Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (beta 6)

Fast Facts on Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Publisher: Sega Developer: Sonic Team, Sega Technical Institute System(s): Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Genre: 2D Platform

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Beta 6 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis was released by drx during the February 23rd, 2008 proto release. It is also known as S2BETA6. There seem to be two versions of Beta 6; but aside from a couple bytes in the header they're identical, byte-for-byte.

DOWNLOAD
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (beta 6) is available here (730KB).

General Differences

Level Select code: , , , , , , highlight 1 player, then press + .
Debug code: , , , , , , , , , , , , highlight 1 player, then press + .
Level select is still similar to that of Sonic 1 in this build. The level select menu appears behind Sonic and Tails, and Sonic is all black. This is because, as JoseTB explained, "the first line [of the title screen palette] was the background in previous builds, but it's used by sonic in the new title screen. Of course, the level select pallet remained untouched with the change."

Appears to be the first prototype with the options selection.
"Sonic and "Tails" in" (or "Sonic and Miles," depending on region)
The special stages remain the same, except with a palette change.
As in and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (beta 4) and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (beta 5), the player can run right past Robotnik in Death Egg.
The final boss only takes one hit, most likely to facilitate testing of the newly-programmed full ending. In previous builds, Sonic and Tails just fly off to the right.
Super Sonic's ending is not implemented, Sonic's regular ending is used instead.
Tails' ending is not implemented; he uses Sonic's.

The "You got a Chaos Emerald!" screen is glitchy.
The collision detection in Emerald Hill Zone is a bit wonky in some places.
If you complete Wing Fortress Zone as Super Sonic, you'll end up jumping over Tails' plane, and fall to your death.