Editing Sonic the Hedgehog 2

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|title1 = Main page
|tab2   = Staff         |title2 = Credits
|tab3   = Manuals
|tab4   = Glitches
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{{Otheruses4|the 16-bit video game|other uses|Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox video game
|title     = ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2''
|image     = <gallery>
Sonic2-cover.jpg|NA
Sonic 2 (Japanese).jpg|JP
Sonic the Hedgehog 2.jpg|EU
</gallery>
|caption    = Regional cover artwork
|developer  = [[Sega Technical Institute]]
|publisher  = [[Sega]]
|producer   = [[Shinobu Toyoda]]
|director   = [[Masaharu Yoshii]]
|designer   = 
*[[Hirokazu Yasuhara]] {{C|game planner}}
*[[Takahiro Anto]] {{C|object placement}}
*[[Yutaka Sugano]] {{C|object placement}}
|programmer = 
*[[Yuji Naka]] {{C|chief programmer}}
*[[Bill Willis]]
*[[Masanobu Yamamoto]]
|composer   = [[Masato Nakamura]]
|series     = ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog series|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''
|released   = 
'''[[Sega Mega Drive]]''':<br/>{{Vgrelease|NA=24 November 1992|JP=21 November 1992|EU=24 November 1992|AU=1 December 1992}}
'''Mobile''':<br/>{{Vgrelease|JP=2006}}
'''[[Wii|Wii Virtual Console]]''':<br/>{{Vgrelease|JP=19 June 2007<ref>{{Cite web|title=Virtual Console, page 3|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/03.html|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306002649/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/03.html|archivedate=6 March 2013}}</ref>|NA=11 June 2007<ref name="NWR">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/vcArt.cfm?artid=13596|title=Virtual Console Mondays: June 11, 2007|accessdate=21 October 2007|publisher=Nintendo World Report}}</ref>|EU=5 July 2007<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sonic the Hedgehog™ 2|url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Virtual-Console-Wii-/Sonic-the-Hedgehog-2-279118.html|publisher=[[Nintendo]]}}</ref>|AU=July 2007}}
'''[[Xbox 360|Xbox Live Arcade]]''':<br/>{{Vgrelease|INT=12 September 2007<ref name="LiveArcadeRelease">{{Cite web|url=http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/s/sonic2xboxlivearcade/default.htm|title=''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' on Xbox LIVE Arcade|accessdate=21 October 2007|work=Xbox|publisher=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref>}}
'''BlackBerry''':<br/>{{Vgrelease|NA=29 October 2009}}
'''[[Android]]''':<br/>{{Vgrelease|INT=12 December 2013}}
'''[[PlayStation 3|PlayStation Network]]''':<br/>{{Vgrelease|INT=19 April 2011}}
'''[[Nintendo Switch]]''':<br/>{{Vgrelease|JP=13 February 2020|INT=20 February 2020}}
|ratings   = {{Vgrating|CERO=A|ESRB=E|PEGI=3|ACB=G|USK=6}}
|genre     = Platformer
|modes     = Single-player, multiplayer
|platforms = 
*[[Sega Mega Drive]]
*[[Sega Saturn]]
*[[Nintendo GameCube]]
*[[PlayStation 2]]
*[[Xbox]]
*[[Nintendo DS]]
*[[Wii]]
*[[PlayStation 3]]
*[[Xbox 360]]
*[[Nintendo 3DS]] {{C|backwards compatibility}}
*[[PlayStation 4]]
*[[Xbox One]]
*[[Nintendo Switch]]
*[[PlayStation 5]] {{C|backwards compatibility}}
*[[Xbox Series X and Series S]] {{C|backwards compatibility}}
*[[PC]] {{C|formerly}}
|media     = 
*ROM cartridge
*CD-ROM
*Digital download
*DVD-ROM
*DVD-DL
*Blu-ray Disc
*Nintendo DS Game Card
*Nintendo 3DS Game Card
*Nintendo Switch Game Card
|preceded  = ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]''
|followed  = ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''
}}
{{Quote left|Are you up 2 it?|Tagline}}
{{Nihongo|'''''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'''''|ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ２|Sonikku za Hejjihoggu Tsū}} is a platform video game in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog series|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series]] and a sequel to the original ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''. Developed by the [[Sega Technical Institute]] (STI) in collaboration with [[Sonic Team]] members who relocated from Japan, the game was published by [[Sega]] for the [[Sega Mega Drive|Mega Drive]] in November 1992. The story takes place on [[West Side Island]], where [[Sonic the Hedgehog]], now joined by a two-tailed fox named [[Miles "Tails" Prower]], must stop [[Doctor Eggman]] from collecting the seven [[Chaos Emerald]]s to power his new space station, the [[Death Egg]]. The game is also a part of the larger [[Death Egg saga]].

''Sonic 2''{{'}}s development was marked by several challenges, including cultural differences between the Japanese and American members of the STI, which led to frequent conflicts. Originally envisioned as a time-travel adventure—a concept later realized in ''[[Sonic CD]]''—the game underwent significant changes during its development. Memory limitations forced the team to cut content, including entire levels and enemies, resulting in a shorter final product than initially planned. Despite these complications, the game introduced several key features that would become staples of the series, such as the character Tails, the [[Spin Dash]] move, and the ability to transform into [[Super Sonic]].

''Sonic 2'' was highly anticipated and first released in Japan on 21 November 1992, followed by a worldwide release on 24 November, a date marketed as "[[Sonic 2sday]]". The game received critical acclaim, with praise directed towards its improved gameplay, visuals, characters, and soundtrack, and it is widely regarded as one of the [[Wikipedia:List of video games considered the best|greatest video games of all time]]. It has sold over 6 million copies and become the second best-selling game on the Mega Drive. It was followed by ''[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]'' in 1994, and has been re-released multiple times, most notably [[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2013)|in 2013]] as a mobile remake co-developed by [[Christian Whitehead]] and [[Headcannon]].

==Plot==
{{Spoiler}}
[[File:Title Screen - Sonic the Hedgehog 2.png|thumb|left|225px|The title screen of ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2''.|alt=Title screen of Sonic 2, with Tails and Sonic (left to right) on an emblem with the game's name.]]
This story is set on [[West Side Island]]. According to legend, an ancient civilization here achieved prosperity using mysterious stones, whose misuse led to their downfall. These stones, believed to be the seven [[Chaos Emerald]]s, are said to have been sealed by the gods within the island's depths. During his travels, [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] discovers West Side Island and sets up camp there while unknowingly being followed by [[Doctor Eggman]]. He eventually meets a shy, two-tailed fox named [[Miles "Tails" Prower]], who idolizes him and follows him around the island.<ref name="JPManual1">{{Cite manual |fullgame = Sonic the Hedgehog 2 |link = Sonic the Hedgehog 2/Manuals#Japanese |system = Sega Mega Drive |language = Japanese |pages = 4-5}}</ref>

One day, Tails stumbles upon Sonic's plane, the [[Tornado]], just as a massive explosion occurs in the forest nearby. As it turns out, Eggman settled on the island to find the Chaos Emeralds to power his ultimate weapon, a space fortress known as the [[Death Egg]]. Sonic immediately rushes to thwart his plans, with Tails following him.<ref name="JPManual1"/>

[[File:I do remember too that, how hard this final boss was.png|thumb|left|225px|[[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] fighting the [[Death Egg Robot]].|alt=In-game screenshot of Sonic fighting the final boss of Sonic 2, the Death Egg Robot]]
Sonic and Tails journey through the island, freeing various [[Zone]]s from Eggman's control and defeating the doctor on numerous occasions.<ref name="StH4Info">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sonicthehedgehog4.com:80/us/html/ep1-story.html|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I|publisher=[[Sega]]|work=Story|accessdate=27 October 2017|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20130512061439/http://www.sonicthehedgehog4.com:80/us/html/ep1-story.html|archivedate=12 May 2013}}</ref> They eventually use the Tornado to storm Eggman's flying [[Wing Fortress Zone|Wing Fortress]]. However, it strikes the Tornado's wings, forcing Sonic board the battleship alone. Thanks to Tails' repaired Tornado, he boards Eggman's [[space rocket]], leading him to the Death Egg. There, Sonic confronts and defeats a robotic doppelganger called [[Mecha Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Mecha Sonic]] before facing Eggman in his [[Death Egg Robot]]. After a heated battle, Sonic's victory triggers a chain-reaction that causes the entire Death Egg to explode.<ref name="StH4Info"/>

The Death Egg's explosion causes a flash of pure white on [[Earth]]. Tails pilots the Tornado to search for Sonic, who barely escapes the space station, which falls into the atmosphere.<ref name="JamGuide">{{Cite book|title=ソニックジャム　オフィシャルガイド|publisher=SoftBank|date=2 October 1997|page=53|isbn=978-4797303377|language=Japanese}}</ref> The ending of the game will depend on the player's progress:
*If the player has not collected all seven Chaos Emeralds, Tails rescues Sonic in the Tornado and they are accompanied by a flock of [[Flicky|Flickies]].
*If the player has collected all seven Chaos Emeralds, Sonic transforms into [[Super Sonic]], safely returning to Earth with Tails flying alongside him.
*Playing as Tails skips most of the ending sequence and has Sonic rescue Tails in the Tornado. The ending does not change regardless of whether the Emeralds have been collected.
{{Endspoiler}}

===Characters===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Image
!Character
!Biography
|-
|[[File:Sonic 2 JP Sonic arms crossed.png|150px|alt=Sonic]]
|[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]
|''While on an island during his usual carefree adventure, Sonic meets Tails, a small fox with two tails.

