Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)
From Sonic Retro
(Redirected from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Game Gear))
| show;hide
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| System(s): Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, Virtual Console | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer:    | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genre: Action[3][4][5][6] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of players: 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ２) was made in Japan by Aspect Co. Ltd for the Sega Master System and later ported to the Sega Game Gear. Even though it shares its name with the 16-bit version of Sonic 2 for the Sega Mega Drive, it is not a port, as it contains entirely different levels. It was released slightly before its 16-bit namesake, making this game host to the first appearances of both Miles "Tails" Prower and Mecha Sonic.
The Game Gear version contains noticeable differences from the Master System version. The changes made in the portable version give it a reputation of being one of the hardest Sonic games in existence. Some choices appear to have been intentional, by design: for example, the boss music is different and some boss areas have different layouts. However, many of the difficulties in the GG version result from its smaller screen and its scrolling: the player is left more open to being hit, in a way that some might label 'cheap', due to not being able to see obstacles and enemies around them but beyond the range of the screen. The scrolling is the same in the Master System version, but it is not as big a problem as more of the surroundings can be seen.
Strangely, Tails appears in every title card and has an almost complete sprite sheet, but is only seen in the opening and ending cutscenes, as well as being depicted helping Sonic on the box art. It is possible that he was originally intended to be a playable character, but was cut for time issues.
Contents
Story
Sonic the Hedgehog's friend and sidekick Miles "Tails" Prower has been captured by his nemesis Dr. Eggman on South Island, and the player must direct Sonic to retrieve Tails and the six Chaos Emeralds. In the good ending, achieved if Sonic acquires all the Chaos Emeralds, he stops Eggman and frees Tails. In the bad ending, if Sonic has failed to obtain all the Emeralds, Tails is not shown to have been rescued. Some fans have speculated that Tails might have died in the latter case.
Gameplay
This game improved upon its 8-bit predecessor in many ways. This includes the ability to grab back Rings scattered when hit by an enemy, as well as being able to smash through certain walls. Moreover, one of the major differences from its predecessor is its speed: Sonic 2 is faster than its prequel and is closer to that of the Mega Drive games. However, the Spin Dash from the 16-bit version of Sonic 2, a move specifically designed to provide speed, was not implemented; but this may be simply because the 8-bit version was released earlier.
Many levels contain various methods of transportation and was the first Sonic game to use such methods. In Under Ground Zone and Gimmick Mt. Zone, Sonic can ride a minecart, and in Sky High Zone he can use a Hang Glider. Other new gimmicks include large air bubbles in underwater levels that Sonic can ride in, which will rise upwards until they hit a ceiling, enemy, or obstacle. Sonic is also able to skim across the surface of water if he picks up enough speed.
There are seven Zones in total, each comprising of three Acts. In the third Act, that Zone's boss is faced, without any Rings to grant protection against attacks. Rather than facing Eggman himself, Sonic most often battles robotic animals, such as a sumo pig and a circus sea-lion.
Item boxes, as in all the classic 8- and 16-bit games, resemble monitors. The items offered in Sonic 2 are largely the same as those in its prequel, although the restart marker and Shields have been removed. Chaos Emeralds are scattered throughout the stages. Each is found in the second Act in each of the first five Zones. If the player collects these and then destroys Mecha Sonic (called Silver Sonic in the English manual) in the sixth Zone, they will obtain the sixth Emerald and can access the true final stage (Crystal Egg). This is required to obtain the 'good ending'. If all the Emeralds are not collected, the game will end after Mecha Sonic's destruction.
Bonus Panel
At the end of Acts 1 and 2 of each Zone, the player has to spin a Bonus Panel to clear the Act, with a reward given based on what it lands on, which itself depends upon the player's items:
| Dr. Eggman: No prize is awarded. This panel comes up most often in the game, if none of the below conditions are met. | |
| Ring: 10 Rings are added to the player's final Ring tally. This is awarded if the player ends the Act with a Ring count that is a multiple of 10. | |
| Sonic: An extra life is awarded. This is awarded if the player finishes the Act with exactly two lives less than when they started it. | |
| Tails: A Continue is awarded. This is awarded if the player finishes the Act with 77 Rings and with exactly the same number of lives as when they started it. |
Comparisons
|
Main article: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)/Comparisons |
Versions
Differences between versions
|
This article needs cleanup. This article needs to be edited to conform to a higher standard of article quality. Specifically, issues with this article are:
This section needs moving to the comparisons page(s)
After the article has been cleaned up, you may remove this message. See How to Edit a Page for help. |
- The Game Gear version has a lower screen resolution.
