Poll: Are You Finding Sonic Origins’ Various Editions And DLC Packs Confusing?

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Sonic Origins
Image: Nintendo Life

We’re sure many of you were as excited as us to finally see official confirmation that Sonic Origins will arrive on 23rd June, 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 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 looking at Sega’s needlessly complicated chart detailing the different editions of the game and the DLC on offer. Let’s have a closer look at what’s included, shall we?

Sonic Origins Different Editions and DLC Packs – What You Get, How Much They Cost

Firstly, here is the chart from Sega’s website once again if you missed it:

Ahem. Well, the Deluxe version is orange. Simple!
Ahem. Well, the Deluxe version is orange. Simple! (Image: SEGA)

So, let’s break it down, as per 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

Includes:

Sonic Origins Digital Deluxe Edition

Cost: $44.99 / £36.99

Includes:

  • The base game
  • Hard Missions
  • Main Menu Character Animation
  • Main Menu Island Camera Controls
  • Music Island Character Animations
  • Extra Tracks from Mega Drive Genesis titles

Missing:

  • 100 Bonus Coins
  • Letterbox 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*
  • Letterbox Background (also included in the Premium Fun Pack, but not the Digital Deluxe Edition)

*It seems that Mirror Mode can be unlocked in the base game and it’s 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 the Digital Deluxe Edition)
  • Letterbox Background (also included in the Start Dash Pack, but not the 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 website)

Includes:

  • Extra Tracks from Mega Drive Genesis titles (included in the Digital Deluxe Edition)
Sonic Origins
Image: SEGA

Er, Why Is This So Complicated?

On the one hand, it’s to be expected that Sega would want to squeeze every last penny from some of the most popular video games in history, even if you’ve got about 40 other ways to play some of the included games.

Then again, it surely didn’t need to be this complicated. The lack of clarification over what exactly is unlockable in the base game versus what is DLC-exclusive — plus the lack of individual DLC pricing — makes this whole chart ‘solution’ almost Nintendo-like in its convolution.

At first we thought that the music DLC might be Sega’s way of covering licencing costs for original Sonic composer Masato Nakamura, or even the rights holders to Sonic 3’s compositions (which are long-rumoured to have been written by Michael Jackson and his songwriting team). However, it seems like that DLC pack may add music for other Sonic games not included in the collection (as far as we know) such as Sonic Spinball, 3D Blast and Knuckles Chaotix. Those games have got some bangers, to be sure… but we’re just not sure we’d pay extra to hear them through a BGM menu.

Toxic Caves is a belter...
Toxic Caves is a belter… (Image: SEGA)

There’s also the irritation of Sega gating modes behind launch DLC for games which are available to play in many, many other ways. On Switch alone there are already at least three other ways to play Sonic 1. Charging extra for DLC is bound to stick in the craw of fans who have stuck by Sonic and Sega through thick and thin.

Don’t get us wrong, we’re excited for this collection, especially now the involvement of Sonic Mania developer Headcannon has been confirmed. It’s just irritating that having apparently done the hard work and got the right people involved in development, Sega has gone and messed things up with a needlessly convoluted spread of options that nickle-and-dime the company’s most faithful fans.

Poll: Are You Confused? Which Version Of Sonic Origins Will You Be Buying?

Let us know your thoughts on this sticky Sonic Origins situation in the polls below.

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.