so my genesis has a fucked up 2nd player input which always holds right for the 2nd player, i found out if a controller is plugged into the 2nd port itll function just fine, so i need to buy another controller.

the question is, are runs with just the 2nd controller plugged in disqualified? will i need to show the genesis and the controllers in the video for verification? i just wanna know before i blow more money on shit

You'll be fine if the 2nd controller eliminates the inputs. It is pretty obvious to the mods / verifiers when Tails has had controller input Vs what happens without. Your other option is running as sonic on his own, as the 2p controls do nothing.

is there a separate category for sonic only runs? cuz some of the strats require tails to do them optimally

Hey there. There's no separate category for Solo Sonic nor Solo Tails because their runs don't really have much of a difference other than the Metropolis 3 Level Wrap which requires Tails (or in the case of glitchless minor timesaves in Metropolis and a couple other stages). You're still free to run Solo Sonic or Tails though.

Could also just make your own category for it. Probably zero chance it would be added here, but you could always start a google doc leadboard and try to build some interest in it. But like Matsuri said, it's mostly identical to S+T, just slower in some spots.

i might do that in the meantime haha

Did you buy your console from someone named Glenn?