South Island

This page is about South Island as a storyline location. See South Island (Sonic the Fighters) for the stage named after it.

South Island is an island which featured prominently in the early Sonic games, especially in 8-bit outings. It is located somewhere in the Pacific.

South Island first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog for the Mega Drive, and later appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and Sonic Chaos for the Game Gear and Master System. Its next appearance was in Sonic the Fighters, an arcade game. Its newest depiction to date was in Sonic Generations, where a 3D rendition of the Green Hill Zone is the first level.

A map of South Island in Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit).

Game appearances

Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)

In Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic finds that the evil Doctor Robotnik built a base on the island and turned the local residents into robots to aid in his search for the legendary Chaos Emeralds. The heroic hedgehog collects the Emeralds first, stops Eggman and chases him off the island.

Areas

• Green Hill Zone, grassy plains with lakes and waterfalls. This Zone has appeared in several other Sonic games as well.
• Marble Zone, ancient ruins half-sunk in lava.
• Spring Yard Zone, an urban area with pinball bumpers and springs.
• Labyrinth Zone, an underwater maze.
• Star Light Zone, a highway-like city area.
• Scrap Brain Zone, a heavily industrialized area which serves as Robotnik's base.

Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)

Close-up of the island's industrialised summit.

The story in the 8-bit Sonic the Hedgehog is the same as in the 16-bit one, and the games most likely depict the same adventure.

Areas

• Green Hill Zone, sporting the same verdant fields as in its other appearences.
• Bridge Zone, a long bridge over a river.
• Jungle Zone, a rain forest with wild rivers and vines.
• Labyrinth Zone, the same submerged ruins as in the 16-bit game.
• Scrap Brain Zone, the Doctor's industrial stronghold.
• Sky Base Zone, a large, weaponised zeppelin made by Robotnik.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Eggman returns and kidnaps all the inhabitants, along with Miles "Tails" Prower, demanding a ransom of six Chaos Emeralds to return them. Sonic goes out to stop him once again, and succeeds.

Areas

• Underground Zone, a volcanic mountain, once used as a mine.
• Sky High Zone, the top of a mountain that reaches the clouds.
• Aqua Lake Zone, a lake surrounded by fountains and pillars.
• Green Hills Zone, very like the one from the previous games, but with normal trees instead of palm trees.
• Gimmick Mt. Zone, one of Robotnik's metallic bases, apparently set inside a mountain.
• Scrambled Egg Zone, a mountain filled with large pipes, and another of Robotnik's bases.
• Crystal Egg Zone, a transparent crystal base of Robotnik's. Can only be accessed if you have all six Chaos Emeralds.

Sonic Chaos

In Sonic Chaos, Robotnik steals one of the Chaos Emeralds on South Island and as a result, the rest of the Emeralds become unbalanced and cause the island to slowly sink into the ocean. However, Sonic recovers all the Emeralds and saves the island.

Areas

• Turquoise Hill Zone, a grassy hillside area, much like Green Hill Zone.
• Gigalopolis Zone, a sprawling urban area with various passages. The Game Gear version spells it as "Gigapolis Zone".
• Sleeping Egg Zone, a mostly flat region of plains, with Eggman's self-portrait adorning parts of the background.
• Mecha Green Hill Zone, Robotnik's version of the Green Hill Zone, with deathtraps strewn everywhere.
• Aqua Planet Zone, a group of ruins partially submerged in water. Despite the name, there is actually very little water.
• Electric Egg Zone, another of Robotnik's many large bases.

Sonic the Fighters

Main article: South Island (Sonic the Fighters)

In Sonic the Fighters, South Island is one of the battle arenas. It is the very first arena in story mode, and is where the player character faces Knuckles the Echidna. The arena is set on a small island plateau, in an area that looks mostly like the Green Hill Zone.

Sonic Adventure 2

In Sonic Adventure 2 and its GameCube remake, Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, Green Hill Zone was a secret stage that could be unlocked by obtaining all 180 Emblems. On the Stage Select screen, the icon for Green Hill could be found on a secluded island, presumably South Island.