The Sega 3D classics range has proved popular so far and it
was only a matter of time before its number one mascot returned to the 3DS with
what is arguably the blue speedster’s best game. Sonic 2 has long been heralded
as one of the greatest platformers and though we personally never got on with
it that well we were more than happy to give it another go.
The 3D version of the game comes with the now standard
features we have come to expect. You can run the Japanese or world versions, emulate
it on the Megadrive or Megadrive 2 and set the 3D effect to pop in or pop out
of the screen. Along with this you can save and load at any time- even when
your last continue has been used.
You can now also put the game into a level select mode where
you can simply try out any stage you want at any time. This includes the pseudo
3D bonus stage which will run through its various rounds as you zoom down a
tunnel collecting rings. The only thing really missing is being able to access the
Sonic and Knuckles content which is unlocked when adding the game to the aforementioned
cartridge. This is a shame but we wait to see what happens with the classics
series in the future and what Sega has up their sleeves in this respect. The restored level from the iOS version is also missing.
As Sonic 2 is mainly a 2D side scrolling the game the 3D
effect doesn’t really add much to it. We quickly turned it off and felt it was
more a novelty than something that has elevated other classics such as Space
Harrier and Out Run. Even the 3D bonus stage didn’t really come alive with the
effect on which is a bit of a missed opportunity. The other minor grumble is
that the colours seem a little bit off from the original version. At times some
of the stages look a little washed out with the graphics not as vibrant as
before.
That said, this is the most fun we have had with Sonic 2.
This time around the tight level design and well balanced challenge seemed to
fit the 3DS perfectly and we were more than happy to zoom through it in one
setting.
There are quite a lot of zones to get into and each one has
its own thing that makes it unique and different from the last. One minute you’ll
be bouncing around a giant pinball machine while another stage will see you trying
not to drown in a forest or avoiding oil spills on a giant rig. It has the
right amount of challenge while still remaining fun and inventive and the boss
fights are also set just about right. There’s plenty to see as well as most
levels have multiple routes through and contain more than enough secrets to
keep you occupied and returning for another play through.
Minor issues aside what you effectively have here is the
definitive version of a 16-bit classic platformer. There’s nothing here to
convert people who never really got into Sonic but if you have never played it
before or are a returning fan then you are going to love it as all the magic
remains. In a world of indie 2D platformers this still stands head and
shoulders above pretty much all of them.
Overall 9/10
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