Due to our recent technical difficulties, we only have 75 percent of our images and files working. The Sonic Retro staff is working as fast as they can to restore these documents. Please do not report broken links at this time.
S2Beta: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 | 
| A Hidden Palace picture that showed up on various magazines. | Mock-up |
| M02 | 
| Another Hidden Palace picture, this time showing Sonic zipping through a green tube. | Newer Prototype |
| M03 | 
| The only picture featuring a desert level in Sonic 2. | Mock-up |
| M04 | 
| An off-centered Sonic in Emerald Hill. | Mock-up |
| M05 | 
| Mystic Cave Zone. | Newer Prototype |
| M06 | 
| Sonic and Tails Spin Dashing up a slope in Casino Night Zone. | Newer Prototype |
| M07 | 
| Sonic and Tails in a later Hidden Palace | Newer Prototype |
| M08 | 
| Prototype title screen right in your Sonic 2 manual. | Beta 4 |
| M09 | 
| Hill Top Zone featuring green balls on the seesaws. | Nick Arcade Prototype |
| M10 | 
| Level select with some zones added and removed. | Beta 4 |
| M11 | 
| Sonic lying down in Wood Zone. | Newer Prototype |
| M12 | 
| Neo Green H-something Zone. | Newer Prototype |
| M13 | 
| A newer Hidden Palace. | Newer Prototype |
| M14 | 
| Two-player split-screen in Emerald Hill. Tails has hybrid icon. | Newer Prototype |
| M15 | 
| Boss landing straight down as Tails flies. From the same prototype as above. | Newer Prototype |
| M16 | 
| Sonic displaying final ledge animation. From the same prototype as above. | Newer Prototype |
| M17 | 
| Sonic displaying final running animation. From the same prototype as above. | Newer Prototype |
| M18 | 
| Newer Aquatic Ruins Zone. | Newer Prototype |
| M19 | 
| Prototype Special Stage. | Newer Prototype |
| M20 | 
| Title screen for the GamePro prototype. | Newer Prototype |
| M21 | 
| 2P mode of the GamePro prototype, showing Tails having Sonic's icon. | Newer Prototype |
| M22 | 
| Sonic in a spinning net. | Newer Prototype |
| M23 | 
| Exploding prototype EHZ boss. | Newer Prototype |
| M24 | 
| Final Sonic sprites in the GamePro prototype. | Newer Prototype |
| M25 | 
| 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.
