Sonic Roms Guide -- Genesis (Sonic the Hedgehog 2)

Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic Spinball
Sonic CD
Mean Bean Machine
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic & Knuckles
Knuckles' Chaotix
Sonic 3D Blast

Screen Shot Gallery
Reference List

Although this is probably the one game on this site that needs no introduction, I should still mention that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is perhaps the best selling video game of all time, which likely means that it's also the best selling Sonic game of all time. Its success is kind of odd since it didn't really add much to the proven formula of the first game (besides Tails), but most people hail it as their favorite Sonic game anyway (I prefer Sonic 3 & Knuckles, thank you very much).

Rom Variations

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (International) (1992)
There is only one variation of the Sonic 2 rom, although various earlier versions of the game are rumored to exist. This is an international rom, so you can play it in any country mode. It should be noted that running it in Japanese mode will swap "Tails" for "Miles" just like it does when a similar cheat code is activated. I guess this is kind of neat if you need not be reminded that everything is perfect in Sonicland and everyone can afford to have a cute nickname in the face of total annihilation and a potential eternity trapped within an iron shell as a slave programmed to destroy all that was once protected above all else. I hate you all.

Related Roms

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Beta Version) BAD CHECKSUM (1992)
Here we find the now legendary beta version of Sonic 2, of particular interest because it includes several levels that were missing from the retail version including the original Hidden Palace, not to mention several familiar zones being funkified (like Casino Night).

Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (International) (1992/1994)
It may have taken a while for us to figure out how to create a rom of this, but doesn't that make it that much more fun to have? Well, in any case, locking on Sonic 2 to Sonic & Knuckles allows you to play Knuckles through the zones of Sonic 2 with only a few changes in layout and the palette. Pretty cool considering we just got a hundred and thirty four million randomly generated sphere special stages for Sonic 1.

Compilations

Sonic Classics (North America/Europe)
The Classics collection is known as Sonic Compilation in the region of its origin, Europe. It includes Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (I'm telling you, Spinball should be here instead).

Telstar Multicart (Europe) MISSING
Telstar Multicarts meld two perfectly innocent Genesis games onto a single rom for no apparent reason. Hmm...well, this one has Sonic the Hedgehog 2 alongside, ironically, a poor Sonic clone known around these parts as Bubsy the Bobcat. Its full name actually concerns fractured furries or something, but no one cares about that.