Sonic Drift 2

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Sonic Drift 2
SD2 cover art.jpg
Developer(s) Sega
Publisher(s) Sega
Director(s) Katsuhiro Hasegawa
Composer(s)
Series Sonic the Hedgehog
Platform(s) Game Gear
Release
Genre(s) Kart racing
Mode(s) Single-player

Sonic Drift 2, [lower-alpha 1] released in Europe as Sonic Drift Racing, is a kart racing video game by Sega for the Game Gear. The sequel to Sonic Drift , it was released in Japan and Europe in April 1995 and in North America in November 1995. It added three characters: Knuckles, Fang the Sniper, and Metal Sonic, and marked the first time the last two were playable characters. Sonic Drift 2 was later released worldwide as part of Sonic Adventure DX in 2003 and the compilation game Sonic Gems Collection in 2005. It was released again in 2023 as part of Sonic Origins Plus.

Contents

Gameplay

The player as Metal Sonic in a race with Knuckles the Echidna, Fang the Sniper, and Dr. Eggman. Sonic Drift 2 Gameplay.png
The player as Metal Sonic in a race with Knuckles the Echidna, Fang the Sniper, and Dr. Eggman.

Similar to Sonic Drift , Sonic Drift 2 is a kart racing game. Players drive into the direction of the screen and around corners, including by drifting. They can also drive into video monitors on the track to pick up various power-ups, such as mines that can be used as a weapon, and a star that freezes all opponents. Rings on the track can be collected to use special abilities unique to each character. [4] Alongside Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Dr. Eggman returning from the first game, there are three additional playable characters: Metal Sonic, Fang, and Knuckles. [4] [5]

Tracks in the game are based on locations from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic 3 , as well as original to the game. Some tracks are circuits, while others are linear point-to-point courses. Various road hazards are present and create further obstacles for players to avoid. [4]

There are three gameplay modes. In the Chaos GP mode, players are awarded with Chaos Emeralds should they come in first place in a race. Free Run mode allows for players to test drive on the game's tracks alone, and Versus mode allows for competitive multiplayer, [4] which requires two consoles and a link cable. [6]

Reception

Like its predecessor, Sonic Drift 2 was met with mixed to negative reviews from critics. On release, Famicom Tsūshin scored the game a 19 out of 40. [7] GamePro 's Sir Garnabus commented that, "Hairpin turns, bombs in the road, and competitors who never give up make Sonic Drift 2 Game Gear racing at its best." He also praised the detailed graphics, controls, and the use of a different musical piece for each track. [8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: ソニックドリフト2(ツー), Hepburn: Sonikku Dorifuto Tsū

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References

  1. ↑ "[セガハード大百科] ゲームギア対応ソフトウェア（セガ発売）" (in Japanese). Sega. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved 2015-06-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ↑ "Game Gear Shock". Sega Saturn Magazine (in Japanese). March 3, 1995. p. 127.
  3. ↑ "File:CVG UK 161.pdf" (PDF). Sega Retro. 2023-12-09. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Chungus, Apollo (March 12, 2019). "Sonic Drift 2". Hardcore Gaming 101 . Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  5. ↑ "ソニックドリフト2" (in Japanese). Sega . Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  6. ↑ Merrett, Steve; Swan, Gus (April 1995). "Sonic Drift 2". Mean Machines Sega . No. 30. pp. 74–75.
  7. ↑ "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ソニックドリフト2". Weekly Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). No. 327. March 24, 1995. p. 41.
  8. ↑ "ProReview: Sonic Drift 2". GamePro . No. 89. IDG. February 1996. p.  80.
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