Sonic the Hedgehog 2 recently made its way to the PlayStation Network and is being offered free to PlayStation Plus subscribers. I quickly snapped this title up and put it through its paces. First launched in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive, this version comes with a few enhancements, such as the ability to save anywhere and to play Versus Mode online. And of course the game has been remastered in HD.

Platformers are one of the only genres which boast games that are as fun to play today as they were decades ago. Sonic 2 is a perfect example of this concept. This 19-year old game is still an absolute blast to play, and serves as a reminder as to why we got into gaming in the first place.

While not as ingenious and enjoyable as something like Super Mario Bros. Wii, Sonic 2 is still a classic game in its own right and offers fantastic thrills minus the frustration of having to restart from the last checkpoint (as was the case in the original). In the PlayStation Network version you can save at any time, and if you die you can quickly hit Start and reload your last saved game. Saving often and before the most perilous sections of a level is key if you’re going to go this route. The purists will want to take on the game’s considerable challenge without this “crutch,” but for someone like me who likes his platformers frustration free then this is definitely the way to go.

Sonic 2 feels a lot longer and has far more varied and clever level design that its predecessor. The Zones just keep on coming at you in all their multi-themed glory, and navigating the many levels in the game is not just a case of moving from left to right (like it usually is in Super Mario Bros. titles). Instead, you’ll need to embrace all the cardinal directions to work your way to the end of the level. For example, you may need to go up, left, down, left, down and then right to successfully progress in a level. What’s so smart about the level design is that you never seem to get lost – whichever way you choose should eventually lead you back towards the exit.

Controls are as simple as they come – a mere combination of the four directional buttons and X. You can now charge up spin attacks (something which wasn’t available in the first one), and this is handy for some of the later boss battles where you’ll need to quickly spin under them when they jump in order to avoid their attacks.

Just like any platformer worth its salt, simple controls can lead to some complex gameplay scenarios. For instance, one Zone finds Sonic in a casino-themed world where parts of the level are pinball flippers. You need to time your button press so Sonic spins just as he hits a flipper – propelling him skyward and bypassing an obstacle in the process. It’s moments like these where the gameplay really hits the sweet spot, and you’re left wondering why today’s developers can’t all come up with good ideas like this.

Sonic 2 has more “insta-deaths” than some of the other well-known platformers. He can get squished between objects and there’re perilous falls aplenty during the latter levels. The last few boss battles (all against the delightfully manic Dr. Robotnik) are insanely challenging if you’re out of coins so using the game’s new save feature is essential if you want to stay sane.

The graphics look great in HD and bring back many a fond memory of playing 16-bit titles back in the day. The locations are colourful, detailed and packed with vibrant animations. I suggest you play with Smoothing turned off and using the original aspect ratio to get the most out of the graphics. The sound effects are classic platforming fare, while the music…Oh wow – Sonic 2’s soundtrack is awesome! The tracks are upbeat and very catchy, and make you terribly nostalgic for the days of synthesised game music.

Sonic 2 can be played by two players locally – either taking on Co-op or Versus mode. Unfortunately, only Versus mode has been given the online multiplayer treatment. The second player gets to play as Knuckles, Sonic’s bushy-tailed friend.

If you’ve been longing for a return to yesteryear’s platforming greats, then make sure Sonic 2 forms a part of your PlayStation Network collection. Even all these years later, it still offers unique gameplay scenarios, precise and responsive controls, plenty of frenetic fun and Grammy-worthy tunes. Simply put, it’s the best version of Sonic 2 so far and one of the best titles to ever grace this great genre.

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