- The music for Scrambled Egg Zone plays during the prelude cutscene, and the title screen has the music that was played in the prelude in the Master System version. The prelude cutscene is more detailed in the Game Gear version, showing Tails walking along and then getting kidnapped.
- Different music is used for the boss battles on each game.
- The Pit Master is more difficult due to the Game Gear's lower resolution: you cannot see the bouncing balls coming from as far away as you would on the SMS, and the speed and bounce height of the balls is randomized in the GG version.
- In the Game Gear version, the water in Aqua Lake Zone Act 2 is now a dark blue instead of green. Moreover, the Speed Shoes present in the SMS version are omitted and replaced with a Super Ring item.
- The rising water in Act 2 of Aqua Lake Zone is missing from the Master System version.
- Green Hills Zone's boss battle takes place on a steeper hill, and the escape chute cannot be seen while fighting Robotnik in the final zone.
- The ending music is different: the Master System game uses a sad sounding song in both endings, whereas the Game Gear version uses more upbeat music for the good ending. Strangely, the Master System's version does contain the upbeat music in the ROM but never uses it.
Also released on
- Sonic 2 in 1 for the Game Gear (1995) – GG version
- Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut for the Nintendo GameCube and PC (2003-2004) – GG version
- Sonic Gems Collection for Nintendo GameCube and PlayStation 2 (2005) – GG version
- Virtual Console on Wii (2008) – SMS version
- Sonic PC Collection for the PC (2009) – GG version
- Virtual Console for the Nintendo 3DS (2013) - GG version
- Sonic Origins Plus for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, Steam and Epic Games Store (2023) - GG version
Production credits
Master System version
- Source: In-game credits
Game Gear version
- Source: In-game credits
Manuals
|
|
Main article: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)/Manuals |
Artwork
Physical scans
Master System version
 Reception »
|
| Master System, EU |
|---|
 Cover
|
   Cart  Manual |
| Master System, EU (SMSII) |
|---|
 Cover
|
| Master System, PT (Black & white manual) |
|---|
 Cover
|
 Manual |
| Master System, PT (Colour manual) |
|---|
|
|
 Manual |
| Master System, CZ (ITO CS)[25] |
|---|
| Cover
|
| Cart  Manual |
| Master System, AU |
|---|
|
|
   Cart |
| Master System, AU (APF11 sticker) |
|---|
 Cover
|
| Cart |
| Master System, AU (Yellow APF12 sticker) |
|---|
 Cover
|
| Cart |
| Master System, AU (White APF12 sticker) |
|---|
 Cover
|
| Cart |
| Master System, AU (Classics) |
|---|
 Cover
|
| Cart |
| Master System, AU (rental) |
|---|
 Cover
|
| Master System, BR |
|---|
 Cover
|
 Cart |
| Master System, BR (alt) |
|---|
 Cover
|
 Cart |
| Master System, BR (?) |
|---|
|
|
 Manual |
| Master System, KR |
|---|
 Cover
|
| Master System, KR (Samsung) |
|---|
   Cover
|
 Cart |
Game Gear version
| Reception »
|
| Game Gear, JP |
|---|
     Cover
|
 Cart  Manual |
| Game Gear, JP (Meisaku Collection) |
|---|
  Cover
|
| Cart Manual |
| Game Gear, US |
|---|
  Cover
|
 Cart  Manual |
| Game Gear, US (Majesco) |
|---|
  Cover
|
| Cart |
| Game Gear, EU |
|---|
      Cover
|
 Cart  Manual |
| Game Gear, PT |
|---|
 Cover
|
 Manual |
| Game Gear, PT (alt) |
|---|
 Cover
|
| Game Gear, CZ |
|---|
|
|
| Cart Manual |
| Game Gear, BR |
|---|
 Cover
|
 Cart |
| Game Gear, KR |
|---|
|
|
 Cart |
Technical information
ROM dump status
| System | Hash | Size | Build Date | Source | Comments | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
|
512kB | 1992-09-05[26] | Cartridge (EU/BR) | v1.0 | |||||||||
| |
|
512kB | 1992-12-09[26] | Cartridge (EU/BR) | v2.2 | |||||||||
