Just like the previous game, after the end of the two acts you are greeted to a fight with Dr. Robotnik and it's up to you to defeat him to move on. If you take the time to strategize his attack patterns, then you'll have an easier time.

Power-ups are scattered about in the levels in the form of computer monitors which you have to jump on to activate. While some monitors just give you rings, others have the infamous Power Shoe that grants you super speed for a limited time, or the Stars that grant you temporary invincibility. There are also ones that were new at the time, each one working as a defense shield, good for one hit. The Flame grants you a fire shield that you can also use in a fireball technique to zoom across, the Bubble which lets you breath underwater and gives the ability of a bounce jump, or the Lightning that causes you to attract nearby rings.

If you're spent on the single player adventure, you can go to a two player game where you and another player can compete head to head in different fields. You can choose from three characters: Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. The first to accomplish the set number of laps wins.