Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for Nintendo Switch adds new features to the classic game

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is coming to Nintendo Switch next week, courtesy of the Sega Ages series that has been bringing retro Sega Genesis hits to present day since 2017.

Sonic 2, available Feb. 20, will feature characters and gameplay not seen in the 1992 game — most notably, Knuckles the Echidna, whose first appearance came in 1994’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Sega says players will also be able to use the “drop dash” technique that was introduced in 2017’s Sonic Mania; that’s where players can spin-dash in mid-air to boost their speed. It will be interesting to see the feature put to good use by the game’s speedrunning community, among others.

Players can also start up a game as the fully powered Super Sonic, a kind of new-game-plus feature available from the start. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 also supplies a time-trial mode with online leaderboards.

Puyo Puyo 2, Sega Genesis’ landmark puzzle game work, launches for Nintendo Switch alongside Sonic 2 on Feb. 20. Both games are available for $8.