Being one of the most recognizable video game characters ever is a claim to fame only a few over gaming's illustrious history can make, but a certain speedy blue hedgehog has more right than most. Having stared in more titles than most, the Sonic the Hedgehog series truly is a part of video gaming's heritage. Back on Sega's 16-bit console, the Genesis, the series left Nintendo's Mario eating dust on the start line. Now, perhaps the best in the Sonic series is re-released again, with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 hitting XBLA.

The game was a huge success when it was originally released in 1992, continuing the story of the fight against the evil Dr. Robotnik. This time Sonic has help in the form of his three tailed fox friend, aptly named Tails. In the single player, the game allows you take control of Sonic, Tails or play as Sonic accompanied by an AI-controlled Tails. The latter is the default, but many players may choose to leave Tails at home due to his inherent issues. Although the computer AI controls Tails, he is little more than a shadow of Sonic's movement. He is always lagging behind the pace of the super fast Hedgehog and although it has no effect on the player's lives or score, spends a great deal of time dying, only to perish again at the next obstacle.

Those choosing to play as Tails should realize that it's just an added extra, as collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds has no effect, whereas earning them as Sonic grants you the Super Sonic ability. Chaos Emeralds are granted upon completion of special stages, which in this game require the player to collect a set number of rings as you hurtle down a half-pipe alley dodging mines. For those skilled enough to win all of these (which is nearly impossible with Tails tagging along as he constantly hits mines, losing your rings), you'll transform into an invulnerable golden version of Sonic with permanent super speed every time you collect fifty rings. Advantageous as this is midway through the game, it becomes a hindrance in the later levels, where accurate jumping from platform to platform is frequently required. With the speed of Super Sonic, frustration is the only thing you'll achieve in these sections.

Sonic 2 is just as fun now as it was years ago.

Sonic 2 is a considerably more substantial title than its predecessor, with level designs being many times larger and offering more hidden areas to explore. Frequently, you are moved across the level with little control by using pipes or just very fast track sections. It's these moments that allow you to see items and areas that are inaccessible from the beaten path, making you realize just how much there is to explore for the avid adventurer. Although there are only two stages to most of the game zones, several new ones were added here, including the popular Chemical Plant and Alpine Hill zones. With so much more to do, this game is benefited by the implemented save system. It allows you to save at any point during gameplay, even during special stages and boss battles. While it may make it temptingly easy to cruise through the game saving often, many players will need to use frequent saves on the later levels as the difficulty rises sharply after about the fourth zone.

The game also allows players to compete through Xbox Live in one of four versus stages, where the name of the game is speed. This pits Sonic against Tails in a straightforward race to the finish line. However, the sore point here is the lack of any online co-op game mode. Despite the fact that you can try a local co-op game with a friend on one console, there is little hope that player two will be able to keep track of the action. Both players share the same screen, which is always focused on Sonic. As a result, Tails gets left behind and disappears out of view, leaving no means of controlling him or catching up. Offline co-op needs a split screen to be even remotely functional, and it's a big disappointment that no online version was included.

Graphically, the classic Sonic style still looks great today. Every zone has a unique look, and all the little touches that made the Genesis version stand out have survived the leap onto XBLA. The option to turn on graphics smoothing is featured and makes a subtle but definite difference, looking great on a large high definition screen. Whilst the brightly colored levels passing by keeps your eyes fixed to the screen, the soundtrack hums away in the background, again with a fitting theme for each environment. Boss battles are intensified by a dramatic change in the music, all adding beautifully with the overall feel of the game.

Ultimately, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a classic retro title with much more content than the first in the series. It's a shame there's no online co-op element included, but there's still hours of fun to be had here at a very reasonable 400 points. For younger players who've never played a Sonic game, this is a great place to start. For fans of the series from years gone by, the slightly disappointing online options still won't detract from the addictively fun gameplay. With its bright and colorful graphics looking as good today as they did all those years ago, this is a fantastic addition to Sega's XBLA collection.