When Sonic learns that Dr. Eggman has begun an invasion of the mythical island known as West Side Island, he kicks up sand and heads toward the forest.''<ref name="JPManual3">{{Cite manual |fullgame = Sonic the Hedgehog 2 |link = Sonic the Hedgehog 2/Manuals#Japanese |system = Sega Mega Drive |language = Japanese |pages = 44-45}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Sonic-the-hedgehog-2-2.png|150px|alt=Tails]]
|[[Miles "Tails" Prower]]
|''Because of his two tails, he was bullied by everyone when he was little and was timid, but meeting Sonic and striving to be like him made Miles's personality bright, energetic and positive.''<ref name="JPManual2">{{Cite manual |fullgame = Sonic the Hedgehog 2 |link = Sonic the Hedgehog 2/Manuals#Japanese |system = Sega Mega Drive |language = Japanese |page = 43}}</ref>

''Sonic doesn't seem to be paying attention to Miles, but he's actually looking at him sideways.''<ref name="JPManual2"/>
|-
|[[File:Robotnik 43.png|150px|alt=Eggman]]
|[[Doctor Eggman]]
|''Evil genius scientist. He wants the Chaos Emeralds. His life's work is world domination. His rival is Sonic.''<ref name="JPManual3">{{Cite manual |fullgame = Sonic the Hedgehog 2 |link = Sonic the Hedgehog 2/Manuals#Japanese |system = Sega Mega Drive |language = Japanese |pages = 44-45}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Tornado S2.png|150px|alt=Tornado]]
|[[Tornado]]
|''Sonic's beloved plane, the Tornado. At normal speed, the Tornado can only reach 450km/h, but by installing a custom booster engine tuned by Miles, it can fly past the speed of sound despite being a propeller-driven aircraft.''<ref name="JPManual3"/>
|-
|[[File:Robotnik 28.png|150px|alt=Egg Mobile]]
|[[Egg Mobile|Eggman's Mobile]]
|''An all-purpose capsule mecha created by Doctor Eggman. By changing its attachments, it can travel across water, land, air, and even dive underground. He believes that Sonic won't be a threat to him with this piece of scientific power, but...''<ref name="JPManual3"/>
|}

==Gameplay==
[[File:Aquatic Ruins from Sonic 2 for Mega Drive.png|thumb|225px|[[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] and [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]] in [[Aquatic Ruin Zone]], the third [[Zone]] in the game.]]
''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' is a side-scroller 2D platformer video game, which plays identical as the first ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' game. The player can play as either [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] or [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]] or both. They can also play as Sonic while Tails is controlled by a second player or an AI. Both characters share the same abilities. The game has eleven [[Zone]]s, most of which are divided into two Acts, with the exception of the ninth one which has three Acts. At the end of every second Act is a boss fight against Eggman in one of his mechs.

The main objective of ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' is to finish its Acts in [[Time Over|less than ten minutes]]. In these Acts, the player can find many [[Ring]]s, which serve as their playable character's main method of protection. If a character is hit while having at least one Ring, they will survive with the cost of losing all their Rings. However, if the playable character is hit without having Rings, they will lose a [[life]] and will have to try the current Act again from either the beginning or at the last [[Star Post]]. The player can also lose a life if they do not complete the Act in ten minutes, get crushed, drown underwater or fall into a [[bottomless pit]]. If all lives are lost, the [[Game Over|game is over]], but the player can use [[Continue]]s to keep playing.

From the options menu, players can select to either play as Sonic alone, Tails alone or Sonic and Tails. By default, players control Sonic while Tails tags along unhindered. However, a second player may control Tails separately. Should Tails move off-screen, fall off a platform, or die after getting hit from above, he will eventually return. There is minimal difference when playing as Tails instead of Sonic. Tails cannot [[Propeller Flying|fly]] when played as in this game, though he is slightly shorter than Sonic.

Obtaining all seven [[Chaos Emerald]]s by clearing all of the [[Special Stage (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Special Stages]] will unlock a new feature: Sonic's ability to change into [[Super Sonic]]. When Sonic has collected at least fifty Rings and jumps into the air, he will transform into Super Sonic. In this state, Sonic is [[Invincible|virtually invincible]], although he can still die by drowning, getting crushed, falling into [[bottomless pit]]s, or running out of time. His speed, acceleration and jump height are all increased as well. However, his [[Spin Dash]] is decreased in effectiveness as the initial velocity is decreased rapidly. Super Sonic consumes one Ring per second, and when he has no Rings left or he reaches the end of an Act, he reverts back to his normal state. Also, gathering all of the Emeralds will trigger the good ending.

===Scoring system===
{{main|Point#Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)}}

===Controls===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!Button formation
![[File:Sonic-Icon-Sonic-2.png|link=Sonic the Hedgehog]] [[File:Miles-Tails-Icon-Sonic-2.png|link=Miles "Tails" Prower]] Movement<ref>{{Cite manual |fullgame = Sonic the Hedgehog 2 |link = Sonic the Hedgehog 2/Manuals#English |system = Sega Mega Drive |region = United States |pages = 5-6}}</ref>
|-
|{{Directional Pad}} left/right
|Run
|-
|{{Directional Pad}} up
|Look up
|-
|{{Directional Pad}} down
|[[Crouch]]
|-
|{{A Button (Sega Genesis)}}/{{B Button (Sega Genesis)}}/{{C Button (Sega Genesis)}}
|[[Spin Jump]]
|-
|Move + {{Directional Pad}} down
|[[Spin Attack]]
|-
|Crouch + {{A Button (Sega Genesis)}}/{{B Button (Sega Genesis)}}/{{C Button (Sega Genesis)}}
|[[Spin Dash]]
|-
|'''START'''
|Pause
|}

===Objects===
====Items====
*[[Air bubble]]
*[[Chaos Emerald]]
*[[Item Box]]
**[[1-Up]]
**[[Eggman Mark]] {{1st}}
**[[Invincible]]
**[[Player Swap]] {{1st}}
**[[Power Sneakers (power-up)|Power Sneakers]]
**[[Random]]
**[[Shield]]
**[[Super Ring]]
*[[Ring]]
*[[Star Circle]] {{1st}}

====Gimmicks and obstacles====
{{div col |colwidth=20em |content=
*[[Arrow column]] {{1st}}
*[[Blue blob]] {{1st}}
*[[Bomb (obstacle)|Bomb]]
*[[Breakaway column]] {{1st}}
*[[Bumper]]
*[[Bumper wall]] {{1st}}
*[[Cannon]] {{1st}}
*[[Capsule]]
*[[Conveyor Belt]]
*[[Crusher]]
*[[Dash Panel]] {{1st}}
*[[Drop Target]] {{1st}}
*[[Elevator]]
*[[Fan]]
*[[Flipper]]
*[[Giant spear]]
*[[Goal Plate]]
*[[Gondola]] {{1st}}
*[[High-speed warp tube]] {{1st}}
*[[Bumper#Hexagonal bumper|Hexagonal bumper]]
*[[Iron ball]]
*[[Jump Panel (ramp)|Jump Panel]] {{1st}}
*[[Mega Mack]] {{1st}}
*[[Metal nut]] {{1st}}
*[[Seesaw]]
*[[Sinking pool]] {{1st}}
*[[Slot machine]] {{1st}}
*[[Spikes (obstacle)|Spikes]]
*[[Spring]]
*[[Spring Catapult]] {{1st}}
*[[Star Post]]
*[[Switch]]
*[[Triangle Bumper]] {{1st}}
}}

==Characters==
{{Multiple image
|direction     = vertical 
|width         = 230

|image1        = Sonic 2 Japanese artwork Sonic and Tails.png
|alt1          = Promotional artwork of Sonic (left) and Tails (right)
|caption1      = [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] and [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]], the two playable characters in ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2''.

|image2        = Sonic_2_art_Eggman_and_Badniks.png
|alt2          = A picture of Dr. Eggman at the background and many Badniks in Sonic 2. From left to right: Flasher, Crawlton, Turtloids, Crawl, Shellcracker, Grounder, Asteron, Slicer, Aquis, Rexon, Buzzer, Masher, and Balkiry. The Egg Mobile is seen at the center, above the Asteron.
|caption2      = [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]] and many of the [[Badnik]] enemies in ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'', alongside the [[Egg Mobile]].
}}
===Playable characters===
*[[Miles "Tails" Prower]]
*[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]
**[[Super Sonic]] {{1st}}

===Non-playable characters===
*[[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]]
*[[Animals]]
**[[Becky]] {{1st}}
**[[Cucky]]
**[[Flicky]]
**[[Locky]] {{1st}}
**[[Micky]] {{1st}}
**[[Pecky]]
**[[Pocky]]
**[[Ricky]]
**[[Rocky]]
**[[Wocky]] {{1st}}
**[[Tocky]] {{1st}}

===Enemies===
{{Div col |colwidth=15em |content=
*[[Asteron]] {{1st}}
*[[Aquis]] {{1st}}
*[[Balkiry]] {{1st}}
*[[Buzzer]] {{1st}}
*[[Chop Chop]] {{1st}}
*[[Clucker]] {{1st}}
*[[Coconuts]] {{1st}}
*[[Crawl]] {{1st}}
*[[Crawlton]] {{1st}}
*[[Flasher]] {{1st}}
*[[Gohla]] {{1st}}
*[[Grabber]] {{1st}}
*[[Grounder]] {{1st}}
*[[Masher]] {{1st}}
*[[Nebula]] {{1st}}
*[[Octus]] {{1st}}
*[[Rexon]] {{1st}}
*[[Shellcracker]] {{1st}}
*[[Slicer]] {{1st}}
*[[Spiker (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Spiker]] {{1st}}
*[[Spiny]] {{1st}}
*[[Turtloids]] {{1st}}
*[[Whisp]] {{1st}}
}}

==Zones==
{{Div col |colwidth=15em |content=
#[[Emerald Hill Zone]]
#[[Chemical Plant Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Chemical Plant Zone]]
#[[Aquatic Ruin Zone]]
#[[Casino Night Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Casino Night Zone]]
#[[Hill Top Zone]]
#[[Mystic Cave Zone]]
#[[Oil Ocean Zone]]
#[[Metropolis Zone]]
#[[Sky Chase Zone]]
#[[Wing Fortress Zone]]
#[[Death Egg Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Death Egg Zone]]
}}

===Special Stages===
{{Main|Special Stage (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)}}
[[Image:Sonic 2 SpecialStage.gif|thumb|right|225px|[[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] and [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]] in a Special Stage.]]
In ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'', there are seven Special Stages. When the player has collected at least fifty [[Ring]]s and hits a Star Post, a [[Star Circle|red halo of stars]] will briefly float above it, which they can then jump into to get to a Special Stage.

