Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- SEGA Genesis Mini (2019)
-
SEGA Mega Drive Classics / SEGA Genesis Classics
(2010) -
Sonic Classic Collection
(2010) -
Sonic Classics
(1995) -
Sonic Mega Collection
(2002) -
Sonic Mega Collection Plus
(2004)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992 on Dedicated handheld)
-
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
(1992 on
SEGA Master System,
Game Gear, 2008 on
Wii)
-
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
(2010 on
iPhone, 2013 on
Android,
iPad)
Description official descriptions
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a side-scrolling platformer based around speed, and the sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog. Like the original, players run through different worlds called "zones", which each have their own specific theme. There are two Acts in nearly all of the 10 Zones, and at the end of each Zone's last Act is a machine that Robotnik controls, which you must defeat to progress. The evil Dr. Robotnik wants to conquer the world. In order to do that, he imprisons and transforms all animals into robots called "Badniks". This way they can build his powerful weapon, the Death Egg. Only Sonic the Hedgehog, and his new tagalong partner, Miles 'Tails' Prower, can stop Robotnik and his army of Badniks from taking over the world.
Sonic and Tails can collect rings which are scattered throughout all of the levels. As with most platformers, when the player collects 100 rings, they earn an extra life. However, the rings also act as protection; if Sonic is hurt when he is carrying rings, they scatter everywhere and he is briefly invincible. If he is hit again when he has no rings, he'll lose a life. If the player reaches a continue point lamppost with 50 or more rings, they'll be able to access the Special Stage. In this stage, you must gather a set amount of rings in a halfpipe-like stage before you reach a checkpoint. Complete all the checkpoints and you'll earn one of the seven Chaos Emeralds.
New to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the ability to play the game co-op with a friend - at any time, a player can plug in a second controller and take over the AI-controlled Tails. Tails has infinite lives and the camera remains focused on Sonic, meaning that Tails will not hinder play. Sonic (and Tails) can now also get speed from a standing start by holding down and repeatedly pressing the jump button for a "spin dash". This is useful when stuck near steep slopes or other areas where you need some momentum. The game also features a 2-player versus mode. This mode is a horizontally split-screen race through levels based on three of the zones in the single-player game.
The mobile version (iOS/Android) contains ten new levels in a new environment called Hidden Palace Zone, a boss attack mode, upgraded graphics, faster frame rate, a re-mastered soundtrack, and Knuckles as a third playable character.
Spellings
- SEGA AGES ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ2 - Japanese Nintendo Switch spelling
- ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ2 - Japanese spelling
- 바람돌이 소닉 2 - Korean spelling
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Credits (Genesis version)
48 People (38 developers, 10 thanks) · View all
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| [ full credits ] | |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 90% (based on 47 ratings)
Players
Average score: 4.1 out of 5 (based on 339 ratings with 7 reviews)
It wasn't bad for a Genesis Game!
The Good
I completely loved it! The Chaos Emeralds are back, you can use Super Sonic, all kinds of neat things!
The Bad
I have nothing to say on this part, actually. It was one of the best games I had ever played.
The Bottom Line
Very good, I would suggest that you go buy this game right here, right now. if you don't a Genesis, that's fine. You can buy a Nintendo GameCube, or a PS2 and also buy Sonic Mega Collection (or for PS2, Sonic Mega Collection PLUS)
Genesis · by Bob McNeal (3) · 2005
The Good
In Sonic The Hedgehog 2 you reprise the role of Sonic that little hedgehog who took the world by storm with a sidekick Miles “Tails” Prower once again taking on Robotnik and saving their animal friends with a new character to play as with new abilities and improving everything from Sonic 1 makes this a truly great game Sonic can now spin dash and Tails can fly.
Continuing the tradition of fast paced gameplay with new blast processing and improved graphics a new quasi 3D special stage but now when you get all (now 7 emeralds) you become SuperSonic who is invincible this one also improves gameplay with a more balanced difficulty and more stages and this game continued to prove of Sega’s prowess at making better games than Nintendo and further boosting the Genesis to new heights of popularity.
The Bad
This game does have it’s fair share of annoying levels like oil ocean, metropolis(cool music though) and mystic cave also having Tails with you hardly helps more of a hindrance specially on the special stages to the point where you are better off playing with just Sonic.
