been changed. I only wish that this content was taken one step further: More playable content and animations, please!

Sonic Origins brings great versions of legendary games from the Mega Drive era, Sonic 1, Sonic 2 Sonic 3 & Knuckles and even Sonic CDs are finally playable on the big screens again, with a lot of additional content and quality of life changes that old-school fans will appreciate. A couple of minor issues will eventually be patched but the only thing we can’t forgive is what they did with Sonic 3's music.

A near perfect collection of the first four Sonic games, which can be played in remastered or classic mode. It also includes a lot of other modes like missions, boss rush and mirror modes.

While the music changes and audio mishaps are disappointing, the Sonic Origins package is terrific overall. Having the best versions of the classic Sonic saga in one bundle is supremely satisfying, and Anniversary Mode’s enhancements make the experience of playing through them more enjoyable than ever before. Even in a gaming landscape where most of these games are already available to download on every platform, Sonic Origins is a worthwhile package.

Sonic Origins does justice to Sonic's legacy, telling his story through its distinctive game mechanics and new animations that refresh the iconic formula. The games feel the way you remember them, with perhaps more precise controls. The different game modes in Sonic Origins will allow you to get out of the routine and give yourself a moment of fun and nostalgia.