Special Stages track the player from behind while they run through a three-dimensional half-pipe course filled with Rings and [[Bomb (obstacle)|Bombs]]. A set number of Rings must be collected to pass through three checkpoints and eventually obtain a [[Chaos Emerald]]. Playing co-operatively with Tails raises some of the Ring targets in the early Special Stages. The order of stages is fixed in rising difficulty, and the player cannot enter the next stage without passing the previous. Whether the player is able to obtain the Emerald or not, Sonic is transported back to the last Star Post he hit in the [[Zone]] when the Special Stage is over.

Once returned from a Special Stage, the entire Zone is reset (except the game timer) - the player is without Rings but all the collected [[Item Box]]es, Rings, and [[Badnik]]s reappear. Also, if Sonic activates a Star Post, all the Star Posts before that one will be activated as well, whether or not with fifty Rings in hand. This creates a tactical element to getting the most out of each Zone in terms of opportunities to grab Emeralds. It is possible to collect all seven within [[Emerald Hill Zone]].

==Bosses==
#[[Egg Drillster]] ([[Emerald Hill Zone]]) {{1st}}
#[[Egg Poison]] ([[Chemical Plant Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Chemical Plant Zone]]) {{1st}}
#[[Egg Hammer (boss)|Egg Hammer]] ([[Aquatic Ruin Zone]]) {{1st}}
#[[Catch Eggman|Egg Claw]] ([[Casino Night Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Casino Night Zone]]) {{1st}}
#[[Egg Scorcher Mark II|Egg Scorcher Mk. II]] ([[Hill Top Zone]]) {{1st}}
#[[Egg Digger]] ([[Mystic Cave Zone]]) {{1st}}
#[[Eggmarine]] ([[Oil Ocean Zone]]) {{1st}}
#[[Egg Bouncer]] ([[Metropolis Zone]]) {{1st}}
#[[Laser Prison]] ([[Wing Fortress Zone]]) {{1st}}
#[[Mecha Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Mecha Sonic]] ([[Death Egg Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Death Egg Zone]]) {{1st}}
#[[Death Egg Robot (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Death Egg Robot]] (Death Egg Zone) {{1st}}

==Other modes==
===2 Player VS===
In '''2 Player VS''' mode, two players compete against each other -either as [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] or [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]] - in a split-screen race through three regular zones and one Special Stage. Regular zones include Emerald Hill, Casino Night and Mystic Cave and have different music from their one player counterparts, while the Special Stage remains the same as in single player. In the regular levels, players are ranked in five areas (score, time, rings held at the end of the level, total rings collected, and number of item boxes broken), with the player scoring highest in the most levels winning the round, while in the Special Stage, players compete to obtain the most rings. Once one player finishes one of the regular levels, the other player must finish the zone within 60 seconds or lose a life.

In case of a tie, an additional Special Stage round must be completed. Also, to heighten the stakes, there are two unique items in versus-mode: a [[Player Swap|Teleporter]] item that instantly switches positions between players in a zone, and an [[Eggman Mark|Eggman]] item that damages the unlucky player. Furthermore, an optional setting allows that all item boxes in two-player mode are only Teleporters.

==Development==
===Background===
The original ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' was developed by [[Sonic Team]] in Japan and released in 1991 around the world. The title greatly increased the popularity of [[Sega]] and helped making the company a formidable rival for [[Nintendo]], who before that controlled the video game market. However, before the game released, programmer [[Yuji Naka]] quit Sega of Japan due to dissatisfactions and financial issues with the company.<ref name="Sega16">{{Cite web |first=Ken |last=Horowitz |title=Developer's Den: Sega Technical Institute |url=https://www.sega-16.com/2007/06/developers-den-sega-technical-institute/ |publisher=Sega-16 |archivedate=16 August 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816104409/https://www.sega-16.com/2007/06/developers-den-sega-technical-institute/ |accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="Famitsu">{{Cite web |first=Ray |last=Maba |date=24 June 2016 |title=『ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ』誕生・ヒット・新生の真実をソニックチームのレジェンドクリエイターが、25周年のいま明かす　秘蔵資料満載の永久保存版！|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201606/24107383.html |language=Japanese |work=Famitsu |accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref>

While ''Sonic 1'' was still under development, American game designer [[Mark Cerny]], who had previously worked in Sega games like ''Galactic Protector'', established the [[Sega Technical Institute]] (STI) in the United States, with the idea of hiring aspiring American game designers who would receive training by Sega of Japan's most experienced minds. The game designer of ''Sonic 1'', [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]], was one of the first people who were offered a position in the team; he accepted a year later when he made up his mind. While meeting up with his colleagues in Japan as usual, Cerny learned of Naka's situation, and thus paid him a visit and listened to the reasons why he had left. Naka was ultimately convinced to rejoin Sega at the STI, shielded from Sega of Japan's critique and with a higher salary. Various other members of Sonic Team joined him too.<ref name="strafefox">{{Cite web |author=strafefox |date=22 May 2018 |title=The Making of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQuDnNO9JsM |publisher=YouTube |accessdate=20 April 2023}}</ref><ref name="Sega16" /> Meanwhile, the rest of the development team stayed in Japan to develop ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]'' by the request of the president of Sega.<ref name="Famitsu" />

In September 1991, Naka moved to California, where he reunited with Yasuhara. Around this time, with other original titles underway, Cerny pitched a sequel to ''Sonic the Hedgehog'', but Sega managment believed that it was too soon for one.<ref name="Sega16" /> With no new project assigned, the team would make some experiments for the eventual sequel. In November, however, Cerny got a frantic call from his superiors who had revered course and told him that they needed the game. The pressure was so much that the release date of the game was originally set to release in October 1992 (one month before the final release date), meaning that the team only had eleven months to complete the game.<ref name="strafefox" /> With two months having been lost from the original schedule, Cerny had to scramble to get his team organized to complete it in time. Full-scale development of ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' began in early 1992. At first, the developers were exclusively Americans, as the Japanese side of the team had not arrived yet due to visa complications.<ref name="Sega16" />

===Design===
Former Sega of America marketing director Al Nilsen said that the STI wanted to go "all out" with ''Sonic 2'' and ensure that it was as successful as its prequel, since sequels are generally not very well regarded.<ref name="GameInformer">{{Cite web |first=Brian |last=Shea |date=21 November 2017 |title=The Behind-The-Scenes Story Of How Sonic 2 Became Sega’s Ace In The Hole |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/11/21/the-behind-the-scenes-story-of-how-sonic-2-became-sega-ace-in-the-hole.aspx |work=Game Informer |accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> The team, which consisted of just ten people,<ref name="Famitsu" /> brainstormed for new ideas to make the formula work. One of them was to make [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] faster by increasing his limit of speed compared to the first game.<ref name="GameInformer" /> A new move called the "[[Spin Dash]]" was added so that players could reach super speeds in an instant without feeling too exasperated.<ref name="SonicPanic">{{Cite web |author=Video Archive |date=22 April 2022 |title=Sonic Panic (Sonic 2 Promo Video) <nowiki>[ENGLISH CC]</nowiki> {Windii Reupload} |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVX2YfkrEvA |work=YouTube |accessdate=27 March 2023}}</ref> Earlier versions of ''Sonic 2'' also had a feature where Sonic would be hurt if he crashed into a wall at high speed, but it was removed in later builds.

<gallery type="slideshow" position="left" widths="225">
Sonic_2_Level_Map_Concept_01.png|A concept of what would become [[West Side Island]], by [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]], in the present. Only [[Metropolis Zone]] made it into the final game.
Sonic_2_Level_Map_Concept_02.png|Another concept of the original island, by [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]]. This map depicted the island in an altered present following [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]]'s time-travelling schemes. Only [[Oil Ocean Zone]] made it into the final game.
Sonic_2_Level_Map_Concept_04.png|Another concept of the original island, by [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]]. This map depicted the island in the "past". Only [[Hill Top Zone]] made it into the final game.
Sonic_2_Level_Map_Concept_03.png|Another concept of the original island, by [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]]. This map depicted the island in the futured ruled by [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]], overrun with machinery and cities.
</gallery>
Meanwhile, Yasuhara had various plans for the game and was visualizing story and gameplay ideas for it. He conceived a story that was very different from the final one, being time travel-based; the premise was that [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]] had gone back in time to alter the [[Earth]]'s history, prompting Sonic to travel to the past as well to prevent the creation of a [[Eggman Empire]]. At least four timelines were conceived: the present, the past, an alternate present modified by Eggman, and the ruined future under the doctor's reign. These ideas were ultimately scrapped since they were seen as too ambitious for the game's release schedule, and the team decided to lean towards the first game's streamlined design. Nevertheless, some of the [[Zone]]s that were conceived also made it into the final product: [[Hill Top Zone]] was originally the past version of [[Green Hill|Green Hill Zone]], while [[Oil Ocean Zone]] was from the modified present, and both [[Chemical Plant Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Chemical Plant Zone]] and [[Casino Night Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Casino Night Zone]] came from the future ruled by the villain. A similar concept was used by ''Sonic CD'', released in 1993.<ref name="strafefox" />

