Sonic 2 is a ****ing asshole

[Guntz]

Today, I decided to once again, try and get all the chaos emeralds in Sonic 2.

Long story short, I got them all by the time I reached Hill Top Zone (with the help of a friend because the special stages are TOO HARD). After that, I was on my way trying to get 50 rings so I could finally see what Super Sonic is like... Until I defeated an opponent... AND THE GAME FROZE. You effin bitch of a game. What a FINE TIME TO FREEZE. You couldn't have done earlier in the game? No, of course not. Murphy's Law dictates that all the time I wasted on this fantastic game's retarded special stages needs to go up in smoke. And to make matters worse, this cartridge is CLEAN. I've been playing this same copy for at least a couple weeks now and it's never glitched or frozen (though I do use a 32X in this situation, but it too is clean).

I'm about ready to take a sledge hammer to the cartridge. I am NEVER going to get the chaos emeralds in Sonic 2 ever again. The special stages themselves are total bullshit. I HATE THEM. Now I hate them even more.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and have some REAL FUN with Sonic 3's special stages. Now THOSE are good. Sonic 3 & Knuckles has the best special stages out of every other Sonic game on the Genesis/CD. They are relatively easy, they don't require memorization, only needing fast reflexes and the music is awesome.

[Zebbe]

Cool down, and use the code. Also, the special stages are easy as Dell.

[Myrkwood]

The special stages are a lot harder if you use both Sonic and Tails (unless you have a friend playing as Tails) as not only do you have to get more rings but Tails has delayed reaction times and ends up getting git by bombs and losing you rings. It's much easier to use Sonic alone. Once you've played them a few times the special stages aren't too difficult as you get the patterns memorized.

[villahed94]

Calm down Guntz, i´d be the angry one here, because i tried to get all of the emeralds on a oc´ed system and Holy **** it became a total **** because they got faster, but just use the code to get super sonic.

[jerry coeurl]

Sonic 2 is really not that hard, excepting the final boss. It was also the first Sonic game I was able to get all of the Chaos Emeralds in. I think it had the best special stages in the entire series! Blue Spheres is kinda dull to me.

[djshok]

Just use the code and put yourself back in the level you were at with the super sonic code activated, it'll be like you didn't lose anything.

[oldmanwinters]

Seems like Special Stage 5 & 6 usually give me a bit of trouble. I usually abuse that pause button just so I can see whether there are rings or bombs coming at me around each corner.

[The Coop]

... easy as Dell.

Dude, you're getting one?

[adamr]

i know this info is no good this late but a similar thing happened to me and i found a way to get around it. i got them all and was enjoying super sonic on metropolis and as i crossed the signpost, i jumped and sonic froze in the air. he was still running but not moving. i was so annoyed, i'd spent so long practising getting the emeralds and i thought i wasn't going to be able to finally beat it with all emeralds. so i googled to see if anyone experienced a similar glitch and if there was a way to get around it. i accidentally stumbled on a different glitch that someone reported. if you reset the game and then begin the game by hitting start on the options menu, it doesn't reset the variable that stores the emeralds you have. so i reset the console and tada, i was able to beat it with all emeralds and whizz through the first seven levels again with the help of super sonic, which was tons of fun.

[Zebbe]

Dude, you're getting one?

No, but I've had one. Or my mom had it.

[Chilly Willy]

Wow. I can't believe you like the Sonic 3 special stages more than the Sonic 2's... and think they're EASIER! Crazy, man! Sonic 2's special stages are much easier, and much more fun than Sonic 3's.

I guess everyone has their own skills and preferences. Mine are just the OPPOSITE of yours. :D

[Guntz]

Went outside for some time in the snow. I feel better now. Thanks for all the advice guys. I suppose I could use a Game Genie to cheat... But, eh, I've never been one for cheating. What I really use my Game Genie is moddless importing.

I think I'll try and play all the special stages again. And same as before, I'll get somebody to play as Tails. Nothing like breaking something that is too hard to play by it's rules.

Did you guys know I actually did beat Sonic 2's final boss once before? Let me be the first to say, Metal Sonic and the Egg Walker thing were easier than special stage 5 and 6. Seriously.

