Can a cartoon hedgehog be a counter-cultural gaming icon? In 1991, that’s what Sonic was. He was all attitude, bright-blue spikes and crossed arms, one sneaker-clad foot tapping impatiently on the ground.
It wasn’t just about style. Sonic felt different too. Sonic moved like a comet, blazing through a landscape of sheer drops and long, looping highways.
Three decades on, and Sonic has morphed from smirking 2D sprite into a truly three-dimensional star. There are countless games – and a film – for fans to enjoy. But if you’re looking to experience some of that true ’90s spirit, the best example might just be Sonic Dash 2.
The transition to iPhone and iPad means the perspective is different – viewed from behind our hero – and the gameplay is tighter, with Sonic running automatically.
This leaves you free to focus on the thing this series has always been about: momentum. Duck and roll. Dodge hazards. Time your jumps just right. Grab some coins and enjoy that deliciously crisp sound effect. Whatever you do, don’t stop.
Of course, more than 30 years of gaming evolution is bound to change things, and you can feel that history keenly in the roster of characters. Sonic now has a whole crew along for the ride, each with their own style and special powers.
But even with all these extra folks involved, Sonic Dash 2 still feels like Sonic in his purest form – barrelling limitlessly down the open road, an unstoppable force of chaotic joy.