Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2013)/Comparisons

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Aspect Radio Screen

Sonic 2 2013 The screen optimization is very different compared to the Mega Drive screen.

Original Version

2013 Version

The remastered version, by default, is presented in a 16:9 aspect ratio. It includes new features, enhanced soundtrack, and runs at a smooth 60 frames per second.

Title Screen

Megadrive Title

2013 Title

Instead of a menu, the player now has to touch the screen (or press any button) to start the game. If playing as Knuckles the title screen is changed to display Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Sound Test/Level Select

Megadrive Sound Test

2013 Sound Test

The Sound Test is identical to the original game and can be accessed by holding two fingers on the title screen. However, Hidden Palace Zone has been added. Attempting to access it will result in a buzzing sound effect being played, unless you find the zone during normal gameplay. Touch Controls are present for navigating the menus. and entering 00 00 00 in this screen will bring up a menu that lets you toggle the speed/air caps, Tails' flight, and items. Toggling on the elemental shields will allow Sonic to use the Insta-Shield move.

2P Menu

Original Menu

Original Zone Select Menu

2013 Player Select Menu

2013 Zone Select Menu

The 2P versus menu is drastically different than the original, as it is accessed via the mobile menu. With an internet connection you can play locally with a friend. Unlike the original, two players can access more of the game's zones instead of being restricted to just Emerald Hill, Casino Night and Mystic Cave. All zone music is the same with the exception for Emerald Hill, Casino Night and Mystic Cave which carry over their 2P music like the original. The special stages also feature unique, exclusive palettes for this mode. Some characteristics more are what you can Select to Sonic, Tails and Knuckles

Levels

Hidden Palace Zone

Sonic 2 Prototype Hidden Palace

Sonic 2 (2013) Hidden Palace

While the zone was removed before retail, the remastered version includes this zone as a single-act secret level only accessible from Mystic Cave Act 2 in an area that was previously a pit full of spikes. It features a brand new layout but shares some parts from the original one. The end of the zone features a brand new boss for which is named Brass Eggman. Completing this zone will grant you an achievement and you will be sent to Oil Ocean Zone, resuming normal gameplay. The original version of the stage from the Sonic 2 Prototype is included as a bonus for curious players, and is named Proto Palace Zone. Debug Mode is required for access, as well as a special code exclusive to the remaster. The stage does not wrap vertically, and placing down a signpost or capsule to finish the level will send you to Oil Ocean Zone. Dying will result in you not respawning here; it will load Hidden Palace Zone instead. In the Sonic Origins version of the remaster, Proto Palace Zone is removed from the game entirely, and the exclusive code instead allows you to enter Hidden Palace Zone from the Sound Test menu itself. Placing down a signpost or capsule in Death Egg Zone will also send you to Hidden Palace Zone.

Mystic Cave Zone

Original

2013

Around midway through Act 2, you are required to lower a bridge to close off a large hole that leads to a pit full of spikes that are impossible to escape from. In the remaster, the spikes in the pit were removed. New foreground can be seen covering up the background as the player falls. The screen fades to black after a couple seconds and the game loads Hidden Palace Zone. This also happens in Sonic Origins' Classic Mode. If you play this stage in Time Attack, you can choose to fall into the same hole, but it is instead treated as a bottomless pit as there are no spikes down there anymore; your character will die immediately.

Tails' Flight

In the remaster, Tails is able fly and can let Sonic grab him. He can fly upwards by repeatedly tapping the jump button. After a few seconds, Tails will get tired and stop flying. Trying this underwater will cause Tails to swim instead. This can be toggled off in the Sound Test menu.

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Knuckles in Sonic 2

Knuckles retains his moveset from Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Unlike the original version, the shield will no longer turn gray when Knuckles has it. His ring count is reset after trying for the Special Stage in the remaster as well. The zone title card also keeps the blue regardless of what character you're playing as. In the Sonic Origins version of the remaster, all players keep their ring count after a Special Stage attempt, and the green title cards can be seen once again if playing as Knuckles, just like in the original game.

Knuckles in Sonic 2 Title

Knuckles in Sonic 2 2013 Title

It's the same title, and the same animation when it says Knuckles the Echidna in, even the correction of Press Start (like Sonic Origins/Plus) is maintained but now it's Tap to Start

Some Tweaks

Title Card

Knuckles in Sonic 2

Sonic 2 (2013)

Monitor Palletes

Shield

Ending

Regardless of whether you have all the Chaos Emeralds or not, the original game simply displays a stylized Sonic the Hedgehog 2 logo when the music ends. In the remaster, the endings are presented identically like in Sonic the Hedgehog (2013); the bad ending shows "TRY AGAIN" with Dr. Eggman juggling the emeralds that you missed. If you have all the Chaos Emeralds, Eggman will throw a comical tantrum in front of his crashed Death Egg. From behind the bush you can see Knuckles' eyes, hinting of a potential Sonic 3 & Knuckles remaster which was sadly cancelled in a standalone form. Knuckles' eyes will not peek out of the bushes if you get the good ending as him because of developer's foresight.

Original Ending

2013 Ending

Additionally, only if you get the good ending, the credits will show Dr. Eggman crashing to Angel Island when the credits show "PRESENTED BY SEGA".

Special Stage

Original Special Stage

2013 Special Stage

The remastered version's special stages now truly look 3D to accommodate for the widescreen aspect ratio. Because of this, you can see objects a bit further ahead than in the orignal. Exclusive to the remaster is a secret eighth one, with its own unique palette, featuring corkscrew sections that are only found in the third section. The ring quotas are harder as well, and completing this wacky special stage gives you a light-blue Chaos Emerald, which does not appear after transitioning into the results screen.

Multiplayer

Multiplayer Vision

Original version

2013 version

In the original game, Sonic and Tails each have their own separate screen that is split in half horizontally. In the remaster, because of how drastically different the versus mode is compared to the original, this does not happen. In the Sonic Origins version, the classic splitscreen is restored. Knuckles has his green title card from Knuckles in Sonic 2 instead of the usual blue one.