1. Sonic Hedgehog Release Date
2. Sonic 2 Master System Release Date
3. Sonic Release Date Movie

The long awaited Sonic 2 Master System Review is here! Sonic 2 has a big path to follow to keep the success Sonic 1 created. But was all the changes and new.

Sonic The Hedgehog - Master System for Android. First week of development of Sonic 3 SMS Triple Chaos! New way to play (3 characters and 3 teams at the same time) Teams: Sonic, Tails and Knuckles / Vector, Charmy and Espio / Amy, Cream and Tunnel. For Kenseiden on the Sega Master System, the GameFAQs information page shows all known release data and credits.

Release date(s) MS: PAL: October 16, 1992 GG: EU: October 29, 1992 NA: November 17, 1992 JP: November 21, 1992 AU: November 30, 1992. Platform(s) Master System, Game Gear. Genre(s) Platform game. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Game Gear/Master System) is a video game developed by Aspect and published by Sega on Sega Game Gear and Sega Master System in 1992. The last licensed Master System release in North America was Sonic the Hedgehog (1991). The Master System was successful in Europe, where it may have outsold the NES by some margin. As late as 1993, the Master System's active installed user base in Europe was 6.25 million units, larger than that of the Mega Drive's 5.73 million.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2^[a] is a 1992 platform game developed by Aspect and published by Sega for the Master System and Game Gear. The game is a sequel to the Master System/Game Gear title Sonic the Hedgehog, and follows the titular character Sonic as he attempts to rescue his friend Tails and all of the island's animals from the villainous Doctor Robotnik. The gameplay is based on traversing a number of levels while collecting gold rings and attacking enemies. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was met with critical acclaim, with reviewers praising the visuals and gameplay while criticizing the high difficulty. In 1993, a sequel, Sonic Chaos, was released.

As the game was released before the Sega Genesis version, it represents the debut of character Tails, who would become a mainstay in the series. Whilst the Master System version of the game was not initially released outside Europe and Brazil, it later become available worldwide following its release on the Wii's Virtual Console in 2008.

Gameplay[edit]

Like the previous games, players control Sonic the Hedgehog as he makes his way through each of the game's seven zones, fighting against various badniks and overcoming deadly obstacles. By collecting rings, Sonic can protect himself from damage against enemies and obstacles (with the exception of pitfalls and drowning), with extra lives earned for collecting 100 rings. Unlike the previous 8-bit title, Sonic is now able to recollect some of his rings for a limited time after being hit. Other technical improvements allow Sonic to smash through certain walls and run through loops. Also added to this iteration are gameplay mechanics unique to certain zones, such as riding a mine cart, using a hang glider to glide across the air, skimming across the surface of water and floating inside giant bubbles to reach higher areas. Unlike the previous game, the game no longer features the Shield and Restart Marker items, so if Sonic loses a life, he must restart at the very beginning of the act.

Each of the game's seven zones consist of three acts, the third of which consists of a boss battle (most of which now consist of animal-based robots as opposed to direct confrontations with Dr. Robotnik) in which the player is not given any rings to collect. At the end of each of the first two acts, players can potentially earn bonuses such as additional rings, lives and continues by fulfilling certain criteria upon hitting the act's goal post, such as having a specific amount of rings. In the first five zones, a Chaos Emerald is hidden somewhere within the second act. These five emeralds, along with a sixth earned from defeating the sixth zone's boss, are required to access the game's seventh zone and ultimately achieve the game's good ending by defeating the game's final boss. Otherwise, the game will end after the sixth zone, with Sonic unable to rescue Tails.

Plot[edit]

South Island has been peaceful since Dr. Robotnik's defeat. Sonic, bored, decides to go on a journey in search of other adventures. Upon his return, he is shocked to find the island nearly abandoned. The only clue as to where all his friends might have disappeared to was Tails being chased by Dr. Robotnik. Sonic chases after him, but he is too late to save Tails. Sonic finds out that he's been kidnapped by Dr. Robotnik and is being held in a place called Crystal Egg. The price for Tails' safe return are the 6 Chaos Emeralds, to be delivered to 6 new boss robots. Thus, Sonic goes on a quest to find the Chaos Emeralds and rescue Tails.

Development and release[edit]

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 received preview coverage in the October 1992 issue of GamePro.^[1]

The Game Gear's lower screen resolution results in the Game Gear version having a smaller visible screen area than the Master System edition, causing some fans^[who?] to consider the Game Gear version the more challenging title. For example, when facing the boss of the Under Ground Zone, the reduced screen area either side of Sonic gives the player less time to react to hazards moving onto the screen. Other bosses were also affected: the Green Hills Zone battle takes place in a smaller, steeper arena; there is a 3rd chute which cannot be seen while fighting Robotnik in the final Crystal Egg stage.

