They weren't pulling any punches with this title...
Gameplay: If you're a fan of Sonic, or have played the Genesis original, then you already know what to expect. (Besides the absence of Tails, of course.)
You run fast while dodging incoming enemies and obstacles. You go through two acts and are then greeted to a boss fight when reaching the 3rd act. The levels are designed well for the most part, and the boss encounters put up one heck of a resistance! But here's where the main problem lies.
The difficulty of this game is not to be taken lightly. Bosses leave you with 0 rings from the start, making the fights feel a bit cheap at times. Not to mention that some of the level design choices, such as act 2 of the ocean stage that consists of nothing but you moving dreadfully slow underwater and punishing you at every turn, is just one of many. Other then that however, the game controls tightly and is rewarding in itself. Just try not to abuse the Game Gear in impatience and anger.
Graphics: Looked great back in 1992 and stills holds up well today. While not quite as bright and peppy as it's Genesis counterpart, it still sports a pleasant 8-bit appearance!
Sound: Not really this game's strongest point. The music isn't annoying by any means, it just doesn't stick with you. No catchy Green Hill theme this time around, just tunes that are serviceable at best.
Value: Many stages with hard-to-find treasures to collect in order to unlock the real ending, and not much more. There is a stage select cheat in case there's a particular level you're fond of, but what will really keep you coming back is the challenge! Believe you me, this is one you won't be getting through within a single sitting.
At the end of the day, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is still a fun title with plenty of thrills to offer. And if you can endure a good chunk of frustration, than there's a good time to be had with Sonic's second outing!