Sonic the Hedgehog 2, available on the Sega Genesis.
Rough day, so I didn't want some of the more complicated titles that I enjoy today. Instead I wanted something simpler, and as I'd acquired one of the Genesis clones last year (with 40 games built in including several Sonic titles-right on), I opted in that direction.
First of all, just a little ramble. I've heard game pads are bad for your hands, I don't know. Even though I'm using a clone system, I've plugged in my old Sega Genesis official controller. To this day it is one of the comfiest controllers I have ever held, and not just because there were less buttons. I mean for Sonic 2 there was really only one button, they all did the same thing-jump. If you pressed down and a button, you got a spin. If you jumped and pressed a button on the directional pad, you jumped in a simple direction. Start paused the game. Pretty simple, eh?
So I sat down with some candy and decided to play a round. Given how laughable some of the story decisions Sega makes about Sonic today are, the simplistic game place is a pretty good thing. Your character (Sonic with Tails as a semi AI assistant, Sonic solo, or Tails depending on who you choose-I like Tails myself) is running across the levels (various zones, two levels to a stage). The goal is to gather all the gold rings. If you take a hit and have rings, they scatter, and you have a chance to collect them. The more rings you had originally, the more scatter, the better chance you have of getting them back. Naturally a hundred gathered rings brought you an extra life-you start with three, and one is your last (not like, one, then on zero you get another life). If you jump on a robot, you release the little animal inside.
At the end of the second level of each themed stage, a boss battle with...Dr. Robotnik, I think (Thats what I called him but I am aware now there's multiple characters with similar appearances). In each case the token human of the game would construct a new easily destroyed machine in eight jumps.
There were also bonus levels. If you had 50 rings when you activated a check point, a sparkly ring would appear overhead. Players had the chance to jump through these to try to contend for a Chaos Emerald (I have not claimed even one yet). This trial involved forward game play similar to rail style, aiming your player on the right angle of the half circle road, no turning around, and avoiding the pointy things.
Avoid the pointy things is an important survival strategy in most Sonic games for Sega Genesis.
Now, as a Genesis title, Sonic 2 featured pixelated sprites from between 16-32 bit graphics. I'm not quite sure which but what I do know is this:
- The zones were imaginative and in most cases vibrant with colors
- Even your player character is vibrant and color.
The first stage, Emerald Hill Zone, felt easy, but by the time I got to Metropolis Zone (where I stopped for the evening) I was definitely challenged. The game gives you time to hone your skills, and builds up to when you'll really need them to continue. Blind running right doesn't help on all the stages, either. In some cases to progress you have to go left.
So here is what I have to say about Sonic the Hedgehog 2 as a game:
- Simple, fun, quick paced game play
- No Story to speak of
- Vibrant graphics of a more pixelated basis that suit the games nature
- Catching music to set you int the mood for each level
I don't want to count graphics into my rating system. But I'm going to turn this into two points in each category-and its about how each game uses it.
- Game Play: Simple and Fun, involving jumps, power ups used by jumps, bonus levels by jumping, and lots of jumping in general. With the spin option, I give 2 points.
- Story: There is no story to speak of. However, this does not really prevent enjoyment of the game. 2 points.
- Graphics: Pretty Damn Spiffy. 2 Points.
- Music: Now, there is nothing fancy going on here because remember the era. None the less, the music is pretty well done, with different tunes for each zone. And there is nothing creepier then the sound of Tails or Sonic running out of air, in a creepy Jaws like count down. 2 points.
- Bonus Rounds: Option of Playable Character between Sonic or Tails and a very basic versus mode bring Sonic the Hedgehog 2 additional score: 2 points.
Thus I walk away from my Sonic The Hedgehog 2 experience dubbing it a 10, and I bid you all goodnight.
