WithSonic Originsfinally allowingSonicfans to play some of the oldest yet most memorable games in the franchise, it’s natural for long-timeSonicfans to feel excited about reliving the moments where they can encounter some of the franchise’s most iconic characters for the first time but in improved devices. Now is another time for players to stop Doctor Eggman from pulling off yet another evil scheme with today’s modern consoles!
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However, in the context of this four-game remaster set, just which characters remain the best leads in Sega’s hit platformer? Surprisingly enough, Sonic the Hedgehog may not necessarily be the best choice for a playable character in some games!
3Miles “Tails” Prower
Serving as the archetypal sidekick,Miles “Tails” Prowermay be looked down on for his diminutive size and lack of any “impressive” outright abilities. However, Tails is rather impressive for what he offers in games - primarily his rather flexible flight mechanics that allow him to reach areas of the game that both Knuckles and Sonic couldn’t necessarily reach. Players who love exploration will appreciate using Tails.
Playstyle: Flight Is Fight
Flight is the defining characteristic of Tails’ abilities, as his two tails can be rotated like a helicopter in order to propel him to different heights. Whereas Sonic needs momentum to reach distant places, Tails can simply fly onto them. Here are unique mechanics associated with Tails’ core abilities:
2Knuckles The Echidna
Being the first rival to Sonic the Hedgehog,Knuckles the Echidnaimmediately steals the show upon his introduction inSonic the Hedgehog 3after Doctor Eggman lures him into fighting Sonic and Tails. And while his personality oftentimes switches from “dumb fighter” to “hotheaded puncher,” Knuckles retains his impressive streak of being a competent fighter to give anySonicvillain a run for their money.
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Playstyle: Punch Through Everything
Due to his presence as a melee-oriented fighter, Knuckles definitely doesn’t have a lot of speed and a lot of flying power in eventhe most iconicSonicgames, unlike Sonic and Tails, respectively. However, Knuckles does offer unique movement mechanics that can change the way stages can be played and make different boss fight mechanics. Here are interesting features of Knuckles throughout the games:
1Sonic The Hedgehog
The star of theSonicseries is easily the best character to play in terms of practicality, simply becauseSonic the Hedgehogis the protagonist and is made to be perhaps the most flexible among the three main characters.
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His characteristic speed is the mechanic on which the rest of the game is built on, making Sonic the ideal first character to learn before messing around with the rest of the gang regardless of the game, be it 2Dor 3DSonictitles.
Playstyle: Gotta Go Fast
One of the most defining aspects of Sonic’s playstyle across the games inSonic Originsis his speed. After all, it’s through his speed that Sonic gains momentum and the necessary “strength” to jump on and knock his opponents off. As such, a lot of the unique mechanics associated with his gameplay make him such an icon for the platforming genre. Here are some of the defining characteristics of his playstyle in the game:
TheSonic Originscollection was released on August 02, 2025, for the Nintendo Switch, PS4 and PS5, the Xbox One and Series X/S, and the PC.
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