Bigger, Faster, Better, more elements add more value to this game and shows off what the Mega Drive can do.
Despite being a really excellent game, Sonic 2 pushes it further, with longer and bigger stages, really good visual and new elements which add a lot to the games value.
A number of features stand out the most, the first being the character Tails introduced into the game, where he can tag along with Sonic in the single player game. The second controller can be used to control tails as well as the computer taking control.
Secondly is the two player mode, where two players can compete for the finish line. This taking out three of the stages from the single player and putting them into the two player option.
A really cool feature is the speed dash, pressing down and the jump button with charge up a 'Super Speed Dash Attack' and letting down of the down button will launch him, giving the player a good start, this is useful to reach other locations on a level and giving you a head start in speed.
Special stages are accessed differently, collecting 50 rings and hitting a checkpoint will cause a star portal to open, giving you access to a special stage. The special stage is where the player has to collect rings to reach a milestone, the stage is a third person mode where Sonic is running along a half pipe collecting rings and avoiding bombs.
Successfully completing the milestone earns you to collect a Chaos Emerald, there is 7 Special stages with one Chaos Emerald, collecting all the Emerald will give Sonic the ability to transform into Super Sonic, unfortunately, Tails doesn't have this ability.
Super Sonic is activated when the player has 50 or more rings, Super Sonic allows you to be a lot faster, however it more difficult to control Sonic and you lose one ring a second, Sonic still can drown, get crushed or fall into a bottomless pit, however can cut though enemies easily. When you lose all your rings or finished at the end of each stage, Sonic is reverted back into his original form.
The same power-ups which are from the first game still exist in this game, the super speed, shield… etc.
The stages have improve visuals and are much longer, however, despite this, each level is shorten to two stages, with an expectation of one which has three stages, however this brings in a lot of variety to the stages with different themes, which I must say look really stunning and keep the games frame rate stable throughout the game. The frame rate does drop when there a lot happening on screen such as losing all your rings, however this doesn't get in the way of the gameplay. The slow down is present in the two player mode.
Each level at the end of the act has the player fighting Dr Robonik, against, like the first game, each boss is creative with his sci-fi gizmo, trying to hurt Sonic, each fight is more creative then the last.
I had a lot of fun playing this game when I was a kid, however I do think I've grown out of it, I think it's best to say that the visuals are for younger generation and they're get a kick out of this game, regardless of the new consoles that has been released. A Sega twin player helps aswell.
However in terms of gameplay, it's provides a challenging game and the challenging is for everyone who knows how to handle a controller.
Overall, Sonic 2 proves to be a really excellent sequel to the original Sonic, bigger, better and faster, with a few really good additions to the game. It's a must own and added to you're Mega Drive collection.