It's difficult not to see this game as a downgrade from the Game Gear port of Sonic 1 in every way. All of that game's issues are maintained (with the exception of the game running a little better), but the level design and personality have taken a massive hit. Levels feel designed to punish you with the screen crunch, and force you to replay the game multiple times. Much of this game's level design feels pulled from a precision platformer, but without the tight controls to make it fun. The art, however, is still very nicely done, and having an entirely original set of stages this time around is a welcome addition (even if they are all less interesting than Genesis Sonic 2).