Ranking Every Classic Sonic The Hedgehog Level From Worst To Best

26. Mystic Cave Zone

Sonic Ranking 3
SEGA

The first problem with Mystic Cave Zone is the music, a riff on Fučík's Entrance of the Gladiators which gives it a completely inappropriate circus feel. There's absolutely no clowning around to be had here.

The second problem is that it's a bastard. Crates are normally benevolent bearers of gifts in games, but in Sonic 2's dank depths they menacingly rotate with intent to kill. There're also inescapable spike pits, lots of surprise chasms, and big leafy things which surge out of the ground with similar motives to the nasty boxes. Plus it's a cave, so stalacites are mandatory. Always with the stalacites.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.