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Sonic 2: Is it possible to get all the Chaos emeralds with a CPU-controlled "Tails?"

Battersea Power Station

Battersea Power Station

Member
I was recently playing through this gem again and was having trouble with the 5th Special Stage.

It didn't seem possible to do it without a 2nd player controlling Miles, so I looked it up on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPDmZaxiVQ4

Apparently, there are different ring thresholds depending on whether you play as just Sonic or Sonic & "Tails." I never knew that!

So do I have to restart my game and play as Sonic only in order to do it? Or is it possible to get all those rings yourself, while "Tails" gets bombed over and over?

Also, I made this rage comic, remembering the first time I went through the game back in 1992.

7Cx3K.jpg
 
Remember, Tails does everything you do, just a split second or so behind. Try and use it to your advantage, and jump a little early when you know obstacles are coming.
 
I soon realised this and have always gone solo since. I'm sure it's possible, but why anyone would do that to themselves I'm not sure.

Getting all seven is hard enough with just Sonic. Worst bonus stages of the trilogy. Sonic 1 had it right. Simple, quick but challenging.
 
i'm convinced that tails takes damage in the bonus stages because it's simply a hold-over from earlier versions of the game. if you play certain early versions of sonic 2, tails takes damage and loses rings in the normal stages as well.
 
_Alkaline_ said:
I soon realised this and have always gone solo since. I'm sure it's possible, but why anyone would do that to themselves I'm not sure.

Getting all seven is hard enough with just Sonic. Worst bonus stages of the trilogy. Sonic 1 had it right. Simple, quick but challenging.
Click to expand...
I've always liked Sonic 2's special stages the best. 1's special stages are boring and 3's are kind of hard on my eyes.
 
_Alkaline_ said:
Sucked then, sucks now. Sonic 3/Knuckles had better bonus stage music.
Click to expand...

I don't know i just found the bonus stages in Sonic 1 and 3 boring as hell (also musicwise). Sonic CD has a cool bonus stage though.

also, tails is an amazing character, i like him better than sonic. Knuckles is fun to play as, but he is not that great of a character imo

edit: and lets just get this out of the way on page one, why not

Best to worst:

Sonic 2
Sonic CD
Sonic 1
Sonic & Knuckles
Sonic 3

(Sonic 3 + Knuckles still ranks below 1)
 
andymcc said:
i'm convinced that tails takes damage in the bonus stages because it's simply a hold-over from earlier versions of the game. if you play certain early versions of sonic 2, tails takes damage and loses rings in the normal stages as well.
Click to expand...

Wow glad they changed that..
 
Requeim said:
I don't know i just found the bonus stages in Sonic 1 and 3 boring as hell (also musicwise). Sonic CD has a cool bonus stage though.

also, tails is an amazing character, i like him better than sonic. Knuckles is fun to play as, but he is not that great of a character imo

edit: and lets just get this out of the way on page one, why not

Best to worst:

Sonic 2
Sonic CD
Sonic 1
Sonic & Knuckles
Sonic 3

(Sonic 3 + Knuckles still ranks below 1)
Click to expand...

Sonic 3's were at least over quickly if you stuffed up, and even if you didn't, they still didn't take long to finish. Sonic 2's go on and on and on and on. The memorization required is pretty freakin insane as well, don't get me wrong I've gotten all seven but fuck me it took way too long to do.

1 had it right. Challenging and a bit frustrating, but it was quick, required precision without ridiculous memorization and it just...worked. They just went overboard from there.

Your rankings, are they about the special stages or the games in general? I love Sonic 2, but it's still overrated. Sonic 3/Knuckles had its flaws but it's still king and can compare to the best platformers of the era due to its sheer variety and clever design.
 
He's not a big handicap. You can jump early, like it's been suggested, or jump late. If I remember right for Sonic 2, if you're jumping when you hit a bomb, you break it, so Tails won't hit it. Honestly, jumping earlier is easier, though.