@Chilly: You're not alone. The other armadillos here think I have super powers or something when I play Blue Sphere. The insane speed doesn't bother me one bit.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Sonic 2's special stages were by far the hardest for me too. I was never that good at those. I don't think the ones in 3 or knuckles are that hard at all. The only way those types of stages are hard is when you use S and K with other games for the random generated stages. Those can be a nightmare.

[Sik]

The trick to the Sonic 2 final boss is to have Eggman fall in one side of the room then Sonic in the other side so claws can't reach you.

Also lately I've been stumbling upon a bug where Sonic won't bounce off the robot and thereby hit the claw and die. Is it specific to one revision or what? I don't remember that happening until recently, and now I get it often.

[djshok]

If you don't want to use cheats, maybe try this trick. It works better on model 2 Genesis than on model 1. Get as many emeralds as you can in the first level then hit reset and quickly start playing again, when you go into the special stages it will have saved your emerald progress. You have start playing as quickly as possible though ie: keep hitting start to skip to gameplay, and it sometimes doesn't work, but usually you can pull it off.

[jerry coeurl]

Haha, yeah. I've used the reset trick to get Super Sonic in the first stage before. Nothing like doing an invincible run through the entire game. :cool:

[Obviously]

The trick to the Sonic 2 final boss is to have Eggman fall in one side of the room then Sonic in the other side so claws can't reach you.

Also lately I've been stumbling upon a bug where Sonic won't bounce off the robot and thereby hit the claw and die. Is it specific to one revision or what? I don't remember that happening until recently, and now I get it often.

I don't know but I've seen it happen.

And yeah he's an extremely easy boss once you realize you don't need to attack him constantly and all of his offensive moves can be avoided merely by staying away from him.

[oldmanwinters]

The trick to the Sonic 2 final boss is to have Eggman fall in one side of the room then Sonic in the other side so claws can't reach you.

Also lately I've been stumbling upon a bug where Sonic won't bounce off the robot and thereby hit the claw and die. Is it specific to one revision or what? I don't remember that happening until recently, and now I get it often.

Seems like that glitch happens to me about 60% of the time when I get greedy to sneak in extra hits on Robotnik, especially considering you have to hit him like 15 times. Usually it's safer to jump into him when he lands and lowers himself. However, if you try and jump at him while he's standing, there is probably a higher risk of the bug biting you and you end up dying on his hand.

This is a very hard boss with Knuckles in S2+S&K, since he can't even jump high enough to sneak in hits while Robotnik's robot is standing.

[gamegenie]

LOL, I like how you place blame on the game itself and not the dirt/dust/oil residue that's probably on the cartridge's pin, or the slot on the Genesis board itself.

[Guntz]

Did you read the first post? I said everything I own is CLEAN. I had played that same copy of Sonic 2 for a couple of weeks on and off prior. It NEVER froze or anything. I can't remember the last time I had a Genesis game freeze on me.

[masterturk]

I was playing sonic 2 today as I just got the cart in the mail, got to hill top zone fell on the lava once and just before I misjumped it went down about half way. There was just no escape and sonic didn't die, couldn't be bothered to wait 10mins for him to suicide so I just relieved him and switched the console off

[Guntz]

Funny, I had a similar incident in Hill Top zone. What happened was I was in one of them lava caves. I jumped into a tunnel with a shield inside it. When I tried to exit the lava had already went past the exit. Not sure what to do, I just waited to see what would happen.

Oddly enough, when the lava reached the top and because I was still in the same area, the lava actually started going down! Eventually it reached my tunnel again and I made my way out of the cave. It was funniest thing I'd ever seen in Sonic 2. The lava posed no threat at all with it going down instead of up. :D

On another note, I started another game of Sonic 2. In Act 1 of Emerald Hill Zone, I got 3 Chaos Emeralds and a couple of extra lives. Hows that for a start?

[gamegenie]

Did you read the first post? I said everything I own is CLEAN. I had played that same copy of Sonic 2 for a couple of weeks on and off prior. It NEVER froze or anything. I can't remember the last time I had a Genesis game freeze on me.

you probably experienced a power influx, or electromagnetic interference especially since you say you rarely experience a game freeze it does occur once in a blue moon playing video games.

