Why You Can Trust CNET Sonic Origins Remasters Classic Games, Gets June 23 Release Date
The classic Sega game collection includes remastered versions of the original Sonic, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles and Sonic CD.
Play Sonic, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles and Sonic CD one more time on your next-gen console.
Sonic fans will be able to revisit remastered versions of the blue hedgehog's classic '90s adventures on June 23, when Sonic Origins launches on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. The collection's enhanced visuals and new features were revealed in a trailer Wednesday.
The remastered game collection includes the original Sonic, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles and Sonic CD games. The first three originally came out on the Sega Genesis from 1991 to 1994, while Sonic CD hit the Sega CD in 1993.
These versions let you play as Sonic, Tails or Knuckles in all of the games.
The missions offer new challenges to Sonic veterans.
You can play through in Classic Mode, which presents the games with retro visuals and limited lives, or the new Anniversary Mode, which gives you enhanced visuals, full-screen display and infinite lives, so you can see every level without any game-overs. There are also missions you can complete to earn in-game medallions, which can be used to unlock content.
However, this collection is pricey at $40 -- these are all incredible games, but they've been released multiple times over the years (Sonic 2, for example, is available to Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers). You can also pay $45 for the digital deluxe edition, which adds difficult missions, more music and other in-game content. It's available to preorder from Wednesday.
June 23 will be the franchise's 31st anniversary -- the original Sonic came out in the US on that date in 1991. If you're looking for a retro-style 2D Sonic game to play right now, Sonic Mania came out in 2017 and is excellent.