| |
|
512kB | 1992-09-12[26] | Cartridge (World) | v1.1 | |||||||||
| |
|
512kB | 3DS Virtual Console (World) | 
|
||||||||||
| |
|
256kB | 1991-12-05 | EPROM cartridge | AutoDemo |  (54 kB) (info)
|
Page |
External links
- Sega of Japan Virtual Console page (Japanese)
- Sega of Japan 3DS Virtual Console page
- Nintendo catalogue pages: Wii Virtual Console: US, UK, AU; Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console: JP, US, UK
References
- ↑ https://www.mtwo.co.jp/development/retrogame-2/#tab-2
- ↑ https://www.mtwo.co.jp/development/retrogame-2/#tab-4
- ↑ File:S2gg-box-back-eu.jpg
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/gamegear/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-12-07 04:57)
- ↑ File:Sonic2ms-box-eu.jpg
- ↑ File:Sonic2 SMS KR cover.jpg
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 [mms, issue 2, page 64 mms, issue 2, page 64]
- ↑ [segamagazin, issue 1, page 70 segamagazin, issue 1, page 70]
- ↑ [gamepro, issue 44, page 163 gamepro, issue 44, page 163]
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 [sfuk, issue 12, page 31 sfuk, issue 12, page 31]
- ↑ [cvg, issue go14, page 12 cvg, issue go14, page 12]
- ↑ [segamagazin, issue 1, page 71 segamagazin, issue 1, page 71]
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/09.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-01-28 13:27)
- ↑ http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_sonic2ms/ (Wayback Machine: 2009-02-07 21:16)
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/ivseDC_bdb4lv4aJ0oR_k2oSJ6-yQwaz (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-22 22:50)
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/mastersystem/sonic_the_hedgehog_2 (Wayback Machine: 2017-07-04 16:48)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.fr/Jeux/SEGA-Game-Gear/Sonic-the-Hedgehog-2--772258.html (archive.today)
- ↑ http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=42&prod_id=19904&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-03-28 01:38)
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 http://vc.sega.jp:80/3ds/sonic2/ (Wayback Machine: 2012-10-28 18:35)
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 http://www.nintendo.com:80/games/detail/eZ_9L3ar33k2nmh_r678BsH2KplLPcoO (Wayback Machine: 2013-06-30 10:27)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.fr/Jeux/SEGA-Game-Gear/Sonic-the-Hedgehog-2--772258.html (archive.today)
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 http://www.nintendolife.com:80/games/gamegear/sonic_the_hedgehog_2 (Wayback Machine: 2017-09-09 22:04)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/SEGA-Game-Gear/Sonic-the-Hedgehog-2--772258.html (archive.today)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.de/Spiele/SEGA-Game-Gear/Sonic-the-Hedgehog-2--772258.html (archive.today)
- ↑ https://aukro.cz/sega-master-system-sonic-2-7032964732
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)/Hidden content#Build date
| Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit) | |
|---|---|
|
Manuals |
show;hide
|
| Sonic the Hedgehog games for the following systems | |
|---|---|
| |
1991 Sonic the Hedgehog 1992 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 1993 Sonic Chaos | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine 1994 Sonic Drift | Sonic Spinball | Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble 1995 Sonic Drift 2 | Tails' Skypatrol | Tails Adventures | Sonic Labyrinth | Sonic 2 in 1 1996 Sonic Blast Prototypes Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear prototype) | Sonic Chaos prereleases | Sonic Spinball (8-bit) prereleases | Sonic Triple Trouble prereleases | Sonic Blast prereleases Unreleased Sonic's Edusoft
|