[Sik]

Besides the fact Sonic 2 was rushed and Super Sonic was implemented in the last 48hs of development? (if I recall correctly)

But I'd say it was just Murphy's law. A bug that rarely happens decided to pop up at the worst moment.

[dbtmellis]

I sometimes play with Sonic 2 w/ S&K attached so i can play as Knuckles, so that way i dont have to deal with Pain-in-my-ass Tails!

[Sik]

You can disable Tails from the options menu...

[SegaMan89]

Today, I decided to once again, try and get all the chaos emeralds in Sonic 2.

Long story short, I got them all by the time I reached Hill Top Zone (with the help of a friend because the special stages are TOO HARD). After that, I was on my way trying to get 50 rings so I could finally see what Super Sonic is like... Until I defeated an opponent... AND THE GAME FROZE. You effin bitch of a game. What a FINE TIME TO FREEZE. You couldn't have done earlier in the game? No, of course not. Murphy's Law dictates that all the time I wasted on this fantastic game's retarded special stages needs to go up in smoke. And to make matters worse, this cartridge is CLEAN. I've been playing this same copy for at least a couple weeks now and it's never glitched or frozen (though I do use a 32X in this situation, but it too is clean).

I'm about ready to take a sledge hammer to the cartridge. I am NEVER going to get the chaos emeralds in Sonic 2 ever again. The special stages themselves are total bullshit. I HATE THEM. Now I hate them even more.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and have some REAL FUN with Sonic 3's special stages. Now THOSE are good. Sonic 3 & Knuckles has the best special stages out of every other Sonic game on the Genesis/CD. They are relatively easy, they don't require memorization, only needing fast reflexes and the music is awesome.

Cool down Guntz. It's happened to me a couple of times, it is just a rare glitch or the console could have gotten shaken a little, unlike if you have 50 rings after crossing the goalpost and jump, Sonic semi-transforms and starts running in midair so you have to reset the game (guess that's why I'm not as bothered by the sonic games of 03-09 cause I've seen some weird glitches in the Genesis games although none NOWHERE near as bad as the ones in Sonic GBA).

[Tiddles]

The game crashing after killing one of Hill Top's Rexon enemies (the purple dinosaur things in the lava) is a known programming error (http://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_2_%2816-bit%29_bug_list#Hill_Top_Zone_Rexon_crash) in Sonic 2. So if that's the enemy you hit, Guntz, you are completely right to blame the game. :)

[Mr Smith]

http://www.megadrivechamps.org/other/features/specialstage.html

Here is a handy special stage guide for those struggling :)

[gamegenie]

Seems like Special Stage 5 & 6 usually give me a bit of trouble. I usually abuse that pause button just so I can see whether there are rings or bombs coming at me around each corner.

the pause button also works good for the Super Emerald Quest in Sonic 3 & K too.



That's a good find about that glitch Tiddles.

I'm going to see if this glitch is still in Sonic 2 from the DS Collection release.

[Elusive]

the pause button also works good for the Super Emerald Quest in Sonic 3 & K too.

Super Emer-what?

[Ecco]

Gunts I didn't read the whole thread but that's sort of a common glitch for Super Sonic unfortunately. Since he becomes Super Sonic by having 50 rings and jumping in the air, the problem is when you beat a boss and Sonic turns normal... but then you jump (and he still has 50+ rings) and becomes S.S. in the air, and then the screen is frozen there! (I'm assuming that's how it froze for you?) So just don't jump after killing a boss, if he still has 50+ rings!

More importantly, just use the code for Super Sonic, and relax man. :cool:

Also, I am still amazed that anybody even likes those special stages of Sonic 3&K. Sonic 2's are the best of the series IMO

[Ecco]

The trick to the Sonic 2 final boss is to have Eggman fall in one side of the room then Sonic in the other side so claws can't reach you.

Also lately I've been stumbling upon a bug where Sonic won't bounce off the robot and thereby hit the claw and die. Is it specific to one revision or what? I don't remember that happening until recently, and now I get it often.

I don't know if there's a bug related to that.

