Though the original Sonic the Hedgehog proved itself to be a brilliant antidote for the far more cutesy, and - indeed - slower-paced platform gameplay that made Super Mario Bros. so addictive, it was Sonic the Hedgehog 2 that took Sega's famous blue mascot to its absolute apex. Fast, frantic and gloriously rendered, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is - quite simply - one the coolest games ever made, and arguably the best title ever released on the Sega Megadrive. The unique level design, the unforgettable soundtrack and the addition of one Miles "Tails" Prower cemented this as an instant classic. For the ways in which it tweaked and honed aspects of the original without losing focus of what made it so successful, this is - without a doubt - the best Sonic game ever made.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
