Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)/Development
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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 had gone through several changes over its development process. There are several rejected ideas, level designs, and other things that were left on the cutting room floor. The following details several of these things.
Contents
Prototype screenshots
AutoDemo screenshots
These screenshots are consistent with the content seen in the Sonic 2 AutoDemo, and were most likely captured from that release.
Under Ground Zone
Sky High Zone
Prototype screenshots show Sky High and Green Hills using some very basic checkered floors, similar to Sonic 1.
Aqua Lake Zone
Checkerboard floor and different palette for being underwater within the 2nd act. Found on the outside of a US Sonic 2 Game Gear bundle box.[1]
Green Hills Zone
This image is thought to be a mockup, as far too many sprites are being rendered at once, for the hardware, the boss (and Robotnik) do not appear in this zone and there are a great deal more rings (in addition to the differing HUD, with the timer staying the same when compared to the possible mockup of Under Ground Zone, mentioned earlier).
Miscellaneous
Video footage
Sega Shinsaku Soft Video Vol. 23
Footage of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was featured in the 23rd volume of the Sega Shinsaku Soft Video VHS series. The build shown in the video is of a later build than the AutoDemo prototype, though is still very early in development, showing footage of Under Ground Zone, Sky High Zone and Aqua Lake Zone.
Under Ground Zone is shown to be the most complete of the Zones in the build, with Badniks, lava pits, jumping fireballs and the minecarts all functional. The footage shows Act 2 with some layout differences, such as having more Rings in the lower route beneath the starting point. Whenever Sonic took damage in this build, his animation would use the death/drowning sprites.
Title cards have been implemented, though Sky High Zone is displayed as "Sky Hi Zone". Sky High in this build is shown to have the same early tileset as seen in the AutoDemo, albeit with a rotating palette having mistakenly been used for the springs and bridges. The level design for Act 1 is shown to have been updated from the AutoDemo, but is still very different from the final game, and features rolling boulders as a hazard that would become unused in the final game. A "?" Monitor, which would also go unused, is shown, however it does nothing. The Bonus Panel has been implemented and is shown at the end of the Act, but uses early sprites.
Finally, Aqua Lake Zone Act 1 is shown with an early layout and a very early tileset. While it features the fountains and background pillars that would be in the final tileset, its foreground is copied from Green Hills Zone's early tileset, and various other early graphics can be seen. Water is present in the Zone, but has no effect on Sonic's movement. Sonic is also shown breaking 1UP and Power Sneakers monitors in this Zone, though both monitors make Invincibility stars appear that don't protect him from damage.
References
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