It's November 1992 and Sega has unleashed Sonic The Hedgehog unto the world again. Your parents have yelled your name for the second time, but you can't hear them, for the sounds emitting from the Emerald Hill Zone have captivated your ears. Spaghetti night can wait, for no sound of a utensil or food cooking sounds as good as Masato Nakamura's score for Sonic The Hedgehog 2 on the Sega Genesis - a score that had as much speed and attitude as the 'Blue Blur' himself.
Nakamura provided the music for the first two Sonic games, and in 2021 he sat down with Billboard Japan and explained just how simple the sound was. "From a vertical standpoint, only six notes could be played together including the drums, chords, and melody. It wasn’t about chords anymore, it was about expressing the music with just those six notes, so I only used six notes when composing on MIDI," said Nakamura. Those six notes brought in sounds of Funk to the Mystic Cave Zone, the sound of Country Western to Hill Top Zone, and so on and so forth. What puts Nakamura's Sonic 2 soundtrack over his soundtrack for the first game, is the fact he really capitalized on the names of each zone.
When you hear a name like 'Mystic Cave,' it presents a clear idea of what that level should sound like - the name itself lends a lot to the tone of each zone. Going through each different area in Sonic 2 is like going to a different city in America and taking in the music that is part of its lifeblood. You cannot go to New Orleans and not take in the sounds of Jazz trumpets, while hearing a Blues Guitar is comforting and relaxing, but hearing it in Memphis is an out-of-body experience. There's something spiritual about music that creates a special bond.
When it comes to classic sidescrollers, their soundtrack is not just something that creates a bond with you, it helps create a bond between you and the characters, who usually don't speak. It's important that the music on each stage presents an attitude and frisson of excitement. Running the loops while the Aquatic Ruin Zone's theme plays make Sonic feel like a historical hero because it it takes you back to the ancient world. Casino Night Zone makes you feel like a Las Vegas Highroller as you pinball Sonic's body into that brightly colored slot machine.
Every sound that hits your ear makes you feel like a determined winner, even if you died four times in a row because of Robotnik's spiked red bombs. Hearing his iconic theme at the start of each zone battle was an audio checkpoint, it was the 'One more game' of boss battles. You might be tired, or you might have work or school the next day, but once that music hits you are locked in and ready to take him on.
The theme of the Chemical Plant is pure hype fuel (maybe that's what the plant generates?). Its fast past paced melody really defines what that stage is. It's fast and pumps hard like the tubes you transport through, and if you're fast enough the sound of the springs will even sync up with the beat. Sonic The Hedgehog 2's soundtrack is an instant jolt of fast-paced nostalgia, it is the musical version of the DeLorean from "Back To the Future". Hearing it immediately takes you back to your childhood.
The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. had soundtracks that reflected their respective medieval-fantasy and whimsical settings. Sonic, however, needs songs that show off his attitude and match the pace his games are known for. It's why when you get the red boot power-up ,the music speeds up because it and Sonic are one and the same, they are tied together. It is hard to find another mascot with a soundtrack with as much speed and attitude as Sonic's, and Sonic 2 was the pinnacle.