Footage from Sonic Origins Plus has leaked early, and some fans aren’t happy with what they’re hearing.
Due to be released on June 23, Plus is an expansion pack for Sonic Origins which includes all 12 Sonic titles released on the Game Gear.
However, footage of some of these games has been shared online early (including by YouTuber belmont gr) and some are saying the audio emulation sounds strange (as spotted by The Gamer).
Specifically, the audio sounds like it has an echo effect, almost as if the game was playing in a large hall.
According to Twitter user kirisamemofo, the audio is the result of an attempt to create a faux stereo effect, and that by putting it into audio editing software and converting it back to mono it sounds like it normally would on any other emulator.
It’s a cheap stereo effect (sounds like it’s oscillating the panning on both sides?) Making it mono makes it sound normal again. pic.twitter.com/O5hvmjvcyG
— . (@kirisamemofo) June 18, 2023
Reaction to the audio on YouTube has been somewhat negative, with some fans suggesting that previous re-releases of Game Gear titles, such as in 2004’s Sonic Gems Collection, had better sound.
“Imagine being Sega and messing up audio emulation for Game Gear games,” said YouTube user Kaybee.
“What the hell is up with the Game Gear sound quality? Is this pre-patch or something?” added user OldSchoolGaming4Life.
Other users seem less bothered by the audio and are just happy to have the option to play the Game Gear titles on a modern system.
As well as the 12 Game Gear titles, Sonic Origins Plus will also add Amy Rose as a playable character in the compilation’s existing games – Sonic the Hedgehog 1, 2, 3 and Sonic CD – as well as making Knuckles playable in Sonic CD.
It will also include all previously released Sonic Origins DLC, and will also be released in a physical edition which includes a 20-page artbook.
