Back in May 2017, I uploaded short, to the point videos, on how to speedrun this game to my YouTube channel.

¤Warning¤ Visual cues used are only guaranteed on a 4:3 aspect ratio (aka tablets).

I broke these down by zone usually, but there are some exceptions, as I wanted each video to be under 10 minutes.

The structure of each of these tutorials is: Level done in full speed, then slow motion with pointers on where to jump.

Emerald Hill Zone: As far as I know, this can be done with any combination of characters.

Emerald Hill 1 Notes: A 19 is incredibly difficult and rare. That final jump should be, optimally, on the flat ground before the spring. That jump window is roughly about 2-3 frames (1/30-1/20th of a second). If you want to jump on the up slope, make your jump fairly short.

This strat gives between a 19 and 21, but please shoot for 20. If you get a 22, reset.

Emerald Hill 2 Notes: The two loop jumps at 8 and 9 seconds are to gain speed. The section between 15 and 17 is a perfect scenario. With Tails, it is more common, but with Sonic, usually you will hit the side of the spikes, or the walk slightly further down. If you hit the spikes, just jump. If you hit the wall, charge a four tap dash, then hold right.

This gives between a 34 and a 38, and reset at 39.

Chemical Plant Zone:

Two separate videos: The first has Chemical Plant 1 and Chemical Plant 2 for Sonic alone. The second has Chemical Plant 2 for Tails (including Sonic+Tails) and Knuckles.

Sonic alone: Watch just video 1. With Tails or Tails alone: Watch video 1 until 1:33, then watch video 2 until 2:08 Knuckles: Watch Video 1 until 1:33. then watch video 2 from 2:15 on.

Chemical Plant 1 Notes: This assumes that speed cap is off (if it isn't then the loop jumps in EH2 are pointless).

This gives between 22 and 28, reset at 30 unless Emerald Hill was, in total, 56 or lower, then reset at 32.

Chemical Plant 2 Notes: (I might have more later to say)

Sonic alone will give between 1:05 and 1:10, reset at 1:13

Tails routes will give between 35 and 44 (if alone) or 38 and 47 (Sonic and Tails) In either case, reset at 48

Knuckles will give between a 38 and 48, reset at 51.

Aquatic Ruin Zone:

Aquatic Ruin 1 Notes: At 19 seconds, you cannot jump thru the floor to get to the higher ground.

This gives between 22 and 27. Add five if you fell in the spring pit (27-32). Reset at 30, unless CP2 was within 2 seconds of optimal, then reset at 33.

Aquatic Ruin 2 Notes: (This isn't shown in the video, because I didn't think of it at the time.) Just before the hammer strikes, jump to hit him one last time. This saves 1.5 to 2.25 seconds. (I did this in my IL WR of 41.98) Also, the jump at 10 seconds has about a 1/20th of a second window.

This gives between a 41 and 46. Reset at 52 (really should be 49, but I don't even do that)

Casino Night Zone:

Casino Night 1 Notes: Doing the section between 14-17 seconds is tough. If you are fast enough, you can go under the block. But, if not, you can get crushed. The long fall at 24/25 seconds is tough. Cycles either need to be known in advance, or guessed. Best you could do is 28, but anything between 29-34 is common. Reset at 41.

Casino Night 2 Notes: Bumper section between 30 and 35 is difficult to do fast. There is an 8-0 boss strat for this one, but it is very difficult, and may be impossible. Best strategy is to get 3 or 4 hits from one spindash up the right side of the half pipe, and the rest just done by eye. Strat gives between 1:04 and 1:17, depends on top v. bottom route, the bumper section, and lastly, the boss. If you get 8-0, a 54 is the best you could get. Reset at 1:19

Hill Top Zone:

Hill Top 1 Notes: If you are playing as Tails alone, make sure to fly into the pathway above where Sonic goes at 7-9 seconds. Aside from being unable to zip, this route is typical. Don't worry about the moving lava in the cave section. It gives between 48 (if insanely good), and 1:02 (if bad). Reset at 1:04

Hill Top 2 Notes: If you're using elemental shields, the shield at 19 seconds is a lightning shield. If playing as Sonic, pick this up! Try not to lose it. Use it for the middle section to double jump up to higher platforms. You can also use Tails or Knuckles to fly/climb up. On the topic of using Tails, do the boss skip shown at 6:14. It won't save much time, but it is faster. Strat gives between 56-1:05 as Tails, 59-1:07 as Knuckles or Sonic with the lightning shield, or 1:01-1:09 as Sonic with no shields.

Mystic Cave Zone: (I plan to redo this)

Mystic Cave 1 notes: The pillar at 2-3 seconds in can be dashed under, but the speed/release window is <1/10th of a second. It is suggested that you wait for the pillar as Sonic or Knuckles, and as Tails to go under if feeling lucky. The route at 24-29 seconds should only be used as Tails. As any other character, take the red spring, and jump about half a second later, and run up the curved slope. You should go over the rising pillar, but if not, try again (loses 3.5 seconds) The spikes to do the bridge skip as Sonic, should just be a normal jump on the spikes, and then a full jump off them. Bridge skip cannot be done as Knuckles. Strat yields between 35-41 as Tails, 39-47 as Sonic, and 49-56 as Knuckles.

Mystic Cave 2 notes: This as Sonic or Tails: https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_2/Sonic#Mystic_Cave_2 This as Knuckles: https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_2/Knuckles#Mystic_Cave_2 Note that the boss strat shown only works on 16:9 screens (aka phones and laptops) and not on 4:3. On 4:3, I just wing it. Sorry. Strat gives between 45-53 (on 4:3) and 42-47 (on 16:9)

Oil Ocean Zone:

General Note: Do NOT try to spindash in the oil. It will not work.

Oil Ocean 1 notes: In the oil, the goal is to maintain your speed. The route is the same as in Sonic 2, but enter the last cannon at the end since we can't go thru the fan. Strat gives 36-48, depending on how well you maintain your speed in the oil.

Oil Ocean 2 notes: The one-cycle is HARD. If not gotten, you lose 15 seconds. Boss skip if using Tails. Strat yields 52-56 (Sonic/Knuckles 1-cycle), 1:12-1:20 (Sonic/Knuckles 2 cycle), 46-52 (Tails)

Metropolis Zone:

It's in two parts: one with 1 and 2, and the last with just the third. Since I don't know how to do the bolt sections as Sonic+Tails, you see how I do it solo (slow af)

Metro 1+2:

Metro 3: