Sonic 2
Image: SEGA

For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for good soon and, for one reason or another, these eShop-exclusives are close to our hearts.

Today, Ollie nominates 3D Sonic The Hedgehog 2, because it's a masterful revamp of the classic Genesis / Mega Drive title specifically for the 3DS eShop, and you can never have too many ways to play this one...

So, what's it called again?

3D Sonic The Hedgehog 2.

Who made it?

M2, a Japanese developer (not the Apple chip) known for its work on re-releases and ports, was responsible for the entire 3D Classics line-up. The publisher was, of course, Sega.

What's the premise?

Er, hello? It's Sonic!

Sonic is back in his second major outing against the dastardly Dr. Robotnik. This time, he's got his very own sidekick in tow with Tails, a delightful fox whose dedication to Sonic is simply unmatched.

Much like the first Sonic game, Sonic 2 featured side-scrolling levels, with each area divided into two levels each. You've got a whole bunch of bonus stages, Chaos Emeralds to collect, and more rings than you'd find in a call centre.

Why should I play it?

Sure, there are roughly 30,000 other ways to play this one, but this 3DS-exclusive version is one of the very best. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is simply mandatory if you're even remotely interested in gaming. It's a classic for a reason and remains to this day one of the best entries in Sega's long-running franchise (with the possible exception of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, of course).

While the addition of the 3D effect in some games can be distracting or even nauseating, its use in here does nothing but enhance the experience. What's more, you can change the 3D effect to either 'fall-in' or 'pop-out'. We're personally fans of the former, as it gives the levels a great deal more depth than they've ever had before.

You can also change which region version of the game you want to play and select specific stages if you're not keen on playing the whole thing through. What's not to love?

How much is it?

£4.49 / $5.99 / €4.99. Sales in the US will occasionally knock this one down to $2.99.

We'll be back soon with another 3DS or Wii U eShop recommendation as part of this 'Countdown' series. Let us know below if you've already got this in your collection and share your thoughts. Also, feel free to nominate other games — we just might highlight those in the coming days, too.