Like any other 2D Sonic game, this game does offer a huge amount of fun, with colorful levels and jazzy music. But the last 3 stages are so damn hard you'll just be chucking your Nintendo against the wall in a fit of rage.
There are too many traps and stingers in each level. For a game that sort of promotes itself on being the fastest platformer out there it is quite cruel to send you straight into enemy, losing all your rings and leaving you powerless to do anything about it. The levels do seem a bit expansive as well and lack that tight, punchy feel of the Mega Drive/Genesis games.
In this game you can play as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and a new character called Cream, who is a rabbit. Strangely enough, Sonic is the blandest character of the lot in this game as he has no useful powers. I ended up getting the furthest with Tails since he has the ability to go airbourne. The last boss is simply impossible and the game is not rewarding enough to take all 4 characters this far.
But hey, if you can get it cheap then give it a go. Maybe I'm just really rubbish at it.
Graphics A Sound B Gameplay B+ Lasting Appeal C+