[[File:Sonic-2-Tails-Sketches-I.jpeg|thumb|225px|Sketches of [[Miles "Tails" Prower]], who became the "player two character" in ''Sonic 2'' following an internal contest.]]
A multiplayer mode was planned to be featured in ''Sonic 1'' but could not make it into the final product. Naka managed to figure out a way to incorporate two-player split-screen gameplay, by making two entire game screens on top of each other and squashing them to fit with a television's 4:3 ratio.<ref name="strafefox" /> He wanted to implement this feature in this title so that siblings could play together, believing that this made games more fun.<ref name="SonicPanic" /> He wanted the second playable character to be cute and endearing, like [[w:c:uruseiyatsura:Kitsune|Kitsune]] in ''Urusei Yatsura'',<ref name="S2 30th thread">{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/judy_totoya/status/1594372821794586624|date=21 November 2022|title=Judy Totoya on Twitter|work=Twitter|accessdate=21 November 2022}}</ref> and hold a "deep admiration for Sonic".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sega.com/features/allsonic/creator/naka04.html|title=Sonic's Creator - Yuji Naka|accessdate=28 August 2008|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19970605172353/http://www.sega.com/features/allsonic/creator/naka04.html|archivedate=5 June 1997}}</ref> A contest was held at STI to decide this character. The entry of [[Yasushi Yamaguchi]], originally the main artist and level designer for Sonic Team, won. His character was named "Miles Power", a play on the term ''[[Wikipedia:Miles per hour|miles per hour]]'', a unit of measurement for speed. However, "Power" was changed to "Prower" due to making the character sound too powerful.<ref name="S2 30th thread" /> Additionally. marketing director Al Nilsen and product manager [[Madeline Schroeder]] convinced the team to change the name from "Miles" to "Tails", in which Yamaguchi was upset.<ref name="Al Nilsen">{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AlNilsen/status/1476008865951059969?t=B7WGCOeAGeaBUIvbgSVJdQ|date=29 December 2021|title=Al Nilsen on Twitter|work=Twitter|accessdate=29 December 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229140230/https://twitter.com/AlNilsen/status/1476008865951059969?t=B7WGCOeAGeaBUIvbgSVJdQ&s=19|archivedate=29 December 2021}}</ref> Following a meeting, the team and Yamaguchi came to a compromise: the name "Miles Prower" would serve as the character's legal name, while "Tails" would be his nickname, resulting in the full name of '''[[Miles "Tails" Prower]]'''. Other proposed characters, such as "[[Boomer the Turtle]]", did not prevail in the end.

===Conflicts===
The development was complicated due to cultural differences between the Japanese and American developers. Despite the fact that both sides were on friendly terms, there were many contrasts in their working styles. The Japanese were among Sega's top developers, making it difficult for the relatively inexperienced Americans to keep up. Both parties also had an entirely different work ethic, and many worked throughout the night and even slept in their office cubicles. Former STI member Tim Skelly believed that Naka would have been happier working in an all-Japanese team.<ref name="Sega16" /> In addition, due to the sheer scale of the project and the work environment in the United States, the small team was left to do all the work themselves.<ref name="Famitsu" />

[[File:HPZ.jpg|thumb|left|225px|Various Zones in ''Sonic 2'' were cut from the final game. The most famous was "[[Hidden Palace Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Hidden Palace Zone]]" (recreation from the [[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2013)|2013 remaster]] pictured), which was reintroduced in a few recent releases of the game.]]
{{Quote left|The game probably could have been three times the size if we left in everything that was there. [[Yuji Naka|Naka]] and team [...] weren't afraid to say, 'I've been working on this for four months, it's not working. Let's take it out.'|Former Sega of America marketing director Al Nilsen on the scrapped content in ''Sonic 2''}}
A lot of content ended up being scrapped from the game due to memory limitations. In retrospect, Nilsen said ''Sonic 2'' "probably could have been three times the size" had the developers left in everything that was planned to be there.<ref name="GameInformer" /> Amongst much of the scrapped content was "[[Hidden Palace Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Hidden Palace Zone]]", which appeared in many advertisements of the game. It was intended to be a Zone with two Acts where Sonic would [[Super transformation|transform]] into [[Super Sonic]] after collecting all seven [[Chaos Emerald]]s. However, it was then changed to one Act before the developers eventually abandoned the proposal and instead allowed the player to access Super Sonic regardless of the Zone.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uk.xbox.gamespy.com/articles/654/654750p4.html|title=Sega's Yuji Naka Talks!|publisher=GameSpy|page=4|quote='''GameSpy''': Was the Hidden Palace meant to be "hidden," then? / '''[[Yuji Naka]]''': You'd encounter the stage through normal play by collecting the emeralds. The idea behind the stage was, 'Where do the Chaos Emeralds come from?' That's where Sonic was originally supposed to be granted his Super Sonic powers. We finally were able to use it in S&K, though it wound up being quite different from what we had planned in Sonic 2. But even from Sonic 1 we'd been throwing around those sorts of ideas. Still, when we were running out of time, we looked over things quickly trying to figure out what to dump ... and CHOP went the Hidden Palace. There's simply no way we could have thrown that in by the deadline at the rate we were going.|accessdate=3 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="SRZ">{{Cite web|url=http://www.randomsonicnet.org/srz/index.php?page=interviews/cs.htm|title=Craig Stitt Interview|publisher=Sonic Research Zone|date=23 January 2001|accessdate=25 January 2015}}</ref> Other famously scrapped Zones included "[[Wood Zone]]", "[[Sand Shower Zone]]", and "[[Cyber City Zone]]". Naka recalls that as many as five stages were scrapped, one of them being cut from the game a few days before release despite having been fully completed due to the lack of memory.<ref name="Gryson">{{Cite journal|title=The People Making Sega's Future|journal=Beep! Mega Drive|publisher=SoftBank|date=January 1993|pages=46–48|url=https://mdshock.com/2021/12/28/the-people-making-segas-future/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229012806/https://mdshock.com/2021/12/28/the-people-making-segas-future/|archivedate=29 December 2021|quote='''[[Yuji Naka]]''': There's still so much I want to add. For Sonic 2, we had to remove so much due to memory limitations. We actually made about five more zones, but in the end, we had to cut them all. We actually cut one zone at the absolute very last minute. Even though it was basically complete, we couldn't use it because of a lack of memory. There just wasn't enough space.}}</ref> The stakes for this game were so high that it was polished up until the very last possible moment, and then flown to Japan for production by two people on two separate planes, just in case something went wrong with one plane.<ref name="GameInformer" />

==Promotional==
[[File:S2b_title.png|thumb|225px|The title screen of one of the best known prototypes of ''Sonic 2'', named the "[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Nick Arcade prototype)|''Nick Arcade'' prototype]]". It was famously showcased in the ''[[Wikipedia:Nick Arcade|Nick Arcade]]'' television series in early 1992.]]
Marketing for ''Sonic 2'' was aggressive; promotion began in early 1992. At the time, the Nickelodeon show ''[[Wikipedia:Nick Arcade|Nick Arcade]]'' was one of the most popular video game-centered shows. Seeing an opportunity to promote the then-upcoming game, [[Sega]] sent [[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Nick Arcade prototype)|a very early copy]] of ''Sonic 2'' to ''Nick Arcade'' to showcase it. This build was only shown a few times, one of which was during a special show where ''[[Wikipedia:Clarissa Explains It All|Clarissa Explains It All]]'' actors [[Wikipedia:Melissa Joan Hart|Melissa Joan Hart]] and [[Wikipedia:Jason Zimbler|Jason Zimbler]] were competing. However, it did not go well, and the two struggled to play since they did not know about the [[Spin Dash]].<ref name="Prototypes">{{Cite web |first=Heidi |last=Kemps |date=15 July 2020 |title=7 Sonic The Hedgehog Prototypes You Were Never Meant To Play |url=https://kotaku.com/7-sonic-the-hedgehog-prototypes-you-were-never-meant-to-1844382305 |work=Kotaku |accessdate=19 April 2023}}</ref>

As ''Sonic 2'' was Sega's biggest 1992 game, its marketing team sought to make its release be "as much a celebration as it was a product launch", with the company confidently betting big that the game would be a massive success.<ref name="GameInformer" /> In Japan, a VHS titled {{Nihongo|"'''''Sonic Panic'''''"|ソニックパニック|Sonikku Panikku}} was released to promote the title. It started with [[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] being humilliated by [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] and [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]] - a sign of the strong rivalry between Sega and [[Nintendo]] at the time - and featured content such as [[Yuji Naka]] revealing a few details about the development and new features of the game.<ref name="SonicPanic" /> Tails was frequently featured in teasers of the game due to being a new playable character, and promotional posters bore the line "Are you up 2 it?". ''Sonic 2''{{'}}s international box art, featuring Sonic and Tails standing in front of a giant "''2''" with [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]] peering over it, was drawn by [[Greg Martin]], who had previously drawn the Western key art for [[Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' (8-bit)]]. The Japanese artwork was illustrated by Akira Watanabe, who also made the cover artworks for many of Sega's mainline games at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Ayden_ |date=3 April 2022 |title=L'histoire des boitiers et jaquettes du jeu vidéo : Artistes, mystères et anecdotes |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/1551322/l-histoire-des-boitiers-et-jaquettes-du-jeu-video-artistes-mysteres-et-anecdotes.html |language=French |publisher=Jeuxvideo.com |accessdate=19 April 2023}}</ref>

