Sonic youth is an excellent game, perhaps the best Sonic game ever created (it is the same as Sonic the Hedgehog 2, for the Megadrive). 2D platforming at its very best, Sonic Youth also incorporates a second player into the action perfectly - if Tails, player 2, is not controlled for more than about 10 seconds, the computer takes control of it to mimic the movements of Sonic and in some cases some basic AI is used to help to defeat bosses. The bosses in the game are brilliantly designed, each one complementing the 2-part level that comes before it perfectly; for example, Hill Top Zone, which involves a lot of leaping from small platform to small platform, has a boss area where 3 small ledges must be danced around on to avoid flames from Robotnik's latest machine.
To get back on track, 2 player mode with a second player controlling Tails is immensely fun. An unforgettable past time in my life is again and again counting, "1, 2, 3, go!" in a futile attempt to coordinate spin dashes that take you halfway across the level. The only drawback is that due to the game's fast pace, Tails is often left behind and has to wait while the game retrieves him and flies him back onscreen using a respawn function that can throw you right back into the action with Sonic.
As far as movement goes, this game is perfect. Spin dashes, executed by holding down on the D-Pad and tapping the action key, allows for a huge, fast dash across
the level in aid to beat the timer. Jumping operates perfectly, and movement is fast enough to be manic but not so fast it is highly difficult. The only slight flaw is that when starting to run up a hill, movement can be quite slow.
The special stages are fun but, in terms of graphics and difficulty, cringe worthy. If all 8 special stages are completed, Super Sonic (a yellow, invincible, flying Sonic) is unlocked - they roughly double in difficulty every level, and rarely do I get past stage 4 playing casually, and never have I beaten stage 6 even while playing deliberately to get as many tries at the stages as possible. The graphics are also hideous; perhaps a foreshadowing of the dark years of 3D Sonic games to come...
The last level is tremendously hard. Without near-perfect reactions, the only way to beat the penultimate boss is to record its movements on paper (or memory) and die over and over. This is not helped by the lack of any rings in the level. After this, yet another boss is faced; this one will kill you if you touch it anywhere other than its upper front end, which can only be reached in the second or so when it squats after jumping to try and crush you. I have only beaten it twice without using Super Sonic cheats.
Finally, a word on debug mode. I suppose with a lot of time spent on it, it could be great, but the loss of everything you do when you close the game is irritating to say the least; creating a huge platform complex high in the air that takes hours to create is all very well but it'd be nice to save it. The only real use for debug mode is, in fact, to place rings on death egg zone (and the occasional platform to help you through your least favourite level).
