I never realized it but Sonic 2 on Game Gear is hard and painful as nails.

[Assman]

I've always hated the gamegear version of Sonic 2 because of those hand gliders. I can't be the only one who never got past the second world because of them. Every time I try to play Sonic 2 I get stuck because of them and end up giving up.

If I recall correctly, you just need to periodically tap the D-pad in the opposite direction of whichever way you're facing to keep from dropping. I don't think the manual really explains it that way, so it's kind of obtuse at first. I don't even remember how I figured that out.

[jerry coeurl]

This game might be ok on the Master System, but it's trash on the Game Gear. I'd say this game helped form the negative opinion that I had of the handheld for a very long time.

[Obviously]

This game might be ok on the Master System, but it's trash on the Game Gear. I'd say this game helped form the negative opinion that I had of the handheld for a very long time.

Yeah, it's really obvious that the level design was made for a TV screen. They put zero thought into translating it to the Game Gear.

[Guntz]

Don't let Sonic 2 spoil your perception of the Game Gear. There's tons of other Sonic games on it. The best I think is still Sonic 1, but Sonic Chaos and Triple Trouble are okay too. Sonic Blast is a bit slow but also has a Sonic & Knuckles feel. Game Gear has a massive library beyond Sonic though, it's a fun console to explore.

[zetastrike]

Don't let Sonic 2 spoil your perception of the Game Gear. There's tons of other Sonic games on it. The best I think is still Sonic 1, but Sonic Chaos and Triple Trouble are okay too. Sonic Blast is a bit slow but also has a Sonic & Knuckles feel. Game Gear has a massive library beyond Sonic though, it's a fun console to explore.

Totally, but I wish there was a better way to play the games. The display really shows its age. Playing GG Aleste 2 on it made my eyes hurt. A modern handheld that can take GG carts would be a miracle.

[Guntz]

The LED lit Game Gear I got from you looks fine, no worse than an original Game Boy. I think it developed a second dead pixel right after it arrived though, ironically.

A fast shooter, yeah I can see that being a problem. I've been playing slower paced games and they are very playable.

I still say Sega should have canned the Nomad and release a Game Gear Pocket, or something cost reduced with a better screen and a smaller size.

[Phexar]

As others have said it's better on the Master System and the level design seems tailored to the large screen. It's still inferior to the first game though. It started the trend of 8-bit Sonic's focusing on trying to emulate the Genesis instead of just trying to be good platformers that worked with the hardware they had.

Sonic Chaos swung the difficulty needle in the other direction probably in response to Sonic 2, since you can beat that game in your sleep in about 15 minutes.

Yeah Sonic 2 didn't quite fit the Game Gear too well with the level design/etc. Triple Trouble in comparison was made solely for the Game Gear and it shows- the level design really felt to me like they took the small screen into consideration there despite everything being pretty well large.

Sonic Chaos was terribly easy wasn't it, only Sleeping Egg and it's boss and maybe the final boss gave me any trouble. I also remember being baffled by Aqua Planet barely having any water, you really had to go out of your way to get to it unlike say Aquatic Ruin where while you could avoid the water you could also screw up easier and get thrown down to the underwater areas.

[spiffyone]

I still say Sega should have canned the Nomad and release a Game Gear Pocket, or something cost reduced with a better screen and a smaller size.

I agree. A cost reduced version, with a smaller size and (thankfully) better battery life at a reduced price point could've done wonders for Sega, IMO, particularly if it had been released before GBC.

I'm replaying quite a few GG games and they look quite a deal better than GBC games, IMO. Sega should've hung on to the technology a bit longer. A $69-99 GG would've flew off the shelves, particularly with the right games.

[Guntz]

The Game Boy Pocket was out in 1996. A revised Game Gear should have been made ahead of it.

[Ecco]

I haven't played GG Sonic 2 for a while but I have given it a chance in the past. The whole thing feels very sad. Tails is going to die unless Sonic saves him. The graphics are plain and lacking in the details that made Sonic games appealing in the first place. The Crystal stage is maybe the best but even that looks plain and barren. Everything seems to lack any joy.

[Guntz]

So, in a nutshell, Sonic 1 8-bit is better than its 16-bit counterpart, whereas the opposite is true of Sonic 2. Interesting...

[Baloo]

So, in a nutshell, Sonic 1 8-bit is better than its 16-bit counterpart, whereas the opposite is true of Sonic 2. Interesting...

No way. Sonic 1 is plagued with slowdown, though it is not a bad game. Sonic 2 is indeed trash on the Game Gear because you can't see anything coming at you (Plus the 3rd Act of every Stage is designed to be absolutely nightmarish), Sonic Chaos is my personal favorite even though it's way easy, and Sonic Triple Trouble I find is like playing Sonic in molasses. It's just too slow of a game.

Tails Adventure is probably the best Sonic game for the Game Gear tbh.

[The Jackal]

So, in a nutshell, Sonic 1 8-bit is better than its 16-bit counterpart

Yeah, no. Both are good games in their own rights.

[segasonicfan]

idk i loved GG Sonic 2 but maybe thats cause i played on a GGTV. The ramped up difficulty and improved 3rd stage boss among other things really make this a classic in my book. That first boss is kinda broken (couldn't beat it as a kit) but i have no problem with him nowadays.

[eheheh]

i have good memories from kid of this game
sonic in the hang-glider was so cool in that time