Not gonna beat around the bush: If Sonic 1 was an unexpected surprise, Sonic 2 was a bit of a disappointment. :/

Like the first game, there's not much to really say that others haven't already said a million times before. Levels are more consistently 'good' for the first two thirds of the adventure, back end of the game after Oil Ocean is kinda shitty (with Metropolis zone being especially long and annoying to get through), the final bosses really could've let you have at least a couple rings (and a checkpoint between them), you know the drill. But it's strange... years of seeing countless people proclaim that 'THIS is the best one', the 'shining example of what a Sonic game SHOULD be', that this is 'WAY BETTER than the DOGSHIT that is Sonic 1'... I can't really say I agree?

Like, there's more zones this time, but it's the kind of thing where all the colourful tile sets and unique hazards all blend together to amalgamate into something that's initially fun to play through, but ultimately forgettable as whole. Levels are sped through a little too fast for my liking, with exploration slightly de-emphasized for the sake of providing the same sort of speedy highs over and over again. Why explore for extra lives and rings when it goes against the grain at best and is actively discouraged at its very worst? It's far from unenjoyable (not with controls and physics this finely tuned), but coupled with a two act structure the levels don't have enough time to really make an impression within the short amount of time spent plowing through them?

It doesn't feel thaaaaat much better than the first game, otherwise. It's less 'good zone, bad zone' in structure, sure, but I can't say that's any worse than putting all the worst zones in the final third, either. The music is on par with the first game's score, there's not much I can say there other than 'it bangs'. Special Stages still really suck, even though they changed genre from 'bad maze' to 'bad autorunner'. One change that's definitely more mas o menos is the slight shift in art direction, which seemed like it de-emphasized the Memphis Style inspiration for a 'more colours and detail' approach to an admittedly pleasing, yet less interesting degree. It's a good looking game, don't get me wrong, but a little more 'grounded' than what I'm personally drawn to in sidescrollers (and art, generally!).

What I'm trying to say here is that it's just... a little bit mediocre, something I feel a lot about what wound up becoming 'timeless classics' during the early-to-mid 90s. Perfectly average, but nothing that felt particularly stand out compared to other games in the series (or genre itself, or even on the Mega Drive where it hailed from). Had I grown up with it as a child, replaying it over and over until the level layouts were burnt into my memory, I'd probably feel the same way about it, like the countless supporters it has. But as a someone in their late 20s with a real love and affinity for platformers, it unfortunately didn't do much for me other than register as 'good I guess' and 'a step towards Sonic 3 & Knuckles'. Here's hoping I learn to love it for what it is down the line...

...But for now, I can finally say that I've got a 'contrarian Sonic opinion' to call my very own! Can't believe I've gone so long without one, wow! ;)

Reviewed on May 05, 2022


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