==Release==
''Sonic 2'' was first released on 21 November 1992 in Japan. In the West, Sega of America had planned at first to make a tour of shopping mails across the United States to release the game. At the last minute, however, they changed their minds and considered that this plan was not "Sega" enough. A high-profile, global release was conceived instead. This was an unusual practice at the time, since the games' release dates varied by region. The game thus released internationally on Tuesday, 24 November 1992, a date called "Sonic 2sday" by promotional material.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Martin |last=Bryant |date=25 July 2015 |title=Sonic 2 and making a real impact with your marketing |url=https://thenextweb.com/news/miles-prower-is-still-a-terrible-name |publisher=The Next Web |accessdate=19 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Sonic the Hedgehog |date=24 November 2022 |title=Sonic the Hedgehog on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/1595970131489804289 |work=Twitter |accessdate=19 April 2023 |quote=It's been 30 years since Sonic 2sday and the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Life wouldn't be the same without you, little buddy!}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Sales===
Due to the popularity of its [[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)|predecessor]], ''Sonic 2'' already had an established fanbase anticipating its release.<ref name="IGNRev">{{Cite web|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/795/795640p1.html|title=IGN's Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Review|accessdate=21 October 2007|year=2007|first=Thomas|last=Lucas M.|work=[[Wikipedia:IGN|IGN]]|publisher=Ziff Davis}}</ref> The game received critical acclaim upon release and was a best seller in the UK charts for two months,<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=[[wikipedia:Mega (magazine)|Mega]]|issue=6|date=March 1993|title=Official Gallup UK Mega Drive Sales Chart}}</ref> and the highest selling game of 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/feature/cover-story/sonic-frontiers/brave-new-world|title=Sonic Frontiers Cover Story - Brave New World|last=Shea|first=Brian|date=20 July 2022|publisher=Game Informer|accessdate=23 July 2022}}</ref> As of 2006, the game has sold over 6 million copies,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gamasutra.com/features/20060804/boutros_05.shtml|title=A Detailed Cross-Examination of Yesterday and Today's Best-Selling Platform Games|page=5|accessdate=8 December 2006|date=4 August 2006|first=Daniel|last=Boutros|work=[[Wikipedia:Gamasutra|Gamasutra]]}}</ref> making it the second best-selling game for the [[Sega Mega Drive]], after ''Sonic 1''. Out of those 6 million worldwide sales, only 400,000 cartridges were sold in Japan.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/9/98/SegaForce_UK_16.pdf#page=12|last=Kai|first=Norton|title=Sonic CD Slips Up|journal=[[wikipedia:Sega Force|Sega Force]]|pages=12|date=April 1993|issue=16|accessdate=28 February 2022}}</ref>

===Critical reception===
{{Video game reviews
|GR = 88.44%<ref name="gr_sonic2">{{Cite web|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 2|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/genesis/563343-sonic-the-hedgehog-2/index.html|work=[[Wikipedia:GameRankings|GameRankings]]|accessdate=3 February 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307010824/http://www.gamerankings.com/genesis/563343-sonic-the-hedgehog-2/index.html|archivedate=7 March 2014}}</ref>
|agg1 = ''Defunct Games''
|agg1Score = 93%<ref name="defunct_games"/>
|CVG = 94%<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.outofprintarchive.com/articles/reviews/MegaDrive/Sonic2-CVG132-2.html|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 2|journal=[[wikipedia:Computer and Video Games|Computer and Video Games]]|issue=132}}</ref>
|EGM = 35/40<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=[[wikipedia:Electronic Gaming Monthly|Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|title=1998 Video Game Buyer's Guide|pages=87}}</ref>
|EuroG = 9/10&nbsp;{{C|[[Xbox 360|X360]]}}<ref name="gr_sonic2"/>
|Fam = 30/40<ref>{{Cite web|title=ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ2|work=Famitsu|url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=9086|accessdate=29 December 2014|language=Japanese}}</ref>
|GameFan = 197/200<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=GameFan|issue=2|date=December 1992|pages=9, 14-17}}</ref>
|GamePro = 5/5<ref name="defunct_games"/>
|GI = 27.25/30<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=Game Informer|issue=8|date=January/February 1993|pages=56-57}}</ref><br/>9.5/10<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=Game Informer|title=Classic Reviews: Sonic the Hedgehog 2|date=May 2002|issue=109|page=104}}</ref>
|GSpot = 8/10&nbsp;{{C|[[Xbox 360|X360]]}}<ref name="GSRev">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-review/1900-6178735/|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Review|accessdate=21 October 2007|year=2007|last=Provo|first=Frank|publisher=[[Wikipedia:GameSpot|GameSpot]]}}</ref>
|IGN = 8.5/10&nbsp;{{C|[[Wii]]}}<ref name="IGNRev"/>
|ONM = 94%&nbsp;{{C|[[Wii]]}}<ref>{{Cite web|last=East|first=Tom|title=Sonic The Hedgehog 2: The blue hedgehog returns|url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/2532/reviewssonic-the-hedgehog-2-review/|publisher=[[wikipedia:Official Nintendo Magazine|Official Nintendo Magazine]]|archiveurl=http://webcitation.org/archive.php|archivedate=31 October 2013|accessdate=3 February 2012|date=11 January 2008}}</ref>
|OXM = 9/10&nbsp;{{C|[[Xbox 360|X360]]}}<ref name="gr_sonic2"/>
|MMS = 96%<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 2|journal=[[wikipedia:Mean Machines|Mean Machines Sega]]|date=November 1992|issue=2|pages=60–63|url=http://info.sonicretro.org/Review_-_Sonic_the_Hedgehog_2_%28Mean_Machines_Sega,_November_1992%29|accessdate=3 February 2012}}</ref>
|EG = 91%<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://archive.org/stream/Electronic-Games-1992-12/Electronic%20Games%201992-12#page/n71/mode/2up|journal=[[wikipedia:Electronic Games|Electronic Games]]|issue=3|date=December 1992|pages=72-74}}</ref>
|Mega = 94%<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Game Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 2|journal=[[wikipedia:Mega (magazine)|Mega]]|publisher=[[wikipedia:Future plc|Future Publishing]]|date=November 1992 |issue=2|pages=36–41|url=http://www.outofprintarchive.com/catalogue/mega/MEGA2.html|accessdate=3 February 2012}}</ref>
|MTech = 95%<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.outofprintarchive.com/articles/reviews/MegaDrive/Sonic2-MegaTech11-7.html|title=Sonic 2|journal=[[wikipedia:MegaTech|MegaTech]]|publisher=[[wikipedia:Ascential|EMAP]]|issue=11|pages=3-15}}</ref>
|MZone = 96%<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 2|journal=[[Wikipedia:Mega Zone|Mega Zone]]|date=January 1993|issue=25|pages=31–33|url=http://info.sonicretro.org/Review_-_Sonic_the_Hedgehog_2_%28Megazone,_January_1993%29}}</ref>
|SForce = 97%<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Reviewed: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive)|journal=[[wikipedia:Sega Force|Sega Force]]|publisher=[[wikipedia:Europress|Impact Magazines]]|date=December 1992|issue=12|pages=14–16|url=http://www.smspower.org/Scans/SegaForce-Magazine-Issue12?gallerypage=16|accessdate=3 February 2012}}</ref>
|SPro = 94%<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.outofprintarchive.com/articles/reviews/MegaDrive/Sonic2-SegaPro15-8.html|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 2|journal=[[wikipedia:Sega Pro|Sega Pro]]|issue=15|date=December 1992|pages=52-59}}</ref>
|rev1 = ''[[wikipedia:Bad Influence!|Bad Influence!]]''
|rev1Score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.bad-influence.co.uk/downloads/mag/BI_issue2.pdf#page=46|journal=[[wikipedia:Bad Influence!|Bad Influence!]]|issue=2|pages=46-47|year=1993}}</ref>
|rev2 = Sega-16
|rev2Score = 10/10<ref>{{Cite web|last=Turner|first=Dyson|title=Sonic The Hedgehog 2|url=http://www.sega-16.com/2004/07/sonic-the-hedgehog-2/|date=17 July 2004|publisher=Sega-16|accessdate=28 February 2022}}</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[wikipedia:Sega Force#Sega Force Mega|Sega Force Mega]]''
|rev3Score = 95%<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Sonic 2|journal=[[wikipedia:Sega Force#Sega Force Mega|Sega Force Mega]]|publisher=[[wikipedia:Europress|Impact Magazines]]|date=August 1993|volume=2|issue=1|pages=91}}</ref>
|rev4 = ''[[wikipedia:sv:Svenska Hemdatornytt|Svenska Hemdatornytt]]''
|rev4Score = 100%<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://amr.abime.net/review_50932|journal=[[wikipedia:sv:Svenska Hemdatornytt|Svenska Hemdatornytt]]|issue=1|pages=37|date=January 1993}}</ref>
|award1Pub = ''[[wikipedia:Electronic Gaming Monthly|Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''
|award1 = Best Game of the Year (Genesis)<ref name="egmbuyersguide1993"/>
|award2Pub = ''[[wikipedia:Game Informer|Game Informer]]''
|award2 = Best Action/Adventure Game<br/>Best Graphics in a Video Game<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=[[wikipedia:Game Informer|Game Informer]]|issue=8|date=January/February 1993|pages=34}}</ref>
}}
''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' received wide critical acclaim.<ref name="defunct_games"/> Based on magazine reviews from the early 1990s, the game holds an aggregate score of 93% at Defunct Games, with this being based on ten reviews.<ref name="defunct_games">{{Cite web|url=http://www.defunctgames.com/reviewcrew/28/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-what-did-the-critics-say-in-1993|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 2: What Did the Critics Say in 1993?|publisher=Defunct Games}}</ref> Based mostly on retrospective online reviews from the 2000s, the game holds an aggregate score of 88.44% at [[wikipedia:GameRankings|GameRankings]], based on eight reviews.<ref name="gr_sonic2"/>

