We’m sure many of you were as excited as we were to finally see the official confirmation that Sonic Origins arrives on June 23, the 31st anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog’s release on Mega Drive. These are some of the most ported games in history, true, but this collection – which brings Sonic 3 back into the mix on the console for the first time in years – is poised to become a tasty package.
However, we are also sure that many of you like us were amazed to look at Sega’s unnecessarily complicated diagram describing the different versions of the game and the DLC offered. 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, here’s the chart from Sega’s website again in case you missed it:
So let’s divide it according to the diagram and our current understanding. We have used prices from other platforms so far as the game’s Nintendo eShop page is not live at the time of writing.
Sonic Origins Standard Edition
Cost: $ 39.99 / £ 32.99
Includes:
Sonic Origins Digital Deluxe Edition
Cost: $ 44.99 / £ 36.99
Includes:
- The basic game
- Hard missions
- Main menu Character animation
- Main menu Ø camera controls
- Music Island Character Animations
- Extra tracks from Mega Drive Genesis titles
Missing:
- 100 bonus coins
- Mailbox background
Sonic Origins Start Dash Pack
Cost: unknown (but included for free with digital pre-orders of both editions of the game)
Includes:
- 100 bonus coins
- Mirror mode unlocked *
- Mailbox background (also included in Premium Fun Pack, but does not Digital Deluxe Edition)
* It seems that Mirror Mode can be unlocked in the base game, and it is simply unlocked from the beginning with this DLC, according to the Japanese press release
Sonic Origins Premium Fun Pack
Cost: unknown (“COMING SOON” according to the website)
Includes:
- Hard Missions (also included in Digital Deluxe Edition)
- Letterbox Background (also included in the Start Dash Pack, but does not Digital Deluxe Edition)
- Main menu Character Animation (also included in Digital Deluxe Edition)
- Main menu Island Camera Controls (also included in Digital Deluxe Edition)
- Music Island Character Animations (also included in Digital Deluxe Edition)
Sonic Origins classical music package
Cost: unknown (“COMING SOON” according to the website)
Includes:
- Extra tracks from Mega Drive Genesis titles (included in Digital Deluxe Edition)
Eh, why is it so complicated?
On the one hand, it can be expected that Sega wants to squeeze every penny from some of the most popular video games in history, even though you have about 40 other ways to play some of the included games.
So again, this is definitely not a euphemism for something else this complicated. The lack of clarification of what exactly can be unlocked in the base game compared to what is DLC-exclusive – plus the lack of individual DLC pricing – makes this whole chart ‘solution’ almost Nintendo-like in its folding.
At first we thought that music DLC could be Sega’s way of covering licensing costs for the original Sonic composer Masato Nakamura, or even the rights holders of Sonic 3’s compositions (which have long been rumored to have been written by Michael Jackson and his songwriting team). However, it seems that the DLC package can add music to Other things Sonic games not included in the collection (as far as we know) such as Sonic Spinball, 3D Blast and Knuckles Chaotix. These games definitely have some bangers … but we’m just not sure we would pay extra to hear them through a BGM menu.
There’s also the annoyance of Sega gating modes behind the launch of DLC for games that are available to play in many, many other roads. On Switch alone, there are already at least three other ways to play Sonic 1. Charging extra for DLC is bound to stick with the amount of fans who have stuck to Sonic and Sega in thick and thin.
Do not get us wrong, we are excited about this collection, especially now that the involvement of Sonic Mania developer Headcannon has been confirmed. It’s just annoying that Sega has apparently done the hard work and got the right people involved in the development, has gone and messed things up along with an unnecessarily intricate spread of options that speaks to the company’s most loyal fans.
Poll: Are you confused? Which version of Sonic Origins do you want to buy?
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We will update the information above as new details regarding prices and unlocks come out. In the meantime, be sure to tell us your thoughts below.