Don't be fooled by the name,
Sonic Advance 2 is classic Sonic gaming on a handheld. You'll quickly recognize some of the characters available in this iteration, with both Tails and Knuckles making playable appearances. Two other characters are available, giving the playing experience a different edge with each person you use.
Dr. Robotnik is back as well, causing as much trouble as ever. At first, all you can play as is Sonic the Hedgehog, but defeating certain bosses will unlock most of his friends. 8 levels of supersonic goodness are available, each with its own (extremely) unique appearance. The Music Plant Zone in particular is very different, as almost everything you touch will produce a different note.
Special stages at the end of each Zone are available, but you have to find 7 Special Rings through both acts of the Zone, some of which can only be found by certain characters. Also, beating the game with each character will unlock certain features, most notably of which is the Tiny Chao Garden, where you can raise cute, tiny Chao and play mini games with them.
A Multiplayer mode is also available, though you have to have a link cable. Players can either race to the finish of an Act, or they can compete against each other to see who can collect the most rings in an allotted amount of time.
