GAME POWER!: Sonic the Hedgehog 2

It's high time I kicked this series back into gear, this time with the insanely good Sonic the Hedgehog 2! Released in 1992, Sonic 2 took the series to blazing new speeds, added the first of what would become dozens upon dozens of new friends for Sonic as well as really cement the momentum based gameplay that the series would eventually ditch in favor of mobile-game like endless runner antics.

But enough moping about the current state of Sonic, let's focus on the good times.

Emerald Hill Zone is our first stop in this rip-roaring adventure. Not nearly as iconic as Green Hill zone, but still I feel every bit as fun to run through.

Dr. Robuttnik is back at the end of act two with the Egg Drillster. 

The next stop is the Chemical Plant zone and its cool as heck BGM.

Egg Poison is the machine you'll face at the end of this stage. And if you time your jump just right, you can prop yourself up onto him just as he appears on screen and pretty much take him out before he even has a chance to make a move.

The Aquatic Ruins is next. I remember first discovering you could detach the second swinging platform in act 2. Immediately pretending that it was Sonic's boat. 

Egg Hammer is another one of Robotniks machines that is easily defeated if you time your jump right and get up onto the stone pillar on either side of the area.

Casino Night Zone with Catch Egg, an electrified gatcha attachment for the Eggmobile. This is probably one of the most fun, if not the funniest bosses in 2D Sonic games. The halfpipe that makes up the walls makes for some maneuvering opportunities.

Egg Scorcher MkII is the evil one's machine you'll face at the end of Hill Top Zone; Another easy one to bring down if you can time your jump just right as he is emerging from the magma.

Earning all seven of the Chaos Emeralds grants you the ability to turn into Super Sonic for the first time in the series.

The Mystic Cave pits you against the Egg Digger and its weird hitboxes.

The Eggmarine at the end of Oil Ocean Zone is interesting 'cause what on earth would you need a submarine for diving into oil for?

Metropolis Zone is the only zone in Sonic 2 with three acts. Each one becomes more and more irritating as they go on with some enemies that sport the weirdest hitboxes I've ever encountered outside of a Monster Hunter game.

The Egg Bouncer is the tamest looking of the evil doctors machines in this game, but irritating to fight overall.

Sky Chase and the Wing Fortress that proceeds it is a refreshing change after the long, grueling Metropolis Zone. Soaring through the air, perched atop the Tornado as Tails flies you to Robotnik's fortress in the sky will never not be fun.

The Laser Prison, not Robotnik himself, is the boss you'll face upon reaching the launch pad of the fortress. You can either use the floating platforms or just transform into Super Sonic to attack the machine itself.

Robotnik flees to his space ship. Sonic gives chase and grabs on just in time as it flies into space and docks with the doctor's latest and greatest machine yet: The Death Egg!

Here you'll face the second of a long line of mecha doppelgangers: Mecha-Sonic!

After defeating Mecha, you'll face off with Doctor Robotnik one last time as he attempts to destroy Sonic with the Death Egg Robo!