Reviewers praised the game for its large levels,<ref name="GSRev"/> colorful graphics and backgrounds,<ref name="GSRev"/> increased cast of characters, enemies,<ref name="IGNRev"/> and music.<ref name="GSRev"/> Upon release, Ed Simrad of ''[[wikipedia:Electronic Gaming Monthly|Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' stated that the "twice as long" play time offers "more enjoyment for the buck" and that as "a 2 player game, there is twice the fun." He praised the "larger and harder" levels and "quite innovative" new moves, concluding that it is "the best all-around game on the market." ''[[wikipedia:GamePro|GamePro]]'' stated that it is "tough to follow up a classic, but ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' earns top honors." They stated that "the best thing about ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' is that it's just plain fun" and concluded that it gives "plenty of fabulous gaming to pass the time." Andy of ''[[wikipedia:Game Informer|Game Informer]]'' stated that it is "not as easy as the first and has more variation. The addition of the two-player split screen is great." Jaz of ''[[wikipedia:Mean Machines|Mean Machines Sega]]'' described it as "faster, slicker, more colourful, louder, bigger and much, much tougher than the original," concluding that it is "packed with features, has loads of secrets, and rounds it all up with a superlative two-player mode that'll have your friends queuing round the block to play. Brilliant!"<ref name="defunct_games"/>

The game has also been well received in retrospective reviews. [[wikipedia:GameSpot|GameSpot]] stated that "time may have eroded [[Sega]]'s prominence, but it hasn't done much to diminish how sweet ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' is," and, along with other reviewers, commented on how it is still a fun game to play.<ref name="IGNRev"/><ref name="GSRev"/> Critics also enjoyed the faster gameplay the game offered in comparison to its predecessor, as well as its new features. Lucas M. Thomas of [[wikipedia:IGN|IGN]] praised the new [[Spin Dash]] ability, which would prepare Sonic to launch at a faster speed.<ref name="IGNVG">{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Lucas M.|title=Sonic the Hedgehog VC Review|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2007/01/27/sonic-the-hedgehog-vc-review|publisher=[[wikipedia:IGN|IGN]]|accessdate=18 November 2014|date=26 January 2007}}</ref> Thomas also noted that the levels of ''Sonic 2'' were designed to showcase the character's speed, and was less a "platform-jumping game" than a "platform-running" game, in slight contrast to its predecessor.<ref name="IGNVG"/>

The game's main criticisms concern the competitive, split-screen, two-player mode, and a new introduction to the series.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dotson|first=Carter|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Gets the Remastering Treatment, With the Long-Lost Hidden Palace Level Restored|url=http://www.148apps.com/news/sonic-hedgehog-2-remastering-treatment-longlost-hidden-palace-level-restored/|publisher=148Apps|accessdate=18 November 2014}}</ref> While the mode was generally well-received upon release,<ref name="defunct_games"/> several reviewers have criticized the mode's noticeable slowdown, prominent flickering, and squashed play area for each player. However, IGN praised the innovation of the new two player mode, quipping that "[[Mario]] and [[Luigi]] could never run competitively through the same levels, at the same time."<ref name="lt">{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Lucas M.|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2007/06/11/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-review|publisher=[[wikipedia:IGN|IGN]]|accessdate=18 November 2014|date=11 June 2007|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Review}}</ref> William Burrill of the ''[[wikipedia:Toronto Star|Toronto Star]]'' described the two player racing mode as the "only part of the game that can be faulted," citing that the mode and its split screen view "squeezes the graphics, plumps up the characters and slows down the action."<ref>{{Cite journal|first=William|last=Burrill|title=This Sonic is super, too|journal=[[wikipedia:Toronto Star|Toronto Star]]|page=F4|date=12 December 1992}}</ref>

===Awards===
''[[wikipedia:Electronic Gaming Monthly|Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' awarded ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' as the '''Best Game of the Year''' for the [[Sega Mega Drive]], describing it as "the best Genesis cart to come along in a long time!"<ref name="egmbuyersguide1993">{{Cite journal|year=1993|title=Buyer's Guide: Best Game of the Year (Genesis)|journal=[[Wikipedia:Electronic Gaming Monthly|Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|quote=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!}}</ref> ''[[wikipedia:Game Informer|Game Informer]]'' gave the game the Best Action/Adventure Game award, praising it for keeping "the same look and feel of the original ''Sonic the Hedgehog'', while adding a two-player mode, longer levels, new moves, and better animation. Wow!"<ref name="defunct_games"/> ''[[wikipedia:Electronic Games|Electronic Games]]'' chose ''Sonic 2'' as one of the three nominees for their Video Game of the Year award, along with ''[[wikipedia:Street Fighter II|Street Fighter II]]'' and ''[[wikipedia:NHLPA Hockey '93|NHLPA Hockey '93]]''.<ref name="eg1992">{{Cite journal|title=Electronic Gaming Awards|journal=[[wikipedia:Electronic Games|Electronic Games]]|date=January 1993|issue=38|pages=26,27|url=http://archives.tg-16.com/00_happy_new_year_1993.htm|accessdate=5 February 2012}}</ref>

''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' has been listed among the [[Wikipedia:List of video games considered the best|greatest video games of all time]]. In 2000, ''Game Informer'' ranked it number 61 on its "Top 100 Games of All Time" list, calling it "the most challenging and finely polished ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' title."<ref>{{Cite journal|date=August 2001|title=Top 100 Games of All Time|journal=[[Wikipedia:Game Informer|Game Informer]]|issue=100|page=28}}</ref> They later ranked it the 97th best game of all time in 2009.<ref name="GI2009">{{Cite web|url=http://nintendoeverything.com/game-informers-top-200-games-of-all-time/|title=Game Informer's Top 200 Games of All Time|publisher=[[Wikipedia:Game Informer|Game Informer]]|year=2009}}</ref> ''Mega'' placed the game at number 36 in their "Top Sega Mega Drive Games of All Time" list in 1994.<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=Mega|publisher=[[wikipedia:Future Publishing|Future Publishing]]|issue=26|page=74|date=November 1994}}</ref> It has also been listed among the best games of all time by ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (in 1997<ref name="EGM1997">{{Cite web|url=http://kisrael.com/vgames/powerlist/egm100.html|title=EGM Top 100|publisher=[[Wikipedia:Electronic Gaming Monthly|Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|date=November 1997|accessdate=1 June 2011}}</ref> and 2001<ref name="EGM2001">{{Cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20011220003000/http://www.gamers.com/feature/egmtop100/index.jsp|title=Top 100 Games of All Time|publisher=[[Wikipedia:Electronic Gaming Monthly|Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|year=2001}}</ref>), [[wikipedia:GameFAQs|GameFAQs]] (in 2004,<ref name="GF2004">{{Cite web|title=Spring 2004: Best. Game. Ever.|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/c04spr|publisher[[Wikipedia:GameFAQs|GameFAQs]]|accessdate=16 July 2008}}</ref> 2005,<ref name="GF2005">{{Cite web|title=Fall 2005: 10-Year Anniversary Contest—The 10 Best Games Ever|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/top10|publisher=[[Wikipedia:GameFAQs|GameFAQs]]|accessdate=16 July 2008}}</ref> 2009<ref name="GF2009">{{Cite web|title=Spring 2009: Best. Game. Ever.|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/poll/index.html?poll=3509|publisher=[[Wikipedia:GameFAQs|GameFAQs]]|accessdate=10 June 2009}}</ref> and 2014<ref name="GF2014">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ddjgames.com/category/gamefaqs-top-100/|title=Top 100|publisher=[[Wikipedia:GameFAQs|GameFAQs]]|year=2014}}</ref>), [[wikipedia:GameRevolution|GamingBolt]],<ref name="GamingBolt">{{Cite web|url=http://gamingbolt.com/top-100-greatest-video-games-ever-made|title=Top 100 greatest video games ever made|publisher=GamingBolt|year=2013}}</ref> ''[[wikipedia:Guinness World Records|Guinness World Records]]'' (in 2009<ref name="Guinness">{{Cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20100107164406/http://gamers.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/270209_top50.aspx|title=Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer's Edition reveals the Top 50 console games of all time|publisher=[[wikipedia:Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition|Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition]]|year=2009}}</ref>), [[wikipedia:Imagine Publishing|NowGamer]] (in 2010<ref name="NowGamer">{{Cite journal|100 Greatest Retro Games|journal=NowGamer|publisher=[[wikipedia:Imagine Publishing|Imagine Publishing]]|year=2010}} [http://www.nowgamer.com/100-greatest-retro-games-part-1/ part 1], [http://www.nowgamer.com/100-greatest-retro-games-part-2/ part 2], [http://www.nowgamer.com/100-greatest-retro-games-part-3/ part 3], [http://www.nowgamer.com/100-greatest-retro-games-part-4/ part 4]</ref>), ''[[wikipedia:Retro Gamer|Retro Gamer]]'' (in 2004<ref name="RetroGamer">{{Cite journal|journal=Retro Gamer|issue=1|pages=30|date=January 2004}}</ref>), and [[wikipedia:Yahoo!|Yahoo!]] (in 2006<ref name="Yahoo">{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050801002743/http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/specials/100games/|title=The 100 greatest computer games of all time|publisher=Yahoo!|year=2006}}</ref>). In 2022, IGN placed ''Sonic 2'' as the eighth best ''Sonic'' game in their "10 Best Sonic Games" list.<ref>{{Cite web |author=IGN Staff |date=15 July 2022 |title=The 10 Best Sonic Games |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-10-best-sonic-games |work=IGN |accessdate=2 December 2022}}</ref>