The added two player mode is hardly any fun if any at all but it’s a added feature right?
The Bottom Line
Overall a great genesis title proving that the power of the system is not as important as the selection of games in it’s library and considering how the SNES had a better sound chip Genesis games had better music.
Genesis · by Classic Nigel (108) · 2006
The Good
Where do you start? Ingenious levels, unforgettable music, great bosses, impressive special stages, new character.
The Bad
Not all the levels are available for multi-player play. No save game.
The Bottom Line
You absolutely must find a way to play this game.
Genesis · by Spindash (72) · 2004
Trivia
1001 Video Games
The Mega Drive version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.
Cut content
The Hidden Palace Zone, which is in the beta, but not the final release, was used extensively in previews. One controversial topic among Sonic fans is a mysterious screenshot of what appeared to be a desert that popped up in various gaming magazines prior to the game's release. While many believe it to be a mock-up or a clever hoax, there are others who note elements of the screenshot do in fact appear in the beta, and some conceptual drawings imply that a desert level did, in fact, exist at one point. (One title of a drawing even says "Desert Level" in Japanese.) Still, there are those who insist this is nonsense.
Inspiration
Sonic collects all seven Chaos Emeralds and transforms from a blue rodent into a fiery yellow powerhouse with insane speed. Merely a cheesy plot device pulled out of Yasuhara's ass? Possibly, but the connection is more likely a parody of Dragon Ball, the insanely popular flagship work of manga artist Akira Toriyama. In the manga, which was serialized in Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995, the hero Son Goku (the Monkey King) searches for the seven legendary Dragon Balls. Eventually he is able to transform into a "Super Saiyan", a form in which he gains immense power along with spiky golden hair.
References
The Death Egg is based on the Death Star from Star Wars.
Release
Sonic 2 had a worldwide release date, which was uncommon at the time. November 24, 1992 was dubbed Sonic 2sday (a pun of the fact that it was a Tuesday), and the game was released across all markets. This is referenced in the game by the order in which you need to play the sound effects to activate the debug mode.
Sonic CD
Due to the fact that Sonic CD was starting development around the same time that Sonic 2 was finishing up, the early buzz about the two games often got confused, leading to predictions that Sonic 2 would involve time travel.
Tails
Just like Sonic, Tails's real name, Miles Prower, is a reference to speed (miles per hour).
Awards
- Electronic Gaming Monthly
- December 1992 (Issue 41) - Game of the Month
- 1993 Buyer's Guide - Best Genesis Game of the Year
- 1993 Buyer's Guide - Hottest New Character in a Videogame (Tails)
- November 1997 (Issue 100) - ranked #71 (Best 100 Games of All Time) (Genesis version)
- 1999 Buyer's Guide - Ranked 9 (Top 10 Genesis Games)
- Game Informer
- August 2001 (Issue 100) - #61 in the "Top 100 Games of All Time" poll
- Retro Gamer
- October 2004 (Issue #9) – #42 Best Game Of All Time (Readers' Vote)
- April 2007 (Issue #37) – #5 Top Platformer Of All Time (Readers' Vote)
Information also contributed by Marquerite Richardson, MegaMegaMan; PCGamer77 and Tiago Jacques
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Related Sites +
-
OC ReMix Game Profile
Fan remixes of music from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, including the album "Hedgehog Heaven". -
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Steam store page (archived - 2022) -
X360A achievement guide
X360A's achievement guide for Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
Identifiers +
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Bahz.
PlayStation 3 added by Charly2.0. Arcade, Nintendo 3DS, DoJa added by Michael Cassidy. Nintendo Switch added by Rik Hideto. tvOS, BlackBerry added by Sciere. Xbox One added by Artzei. Linux, Macintosh added by Foxhack. Wii added by gamewarrior. iPhone added by Deleted. Windows added by lights out party. Xbox 360 added by Ben K.
Additional contributors: chirinea, Matt Keller, Kohler 86, Alaka, Patrick Bregger, Starbuck the Third, Thomas Thompson, Rik Hideto, FatherJack, Harmony♡, Sgoc.
Game added June 7, 2002. Last modified September 4, 2024.