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Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (also called Sonic 2) is the second video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog. It was made by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Sega Mega Drive in 1992. Unlike the first game, it has a half-pipe special stage and has seven Chaos Emeralds instead of six. It also introduces Miles "Tails" Prower.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Developer(s)Sega Technical Institute
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Masaharu Yoshii
Producer(s)Shinobu Toyoda
Designer(s)
Programmer(s)
Artist(s)
Composer(s)Masato Nakamura
SeriesSonic the Hedgehog
Platform(s)
Release
November 21, 1992
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Development of the game began in November 1991, five months after the first game released. The game was developed by both Japanese and American staff at Sega Technical Institute.

Plot

Dr. Robotnik has begun making his ultimate weapon: the Death Egg. He searches for the seven Chaos Emeralds, which are hidden on West Side Island, to use as the spaceship's power source. Sonic goes to West Side Island to chase Robotnik down, and meets a two-tailed fox nicknamed Tails.

To stop Robotnik's evil plans, Sonic and Tails travel through 11 zones: Emerald Hill, Chemical Plant, Aquatic Ruin, Casino Night, Hill Top, Mystic Cave, Oil Ocean, Metropolis, Sky Chase, Wing Fortress and finally the Death Egg. At the end of the game, after Sonic defeats Robotnik and his Death Egg Robot, Tails saves Sonic from falling to the ground with his plane, the "Tornado". The Death Egg crashes into Angel Island, setting up the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Gameplay

The gameplay is similar to the first Sonic the Hedgehog game; the player can run, curl up into a ball and jump, and perform a new move, the Spindash. The Spindash is a move where Sonic can curl up, gain energy, and roll at high speeds. Tails follows Sonic through most of the levels so he can help pick up rings and destroy enemies.

When the player touches a checkpoint with at least 20 rings, they can go to a special stage where they must collect as many rings as they can while dodging bombs. If the player wins a special stage, they earn a Chaos Emerald. Getting all seven lets the player turn into Super Sonic, a form that makes Sonic invincible and lets him run faster and jump higher. Using Super Sonic drains one ring every second, and hitting 0 will turn Sonic back to normal. Getting all seven emeralds also unlocks the good ending.

Development

After the release of the original Sonic the Hedgehog, creator Yuji Naka quit Sega due to disagreements over corporate policy.[1][2] Mark Cerny, who had recently created Sega Technical Institute (STI) in California, met with Naka in Japan. He offered Naka a higher salary and more creative freedom if he joined STI.[1][2] Naka agreed. Hirokazu Yasuhara, the lead level designer of Sonic the Hedgehog, also decided to join STI.[1][2]

Reception

 Reception
Review scores
Publication Score
Computer and Video Games 94%[3]
Electronic Gaming Monthly 35/40[4]
Eurogamer (X360) 9/10[5]
Famitsu 30/40[6]
GameFan 197/200[7]
Game Informer 27.25/30[8]
9.5/10[9]
GamePro 19.5/20[10]
GameSpot (X360) 8/10[11]
IGN (WII) 8.5/10[12]
Official Nintendo Magazine (WII) 94%[13]
Official Xbox Magazine (X360) 9/10[5]
Bad Influence!      [14]
Mean Machines 96%[15]
Mega 94%[16]
Mega Zone 93%[17]
Sega-16 10/10[18]
Sega Force 97%[19]
Sega Force Mega 95%[20]
TouchArcade (iOS)      [21]
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
Game Rankings (SMD) 88%[5]
Metacritic (X360) 82/100[22]
(iOS) 60/100[23]
(3DS) 87/100[24]
Awards
Publication Award
Electronic Gaming Monthly Best Game of the Year (Genesis)[25]
GameFan Golden Megawards Best Action Platform Game[26]
Game Informer Best Action/Adventure Game,
Best Graphics in a Video Game[27]
GamePro Action/Adventure Game of the Year,
16-Bit Game of the Year (Runner-Up),
Award for Excellence in Graphics (Runner-Up)[28]
MegaTech Hyper Game

Because of the popularity of its predecessor, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 already had a fanbase waiting for its release.[12] The game received a lot of praise, and it was a bestseller in the UK charts for 2 months.[29] As of 2006, the game had sold over 6 million copies.[30] This makes it the second best-selling game on the Sega Genesis.

