Call it blind nostalgia for the first video game I've ever owned, but I'm going to die on a hill (green) for possibly the largest collection of music to ever be squeezed on a cartridge, CD or hard drive: the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 soundtrack. And, whether it has the same place in your heart or not, I think there's good reason to believe that it's one of the best soundtracks of all time – if not the # 1.
The Sega Mega Drive (or Genesis for you mob) had plenty of things that lent itself to it (who could forget about the blast processing), but that's not the case. is not a system known for high quality sound. When he was stacked against the awesome hardware packed into his SNES rival, and the remarkably realistic symphonic scores that he was able to produce in titles like Final Fantasy VI, the Sega was not quite up to same level.
As versatile as it was, Yamaha's Mega Drive synth chip had its own unique sound that, in good hands, sounded less smothered than SNES, and could bring out brilliant, truly memorable tracks that were engraved in your brain. Like, for example, this collection of simply unbelievable tunes, composed by a return of Masato Nakamura after his success on the original.
He was unfortunately not brought back for the next episode after financial quarrels with Sega, but in my mind they should have coughed, because his influence here is a huge part of what makes Sonic the Hedgehog 2 the highlight of the series for many fans – after all, the group J Pop for which he composes also sold 50 million records. clearly knows a thing or two.
Let's take a dip, are we going?
Title Screen
Flip the switch and here it is: the iconic "Seeeh-gaaaah", in all its crisp and compressed glory. It tickles the nostalgia, certainly, but does not necessarily impose high expectations for your eardrums, about to hear the best collection of video game music ever composed. But then the title screen comes into play and brings you an enhanced version of the classic theme of Sonic the Hedgehog (with added twinkles!) And you know you have something good.
Emerald Hill Zone
From the opening scene, this soundtrack crushes it, and manages to recapture the airy charm of the classic Green Hill Stage from the first game. From these vibrant bass to this change of delicious key, this song has never aged me, even after climbing for the thousandth time on the way to an inevitable death at the hands of the next act.
Boss Fight
Every big boss needs his own great song, and many great fights have been disappointed by sub-par hymns. Not here, though. While Robotnik is on the screen for the first time in front of this industrial and militaristic chant, he feels well threatened, even if he is only riding in a basic kart. As boss fights become more and more intense throughout the game, however, this epic melody still manages to set the tone perfectly.
Chemical Plant Zone
Look, I'll be honest here: this list goes spike early. In fact, this song is pretty much the impetus behind all this article, and arguably one of the best songs to come out of any 16-bit generation. Chemical Plant Zone is a work of art.
Taking advantage of the unique buzz of the Yamaha chip, it's a jazzy, textured jam with serious earworm riffs, maintaining a relentless pace. It is also working to increase the tension significantly, in line with the additional challenge found here compared to the act of opening.
It's as good as this song is also fantastic because this second act was one that made me defeat countless times like a child – and I do not think I'm alone. The turning blocks and the rising waters of Act 2 were the obstacle that for years and years prevented me from progressing, but partly thanks to this song, I was coming back again and even.
Water Zone
remember the moment. Having hit the head against Act 2 of the Chemical Zone for years and years without success, an icy Sunday morning I started the game for a few races, never imagining it would be the the day I finally navigated this winding stairway, sliding platforms and second boss fight, and could actually attend the rest of the game. When the first steps of Aquatic Zone hit my young eardrums, a whole new world opened in front of me.
Music probably represents something very different for most people: sadness. As if the undersea sections of Chemical Plant Zone were not enough, the twangy theme of the Aquatic Zone is still chilling in the backs of many 16-bit players while they contemplate the constant fear of drowning that & # 039; They will face each other for the next few minutes. Apart from that, however, it has a brilliant Mediterranean feel with percussion that you could actually salsa, and would not seem out of place in a Street Fighter scene – it's the top "Genesis".