==Re-releases==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Image
!Game
!Platform
!Description
|-
|[[File:Title Screen Knuckles in Sonic 2.png|75px]]
|''[[Knuckles in Sonic 2]]''
| rowspan="2" |[[Sega Mega Drive]]
|The result of [[lock-on technology|locking]] ''Sonic 2'' on to ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]''.
|-
|[[File:Sonic Classics 3 in 1 - Sega Genesis.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sonic Compilation]]''
|Released as a bundle with ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' and ''[[Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine]]'' in 1995.
|-
|[[File:Sonic Jam USA Cover.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sonic Jam]]''
|[[Sega Saturn]]
|Released alongside other ''Sonic'' [[Sega Mega Drive]] games in 1997.
|-
|[[File:Sega Smash Pack 2.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sega Smash Pack 2]]''
| rowspan="2" |[[PC]]
|Released alongside other [[Sega Mega Drive]] games in 2000.
|-
|[[File:Sonicaction4pack.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sonic Action 4 Pack]]''
|Released as part of ''Sega Smash Pack 2'', alongside ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD (Windows 95)|Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]'', ''[[Sonic & Knuckles Collection]]'', and ''[[Sonic R]]''; in 2001.
|-
|[[File:Sonic Mega Collection cover artwork.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sonic Mega Collection]]''
|[[Nintendo GameCube]]
|Released alongside other [[Sega Mega Drive]] games in 2002.
|-
|[[File:SonicMegaCollectionPlus.png|75px]]
|''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]''
|[[PlayStation 2]]<br>[[Xbox]]<br>[[PC|Windows PC]]
|Released alongside other [[Sega Mega Drive]] and [[Sega Game Gear|Game Gear]] games in 2004.
|-
|[[File:Sega Genesis Collection.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sega Genesis Collection]]''
|[[PlayStation 2]]<br>[[PlayStation Portable]]
|Released alongside ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' and other [[Sega Mega Drive]] games in 2006.
|-
|[[File:Sonic Mega Collection Plus, Super Monkey Ball Deluxe 2 in 1 combo pack.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]] / Super Monkey Ball Deluxe 2 in 1 combo pack''
|[[Xbox]]
|Released as part of ''Sonic Mega Collection Plus'', alongside Super Monkey Ball Deluxe.
|-
|[[File:Gc sonic gems collection p o5pa9w.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sonic Gems Collection]]''
|[[Nintendo GameCube]]<br>[[PlayStation 2]]
|Released as part of the game's Museum mode in 2005.
|-
|[[File:Sega Mega drive collection 2.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sega Mega Drive Collection Vol. 2]]''
| rowspan="2" |Play TV Legends
|Released alongside five other [[Sega Mega Drive]] games in 2005.
|-
|[[File:Super Sonic Gold.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Super Sonic Gold]]''
|Released alongside three other [[Sega Mega Drive]] games in 2005.
|-
|[[File:Sonic2-cafe-title.png|75px]]
|''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2006 Sonic Cafe)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''
|Mobile
|Released as part of the ''[[Sonic Cafe]]'' service in 2006.
|-
|[[File:S2Dtitle.png|75px]]
|''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Dash!]]''
|[[J2ME]]
|Re-released for J2ME phones in 2008.
|-
|[[File:Md sonicthehedgehog2.jpg|75px]]
|N/A
|[[Wii]]
|Available for download on the [[Wii]] Virtual Console. On 29 October 2015, it was reported that the port would be taken down the following day in Japan, along with Sonic 1.
|-
|[[File:Boxsonichedgehog2.jpg|75px]]
|N/A
|[[Xbox 360]]
|Re-released as part of the Xbox Live Arcade service. In May 2022, the game was delisted from the service.<ref name="Delisted">{{Cite web|title=Standalone Sonic titles to be delisted May 20th ahead of Sonic Origins release|url=https://delistedgames.com/standalone-sonic-titles-to-be-delisted-may-20th-ahead-of-sonic-origins-release/|work=Delisted Games|date=20 May 2022|accessdate=2 August 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802142714/https://delistedgames.com/standalone-sonic-titles-to-be-delisted-may-20th-ahead-of-sonic-origins-release/|archivedate=2 August 2022}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:SFP PS2.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sega Fun Pack: Sonic Mega Collection Plus & Shadow the Hedgehog]]''
|[[PlayStation 2]]
|Released as part of ''Sonic Mega Collection Plus'', alongside ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]'', in 2009.
|-
|[[File:SUGC boxart.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection]]''
|[[PlayStation 3]]<br>[[Xbox 360]]
|Released alongside other [[Sega Mega Drive]] and [[Sega Game Gear|Game Gear]] games in 2009.
|-
|[[File:SonicPCCollection.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sonic PC Collection]]''
|[[PC]]
|Released as part of ''Sonic Mega Collection Plus'', alongside ''[[Sonic Riders]]'', ''[[Sonic Heroes]]'' and ''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]''; in 2009.
|-
|[[File:SCC FRONT 12 2 lrg.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sonic Classic Collection]]''
|[[Nintendo DS]]
|Released alongside other ''Sonic'' [[Sega Mega Drive]] games in 2010.
|-
|[[File:Sonic2AppStore.png|75px]]
|rowspan="2"|N/A
|[[iPhone]]
|Released on iPhone devices in 2010.
|-
|[[File:Sonic2PlaySEGA.jpg|75px]]
|Browser
|Released in 2010 alongside other Sega console games as part of the [[PlaySega]] website.
|-
|[[File:Sonic 2 2013 icon.png|75px]]
|''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2013)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''
|Mobile
|Released in 2013.
|-
|[[File:Sonic-the-Hedgehog-2in3D.png|75px]]
|''[[3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''
|[[Nintendo 3DS]]
|Released in 2015.
|-
|[[File:Sega Ages Sonic 2 icon.jpg|75px]]
|''[[Sega Ages: Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''
| rowspan="2" |[[Nintendo Switch]]
|Re-released on Nintendo Switch as part of the [[Sega Ages]] line. Essentially the same as the Nintendo 3DS release sans the 3D feature, but now with ''[[Knuckles in Sonic 2]]''.
|-
|[[File:Sonic2-cover.jpg|75px]]
|N/A
|Available for download on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service.
|-
|[[File:Sonic-Origins-Cover.png|75px]]
|''[[Sonic Origins]]''
| rowspan="2" |[[Xbox Series X and Series S]]<br>[[Xbox One]]<br>[[PlayStation 5]]<br>[[PlayStation 4]]<br>[[Nintendo Switch]]<br>[[PC]] ([[Steam]], [[Epic Games Store|Epic Games]])
|Released on 23 June 2022 to celebrate the [[Sonic the Hedgehog series|''Sonic'' series]]' [[Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary|30th anniversary]]. In addition to a remaster version of ''Sonic 2'', this game in the compilation contains additional modes, new cutscenes, and [[Mission (Sonic Origins)|Missions]]. Additionally, the game includes [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]], [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]], and [[Knuckles the Echidna|Knuckles]] as playable characters, new [[Zone]]s in both the main game and 2 Player VS mode, and the [[Drop Dash]] for Sonic.
|-
|[[File:SO Plus Key art.jpeg|75px]]
|''[[Sonic Origins Plus]]''
|An expanded re-release of ''Sonic Origins'' released on 23 June 2023, now featuring [[Amy Rose]] as a playable character.
|}

==Cheat codes==
*'''Display Tails' name as Miles''': At the title screen press the following in order: {{Directional Pad}} Up, Up, Up, Down, Down, Down, Up. This can be done again to revert Miles' name back to Tails. In the Japanese release Miles is the default name and entering the code will change his name to Tails.
*'''[[Level Select|Act select]]''': - At the Options Sound Test, play the following tunes in order: 19, 65, 09, and 17, which makes the Ring sound play, then press Start to return to the intro/title screen. Once there press Start while holding {{A Button (Sega Genesis)}} to enter the Act select. During any Act, by pausing the game, press A to return to the Act Select.
*'''14 [[Continue]]s''': At the Options Sound Test, play the following tunes in order: 01, 01, 02 and 04, then the select Player Select to start the game with 14 continues. Oddly enough entering this code will cause all sound test options to be overwritten with the music for Oil Ocean Zone.
*'''[[Debug Mode]]''': At the Act Select Sound Test, play the following tunes in order: 01, 09, 09, 02, 01, 01, 02, and 04, activating a Ring chime, and unlock Debug Mode. Then highlight any Act and press Start while holding {{A Button (Sega Genesis)}}.
*'''All 7 Chaos Emeralds''': At the Act select Sound Test, play the following tunes in order: 04, 01, 02, and 06, which plays Chaos Emerald music, and get all seven Chaos Emeralds.

