Sonic 2 is one of the best games to grace Sega’s classic 16-bit Genesis / Mega Drive gaming machine, so it is no wonder that fans have been wanting to revisit the game. It was back in 2014 when we first covered the Sonic 2 HD project, and it is just recently that a playable demo of the game has been released.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 HD Project – to give it the full title – is a totally unofficial, non-profit, fan remake of the second adventure of everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog. The aim of the project is to bring the game into the modern world using high definition visuals that would not look out of place in any modern game. The development team also plan to capture the same feel of the original while integrating unseen material through the game’s physics and audio. This will result in a re-imagining of the game in high definition graphics, music, and gameplay.

The game keeps the classic 2D platform roots that made it a classic in the first place, and the team are producing a similar shading style to the Japanese original concept artwork. The game will also aim to bring the game’s cast of characters and environments into a world that is not limited by technology restraints.

The playable demo is available as a free download from the Sonic 2 HD website, and will play on Windows PCs, with plans of a Mac port in the future. Be sure to check out the team’s blog page, and facebook page for all the latest developments.

Neil Reive

An avid retrogamer who has worked on various projects, magazines, and fanzines. He started his videogaming journey with the Amstrad CPC464 computer before moving onto a Commodore 64, then the Sega Mega Drive, followed by a multitude of PCs.