Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit Version) was released for the SEGA Master System and SEGA Game Gear in October, 1992; a month before the 16-bit version for the SEGA Genesis was released. It's soundtrack is composed by both Naofumi Hataya and Masafumi Ogata. It's interesting because prior to this, I had no idea that there was a 8-bit version of Sonic 1 or 2 for the Master System. Then I noticed it was released for the Game Gear as well. I started watching some gameplay videos online and something clicked... I remembered this game. It must have been around the time Sonic 2 was released, 1992-93 but I had completely forgotten that I had this game at one point. I watched somebody play through the game online and every level and boss came flooding back to me. To be honest, I'm sure there are plenty of games from years ago I played as a kid that I've forgotten about, but It's just weird how just how the mind works; by seeing a little bit of gameplay, those memories from decades ago came rushing back.
Anyway, to the soundtrack!
The music for both the Master System and the Game Gear are virtually identical, with the exception of a handful of tracks that are exclusive to each platform—such as a different Boss Theme, Ending Theme, Power Sneakers Music and an Unused Track for the Master System. So, what I did is blend both versions, that way there won't be two separate soundtracks that very closely resemble each other.
The "Bad Ending(Game Gear)" is the same track as both endings for the Master System but the Game Gear version is 2:20 mins long and the Master System version is 2:05. I only included the Game Gear version to avoid duplicate tracks. Oddly, the Master System version does contain the other Ending track from the Game Gear version in the ROM but it isn't ever used for either ending scene. I also placed the short jingles(Act Complete, Game Over, ect.) at the end of the soundtrack.