==Achievements==
These are the achievements and trophies for the [[Xbox 360]] and [[PlayStation 3]] versions of ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'':
{|class="wikitable"
!Icon
!Name
!Description
!Trophy Class
!Gamescore
|-
|[[Image:All Multiplayer.png]]
|All Multiplayer
|Play all four multiplayer zones.
|{{PSN Trophy Bronze}}
|5
|-
|[[Image:Clear Green.jpg|46px]]
|Emerald Hill
|Clear the [[Emerald Hill Zone]] 1.
|{{PSN Trophy Bronze}}
|5
|-
|[[Image:Casino.png]]
|Casino
|Get to the [[Casino Night Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Casino Night Zone]].
|{{PSN Trophy Bronze}}
|10
|-
|[[Image:Fast Win.jpg|46px]]
|Conquering Time
|Beat the game in under an hour.
|{{PSN Trophy Silver}}
|10
|-
|[[Image:Chaos Emerald.jpg|46px]]
|Chaos Emerald
|Get one [[Chaos Emerald]].
|{{PSN Trophy Bronze}}
|10
|-
|[[Image:Xbox Live Racer.png]]
|Xbox Live Racer ([[Xbox 360|XBLA]])<br>Online Racer ([[PlayStation 3|PS3]])
|Win 10 versus zones on Xbox Live/PlayStation Network
|{{PSN Trophy Bronze}}
|10
|-
|[[Image:Fast Green.jpg|46px]]
|Fast Emerald
|Beat [[Emerald Hill Zone]] 1 in under 35 seconds in single-player or co-op mode.
|{{PSN Trophy Bronze}}
|15
|-
|[[Image:Super Sonic1.png]]
|Super Sonic
|Become [[Super Sonic]].
|{{PSN Trophy Silver}}
|20
|-
|[[Image:Extended Super.png]]
|Extended Super
|Stay in [[Super Sonic]] mode for one minute.
|{{PSN Trophy Silver}}
|20
|-
|[[Image:Fast Chemical.png]]
|Fast Chemical
|Beat [[Chemical Plant Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)|Chemical Plant Zone]] 1 in under 45 seconds.
|{{PSN Trophy Bronze}}
|20
|-
|[[Image:Win.png]]
|Win
|Beat the game.
|{{PSN Trophy Bronze}}
|35
|-
|[[Image:Chaos Master.jpg|46px]]
|Chaos Master
|Get all the [[Chaos Emerald]]s.
|{{PSN Trophy Gold}}
|40
|}

==Adaptations==
[[File:Sonic the Hedgehog -289.jpg|thumb|225px|The regular cover of [[Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 289|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #289]].]]
An adaptation of ''Sonic 2'' was made by [[Shogakukan]] for the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (manga)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' manga, with few differences, such as the inclusion of the manga's original characters.

It has been stated that the events of ''Sonic 2'' have taken place in the ''[[Sonic the Comic]]'' series published by [[Fleetway Editions]]. Though no direct adaptation was made, the game was referenced in [[Sonic the Comic Issue 27|''Sonic the Comic'' #27]], "A Tale of Tails". In fact, the entire comic series picks up after the events of ''Sonic 2''.

[[Archie Comics]] made an adaptation of ''Sonic 2'' as part of their "[[Sonic: Genesis|Genesis]]" storyline, in [[Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 228|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #228]]-[[Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 229|#229]]. It has also been stated that the events of the game have happen in the [[Post-Super Genesis Wave timeline]]. Eventually, an adaptation of the game in this timeline was made in [[Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 289|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #289]], as the second part of the "Genesis of a Hero" storyline.

==Trivia==
<gallery type="slideshow" widths="250">
TailsAnniversaryArtwork.jpg|Artwork by [[Yasushi Yamaguchi]] in conmmemoration of the 25th anniversary of ''Sonic 2''.
Sonic 2 Totoya art.jpg|Artwork by [[Yasushi Yamaguchi]] in conmmemoration of the 30th anniversary of ''Sonic 2''.
</gallery>
*To celebrate the 25th anniversary of ''Sonic 2'', [[Yasushi Yamaguchi]] posted on Twitter a drawing of [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]]. He also did the same in 2022 in conmmemoration of the same game's 30th anniversary.
* At one point, SoA considered having the soundtrack for ''Sonic 2'' composed entirely in-house by STI instead of rehiring Masato Nakamura, and several demo tracks were composed. However, SoJ outright rejected these demo tracks upon listening, ostensibly due to their poor quality. To date, only one of these unused demo songs, "Night Club Scene" by composer David Javelosa, is known to have survived. It has since been uploaded to the internet on Javelosa's YouTube channel.<ref>https://youtu.be/rJLkkOxRP8Y?si=prePIipCcIUqx09T</ref>
*This was the last Sonic game in the 90's to use the original ''Sonic The Hedgehog'' theme by [[Masato Nakamura]], due to him leaving the series and Sega having to pay royalties in order to use the song due to Nakamura owning the copyrights to the majority of the soundtracks for the first two ''Sonic'' games. The song was considered for use as the title theme for ''[[Sonic Spinball]]'', but it was hastily replaced with a new song very late in production when the development team discovered that Sega didn't own the rights to the song and did not wish to pay the royalties for it. The theme would not appear in a ''Sonic'' game again until the ''[[Sonic Advance]]'' games (via the Invincibility Theme), and again in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4]]'' and ''[[Sonic Generations]]'' years later. However, an arrangement of the song was used for the opening of DiC's ''[[Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' cartoon, and remained in use upon the series going into reruns.
*The original release of ''Sonic 2'' is notable for being the only game in the mainline ''Sonic'' series where Tails is completely incapable of flight when playable. Every subsequent playable appearance of Tails in a mainline ''Sonic'' game would give him some form of flight (discounting spinoffs in other genres such as ''[[Sonic Drift]]''). Both the 2013 remaster and ''[[Sonic Origins]]'' remaster of ''Sonic 2'' would retroactively give Tails the ability to fly as he could in subsequent games. Tails is also unable to swim in the original game, an ability that he would acquire in ''Sonic 3'', though this handicap was retained for his Game Gear appearances outside of power-ups or vehicles. Both the 2013 remaster and ''Origins'' remake would also likewise retroactively implement his ability to swim. 
*Due to the way memory is stored in the ''Sonic Classics'' cartridge release of ''Sonic 2'', none of the Game Genie codes for the initial cartridge releases of ''Sonic 2'' will work for that specific version of the game. A distinct set of codes is required instead. 
*Despite the Sega Master System/Game Gear version of ''Sonic 2'' predating the release of the console version of the game, Sega insists on recognizing the 16-bit game as the official debut of Tails, despite him appearing in the 8-bit release first. 
*Some believe  that the famous "Hidden Palace" theme (which can be heard in the games sound test, and plays if the level data is accessed via a Game Genie code)  was meant to be played during a cutscene at the end of the level (a major piece of evidence is that Masato Nakamura's demo tape of the song includes an ending that was not implemented into the in-game song, hinting towards its intended purpose).  When the level was reimplemented into the game in both the 2013 mobile port and ''Origins'' remake, the 2-Player theme for Mystic Cave Zone was used instead, as the development team felt the scrapped Hidden Palace song did not match the tone of the level.
*This is the only 2D ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog series|Sonic]]'' game where the player does not get a "Try Again" message after completing the game without collecting all Chaos Emeralds.
*In the second trailer for ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I]]'', during the ''Sonic 2'' section, Sonic's running animation from the [[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Nick Arcade prototype)|Nick Arcade]] and [[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Simon Wai prototype)|Simon Wai]] prototypes is seen instead of the final version.
*Unlike in the original ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'', [[Doctor Eggman|Dr. Eggman]]'s blue glasses are replaced with completely black eyes (can be mistaken for black glasses), in line with artwork of him in North America and Europe. This is probably the reason why the original ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' cartoons, and western ''Sonic'' media depicted him with black eyes. This is also seen in ''[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]'', but was corrected in ''[[Sonic Origins]]'' and its expansion ''[[Sonic Origins Plus]]'' respectively, while this game remained the same. Additionally, in the international key art, he is also seen with a large beard, which is nowhere to be seen in the actual game.
*Dr. Eggman's appearance on the said art can suggest a loose basis for his ''[[Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' [[Doctor Ivo Robotnik (Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog)|design]] hence the similarities of having sinister looking black eyes and an orange moustache.
*The western key art would also later be recreated for the third advertised poster for the ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (film)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' film produced by ''[[Paramount Pictures]]''. 
*This game was made the same year the ''Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog'' [[Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog pilot|pilot]] was made. However, the latter was produced before the former was released.
*This is the first main series game to have all seven [[Chaos Emerald]]s, therefore, debuting the [[super transformation]].
*The app icon for the initial iPhone version of ''Sonic 2'' uses recycled artwork from ''[[Sonic Advance 2]]''.
*Like its predecessor, the original cartridge release of ''Sonic The Hedgehog 2'' does not have an age rating, as it predates the creation of both Sega's short-lived VRC ([[Videogame Rating Council]]) and the ESRB rating system. Rereleases of the game would graft the ESRB's K-A (Kids To Adults) rating and it's successor (E for Everyone) onto it.
*On the back of the American ''Sonic 2'' box, the screenshot of Sonic and Tails in the [[Oil Ocean Zone]] is actually a pre-release version of this Zone. A switch can also be seen on the right side of the screenshot. When pressed, it would release a large ball from the floor and roll right into the ocean (as seen in the Simon Wai prototype). The switch and the ball did not appear in the final version of this Zone but can still be accessed in the Debug Mode. The screenshot of Aquatic Ruin Zone is also from a prototype version.
*In the North American instruction manual of ''Sonic 2'', page seven has a screenshot of the title screen from the Beta 4 prototype. On page 9, the screenshot of the Oil Ocean Zone is also in from a prototype. Its background is different from the final version (most notably, the silver silo in the background is on the right side in the screenshot, but it is located on the left side in the final version).
*Interestingly, the sprite of [[Super Sonic]] used for the Super and Extended Super achievements is in fact a fan-made ''[[Sonic Battle]]'' sprite from a sprite sheet made by JoeTE.

==Videos==
<tabber>
US commercial #1=[[File:Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Commercial 1992|350px|left]]
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US commercial #2=[[File:Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Commercial 1992 2|350px|left]]
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US commercial #3=[[File:Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Commercial 1992 3|350px|left]]
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Japanese commercial #1=[[File:Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (Sega Mega Drive) Japanese CM - V-Jump Premium Video -VHS - 1993-|350px|left]]
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Japanese commercial #1 (Short ver.)=[[File:セガ メガドライブ ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ2 CM 1992年|350px|left]]
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Japanese commercial #2=[[File:Japanese Sonic 2 Commercial from Sonic Jam Perfect Rip B|350px|left]]
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French commercial=[[File:Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Commercial - 'Mega Speed' France|350px|left]]
</tabber>
{{-}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{WP link|Sonic the Hedgehog 2|''Sonic the Hedgehog 2''}}
{{Sonic 2 info}}
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