Sonic 2 Review

Rank @ end.

Summary

Sega's sequel may have been better than the first.

Gameplay and Controls

The improvement added to Sonic 2 is the Super Spin Dash, one of Sonic's trademark moves. This move is easier than the original Spin Dash and helps gain speed. Otherwise the attacks are the same and are perfect for the game.

Likewise, the controls are simple. Like the Genesis controller, really. It makes it so that anyone can easily play right at the first level, with no time to "get used to it" like some future games.

It's possible to control Tails with a second controller, which is a nice thought and I like it, but it's mostly just helpful for Bosses or Special stages. Otherwise it's hard to keep Tails on-screen.

2-Player mode is a very nice addition. While split-screen seems annoying nowadays, it's fine for this game. The only con is that after completing all 4 modes, nothing happens (just the total scores/winner). Nothing secret unlocked or any kind of "ending." That was a big disappointment to me as a kid.

Level Design and Visuals

Though there is certainly inspiration taken from the previous game, the sites in Sonic 2 bring a fresh and new appeal to the concepts.

The starting level, Emerald Hill, is very similar Green Hill. I'd criticize this normally, but since this is the first "real" sequel, I think it's appropriate.

Casino Night Zone is a flashy and memorable stage for it's design and "gambling" feature (it would inspire many other zones). Mystic cave creates a much darker, creepier mood while Chemical Plant is much more industrial.

Overall the design and layout works well, though Metropolis having three acts makes it tiresome. 

It's still 16-bit, but Sonic's sprite has been changed and it looks arguably nicer. Tails is adorable, and their idle animations help show their respective personalities. The graphics maybe low-tech by today's standards, but the style has helped it age better than most of the modern games.

Plot and Characters

The plot is mostly the same except for the addition of Tails. Miles Prower is a two-tailed fox (hence the nickname) that can fly with his tails.

In the US, Tails has been following Sonic since he was a cub and wants to be a hero, too. The Japanese version says that Tails was bullied but saw and was inspired by Sonic, so he began following the hedgehog ever since.

Either way, Tails makes a cute and favored addition to the series. This game would also give birth to one of the biggest motifs of the games...friendship. 

It's not much but it set in stone some important concepts.

Music and Sound Effects

The sounds effects are the unique and sharp. The music is typical of the classic games, with effort into tone and alongside pace. Emerald Hill's is very happy sounding while Mystic Caves' is creepier. The only one I don't find likable is Hill Top Zone's. It seems loud and awkward compared to the rest. Oil Ocean also seems to have a bit of an Egyptian or desert vibe, which I found a bit odd but it's still likable. 

The music in 2-Player also has some nice alternatives.

The main theme is "Sweet Dreams," which sounds very cute in it's 16-bit form.

Final Thoughts

• I used to like the special stages, but it's harder to get the emeralds than in the first game. Tails makes the total misleading since (when on auto) he often will crash into the robot/bomb and loose his rings.
• It's kind of annoying that Tails can't fly ("Tails Alone")
• Super Sonic was a cool idea but defiantly more obscure than in the later games.
• I preferred the level select of the first game, but debug is always cool, too.
• It's interesting that CD and this game were once the same idea. I wonder how that would have turned out...
• I was always interested in the scrapped levels. It's cool that the re-release included a finished version of Hidden Palace (and the Grounder reference).

Final Ranking (S is best, E is worst): S

The worst thing I can think about this game is Hill Top Zone's music. It's probably one of the best and most beloved Sonic games.