Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Videos
Page
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a 1992 platform game developed by Sega Technical Institute (STI) for the Sega Genesis. Players control Sonic as he attempts to stop Doctor Robotnik from stealing the Chaos Emeralds to power his space station. Like the first Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), players traverse side-scrolling levels at high speeds while collecting rings, defeating enemies, and fighting bosses. Sonic 2 introduces Sonic's sidekick Miles "Tails" Prower and features faster gameplay, larger levels, a multiplayer mode, and special stages featuring pre-rendered 3D graphics.
US cover art by Greg Martin
Sonic 2 designer Hirokazu Yasuhara in 2018
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was released for the Sega Genesis (pictured) in November 1992, accompanied by a $10 million marketing campaign.
The Video Game History Foundation founder Frank Cifaldi (pictured in 2023) credited Sonic 2 researchers with shaping how video game history is studied.
Sega Technical Institute
Videos
Page
Sega Technical Institute (STI) was an American video game developer owned by Sega. Founded by the Atari veteran Mark Cerny in 1990, STI sought to combine elite Japanese developers, including the Sonic Team programmer Yuji Naka and his team, with new American talent. STI developed games for Sega Genesis, including several Sonic the Hedgehog games, before it was closed at the end of 1996.
Sega Technical Institute
Mark Cerny, founder of Sega Technical Institute
The Sonic & Knuckles cartridge features a "lock-on" adapter that allows it to be physically attached to other Genesis cartridges.
Retrospectively, STI's games have been considered important to the Sega Genesis.