Drowning
The omnipresent fear of an aquatic death, nothing was more stressful for a young player than to give up the music and be replaced by this horribly urgent chorus , a sort of hyperactive riff on the theme of Jaws that still sends hearts in palpitations to date
Casino Night Zone
Another highlight, the Sinatra-esque tones and the quiet rhythm are perfectly suited to the area at night from the Casino, as we slow down our movement for a moment and take a moment to disturb the slot machines throw the level up and ride the lifts from one floor to the next. The sound of these digital brushes hitting this snare is just a good touch, and all just has an amazing cruise ship swing, offset by sleazy gangster shades in this intro.
Invincibility
Somewhere along the way, you will come across a glittering power-up that not only boosts your speed, but also makes you invincible. Maybe the best effect of all though? Giving you a chance to do an accelerated recovery of the Sonic theme from the title screen, with a little extra flair. This is the equivalent of a cocaine rush, especially when power suddenly disappears and you find yourself again in the tone of Casino Night, deadly once again.
Hill Top Zone
What stands out The soundtrack of Sonic 2 is mostly related to the way it works through a variety of different instruments, all synthesized in a typical way from the Yamaha chip of the Mega Drive. The lamentable harmonicas and twangy banjo of Hill Top Zone are yet another glorious example, and when the level opens with Sonic and Tails standing on a green hill in the clouds and this track resonating in your ears, the game reaches its optimistic sunny environment – very appropriate, considering that the level was originally intended to be a prehistoric take on the game's opening level.
Special Stage
The Horns of the Day racing gave way to a vertiginous jam that was his own reward for finding every hidden entrance to The Special Steps, and his slightly discordant sound really hammered the idea of being out a moment of reality and d & rsquo; To land in a carnival carnival. I never managed to tear all the gems out of these painfully hard challenges, but I kept giving it a crack.
Mystic Cave Zone
From the joyous heights and blue skies of the peaks, to the dark, claustrophobic vines of the underground caves, the circus tones of it first feel a little out of tune with the funds dark. It's the dread that connects all this, the paranoid groans that make you feel like something could leap and catch you at any moment – which, in the Mystic Cave Zone, could certainly the
Continue? Of course, whether it's falling into a bottomless pit, or being crushed by a moving box, you risk losing all your lives eventually – and what a platform game would be complete without a continuous jingle that would make you feel like an awkward loser ,
Oil Ocean Zone
Apparently, some of the tracks of the soundtrack were mixed when it was clear that not all the planned levels would meet the tight deadline, and that's questionable that he could have found his perfect home in the dark of the Mystic Cave Zone. But here it gives the Oil Ocean Zone a typically Eastern (and perhaps stereotypical) touch of the Middle East and, while its meandering melody translates into one of the least memorable tracks in the game, it does not fixed no bar. ] Metropolis Zone
Ok, I'm still not 100% sure why the developers decided that we needed a third act of Metropolis Zone rather than the usual two, but damn it, at least they told us did it by giving us the best tracks of the game. An animated jam-machinic with pistol-like drums and delightful record scratches, the highlight is definitely the electric guitar line that turns into a vertiginous solo . With Chemical Plant Zone, it's another industrial triumph
Game Over
After this breakthrough Sunday morning on Chemical Plant Zone, I managed to cross most of the following levels in the first piece, but it was somewhere among the three – clubs, bites and clutches of annoying stings placed in the Metropolis area, that my dream finally defeated.
While the mocking and slightly mocking sufferings of the Game Over jingle struck me for the hundredth time, it was not sad. I had seen so many new views that morning, and I knew that next time, I would finally be able to get that bastard Robotnik
Super Sonic
For slightly less gamers inept as me, the game on the screen They had gone past, and instead spent more time with the opposite of its dreary tones – the climax of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Rather than running the head the first in a boring enemy and bring their quest to a They stopped, they clung to the seven legendary Emeralds of Chaos and reached the highest of summits: thus becoming the invincible and flamboyant Super Sonic , who also rewarded them with a remixed version of the theme of invincibility that managed to gain momentum
Sky Chase Zone
After the stress of sailing in the Metropolis area, the gentle flight to through the Sky Chase area did a good cleanser for the palate, and its air of th me n & # 39; was no different. Embellished with sequins, the soft warmth of its synth horns was the perfect backdrop for the casual killing of robotic turtles by Sonic and Tails (mounting bigger and flying robotic turtles, that's it). Although the journey only lags a little as you drift slowly through the clouds, this air at least prevents it from escaping seriously.
