Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive) > Reviews (9)

After digging out my old mega drive once more I have decided it is time for another game review. I have spend literally days going through and playing some of the Mega drive Classics, including Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and this is the game I will be reviewing now for you.

*** Sonic The Hedgehog 2 ***

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is the sequel Sonic 1 which I reviewed quite a while back now.
After the success of Sonic 1 Sega decided to follow the immensely addictive game up with another.
Sonic 2 see's the introduction of Sonics new sidekick Tails the Fox. Tails is slightly smaller than Sonic and he is equipped with 2 tails (hence the name) during the game these 2 tails are not really of much use to you other than he can use them to fly through the game to meet up with Sonic if he looses him.

*** Gameplay ***

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was released on the Mega Drive. The game came in a box that was in between DVD and Video box size. This box contained a game cartridge and an instruction manual.

The cartridge is easily removed from the case and simply slots into the Mega Drive, then upon switching the Mega Drive on the game will come on straight away. The introduction shows Sonic racing across the screen and the Sega logo appears along with a vocal "Sega", then the menu screen will appear with Sonic and Tails waving their fingers at you to almost identical music as in Sonic 1, maybe slightly more jazzed up. The options at this screen are to press start to instantly begin the game, select a 2-player game or go to the options menu.

Pressing start to begin a one-player game will take you straight to the first stage, which is Emerald Hill Act 1. The game starts with Sonic and Tails standing waiting for you to control them. Controlling them is easy as you are actually only in control of Sonic and Tails will simply follow, use the directional button also know as the D Pad to move Sonic and to make him jump press buttons A, B or C. Unlike in Sonic 1 Sonic now has a special move, if you press down on the D Pad and at the same time repeatedly press any of the jump buttons, Sonic will spin on the spot, upon releasing both buttons Sonic will shoot off with super speed, ideal for getting up steep hills or around upside down obstacles. To pause the game press start and the screen will freeze.
The idea of this game is simply the same as the first game… to work your way through the levels freeing your friends along the way. To free them you need to jump on your enemies who will then pop into pieces and release your friends. At the end of each zone, this will be either 2 or 3 levels depending on the Zone you are in, you will be challenged to defeat Dr Robotnik (now known as Dr Eggman). To defeat Dr Robotnik you must jump attack him and whatever machine he has invented to try and kill Sonic and Tails, this can take anything from 8 to 12 hits to finish him off, he will then disappear off the screen to invent new machines to try and stop you on your way, one Dr Robotnik has gone you must then jump on a metal container, this contains loads of your trapped animal friends, they will all jump free and your score will tot up on the screen before you continue on your quest to defeat Dr Robotnik.

If you go into the Options screen on the main menu, you can choose whether you want to play as Sonic and Tails, Sonic alone or Tails alone. I have found from experience that it doesn't seem to make any difference who you play as really unless you find it annoying having Tails following you everywhere.

Also on the main screen was the 2-player option. If you select this you will play 2 players against a friend on a split screen, and it is literally a race to finish first with the most points. Once one player passes the finish post the other player has just 60 seconds to finish or a life is lost. There are 3 zones that are played in 2-player mode and also a Special zone. In the special zone you compete for the most rings, collecting the rings as you run along a track trying to avoid bombs which will knock you back and make you loose the rings, the player with the most rings at the goal wins. After all Zones have been played the scores are added up and an overall winner is declared.

The music in the game is still as cheesy as the first game and still very catchy! The sound effects are almost exactly the same as Sonic 1, but I think in a way this adds to what made this game such a good sequel, because it has kept all the gameplay and characteristics that made people love the Sonic game in the first place.

*** Where Can You Get Sonic 2? ***

Due to the age of this game you may find it hard to get hold of a copy for the Mega Drive however as usual eBay is great for this and almost all the time you will find a copy of it on there. However if you have a Playstation 2 or an X Box then if you buy The Sonic Mega Collection game you will find this and all the other Sonic games on there!

The price of both of these games will vary; it will be anything from eBay 0.99p to £25 from games retailers.

*** Would I Recommend? ***

Yes! I would highly recommend Sonic 2. This game is highly addictive and with the option of the 2-player mode it can make gameplay even more fun and definitely competitive. Again as with Sonic 1 there is no save option so if you turn it off, have a power cut, accidentally knock a wire out you will have to do it all, all over again!Thanks for reading!

* Please Note I am also on Dooyoo as loulou22 so if you see this review on there too it isnt a copy, its me!