Recommended Team: Cream (Leader) & Sonic (Partner)
Act 2 is heavily focused on underwater exploration and navigating complex submerged structures. Cream's flight with Cheese is invaluable here, allowing you to move through water much faster than other characters and easily reach air bubbles. Sonic as a partner provides a speed boost for above-water sections or for quickly dashing through enemy groups.
You'll encounter many moving platforms and conveyor belts underwater. Some push you, others pull you. Use Cream's flight to counteract these forces or to quickly traverse them. There are also sections with strong currents that can push you into spikes or enemies; fly against the current or find alternative routes. Look for hidden passages behind breakable walls or floors; Cream's Spin Attack can break these. A 1-Up is often hidden in these secret areas. The act features several vertical shafts that require careful ascent, often with enemies guarding air bubbles. The goal ring is typically found after a final underwater ascent.