Magazine Preview Scans
From Sonic Retro
Magazine Previews
Before Sonic 2 went gold, many preview pictures of Sonic 2 appeared in magazines. Here we'll examine some of those pictures and see if there's any discrepancy with the final Sonic 2 or the prototype we have.
Each picture is examined and then declared as mock-up, earlier prototype, or newer prototype. Screenshots that appear to be from the same prototype as the one we have are not listed here because they're not particularly interesting.
Click on a thumbnail for a detail analysis.
| # | Screenshot | Description | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|
| M01 | Magazine Preview #01
|
A Hidden Palace picture that showed up on various magazines. | Mock-up |
| M02 | Magazine Preview #02
|
Another Hidden Palace picture, this time showing Sonic zipping through a green tube. | Newer Prototype |
| M03 | Magazine Preview #03
|
The only picture featuring a desert level in Sonic 2. | Mock-up |
| M04 | Magazine Preview #04
|
An off-centered Sonic in Emerald Hill. | Mock-up |
| M05 | Magazine Preview #05
|
Mystic Cave Zone. | Newer Prototype |
| M06 | Magazine Preview #06
|
Sonic and Tails Spin Dashing up a slope in Casino Night Zone. | Newer Prototype |
| M07 | Magazine Preview #07
|
Sonic and Tails in a later Hidden Palace | Newer Prototype |
| M08 | Magazine Preview #08
|
Prototype title screen right in your Sonic 2 manual. | Beta 4 |
| M09 | Magazine Preview #09
|
Hill Top Zone featuring green balls on the seesaws. | Nick Arcade Prototype |
| M10 | Magazine Preview #10
|
Level select with some zones added and removed. | Beta 4 |
| M11 | Magazine Preview #11
|
Sonic lying down in Wood Zone. | Newer Prototype |
| M12 | Magazine Preview #12
|
Neo Green H-something Zone. | Newer Prototype |
| M13 | Magazine Preview #13
|
A newer Hidden Palace. | Newer Prototype |
| M14 | Magazine Preview #14
|
Two-player split-screen in Emerald Hill. Tails has hybrid icon. | Newer Prototype |
| M15 | Magazine Preview #15
|
Boss landing straight down as Tails flies. From the same prototype as above. | Newer Prototype |
| M16 | Magazine Preview #16
|
Sonic displaying final ledge animation. From the same prototype as above. | Newer Prototype |
| M17 | Magazine Preview #17
|
Sonic displaying final running animation. From the same prototype as above. | Newer Prototype |
| M18 | Magazine Preview #18
|
Newer Aquatic Ruins Zone. | Newer Prototype |
| M19 | Magazine Preview #19
|
Prototype Special Stage. | Newer Prototype |
| M20 | Magazine Preview #20
|
Title screen for the GamePro prototype. | Newer Prototype |
| M21 | Magazine Preview #21
|
2P mode of the GamePro prototype, showing Tails having Sonic's icon. | Newer Prototype |
| M22 | Magazine Preview #22
|
Sonic in a spinning net. | Newer Prototype |
| M23 | Magazine Preview #23
|
Exploding prototype EHZ boss. | Newer Prototype |
| M24 | Magazine Preview #24
|
Final Sonic sprites in the GamePro prototype. | Newer Prototype |
| M25 | Magazine Preview #25
|
Extra score counters and linked ring counts in manual shot. | Newer Prototype |
Putting all the little pieces together, we can construct a timeline showing which prototypes come first.