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Fan-crafted Sonic 2 HD project pokes its nose out once more
Okay, so Sonic the Hedgehog's move to 3D worlds and high-definition graphics hasn't proven to be a particularly great move. What's a hedgehog fan to do? Why, remake one of the Sonic games that was universally loved, of course. And so it was that Sonic 2 HD, a fan project that was teased in the yonder year of 2011, has come back from the dead and is once more looking toward eventual release. A Facebook post clarified the long silence from team members: "The leading reason behind the project's cancellation was due to the programming element being removed with no possibility of return in its existing form," it reads. The post explains that although the original team has disbanded, a fan of the project submitted his own engine, allowing a new team to effectively resume development. The group behind the project state that they'll be offering more details on how those interested can contribute in the following days. Now that the game is on track again, we wonder if they feel that they've gotta go fast. [Image: Sonic 2 HD Team]
Rumor: Sonic 2 spin-dashing to iPhone
[VGMuseum] Those of you who bought Sonic the Hedgehog on iPhone and liked it will be pleased to hear that, according to Appolicious, Sega will release an iPhone port of Sonic 2 next week. The site reports that the port of the sequel is at least marginally improved over the first iPhone Sonic in terms of control responsiveness, though it still relies on a virtual D-pad and button. Despite the multiplayer capability of Sonic 2 on Genesis, however, this iPhone port is strictly a solo game. Tails follows behind Sonic as an AI-controlled character, but can't be operated by a second player. If Sonic 2 does make it onto the App Store next week, it means enough of us bought the first game to make continued iPhone emulation worthwhile for Sega, which in turn means the porting is really cheap or the first one sold really well. Update: Sega has confirmed the existence of the game, now slated for "late April." [Via Destructoid]
Sonic 2 speeds onto XBLA
There was a time when Sonic the Hedgehog 2 -- now available on Xbox Live Arcade -- was accompanied by much fanfare and bizarre commercials. Alas, that time is gone and we are left only with tiny little announcement posts like this one. Still, the quality of the game hasn't been diminished. Actually, in light of Sonic's more recent console endeavors, the quality may actually have increased. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 improves on the first game in a number of ways. It introduces Sonic's bosom buddy Miles "Tails" Prower, split-screen multiplayer, and Sonic's trademark spin dash. It's definitely one of the best games in the series and worth checking out.
VC Friday: Is it sequel day?
Hope you're in the mood for sequels today, because if you're itching for a new retro title, that's what Nintendo's offering up, at least when it comes to Sega. A couple of today's titles were also released in the U.S. this week, which means you can check out the video wrap-up for a little game footage. Also, for some reason the format of the releases on the Nintendo Europe site seems to have changed, so let us know if these costs are not correct -- we're basing this off past VC pricing. Dragon Spirit -- TurboGrafx -- 600 Wii points Ecco: The Tides of Time -- Sega Mega Drive -- 800 Wii points Golden Axe II -- Sega Mega Drive -- 800 Wii points Sonic the Hedgehog 2 -- Sega Mega Drive -- 800 Wii points
Virtual Console adds Sonic 2, Golden Axe 2 and Lode Runner 1
This Virtual Console Monday highlights not only gaming's underlying obsession with golden objects, but our disgusting habit of putting painful puns in paragraphs where they don't belong. Indeed, golden weapons, golden rings and golden nuggets have combined to provide one Au-some selection of retro titles: Lode Runner (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): The Runner being some sort of crazed kleptomaniac with a shovel, as best we can tell. Grab the gold, avoid the robots and scream in agony as you plummet into your own hole. Again. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii points): A true platforming classic, Sonic 2 takes the 'hog to space and back. Note: Playing this game may cause the Chemical Plant Zone theme to become permanently lodged in your brain. Golden Axe II (Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii points): With names like Ax-Battler, Tyris-Flare and Gilius Thunderhead, is there any question as to why your band of heroes would need to defeat someone called Dark Guld? We think not.
Sonic 2 prototype now playable
Known only as "drx," some mysterious mage has resurrected a Sonic the Hedgehog 2 prototype cart and promptly dumped it (for emulation). It's an early build of Sega's sequel that's more akin to the first game than to the final version of Sonic 2. Can you spot the differences? It's been suggested that this prototype is the same alpha build that was featured in several episodes of Nick Arcade. Another early build, often referred to as Sonic 2 Beta, was stolen from a toy show in New York back in '92. The cart was pirated and sold as a final version in parts of Asia and Brazil, despite only featuring four semi-playable levels.
Sega to demonstrate Blast Processing on GBA
The anthropomorphically inclined folks at Sega sent out a press release over the weekend reminding us of the great things their spiky blue mascot has accomplished in the 15 years since his debut (quite a lot, actually). Though much of the celebratory confetti is being heaped upon Sonic's forthcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 adventure, Sega is also busting out the nostalgia champagne and pouring the original blast processed game into the GBA's tiny frame. It was this bit of news that implanted a rather disturbing image in our minds -- that of Sonic standing on a dimly lit street corner, slowly inhaling the ill effects of a cigarette and inappropriately adjusting a pair of fishnet stockings that, if we're being completely honest, were never a very good fit to begin with. The $20 GBA version of Sonic the Hedgehog will no doubt be quite alluring to avid hedgehog fans, but we're very interested in seeing how many gamers will actually approach the game with a clean slate. Not having played the game in some form by now is quite a feat, one that requires either an uncanny ability to avoid consoles or an untimely death approximately 20 years ago. If you've been keeping track at all, you would realize that Sonic the Hedgehog is already (and officially) playable on the Genesis, Sega Saturn (via Sonic Jam), Playstation 2, Xbox, Gamecube and PC. Within a few months, you can add the Wii and the Xbox 360 to that list. It's only fair that the GBA gets its share of an absolutely fantastic game, but with an excellent string of Sonic Advance titles under its cap and the excellent Sonic Rush available for its dual-screen sibling, it seems like the least necessary piece. Just like Sega's decision to add Sonic's Spin Dash (from Sonic 2) into the game. That one's going to upset a lot of people (see: "Let's give Mega Man 1 his floor slide!"), though at least they can all take comfort in the fact that Sega resisted the urge to give a hedgehog some Magnums, a controllable vehicle and an Urkel-powered in-your-face attitude. Oh, wait. [Thanks to everyone that sent this in.]
Sonic 2 mobile exclusive to Panasonic P902iS, for now
Sonic Team has announced that Sonic 2 will be going mobile as a preinstalled addition to the Panasonic P902iS cell phone. While a standalone release has not yet been confirmed -- judging from the current success of the original Sonic on the mobile platform -- it would seem to be the next logical step. But for the time being, to get your Sonic 2 fix (on a cell phone) you'll have to purchase the Japanese P902iS when it's released.Anyone else suspicious of the link between 'Sonic' and Pana'sonic.' Think Sonic Team's playing favorites?
