Sonic 2 was widely anticipated, and Sega backed it with an aggressive $10 million marketing campaign. As with the first game, Masato Nakamura, a member of the J-pop band Dreams Come True, composed the soundtrack. The development suffered setbacks, including cultural differences between the Japanese and American staff, and numerous levels were cut due to time constraints and quality concerns. Sonic 2 was intended to be faster and more ambitious than the first game. Members of the original development team-including programmer Yuji Naka and designer Hirokazu Yasuhara-moved from Japan to California to join the project. Sonic 2 introduces Sonic's sidekick Miles 'Tails' Prower and features faster gameplay, larger levels, a multiplayer mode, and special stages featuring pre-rendered 3D graphics.Īfter Sonic the Hedgehog greatly increased the popularity of the Genesis in North America, Sega directed STI founder Mark Cerny to start Sonic 2 in November 1991.
Like the first Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), players traverse side-scrolling levels at high speeds while collecting rings, defeating enemies, and fighting bosses. Players control Sonic as he attempts to stop Doctor Robotnik from stealing the Chaos Emeralds to power his space station. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a 1992 platform game developed by Sega Technical Institute (STI) for the Sega Genesis.
