▲
2
▼
The Game Gear version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has a reputation as one of the hardest installments in the Sonic franchise due to making minimal changes to already-challenging level layouts designed for the Master System's larger aspect ratio on the notoriously small Game Gear screen.
Because Sega prefers to release the Game Gear version of the game on newer hardware, and the original Master System version only being released in the Master System's most successful regions (Europe, Australia, and Brazil), most players are only familiar with the version generally considered inferior.
Because Sega prefers to release the Game Gear version of the game on newer hardware, and the original Master System version only being released in the Master System's most successful regions (Europe, Australia, and Brazil), most players are only familiar with the version generally considered inferior.
Article that explains the Game Gear version's reputation:
http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-8-bit/
Level layout comparisons:
https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_2_(8-bit)/Comparisons
http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-8-bit/
Level layout comparisons:
https://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_2_(8-bit)/Comparisons
▲
2
▼
The 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has two endings:
• A good ending, played if the player collects all the emeralds, where Sonic and Tails run off together at night, and see a constellation in the shape of their heads in the sky.
• A bad ending, where Sonic runs alone in the night, and sees a constellation in the shape of Tails' head in the sky
Although it has never been confirmed, many fans have speculated that the bad ending is supposed to involve Tails dying at the hands of Dr. Eggman, with some even going as far as to suggest that a large star on the right of Tails' forehead is supposed to represent a gun wound. The @sonic_hedgehog Twitter account has jokingly acknowledged this theory without confirming one way or another if it is true - once in a cross-promotion for The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog and the 8-bit game's addition to Sonic Origins Plus, where it compares both games' inclusion of "a beloved character's possible demise", and in a piece of promotional artwork taking place at a carnival, where Tails gets nausea on an intense ride and his constellation can be seen above him, with the "gun wound" star being placed on his muzzle.
• A good ending, played if the player collects all the emeralds, where Sonic and Tails run off together at night, and see a constellation in the shape of their heads in the sky.
• A bad ending, where Sonic runs alone in the night, and sees a constellation in the shape of Tails' head in the sky
Although it has never been confirmed, many fans have speculated that the bad ending is supposed to involve Tails dying at the hands of Dr. Eggman, with some even going as far as to suggest that a large star on the right of Tails' forehead is supposed to represent a gun wound. The @sonic_hedgehog Twitter account has jokingly acknowledged this theory without confirming one way or another if it is true - once in a cross-promotion for The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog and the 8-bit game's addition to Sonic Origins Plus, where it compares both games' inclusion of "a beloved character's possible demise", and in a piece of promotional artwork taking place at a carnival, where Tails gets nausea on an intense ride and his constellation can be seen above him, with the "gun wound" star being placed on his muzzle.
Good ending:
https://youtu.be/8gl54WKbFGc?si=pY9mU5FMYtppM9Xk&t=810
Bad ending:
https://youtu.be/IZ19n421nBc?si=M1u0aG7EtgIScyR3
The Gamer article about Sonic 2 being added to Sonic Origins Plus:
https://www.thegamer.com/sega-reminds-sonic-fans-tails-technically-died-30-years-ago/
Bleeding Cool article about holiday artwork reference to the bad ending:
https://bleedingcool.com/games/sega-adds-dark-easter-egg-to-holiday-sonic-the-hedgehog-art/
https://youtu.be/8gl54WKbFGc?si=pY9mU5FMYtppM9Xk&t=810
Bad ending:
https://youtu.be/IZ19n421nBc?si=M1u0aG7EtgIScyR3
The Gamer article about Sonic 2 being added to Sonic Origins Plus:
https://www.thegamer.com/sega-reminds-sonic-fans-tails-technically-died-30-years-ago/
Bleeding Cool article about holiday artwork reference to the bad ending:
https://bleedingcool.com/games/sega-adds-dark-easter-egg-to-holiday-sonic-the-hedgehog-art/
Related Games
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic Blast
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic Mania
Knuckles' Chaotix
Sonic Lost World
Sonic Unleashed
Sonic & Knuckles
Sonic Origins
Sonic Generations
Sonic Colors
Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos
Sonic CD
Sonic Lost World
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog: Spinball
Sonic Generations
Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure
Sonic Unleashed
Sonic Heroes
Sonic 3D Blast
Sonic Colors
Sonic Frontiers
Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble
Sonic X-treme
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II
Shadow the Hedgehog
Sonic X Shadow Generations
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
Sonic Rivals
Sonic Advance
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
Sonic DS
Sonic and the Secret Rings
Tails and the Music Maker
Cream Flower Catch
Sonic Dream Team
Knuckles Baseball
Sonic's Schoolhouse
Sonic Rivals 2
Sonic's Edusoft
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Sega Superstars Tennis
New Trivia!
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic Gems Collection