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What do you get if you give a lowly, common or garden hedgehog an attitude? Sonic the Hedgehog, of course! No-one quite knew what to expect of this character when he first raced onto the scene a little over a year ago, but he took the gaming world by storm! Well now he's back - older, cleverer and faster than ever before, and this time he's brought along his young friend Miles Prower [Miles per hour - geddit? I didn't! - Jaz], aka Tails the Fox.

After bouncing the balding Dr. Robotnik off the face of South Island, Sonic's home, our speedy chum had been enjoying a time of peace and tranquility. Duckin' an' a divin'. Wheelin an a dealin'. Havin'-a-dip-in-the-sea-an'-a-drinking-lemonade-in-the-midday-sun. Until the crazed Robotnik decided that it was a good time for a comeback that is. Just as Sonic and Miles were enjoying a game of beach ball, the egg-like one descended upon the sand and stole poor Tails away with Sonic in hot pursuit. It is here where we join them in this second, speed of light adventure on the Master System.

1991 saw the debut of Sega's hottest property, Sonic the Hedgehog, when he was released to wide critical acclaim.

Perhaps some of you have heard rumours about a new character in Sonic II nicknamed Two Tails? He is, in fact, called Miles and has unfortunately been nabbed by the dastardly Dr Robotnik. This is a crying shame because Miles is Sonic's best friend and if there's one thing to get Sonic all mad it's the nabbing of his best friend called Miles. This means that Miles is conspicuous by his absence throughout the game, unlike the Megadrive version where the aspiring little chap joins Sonic to help him out. No matter, Sonic has plenty to occupy his mind.

In Sonic's first outing on the Megadrive, he was required to collect six precious gems known as Chaos Emeralds, but he could only obtain these by entering special zones that were reached upon collecting more than fifty rings per stage. The special zones, strange, rotating psychedelic affairs, have been replaced in Sonic II by high speed races between Sonic and Miles down brightly coloured chutes. They are entered if Sonic has fifty rings in his possession when he touches a Star Post. Here Sonic aims to collect enough rings to pass three checkpoints, avoid bombs and eventually earn the Chaos Emerald that awaits at the end of the passage.

In some instances Sonic can manage well enough without this piece of kit. However, there are occasions where flying is necessary to complete the level or else fall foul to some uninviting rough terrain. The best results are achieved when Sonic (II) takes a huge run up to gather speed and then the sky's his limit.

You may not know this but blue hedgehogs aren't very good swimmers, and Sonic is probably the worst of them all. In fact, he's so bad that the only way he can negotiate any stretches of water at all is to hitch a lift inside a bubble. Great care is taken here though, since crashing into walls bursts his hopes of a future on dry land, as do spikes (though strangely not his own) and any undersea wandering creature that happens along.

In some places the rails have given way altogether and Sonic needs to spin-jump his spiky bod across the gaps and, hopefully, land in another across the way. Gumph!

Stunning! Sonic II is all that Master System players could hope for and more! It looks superb, with great backgrounds and brilliant sprites that wouldn't look amiss on the Megadrive. But, better still is the gameplay! Slick, fast, challenging, varied, fun, addictive... this is truly a game that you just can't put down.

This is definitely one of the greatest Master System games of all time, and you'd be the saddest person alive if you missed it!

First, let me tell you that Sonic II received a lot of admiring glances from people in the games room when it arrived. Then I told them that it was the Master System version that I was playing and watched as their jaws hit the carpet.

Different modes of transport are available to Sonic, which spice things up no end, injecting new life into Sonic's already impressive repertoire. It's also refreshing to find that the end-of-level-bosses are a variety of giant robotic animals instead of Dr. Robotnik every time - the performing seal is hilarious. I was disappointed to find that the special zones have been excluded this time around but then who needs 'em when the quality of the game is so good anyway?

Presentation 87%
P. An amusingly animated introduction screen, along with bold cartoon-like intermission screens.

Sound 79%
P. Frantic tunes do much to help Sonic's furious image. The sound effects are good too, especially the jingle of the rings.

Playability 96%
P. The gameplay is virtually faultless, with a very smooth and responsive control method that's a definite winner.

Lastability 89%
P. With seven levels of increasing difficulty to master, Sonic looks so good that you'll be going back to it time and time again.

Overall 95%
Sonic I is one of the best games on the Master System. Sonic II is even better. Don't miss it.