I really liked the Sonic 2 Special Stage, although I'll freely admit the last part of the 7th is bullshit. :lol Completely contrary to the rest of them.
 
It's not only possible, but usually pretty easy imo.

But these days I always play Sonic 2 with Tails alone though because I think Super Sonic is boring and gamebreaking.
 
_Alkaline_ said:
Your rankings, are they about the special stages or the games in general. Either way I couldn't disagree more. I love Sonic 2, but it's still overrated.
Click to expand...

Games in general. 2 is a masterpiece, one of the greatest games of all time in my opinion. I actually feel that 3 is the wildly overrated one. Sonic & Knuckles is way better, but still nowhere near the older ones.

Amazing music in every single game though :D
 
Sonic 3D totally had the best special stages. Sonic CD had the best special stage music (both American and Japanese versions)
 
The last couple Sonic 2 special stages are way too fucking hardcore for me. Sonic 3 & Knuckles' "Blue spheres" had the right balance of challenge and fun as the levels progressed.

The Sonic 1 emerald mazes were alright, but kinda easy.
 
Requeim said:
Games in general. 2 is a masterpiece, one of the greatest games of all time in my opinion. I actually feel that 3 is the wildly overrated one. Sonic & Knuckles is way better, but still nowhere near the older ones.
Click to expand...

Explain.

Sonic 3/Knuckles may have Sandopolis Act 2, and Marble Garden is a tad meh, but it's still leagues beyond 2.

It's like they forget some of the shit in that game. I mean Metropolis Act 3? What the fuck was that? Yeah, let's chuck in another act even though none of the other zones have three acts, and make it incredibly tedious and frustrating while we're at it. No need for clever enemy placement, let's just piss the player off instead.

Then there's Sky Chase zone. Yawn. Sky Sanctuary >>>> Sky Chase Zone/Wing Fortress.

Oh and the shitacular final boss which is not only without challenge but also without fun. Boring as shit. 3's boss was decidely meh as well but Knuckles made up for that one.

That's not even mentioning all the stuff 3/Knuckles does better. The transitions from level to level was a brilliant addition to the franchise and made the overall experience flow that much better. Elemental shields, whilst underutilised were still a solid addition to the formula. Less frustrating level design that halted the player's progress (looking at you Oil Ocean). More complex design that rewarded experimentation and exploration. And more creative, varied level design overall. One could argue they overdid the gimmicks (the pulleys in Mushroom Hill are the epitome of forced player input) but it's still an improvement over 2.

Don't get me wrong, I still love 2. Chemical Plant is up there with the best in the franchise, amd Mystic Cave isn't far behind. It took the great things about Sonic 1 and gave them more life whilst adding a bit more speed and flair than the original had. It's just as good a game as the original, if not better. But Sonic 3/Knuckles is just that little bit better.
 
I like my mazes easy, Sonic 1 all the way. Yes their is a certain accomplishment from getting super sonic after some hard bonus stages but I remember losing many many days trying for super/hyper sonic for 3/knuckles only to have my buddy tell me you can game genie that shit.

SMH
 
For the record, Sonic Rush has the best Special Stage of all time. It's like Sonic 2 except improved and with a rocking song.
 
Knuckles Chaotix had the best special stages of all time. It's also the only part of that game (besides music/visuals) that is any good.
 
Very possible. Once you understand Tails movement in comparison to Sonic's, I'd argue that it's easier. Just know that tails will move a little later than where you originally moved in the track.
 
AwakenedCloud said:
Very possible. Once you understand Tails movement in comparison to Sonic's, I'd argue that it's easier. Just know that tails will move a little later than where you originally moved in the track.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was about to post. I've done it w/Tails many times. If you are slow to get out of the way of spike balls, Tails will always hit them, so you must get familiar with the game and react quickly.
 
_Alkaline_ said:
long post
Click to expand...

