A highly polished sequel (Sonic 2)

Member Name: Burning_Darkness

Product:	Sonic 2
Date:	11/11/09 (12 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great visuals music and animation, simple and fun, new 2 player mode

Disadvantages: not that different from the first game

Originally released for the Sega Megadrive back in 1992, The sequel to the original high-speed side-scrolling platformer 'Sonic The Hedgehog' is largely the same as its predecessor, albeit faster, prettier and even more fun. As before you play as a blue cartoon hedgehog with the ability to run at tremendous speeds through the numerous beautifully realised levels, navigating ramps, loop-the-loops and robotic animals whilst collecting as many rings as possible.

This time around however the developers have introduced a new character in the form of the orange fox Tails, who follows Sonic wherever he goes whilst controlled by either the computer or a second player in the original single player mode (in which the first player controls the direction in which the screen moves with tails simply tagging along), whilst there is also a two player split-screen race mode in which each player must try and get to the end of the elvel before their opponent. This adds a new aspect to the game, as does the introduction of new switches, traps, racetracks, rides and other features, all of which help keep things fresh. Sonic also has some new moves available, cheif amongst these being the ability to spin on one spot before whizzing off at high speed.

The levels are once again varied and beaitiful to look at, whilst the animation and music are both excellent. Sonic's Nemesis Dr Robotnick returns with a variety of new aind ingenous flying vehicles at the end of each zone, and the third person sub-game interludes are back in rejuvenated form too, with Sonic and Tails racing down endless tunnels collecting rings whilst in the pursuit of elusive chaos emeralds. Sonic 2 is essentailly more of the same, but remains a memorable, higly polished and immensely entertaining platformer all the same.

Summary: Similar to the original but even more polished