Out of all the Sonic games, Sega would have good reasons for ignoring, why did they choose this one?
As divided as the Sonic fan base may be, there is at least some consensus regarding the reception of the classic titles: The first Sonic the Hedgehog was revolutionary in 1991 but didn't age the greatest, Sonic CD was cool until it hit the mainstream and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 refined gameplay, setting and characters in a way that would shape the franchise for decades to come.
Sequels like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in 1994 would go on to expand the Sonic world, but for those wishing to see new level designs with the elements of Sonic 2, there is actually a game out there... Sega just doesn't want you to play it.
If Sonic 2 Is So Great, Where's Sonic 2 2?
Developed by the short-lived Sega Technical Institute, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is nowadays considered one of the greatest games of all time. Exploring the iconic locations of West Side Island – like Chemical Plant Zone or Casino Night Zone – as the iconic duo of Sonic and Tails marked a milestone in the franchise, which has often been called back to, but never quite... elaborated on.
The duel between Sonic and Dr. Eggman has taken the two across many different locations and ages, but aside from some time travel shenanigans and spin-offs, we've never really seen the level designs, stage gimmicks and enemies from Sonic 2 in newly-combined forms. Except once.
In 1999, it was becoming increasingly clear that SNK's Neo Geo Pocket handheld was losing the battle against Nintendo's Game Boy, which is why the company counted on the star power of Sonic to promote their next attempt, the Neo Geo Pocket Color. Developed in-house with input from high-ranking Sega staff, their title would mark the first release of an original Sonic game on a non-Sega system.
How Do You Make Old Feel New?
1999's Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure is fascinating in its nature as a kind of bridge between the different eras of its franchise. It serves as a semi-sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in its setting and gameplay, uses characters and incredible music from Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, adopts the branding and design of Sonic Adventure and was developed by the team that would later go on to form Dimps, the developers of the Sonic Advance titles.
The game really makes use of the Neo Geo Pocket Color's (fatally expensive) hardware, using stunning color palettes and fluid animations to allow players to speed through levels which are inspired by Sonic 2, but shuffling that game's obstacles and enemies around to create new level designs which elevate the game above being a mere port.
Aside from new bosses and probably the best multiplayer in Sonic platformer history (due to each player having their own screen, allowing Tails to showcase how he's a hero in his own right), the game introduces new collectibles in the form of puzzle pieces and new modes like multiple time trials and ring collecting challenges.
What Does Sega Have To Hide?
All of this sounds really compelling, right? Sonic Pocket Adventure simply presents an innocent little what-if scenario for a Sonic the Hedgehog 3 that stuck closer to its predecessor, really fulfilling the potential of its stage ideas and gimmicks and introducing Knuckles on West Side Island instead of Angel Island.
However, perhaps due to the game's development and publication through SNK, whousually specialize in fighting games, Sega seemingly wants you to forget that the game ever existed. For example, when they released the "Sonic Encyclo-speed-ia", an overview of the entire franchise, in 2021, the book's writer Ian Flynn excluded Pocket Adventure, explaining that the game was not even allowed to be mentioned by name.
The release of the Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection compilation games in 2021 and 2022 would've made for the perfect opportunity to make this Sonic hidden game available to a wider audience, but alas it remains shackled to a console whose sales never exceeded 2 million units.
Who's Keeping It Alive?
But that hasn't stopped the Sonic fan community to care about the game. According to charts on certain slightly shady websites, Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure is easily the most-emulated of the approximately 70 released Neo Geo Pocket Color titles.
And per usual, if Sega doesn't treat a Sonic game with the respect that fans think it would deserve, they take matters into their own hand: 2020s Sonic Pocket Winter is a proof-of-concept mod by user Valleybell that amends the obscure classic with new settings, new moves, new playable characters and much more.
If you'd rather replicate this game's eye-catching looks in more easily-accessible titles, sprite reskins are available for both Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. In any case, if this little history lesson has made you even slightly curious, we can only recommend investing the one or two hours into completing the game as soon the opportunity arises.