Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-27168366-20160109214941/@comment-679780-20160110003418

In my own headcanon (IE not actual canon, just a fan theory of mine which I believe in ) The 8-bit version of Sonic 2 is either a mid-qual or prequal to 16-bit Sonic 2 which more accurately tells how Sonic first met Tails.

Of course manuals, both Japanese and Western, state differently, but how can Tails send that letter to Sonic saying of hid kidnapping if the intro-cutscene of Sonic 2 shows the kidnapping taking place? Plus Green HIlls Zone looks a lot like Emerald Hill Zone so the entire adventure could still take place on another part of West Side Island.

After the events of 8-Bit Sonic 2 the events of 16-bit Sonic 2 happens straight afterwards.

Of course, this is just a fan theory of mine.