Marathonned the whole Sonic series in a year for the 30th anniversary.
I used to absolutely hate this game, but the main reasons that make the mobile remake of this game so much superior to the Genesis one are (again) the 16:9 resolution and the fully 3D-rendered Special Stages. Although technically very impressive for 1992, the pseudo-3D Special Stages of the Genesis version had really bad depth perception and collision issues that made getting Chaos Emeralds for bonus points and, of course, the eventual Super Sonic reward cumbersome and annoying. With proper 3D rendering, the Special Stages are easier to complete and totally reactable, rather than necessary to memorize that a bomb on an upward ramp is going to appear in front of you because the Genesis couldn't render it before it was really close.
Stages are a (subjective) improvement from Sonic 1. There is a much heavier emphasis on parts of levels that exist solely for spectacle and making you feel fast. The point of Sonic 1 wasn't to be going fast at all times, it was to be good enough that you COULD go fast. Sonic 2, however, makes sure that all players regardless of skill level get to have fun with speed through the addition of the Spin Dash and Dash Panels. The core design philosophy behind Sonic 1 is still present in Sonic 2, but made a little easier so it ends up being less frustrating for the average player. Stages like Aquatic Ruin have an entire span of level located at the top devoted to skipping all the platforming in the water if you can maintain your speed and platform precisely. Pairing Sonic with Tails allows you to jump into Tails' arms like in Sonic 3 to fly up through parts of level you normally wouldn't be able to in the Genesis version, since the player-controlled Tails originally couldn't fly. There's a lot of opportunity for skill expression in Sonic 2, moreso than Sonic 1, and that's awesome.
There's a lot of really cool ideas, like all the cut Zones and unimplemented phases of the Mecha Sonic boss fight, that unfortunately never had the time to be finished in time for the original game's release. The mobile remake only adds in Hidden Palace Zone (two versions, in fact. One that is 1:1 the same as what is present in the Simon Wai leaked Genesis prototype, and one that is more of an original layout designed by the remake's team of developers), but I think adding in any more to this remake would've made this practically a completely new game. I'd love to see a reimagining of Sonic 2 that has stuff like Wood Zone, Cyber City Zone, a full Death Egg Zone level and the unused phases of the Mecha Sonic fight fully incorporated. But as it is, this is the definitive way to play this game.
I used to absolutely hate this game, but the main reasons that make the mobile remake of this game so much superior to the Genesis one are (again) the 16:9 resolution and the fully 3D-rendered Special Stages. Although technically very impressive for 1992, the pseudo-3D Special Stages of the Genesis version had really bad depth perception and collision issues that made getting Chaos Emeralds for bonus points and, of course, the eventual Super Sonic reward cumbersome and annoying. With proper 3D rendering, the Special Stages are easier to complete and totally reactable, rather than necessary to memorize that a bomb on an upward ramp is going to appear in front of you because the Genesis couldn't render it before it was really close.
Stages are a (subjective) improvement from Sonic 1. There is a much heavier emphasis on parts of levels that exist solely for spectacle and making you feel fast. The point of Sonic 1 wasn't to be going fast at all times, it was to be good enough that you COULD go fast. Sonic 2, however, makes sure that all players regardless of skill level get to have fun with speed through the addition of the Spin Dash and Dash Panels. The core design philosophy behind Sonic 1 is still present in Sonic 2, but made a little easier so it ends up being less frustrating for the average player. Stages like Aquatic Ruin have an entire span of level located at the top devoted to skipping all the platforming in the water if you can maintain your speed and platform precisely. Pairing Sonic with Tails allows you to jump into Tails' arms like in Sonic 3 to fly up through parts of level you normally wouldn't be able to in the Genesis version, since the player-controlled Tails originally couldn't fly. There's a lot of opportunity for skill expression in Sonic 2, moreso than Sonic 1, and that's awesome.
There's a lot of really cool ideas, like all the cut Zones and unimplemented phases of the Mecha Sonic boss fight, that unfortunately never had the time to be finished in time for the original game's release. The mobile remake only adds in Hidden Palace Zone (two versions, in fact. One that is 1:1 the same as what is present in the Simon Wai leaked Genesis prototype, and one that is more of an original layout designed by the remake's team of developers), but I think adding in any more to this remake would've made this practically a completely new game. I'd love to see a reimagining of Sonic 2 that has stuff like Wood Zone, Cyber City Zone, a full Death Egg Zone level and the unused phases of the Mecha Sonic fight fully incorporated. But as it is, this is the definitive way to play this game.