But if u have trouble bouncing off the robot and hitting the claw, u probably just need to practice the jumping & bouncing. Hold the jump button so that Sonic bounces back as high and far as possible. :cool:

[gamegenie]

Super Emer-what?
Don't act so surprised your highness
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0X9i7RXynpk/S0ofxRwfbFI/AAAAAAAAAe0/C-azjeubLjk/s400/episode_4_darth_vader_points_leia.jpg

there are more chaos emeralds after you collect the regular 7 in Sonic 3, the remaining are super emeralds and stages are slightly more difficult, PAUSE cheat works good though.
http://images.wikia.com/sonic/images/e/e9/S3%26KEmeraldChamber.png



though I never thought about using the PAUSE cheat in Sonic 2, that's a good little tactic.

[Guntz]

The game crashing after killing one of Hill Top's Rexon enemies (the purple dinosaur things in the lava) is a known programming error (http://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_2_%2816-bit%29_bug_list#Hill_Top_Zone_Rexon_crash) in Sonic 2. So if that's the enemy you hit, Guntz, you are completely right to blame the game. :)

Why, yes! That is exactly what happened! The game froze the moment I destroyed one of them Rexon bots. I didn't know what they were called, perhaps I should have described it anyway. Thanks a ton! I knew this wasn't due to dirt! It was too much of a coincidence. Thanks a crapton Tiddles. I think I'll even rep you. :D

[Da_Shocker]

Those Sonic 2 stages are hard as fuck and Tails whiel he is a big help in the game he is worthless in the special stages unless u have a second player going in. Sonic 3 stages were much easier with him being a non factor in them. And I eventually figured out how to beat them. The first 5 stages werent that had but the last 2 were a pain in the ass. S&K on the other hand is way way harder.

[Guntz]

Actually, Tails isn't that much of a problem when I play the special stages. My problem is the ring placements in stage 5 and 6.

[PHANTOM2040]

I actually preffered the bonus levels in sonic 3, s&k, and 3d blast. I like Sonic games and I am good at them. I just never cared about getting the emeralds. If I go into the bonus stage it's usually on accident.

[oldmanwinters]

Also, Tails is awesome.

That is all.

:p

[ItellYaHuat]

The glitch where you transform into Super Sonic after beating a boss or passing the act end sign is only in an early revision (and most common copy, it's the NFR version anyway) of the game. A later revision (I think it's REV01?) fixed this bug. It won't let you turn into Super Sonic once you beat a boss or pass the act end sign.

Also, this ISN'T what Guntz encountered.

[Chilly Willy]

I never play with Tails in Sonic 2, so it's never a problem.

[Vyse of Arcadia]

I never thought a about pausing to take stock of the situation in ANY Sonic game's special stages. I had never heard of it, and it never occurred to me. I've always done it on reflex and memorization.

Genius.

[cleeg]

Sonic 2 is a ****ing asshole.

The above is true, but Tails has two ****ing assholes.

[Curryman123]

sonic 2 is very nice to me.

[Sik]

I don't know if there's a bug related to that.

But if u have trouble bouncing off the robot and hitting the claw, u probably just need to practice the jumping & bouncing. Hold the jump button so that Sonic bounces back as high and far as possible. :cool:

Sonic should bounce back when hitting the robot, but sometimes he'll just keep going forwards. Definitely a bug.

[oldmanwinters]

there are more chaos emeralds after you collect the regular 7 in Sonic 3, the remaining are super emeralds and stages are slightly more difficult, PAUSE cheat works good though.
http://images.wikia.com/sonic/images/e/e9/S3%26KEmeraldChamber.png


The first time I accessed this chamber was one of my most awesome memories in video game technology. A game that builds off my Sonic 3 game save? Incredible! Lock-on tech is GENIUZ!!! lol

[MCJeffsy]

I haven't read the whole thread, but that bug in HTZ is a bit of a bitch. It does seem to be completley random.

Also, the special stages are pretty easy. The last one can be tough tho.

Great game all round! :)

[Ecco]

Sonic should bounce back when hitting the robot, but sometimes he'll just keep going forwards. Definitely a bug.

I'm trying to remember this kind of bug (as I've played Sonic 2 to death since it came out)...

