Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog, a side-scrolling platformer focusing on speed. Like in the original, players travel through numerous worlds known as “zones,” each with a distinct theme. Nearly every Zone has two Acts, and at the end of each Zone’s last Act is a machine controlled by Robotnik that you must beat to proceed. The villainous Dr. Robotnik wishes to rule the world. He imprisons and converts all animals into “Badniks” robots to do this. In this manner, they can construct his lethal weapon, the Death Egg. Sonic the Hedgehog and his new tagalong companion, Miles ‘Tails’ Prower, can only stop Robotnik and his army of Badniks from taking over the globe.
Sonic and Tails can gather rings that are hidden throughout the stages. As with most platformers, collecting 100 rings earns the player an extra life. However, the rings also serve as a defense; if Sonic is injured while holding calls, they scatter everywhere, and he becomes temporarily unstoppable. He will lose a life if he is hit again with no rings. The Special Stage is accessible if the player reaches a continue point lamppost with 50 or more rounds. In this stage, you must collect several calls in a halfpipe-like location before reaching a checkpoint. You will receive one of the seven Chaos Emeralds if you complete all checkpoints.
The possibility of playing Sonic the Hedgehog 2 co-op with a friend is new – at any point, a player can plug in a second controller and take over the AI-controlled Tails. Tails have eternal lives, and the camera focuses on Sonic, implying that Tails will not interfere with gameplay. Sonic (and Tails) may now accelerate from a standstill by holding down and continuously hitting the jump button, resulting in a “spin dash.” This is useful when you’re stuck near a steep hill or in other situations where you need momentum. There is also a two-player versus mode in the game. This mode consists of horizontally split-screen racing over levels based on three of the single-player game’s zones.
The iOS/Android mobile version includes ten additional stages in a new setting called Hidden Palace Zone, a boss attack mode, updated graphics, a quicker frame rate, a remastered soundtrack, and Knuckles as a third playable character.
