Sonic 2
The SEGA Mega Drive is over 20 years old. I can't quite believe that really, but then again, I am also over 20 years old. The wrong side of 25 in fact. I remember to this day, the release of Sonic 2. Dubbed Sonic Twosday in the UK, it was a moment in gaming history, infact my life, that I will always remember.
I had a Game Gear first, in 1990, as the Mega Drive was too expensive. All I wanted to do was play Sonic anyway. Sonic on the Game Gear was great, but more on that in a future post. Eventually (1993), we (my brother and I) got the Mega Drive. We had Sonic 2. We had everything we wanted in the world.
1965-09-17. Yes, I can still remember it. It's the level select you activate through the sound test. It's also the D.O.B of someone at SEGA. I can't remember if it's the president of SEGA or the creator of Sonic - but that's not important. Also, after doing that, and pressing A + Start to restart, you can then input 04-01-02-06 in the level select sound test to enter debug mode. I must have put these codes in so many times as a child that they will stay with me until I go mental and start forgetting who my family are.
So, I decided to lend my Mega Drive to my girlfriend. It's at her house. I know she'll look after it. She also remembers Sonic 2 vividly. Must be something about our generation. I can't see the children of today whilstling the tune of Gears of War when they have the odd flashback or moment of nostalgia. Oh well.
I thought I would challenge her to a 2 player challenge - 3 different zones; Emerald Hill, Mystic Cave and Casino Night and then the final special stage. If you draw in a zone, you have a tie break special stage. There's not just time, but rings at finish, total rings in level, boxes broken and score thrown into the mix. After the entire matchup - TIE GAME. Phenominal. I must have put in 100s of hours into Sonic and she hasn't played for years. That's the beauty. It's such a lasting game. Pick-up-and-play. Apart from graphics, it's timless. Futureproof.
Truth is, I blame those transporter 1-up boxes. I cracked open a couple of those and sent her right to the end of the level. Either that, or I let her win. Or, she's just as good as me...
I had a Game Gear first, in 1990, as the Mega Drive was too expensive. All I wanted to do was play Sonic anyway. Sonic on the Game Gear was great, but more on that in a future post. Eventually (1993), we (my brother and I) got the Mega Drive. We had Sonic 2. We had everything we wanted in the world.
1965-09-17. Yes, I can still remember it. It's the level select you activate through the sound test. It's also the D.O.B of someone at SEGA. I can't remember if it's the president of SEGA or the creator of Sonic - but that's not important. Also, after doing that, and pressing A + Start to restart, you can then input 04-01-02-06 in the level select sound test to enter debug mode. I must have put these codes in so many times as a child that they will stay with me until I go mental and start forgetting who my family are.
So, I decided to lend my Mega Drive to my girlfriend. It's at her house. I know she'll look after it. She also remembers Sonic 2 vividly. Must be something about our generation. I can't see the children of today whilstling the tune of Gears of War when they have the odd flashback or moment of nostalgia. Oh well.
I thought I would challenge her to a 2 player challenge - 3 different zones; Emerald Hill, Mystic Cave and Casino Night and then the final special stage. If you draw in a zone, you have a tie break special stage. There's not just time, but rings at finish, total rings in level, boxes broken and score thrown into the mix. After the entire matchup - TIE GAME. Phenominal. I must have put in 100s of hours into Sonic and she hasn't played for years. That's the beauty. It's such a lasting game. Pick-up-and-play. Apart from graphics, it's timless. Futureproof.Truth is, I blame those transporter 1-up boxes. I cracked open a couple of those and sent her right to the end of the level. Either that, or I let her win. Or, she's just as good as me...
I would recommend getting your Mega Drive a scart cable. They cost about £10 but make the picture quality brilliant.
ReplyDeleteSonic 2 is possibly the most memorable game of my childhood fopr it's 2 player mode. Me and my sister would play that every Subday after the Simpsons on Sky one. It would always come down to the final special stage to decide on the winner. Good times.
Yeh, I'll get a SCART lead. £10 isn't too much if the picture really is better.
ReplyDeleteSonic 2 is a great 2 player game. If only Sonic 4 were made on the Saturn, in 2D, much like chaotix - rather than trying the whole fish-eye-£d-is-better-than-2D route...
Even that fish eye game would have been better than a port of Sonic 3D. =/
ReplyDeleteTrue... but in my mind Sonic 4 on the Saturn should have been a launch title in 1995 (1994 release was too early) as a 2D extravaganza. Could have been amazing. I am just trying to imagine how cool a fully 2D Sonic game would be these days... then I just go and play Sonic 3 anyway...
ReplyDelete