FAQ

Got a question for us? Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions below and see if your question can be answered here. If you have a more specific question, feel free to reach us through our Facebook page.

Game Download

Where can I download Sonic 2 HD?

Please visit the Download page of our site.

Which platform is Sonic 2 HD available to play?

Right now Sonic 2 HD is only playable on PC. We have plans to port the game to Mac if possible. Porting to mobile and consoles is not a priority for us at this time.

What are the system requirements for playing Sonic 2 HD?

The recommended system requirements to fully enjoy Sonic 2 HD are as follows:

  • OS Windows 7 Service Pack 1 64bit
  • CPU Intel Core i5 2500
  • GeForce GTX 650 1GB
  • 4GB RAM
  • 400MB of disk space
How do I install Sonic 2 HD?

Once you download the file from one of the mirror links on our download page, extract the zip file and run S2HD.exe. It’s as simple as that!

Is Sonic 2 HD safe to download?

Yes. As some may recall, the 2012 Alpha Release of Sonic 2 HD falsely triggered antivirus software to thinking the download contained a keylogger. For that and many other reasons, this version of Sonic 2 HD is no longer available to download. Since our project reboot in 2014, the game has been rebuilt from the ground up with a new engine, eliminating the chance for the same mistake to occur again.

Project Development

Isn't this project dead?
Nope. 🙂 The project was revived in 2014 and has been in development since.
What is the purpose of this project?

The idea of creating a high definition version of SEGA’s classic Sonic the Hedgehog 2 first appeared on the website Alchemist Defined around 2007. An artist named “Billy” had drawn a detailed piece of artwork depicting Sonic about to fight the final boss in Death Egg Zone. The low resolution sprites were brought to life in this recreation; both the background and the characters had been completely remastered. A number of video game websites quickly discovered the image and shared it with their readers. The question had been posed: “What would Sonic 2 look like in high definition?”

With this idea planted in the community’s mind and “Vincent” stepping forward to take the helm, the Sonic 2 HD project offically began in 2008.

Our goal for the project is to recreate the classic video game by breathing new life into sprites with hand-drawn artwork and animations, updating music with fresh new instruments, and rebuilding the engine with attention to extra details. In short, we are recreating Sonic 2 as though it were made using the technology available to us today. Why? We are a group of dedicated Sonic fans who want to pour our abilities into a passion we’ve all had for over 25 years.

When will new zones be released?

Unfortunately we cannot give a definitive date. We are working to include new zones, however our team works on Sonic 2 HD in our free time, on top of personal life, work and other commitments. Rest assured, we want to release new zones as quickly as possible!

To get the latest on what we’ve been working on, be sure to follow us on our social media channels or view our progress here.

What will Demo 3.0 contain?
If a new release has not been announced, then even we don’t know what it will contain! We hope our future releases include substantial updates, but it’s hard for us to say specifically what they will be. We post updates of what we’re currently working on, which can provide some hints.
When will Sonic 2 HD be complete?

Sonic 2 HD is made in our free time, on top of our lives and ongoing careers. Unless the game hits a different route, we cannot guarantee the project’s next release or any tentative date for the completed game.

Will ___ be included?

Our best answer is… you’ll have to wait and see. Our priority is to recreate the original 1992 release of Sonic 2 in high definition. Anything additional to that (new characters, zones, abilities, multiplayer, etc.) is to be determined and cannot be confirmed until the base game is complete.

Are there easter eggs in the game?

If we told you, that would defeat the purpose of having them, now wouldn’t it? 🙂

What engine is used to build Sonic 2 HD?

It is a custom engine written in C# and uses SDL2/OpenGL for interaction with the operating system and graphics card. The engine also features built-in tools to allow for streamlined development. We call it SonicOrca.

Built from the ground up for Sonic 2 HD, the SonicOrca engine recreates the feel of the original Sonic games and allows for modern features and functionality that were not possible in 1992. Utilizing modern graphics technologies, SonicOrca enables the high resolution visuals and overhauled interfaces seen throughout Sonic 2 HD.

Do you accept donations?

No, we will not accept any donations. Sonic 2 HD is a freeware fan game and an homage to the classic franchise made by us dedicated fans in our free time. To support classic Sonic, buy games like the newly released Sonic Mania or Christian Whitehead’s Sonic CD, now available on all major platforms.

I'm an experienced artist/programmer/musician and I'd love to help develop the game!

Drop us a line! Feel free to send us a sample of your work by emailing us at [email protected] and we will review your stuff. Please note that being accepted will depend on which spots we need to fill at the time.

Troubleshooting

If your PC or Windows operating system met the recommended system requirements and you experience bugs that prevent you from playing the game, please read this section before contacting us to report bugs.

I meet the system requirements but the game doesn't run.

Please make sure you have Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 installed on your system. If you are using Windows 8 or Windows 10 you should not need to worry about this, as they come with it out of the box. If you have Windows 7 and do not have it installed, please follow this link to download and install.

The game is running really slow.

We are working hard to improve performance across a wide variety of systems in the long term.

I found a bug.

Demo 2.0 is still an early build of the game, so there will likely be many bugs that need to be ironed out for future releases. If you find one, be sure to send us a message through our Facebook page along with a screenshot and your system specs so we can work to fix it. We appreciate your help in improving the game!