Electronic Gaming Monthly said it was the best Genesis game of 1992.[25]

The most common criticisms were about the two-player mode, a first for the series.[31][32]

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Media

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Horowitz, Ken (2007-06-11). "Developer's Den: Sega Technical Institute". Sega-16. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The Essential 50 Part 28 - Sonic the Hedgehog". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 23, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  3. ↑ Computer & Video Games, issue 132 (November 1992)
  4. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, 1998 Video Game Buyer's Guide, page 87
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for Genesis". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2019-12-09. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  6. ↑ Famitsu, issue 206
  7. ↑ GameFan, volume 1, issue 2 (December 1992), pages 9 & 14-17
  8. ↑ Game Informer, issue 8 (January/February 1993), pages 56-57
  9. ↑ "Classic Reviews: Sonic the Hedgehog 2". Game Informer 12 (109): 104. May 2002. 
  10. ↑ The Unknown Gamer (January 1993). "Pro Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 2". GamePro (IDG) (42): 46–47. https://retrocdn.net/images/5/54/GamePro_US_042.pdf. 
  11. ↑ Provo, Frank (2007). "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lucas M., Thomas (2007). "IGN's Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  13. ↑ East, Tom (2008-01-11). "Sonic The Hedgehog 2: The blue hedgehog returns". Official Nintendo Magazine. Archived from the original on 2013-05-26. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  14. ↑ Bad Influence, issue 2, pages 46-47
  15. ↑ "Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 2". Mean Machines (2): 60–3. November 1992. http://info.sonicretro.org/Review_-_Sonic_the_Hedgehog_2_%28Mean_Machines_Sega,_November_1992%29. Retrieved February 3, 2012. 
  16. ↑ "Game Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 2". Mega (Future Publishing) (2): 36–41. November 1992. http://www.outofprintarchive.com/catalogue/mega/MEGA2.html. Retrieved February 3, 2012. 
  17. ↑ "Sonic the Hedgehog 2". Mega Zone (25): 31–33. January 1993.
  18. ↑ Dyson Turner (July 17, 2004). "Sega-16 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2". Sega-16. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Reviewed: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive)". Sega Force. Impact Magazines (12): 14–6. December 1992. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Sonic 2". Sega Force Mega. Impact Magazines. 2 (1): 91. August 1993.
  21. ↑ Hodapp, Eli (April 19, 2010). "'Sonic 2' – Another Genesis Game Wrapped in Sega's Emulator". TouchArcade. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2014-11-27.
  23. ↑ "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2014-11-27.
  24. ↑ "3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for 3DS Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Buyer's Guide: Best Game of the Year (Genesis)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. 1993. "Sega's famous mascot -- Sonic the Hedgehog is back for his second visit to the Genesis, and this version is hot! With 8 megabits of memory good ol' Sonic has a lot more room to do cool tricks and this is what makes this version stand head and shoulders above all the other Genesis games that came out this year. All in all, Sonic 2 is the best Genesis cart to come along in a long time!". 
  26. ↑ GameFan, volume 1, issue 3 (January 1993), pages 70-71
  27. ↑ Game Informer, issue 8 (January/February 1993), page 34
  28. ↑ GamePro, issue 44 (March 1993), pages 22-24
  29. ↑ "Official Gallup UK Mega Drive Sales Chart". Mega (6). March 1993.
  30. ↑ Boutros, Daniel (2006-08-04). "A Detailed Cross-Examination of Yesterday and Today's Best-Selling Platform Games". Gamasutra. p. 5. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  31. ↑ Dotson, Carter. "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Gets the Remastering Treatment, With the Long-Lost Hidden Palace Level Restored". 148Apps. Steel Media Ventures. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Game Zero's Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Review". Game Zero. 1993.

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