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GAMING REVIEWS

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SONIC ORIGINS PLUS

PLATFORMER MULTIPLAYER

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Since debuting in 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog has blasted his way through many games. 16 of them come together in this new compilation, which features some of his all-time finest moments. Presentation is top-notch, and there are numerous options – and extras – that will bring tears of joy to many a Sonicphile.

The headliners are the original Mega Drive/Mega-CD big four – Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Sonic CD – all afforded

gets to join in on the fun of Sonic CD for the first time. There are also ‘Boss Rush’ challenges for each of the four games. The other 12 games hail from the handheld SEGA Game Gear era. They range from the original port of Sonic the Hedgehog through several games, some of which were Japan only releases. Highlights include pinball influenced Sonic Spinball and Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine , which is a reskinned Puyo Puyo , a top puzzle game. Last, and most certainly not least, this physical iteration delivers a reversible cover insert that relives those much-loved Mega Drive days, plus a classy 20-page colour artbook. Whether you grew up with Sonic or reckon it’s time that the kids had the pleasure, Sonic Origins Plus is a beautifully presented, memory triggering tribute to SEGA’s enduring mascot. AF

A SONIC SALUTE A sizeable nod to Sonic’s history is a museum that features repositories for sounds, illustrations, and movies. Many of these unlock through progress in the various games in the collection, while others require the spending of earned in-game currency.

21st-century loving without breaking what made them special originally. The new ‘Anniversary Mode’ sees them in modern TV-filling widescreen. Fab new animations top and tail them, and – sticklers avert your eyes – they come with unlimited lives. If you want it all emulated ’90s style, there is ‘Classic Mode’, so nobody loses out. All four play like you remember them, and there are a few extra features that you can dial in. Sonic super-fan Amy Rose is now playable across all four titles, and Knuckles

STREET FIGHTER 6

FIGHTING MULTIPLAYER

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For more than three decades, the Street Fighter series has been the first word in video game biffo. With Street Fighter 6 , Capcom aim to bring us the ultimate experience. This one delivers a one-two-three knockout blow with a trio of modes to explore. We kick off with ‘World Tour’, which

delivers a broad single-player experience. Bordering on RPG territory, after creating your

can fight as your avatar, or become one of those core 18 fighters. There’s a huge array of options for matches, plus live text-based chat, participation or spectating, and newly added commentary to enjoy. The classic control scheme has always been challenging

BUT WAIT! YOU ALSO GET… Competing within ‘Fighting Ground’ yields masses of gorgeous artwork unlocks. Meanwhile, ‘Battle Hub’ offers the ‘Capcom Classics’ arcade, where you can play back catalogue machines from the venerable arcade manufacturer’s rich canon.

character you’re let loose in Final Fight ’s Metro City. After a bit of training, you variously encounter masters while picking fights with all and sundry, all in the name of boosting your stats. That isn’t it for solo players though, for ‘Fighting Ground’ packs another massive wallop of content. This one’s more traditional, where you leap into story adventures for all 18 included core fighters. If online is your jam, then the third area, ‘Battle Hub’, is where you’ll want to be. A cool arcade serves as a lobby, where you

to those coming in fresh to Street Fighter games. Offering easier inroads into SF6 , Capcom have implemented two new, easier to grasp control schemes, ‘Modern’, and ‘Dynamic’. Two mechanics have been added to bring more skill and excitement, in ‘Drive Parry’ and ‘Drive Impact’. Both function as ways to turn the tide on assaults, with the latter in particular adding some cutscene drama to proceedings depending upon the timing. In Street Fighter 6 , Capcom give us a jampacked festival of fighting that truly has something for everybody, from the merely biffo curious right through to the decades-long SF obsessive. Now, fight! AF

14 SEPTEMBER 2023

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