The music for the intro sequence is also different. The Game Gear version uses the Scrambled Egg Zone music for the scene showing Robotnik escaping with the captive Tails and the Master System intro music for the title. The boss music is also different between the two versions. The Master System version used a single theme for the endings while a new good ending theme was added for the Game Gear version.

The Game Gear version also features dark blue (instead of green) water in the second Act of the Aqua Lake Zone, and omits the game's only 'Speed Shoes' item box, which may be found only in the Master System version of this stage; instead, in the Game Gear version there is a Ring item box in said power-up's original location, thus rendering the item unused in said port.

The game's music was written by Naofumi Hataya and Masafumi Ogata, with Tomonori Sawada, in his first game project, contributing the theme for Crystal Egg Zone. Hataya and Ogata would later collaborate to compose the original soundtrack for Sonic the Hedgehog CD, with Ogata's theme for Green Hills Zone being used as the basis for Sonic CD's opening theme song 'Sonic - You Can Do Anything'.

The Game Gear version was included as an unlockable bonus in Sonic Adventure DX, released in 2003 for Nintendo GameCube and Windows, and as one of the games featured in the Sonic Gems Collection, released for GameCube and PlayStation 2 in 2005. The game was later re-released on Nintendo's Virtual Console service, with the Master System version released for the Wii Virtual Console in December 2008^[2] and the Game Gear version released for the Nintendo 3DSeShop in June 2013.^{[citation needed]}

Reception[edit]

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Master System and Game Gear has been critically acclaimed since release. The Master System version received a positive review from Mean Machines, which described it as better than its predecessor and as 'one of the greatest Master System games of all time,' giving it an overall 95% score.^[5]Mega Zone gave this version an overall 93% score, with reviewer Steward Clark stating that it is 'radically different to the Mega Drive version' but still 'another winner!' He praised the 'superb gameplay' and described it as a 'classic in its own right.'^[6]Sega Force gave the Master System version a 92% score, noting that instead of 'trying to scale down the MD version,' Sega have 'opted for a totally different game — and well good it is, too!'^[7]

The Game Gear version received a positive review from GamePro staff writer The Unknown Gamer, focusing praise on both the gameplay and the impressive graphics for the small handheld console. It gave the game scores of 5 for graphics, 4 for sound, 4.5 for control, and 5 for overall fun factor.^[3]Sega Force gave the Game Gear version a 93% score, describing it as the 'most challenging' and 'toughest version of Sonic 2.'^[7] French magazine Mega Force also gave the game a positive review.^[12] In 1993, it was awarded as the Best Portable Game of 1992 by Electronic Gaming Monthly.^[11]

Reviewing the Master System version for its Virtual Console release, IGN gave the game a score of 8.0 out of 10. The reviewer Lucas M. Thomas stated that many Wii owners may 'erroneously assume that it's a technically inferior port of the Genesis classic with the same name. It's not.' He described the Master System game as 'entirely its own adventure' with its own 'unique elements like mine carts and hang gliders,' concluding that it is 'a hidden gem from Sonic's early years.'^[4]

Notes[edit]

1. ^Japanese: ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ2 (ツー)Hepburn: Sonikku za Hejjihoggu Tsū

References[edit]

1. ^The Unknown Gamer (October 1992). 'Game Gear Preview: 2'. GamePro. No. 39. p. 114.
2. ^'Two WiiWare Games and One Virtual Console Game Added to Wii Shop Channel'. Nintendo of America. 2008-12-08. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
3. ^ ^ab'Game Gear Pro Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 2'. GamePro. No. 44. March 1993. p. 164.
4. ^ ^abThomas, Lucas M. (December 9, 2008). 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Master System Version) Review: The name's the same, but it's a totally different game'. IGN. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
5. ^ ^ab'Master System Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 2'. Mean Machines. No. 2. November 1992. p. 66. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
6. ^ ^ab'Sonic the Hedgehog 2'. Mega Zone (25): 31–3. January 1993. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
7. ^ ^abcd'Reviewed: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Master System & Game Gear)'. Sega Force (12): 30–33. December 1992. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
8. ^'Game Gear Guide'. Sega Force Mega. 2 (7): 78. January 1994.
9. ^'Master Market'. Sega Force Mega. 2 (7): 79–80 [80]. January 1994.
10. ^'Sega Master Force Issue 2'. Sega Master Force (2): 13. September 1993. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
11. ^ ^ab'Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide'. 1993.Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
12. ^'Sonic 2'. Mega Force (13). January 1993. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2012.