Wing Fortress Zone
As the sunny horns of the Sky Chase Zone give way to a militaristic army. Dirge, you know one thing: it's war, and shit is about to fall. One of the most perilous challenges of the game, Wing Fortress Zone is well served by this one, which strikes perfectly the narrative tone of Robotni, even if it does not quite fit the pop sensibility really brilliant of some tunes
Death Egg Zone
It only shows his face for a brief moment before Sonic is propelled into a final boss fight glove, but there is a distinct cosmic threat about it this, even if you only hear about four bars of it. We must go fast, after all.
Final Boss
While the sub-boss Mecha Sonic has to be content with the standard theme of the boss, Robotnik marks his own final boss theme to accompany his giant guy. The urgent sirens and machine gun drums serve as a backdrop to this epic final confrontation, with a little Baltic flair, and the air is filled with danger and triumph while Sonic gives ass-shaped blows. Egg – but the best remains to come
Perhaps, just perhaps the absolute highlight of all the game comes once it's beaten, your victory over Robotnik rewarded by this marvelous hymn that plunges and plunges between melancholy and joy, a victorious Sonic falls first on earth, then is swept by Tails in his bimplan repaired hastily.
This is the perfect end of an adventure like this one could have asked for, especially when it is followed by a medley reminding you of each level you just beat in a dough. A glorious cherry on the top.
Options & Stage Select
But wait, there is still a little more depth to this wonderful assortment. While there really was not a lot of settings to play with, even the screen music options takes you on a journey, while the scene selection menu (which requires you to look for) 39; listen to different sound test samples in a particular order to unlock, and remained hidden from me for most of my childhood) reward you for discovering it with a short but triumphant loop version of the final theme
The Two-Player Tracks
first composed for the levels that were eventually removed from the game constraints, this trio ended up getting a second life as music for the two-player levels of the game – and that's just as good. Even though some players may not have played a lot with the odd competitive race mode that was put on at the last minute, I did it.
It was not that I had a group of friends who loved the game as much as I did, though. Rather, it's that, being desperately stuck in the game's second act for years (and not knowing the code chosen), my only chance of getting more Sonic 2 was to play through these levels multiplayer solo.
But if it sounds a little sad, at least I've been rewarded with extra music for my troubles: the slightly dirtier jam of Casino Night version two; underground agitation of the alternative soundtrack of Mystic Cave; and finally Emerald Hill's brilliant seafront jam v2, which would become so inextricably linked to Sonic 2 for me that she supplanted the original version in my brain like Emerald's default music. Hill.
Not bad for a b-pack
Hidden Palace Zone
Finally, there's a track that even a lot of Sonic 2 fans may have never heard, the theme of the Hidden Palace Zone, which was originally the last challenge between a player who had gathered the seven chaos emeralds, and their chance to take Super Sonic for a spin.
His lazy melody is reminiscent of groups of recent loafers like Mac DeMarco who buzzes in the ears and, even though it's not quite the highlight of the awesome compilation we have here, he's going just to show that even the tunes left on the floor of the cutting room were all killer, no filling
So, is the Sonic music The Hedgehog 2 the greatest soundtrack of all time?
It might just be for some of us However, much of what makes this awesome soundtrack is not just in the air themselves, but in their connection to the generation of players who lived them at the time – the repeated chemical plant, the loneliness of two-player sessions, and the wonder of reaching later stages for the first time while leaving an indelible mark on me that transcends a nice combination of synthesized instruments. The millions of players who grabbed the Sonic 2 cartridge in their Mega Drives decades ago might feel the same way.
But by removing the nostalgia for the equation, there is no doubt that it is one of the best examples of the 16 – bit era, and the # It may come from working within the confines of so-called "weak" technology. He raised the bar for the "chiptunes" that are seeing the popularity revive today as people look back to rediscover the sounds that have helped concepts as simple as keeping on a controller keep players enthralled for hours. .
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 stands in my heart and mind as the greatest in all games. Which one is yours?
