Parents' Guide to Sega Ages Sonic the Hedgehog 2

While there are plenty of games that can be considered "classics," there are only a rare few that can really be considered "timeless." Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is one of those rare gems. Still, as tight as the original already was, this Sega Ages re-release has somehow managed to find room to make improvements. One noticeable change is the addition of the Drop Dash to Sonic's arsenal of moves. The move first showed up in Sonic Mania, twenty-five years after Sonic 2's release, but it manages to fit in naturally. The Drop Dash makes a world of difference in the gameplay, keeping Sonic's momentum going and allowing players to speed through levels like never before.

Back in the day, Knuckles was only accessible in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 if players plugged the game into the original Sonic & Knuckles cartridge. Here, Knuckles is playable from the get-go, changing up the gameplay with his wall climbing and bare-knuckles brawling (pun intended). It keeps things fresh and fun, as does the split-screen two-player mode and the competitive Time Trials. In many ways, Sega Ages Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is so much more than just a re-release of a classic game. Instead, its willingness to tweak to original and to add to the experience makes it, hands-down, the definitive way to take everyone's favorite hedgehog out for a spin.