I love metropolis, and Mushroom Hill is actually my favorite zone in 3+K :lol

I don't really think Sonic 3 is that horrible to be honest, but i just prefer 2 by a long shot. You bring up some valid points, and i can at least see why some people would like 3+K better. It's not like the whole Super Mario Brothers 3 vs. Super Mario World thing, where i feel like stabbing myself in the eye every time i hear people state that World is the superior one

oh well, opinions :lol
 
Requeim said:
I don't really think Sonic 3 is that horrible, honestly, but i just prefer 2 by a long shot. You bring up some valid points, and i can at least see why some people would like 3+K better. It's not like the whole Super Mario Brothers 3 vs. Super Mario World thing, where i feel like stabbing myself in the eye every time i hear people state that World is the superior one

oh well, opinions :lol
Click to expand...

Well, at least you're on the right track there. ;) 3 is better than World.

But YI is better than both.
 
_Alkaline_ said:
Well, at least you're on the right track there. 3 is better than World.

But YI is better than both.
Click to expand...

Well i consider 3(nes version of course) and Yoshi's Island totally equal in terms of greatness.
 
Possible (I've done it on a real genny) but so annoying with Tails hitting bombs that it might be a better idea to start over.
 
Requeim said:
Well i consider 3(nes version of course) and Yoshi's Island totally equal in terms of greatness.
Click to expand...

Naturally system limitations have to come into consideration as well, I mean YI did some pretty insane things at the time with Mode 7 and the like. I probably prefer the actual way in which SMB3 works (Mario is best suited to platforming to an end rather than collecting which is a strong focus in YI) but the sheer genius of the coin placement and environment obstacles, as well as gameplay variety that managed to topple even 3, puts it slightly ahead for me.

Of course, this a discussion for another thread or time.
 
APZonerunner said:
Get Blue Spheres for Life
Click to expand...
When I was younger, I played the S&K + Sonic 1 Blue Spheres game until I was at stage 5000-something.

I kept thinking that it would have to end eventually...
 
It is super easy. Tails can only lose rings he himself has collected anyway. If you're doing it right, that number should be very low.
 
I got all of the chaos emeralds with Sonic and Tails but it sure wasn't easy. Also Sonic 3 & Knuckles is the best and stop counting the halves as separate games :P

Silver Sonic with knuckles is just as easy as with Sonic. Robotnik's mech is harder though since Knuckles can just barely jump high enough to hit it when it crouches. Hell, Knuckles has a hard enough time getting up to the Aquatic Ruin Zone boss if he falls down.
 
I used to play this with my brother, and the Tails player had to use a Master System controller because it was the only other controller we owned.

No one wanted to be Tails.
 
I love it how people can research as to how this is done when a 7-year old me found it to be all so easy. :lol

I always enjoyed Sonic 2's bonus stages because they were the most forgiving of the series. Get hit by a bomb? No problem, still room to get more rings. Hit a red orb - well that's another story.
 
IPoopStandingUp said:
Get hit by a bomb? No problem, still room to get more rings. Hit a red orb - well that's another story.
Click to expand...

This just made Sonic 2's levels more frustrating.

Got my rings back after getting hit by bombs? Great! Get hit by bombs at LAST Second? FUCK THIS SHIT *turns off sega, rips out cartridge, throws it on floor, vows never to play special stage again*

I loved both 3 and 2's stages though.
 
IPoopStandingUp said:
I love it how people can research as to how this is done when a 7-year old me found it to be all so easy. :lol

I always enjoyed Sonic 2's bonus stages because they were the most forgiving of the series. Get hit by a bomb? No problem, still room to get more rings. Hit a red orb - well that's another story.
Click to expand...
I really doubt you did it easily at 7. Sonic alone, yeah, although you were probably a bad-ass 7-year-old gamer to find it easy. Sonic and "Tails" with 2-players? Pie. But Sonic and "Tails" as one player is proving a challenge to a 26-year-old, ripened individual such as myself. So if you want me to believe you found it easy as a 7-year-old, you'll have to do it now, record it, include some kind of proof, and upload it to YouTube. Otherwise, I ain't buyin' it.
 
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