Is this "bug" when Sonic is hitting Robotnik REPEATEDLY? Are u guys saying that Sonic hits him, bounces off, and then lands on him again repeatedly... And then sometimes passes through? If that is what u guys mean, I HAVE noticed that, and I always assumed it was on purpose, to prevent Sonic from bouncing too many times in one spot...

[Sik]

If you mean several times in a row without hitting the floor, no. Also sometimes it happens in the first hit anyways.

I ask about the whole revision thing because my cartridge is revision 00 but I have both revisions 00 and 01 for the emulator and so far never stumbled upon it on real hardware...

[Blammo]

I have. I used to get it all the time back in the '90s.

[-RT]

Sonic 2 is asshole? Pfft. Now Sonic 1 is The Asshole.

[kool kitty89]

Went outside for some time in the snow. I feel better now. Thanks for all the advice guys. I suppose I could use a Game Genie to cheat... But, eh, I've never been one for cheating. What I really use my Game Genie is moddless importing.

I think I'll try and play all the special stages again. And same as before, I'll get somebody to play as Tails. Nothing like breaking something that is too hard to play by it's rules.

Did you guys know I actually did beat Sonic 2's final boss once before? Let me be the first to say, Metal Sonic and the Egg Walker thing were easier than special stage 5 and 6. Seriously.

@Chilly: You're not alone. The other armadillos here think I have super powers or something when I play Blue Sphere. The insane speed doesn't bother me one bit.
I find blue sphere easier too at times, but it takes practice (not repetition/memorization type annoying practice like later Sonic 2 special stages mind you, but getting used to the gameplay in general).
The first thing I learned was: don't try to collect the rings, just ignore them and try to get all the blue spheres.

The other thing is that the special stages in sonic 3/k are MUCH easier to get to than in Sonic 2. (there's many cases where I blow past the checkpoint -ie miss it, or more often, I don't have 50 rings when I get to it -on Sonic 3, not only do you not have to deal with that, but I also end up getting the bonus stages -via checkpoins- much more easily on top of the special stages)

And finally, you get repeat play to go back through and get all the chaos and super emeralds in 3/k due to the save feature. ;) (not sure if Sonic CD lets you do that)

I like the look and gameplay of Sonic 2's special stages more than Sonic 3/k's, but the later levels of it are rather difficult. (and the bigger issue -for me and my brother at least- is getting to all the early level special stages)


Sonic 1's special stages are the most annoying though. 3D blast (Genesis) has them really easy (and cool looking), but the PC/Saturn version is apparently tougher than Sonic 2. (which it's based on)
Sonic CD's is odd, it's annoying to get used to the UFO depth perception, but I think it gets a fair bit easier once you get used to that.







Also, Tails is awesome.

That is all.

:p
Which is why you can play as Tails alone. ;) Though it doesn't make things easy like in Sonic 3 . . . it does give you the cool running animation though. :D

[ItellYaHuat]

I always hated Sonic 1's special stages for obvious reasons. DAMN YOU, GOAL.

The special stages in Sonic 2 is simple memorization. I've gotten Super Sonic by the time I was in Chemical Plant Zone, there isn't much skill required as long as you know where the ring placement is (and if CPU Tails isn't screwing everything up) otherwise you'd have to act quick when a group of rings come by.

Sonic 3 & Knuckles special stages rely on quick reflexes and good judgment though once you beat all the stages and get used to the gameplay mechanics, they become incredibly easy, no challenge there.

Sonic CD's special stages are annoying in some respects. Some of the later on stages have UFO's that move around much more rapidly but becomes easier to hit as long as you grab a pair of Super Sneakers. The time extending UFO saved my ass more times than I can say when that last UFO kept ditching me. The most annoying stage is the one that is second to last though I like the stage design.

They all have their own qualities that stand out. At least these main platform titles all have unique, challenging yet fun special stages

[Estil]

The special stages are a lot harder if you use both Sonic and Tails (unless you have a friend playing as Tails) as not only do you have to get more rings but Tails has delayed reaction times and ends up getting git by bombs and losing you rings. It's much easier to use Sonic alone. Once you've played them a few times the special stages aren't too difficult as you get the patterns memorized.

And I thought I was the only one that noticed that. Yes, I too only play as Sonic for that reason.