Sonic Origins brings back classic, 2D Sonic gameplay and the ability to collect Chaos Emeralds to transform into Super Sonic. Within Sonic Origins, Sega has remastered and packaged together four Sega Genesis and Megadrive classics: Sonic the Hedgehog 1, Sonic 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and Sonic CD. In addition to including classic content like the Chaos Emeralds and playing Sonic Origins with friends in local co-op mode, players can also experience the games fully remastered in the new Anniversary Mode.
One of the key elements in the Sonic franchise is the presence and power of the Chaos Emeralds. Chaos Emeralds have been part of the Sonic franchise since the first game, Sonic the Hedgehog, in 1991. There are seven Chaos Emeralds, and when collected, turn the bearer into a Super-version of themselves with limitless power. Traditionally, the Chaos Emeralds are protected by Knuckles the Echidna, although their theft over the years has been part of many storylines, as they can be used to power machines as well as provide power to the various characters throughout the franchise. In Sonic Origins, players can collect the Chaos Emeralds in all of the games, although in both Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 & Knuckles players can collect the seven Chaos Emeralds to transform into Super Sonic.
There are six Chaos Emeralds in the original Sonic 1, and when collected, players earn the best ending to completely defeat Dr. Robotnik. The seven Chaos Emeralds can be found in special stages in both Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 & Knuckles, two of the four games in the packaged title Sonic Origins. To find them, players need to access the special stages; for Sonic 2 this happens if players have at least 50 rings when they pass a Star Post, which will open a Star Circle portal to the special stage. In Sonic 3 & Knuckles, players must find and jump through the Giant Rings hidden in the levels, and there is no ring requirement for accessing them. Successfully completing all of the special stages in both games is the only way players can collect Sonic's Chaos Emeralds, the most powerful items in the Sonic franchise.
How To Get Chaos Emeralds in Sonic Origins
Sonic the Hedgehog 1
Players need to access the special stages in all of the games in the Sonic Origins bundle to find the Chaos Emeralds. For the original Sonic the Hedgehog 1, there are only six Chaos Emeralds. To access the special stages, complete each regular stage with at least 50 rings. A Giant Ring will appear at the end of the level; jump through it to go to a rotating maze level. The Chaos Emerald will be at the center of the maze.
Sonic 2
Once players find the special stage in Sonic 2, they will be transported to a level that looks like a half-pipe. The special stages are slightly easier in local co-op, as both Sonic and Tails can work together. Unlike the 2D side-scrolling gameplay of the main levels, the special stages try to offer a more 3D perspective with Sonic running through the halfpipe. Sonic can run side to side, collecting rings and avoiding pitfalls and obstacles. If Sonic runs off the edge of the halfpipe, he jumps to the other side. Rings will appear in long lines down the halfpipe, and players must collect as many as possible before the end of the level. There are also bombs; if players hit the bomb, they will lose ten coins. The special stages get progressively harder throughout the game, but if players can clear all three sections of each special stage, they will collect the Chaos Emerald.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Once players jump through the Giant Ring hidden throughout the stages in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, they will be transported to a 3D, spherical Sonic world that looks like a checkerboard. There are blue spheres and red spheres; players need to collect all the blue ones without touching any of the red ones. These special stages are more like puzzles than the agility stages in Sonic 2. Occasionally, the blue spheres will form a square; if players collect all the outer blue spheres, the inner ones will turn into gold rings that players can collect for a bonus. If players manage to collect all the blue spheres on the special stage, they will earn the Chaos Emerald. Complete all seven of these special stages to get all of the Chaos Emeralds in Sonic 3 & Knuckles.
Sonic CD
Similar to Sonic 1, to access the special stages in Sonic CD players need to have at least 50 rings by the end of the level. Jump into the classic Sonic Giant Ring that appears, and players will be transported to a 3D-styled square board. There are six UFOs on each stage, and Sonic has 100 seconds to defeat them all. Characters will be constantly running on this stage, so steer them around the board and do a spin-jump to destroy the UFOs. There are various hazards on the board to slow Sonic down, like grass patches, water, bumpers, spikes, and more. Destroy all the UFOs in all seven special stages to collect Time Stones, which are essentially the Chaos Emeralds of this game.
Sonic Origins is available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Epic.