External links[edit]

• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 at MobyGames

The 8-bit ports of Sonic the Hedgehog scaled down the Genesis game and included the all-new Bridge, Jungle, and Sky Base (not to be confused with Sky Chase) Zones. Given the limitations, it wasn't too bad.

Although they're mostly the same content-wise, the Game Gear version has some unused sprites the Master System version doesn't, and vice-versa. The Game Gear's smaller screen also meant that things had to be scaled down, resulting in the Green Hill boss being laughably easy.

The Master System version also holds the distinction of being the last game released for the console in North America.

• 1Unused Graphics
• 6Unused Text

Unused Graphics

Level Art

Objects

Ancient

Ancient handled the 8-bit ports of Sonic 1 and were evidently going to credit themselves on the title screen with the text '©SEGA/Ancient 1991'. In the end, though, only Sega received credit.

Early Credits Screen

An early version of the credits screen can be found in the Master System version at ROM offset 16AEE. The triangles in the background were replaced with yellow and blue stars in the final version.

Unused Music

An unused rendition of Marble Zone's theme is present in the Master System version's ROM at offset CD0A. This and the unused Batbrain graphics (present only in the Game Gear version) suggest that Marble was intended to be included in the 8-bit ports but was cut due to time or space issues.

Unused Sounds

This sound echoes twice. Unknown what it could have been used for. It could have been used for entering a Bonus Stage.

A heavy bubbling sound. May have had a use in Marble Zone before it was scrapped?

An alternative sound to the bumper sound?

Sounds like an alarm. May have had a use in Scrap Brain and/or Sky Base?

Sonic Hedgehog Release Date

Sonic 2 Master System Release Date

Unused Text

Developer Text

A copyright string starts at 0x3B:

Filler Text

A text string (with minor variations) used as filler in the ROM banks.

Version Differences

Sonic Release Date Movie

The 8-bit versions of Sonic 1 are mostly identical, but besides the resolution there are some differences in the Game Gear version:

• A white Sega splash screen with an animated Sonic and the trademark 'Sega!' voice clip was added. This was done because the Game Gear doesn't have a logo screen incorporated into the BIOS, unlike the Master System.
• The smog clouds above Scrap Brain on the map screen were redrawn.
• The sprites for Sonic, invincibility, and shields were all redrawn to be smaller, to account for the reduced screen size.
• Most stages have altered layouts, from simply moving a few rings around to completely removing or replacing entire chunks of levels.
• Warning signs were added near spike pits and cliffs in Green Hill in the Game Gear version. Various background elements were altered as well, such as the color of the mountains and the flower animations (which are closer to the 16-bit game).
• The Special Stages have different layouts in the Game Gear version. On the first 'loop', the stages have a time limit of 2 minutes rather than 1.
• Due to the smaller screen, the Green Hill boss flies much lower and can be reached from the ground, making it a complete joke.
• On the other hand, the Bridge Zone boss is trickier, taking place on an actual bridge rather than an island.
• Fruit appears in the background of Jungle Zone.
• In the Master System version of Jungle Zone Act 2, the screen continuously locks as Sonic travels upwards through the stage, with the bottom of the screen acting as a bottomless pit. This little challenge would naturally have been completely unfair on the Game Gear, so it was removed.
• Jungle Zone's boss takes place in a steeper arena in the Game Gear version, making the bombs harder to avoid.
• The first two Acts of Labyrinth Zone have radically different layouts between versions. Most notably, the Chaos Emerald is much easier to get. In the Master System version, the Emerald is sitting in the middle of a spike pit; to get it, the player must collect an invincibility power-up a few screens below, run through a lengthy obstacle course to get to the spike pit, jump in, grab the Emerald, and jump out before the invincibility wears off. In the Game Gear version, it's just... sitting there, out in the open, very near the end signpost.
• The final boss no longer enters a second phase, and attacks with three floor-mounted flamethrowers rather than a moving electric wall. The homing device was also moved from above Robotnik to the middle of the ceiling.
• The credits text has been updated to reflect the hardware.
• The end of act panel prize mechanics are different between versions: In the Master System version, Sonic panels were obtained by finishing an act with a specific amount of rings, and ring panels were obtained by having a multiple of 10 rings. In the Game Gear version, panel prizes appear to be random, and do not seem to be influenced by the amount of rings you had. The Game Gear version also adds point bonuses to end of act panels.