Difference between revisions of "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)/Development"
From Sonic Retro
m (→Hidden Palace Zone Zone: extra Image:) |
(→Early Game Design) |
||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
<gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | <gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | ||
Image:mag_compare8a.png|Title screen found in manual. | Image:mag_compare8a.png|Title screen found in manual. | ||
| + | Image:mag gamepro 2.jpg|Same Title screen in color. | ||
Image:mag_compare10a.jpg|Different level select screen. | Image:mag_compare10a.jpg|Different level select screen. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 28: | Line 29: | ||
===Emerald Hill Zone=== | ===Emerald Hill Zone=== | ||
<gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | <gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | ||
| − | Image:mag_compare4a.jpg|Mockup with Sonic off-center. | + | Image:mag_compare4a.jpg|Mockup with Sonic off-center. Note the [[Green Hill Zone]] clouds in the background. |
| + | Image:mag_compare14a.jpg|Tails lives counter says Sonic. | ||
| + | Image:mag_compare21a.jpg|Tails lives counter says Sonic still. | ||
| + | Image:mag_compare15a.jpg|Eggman flying straight down. | ||
| + | Image:mag_compare25a.gif|Score counter in 2p mode. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
===Chemical Plant Zone=== | ===Chemical Plant Zone=== | ||
<gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | <gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | ||
| − | | | + | Image:mag_compare16a.jpg|Same as final. |
| + | Image:mag_compare17a.jpg|Same as final. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
===Aquatic Ruin Zone=== | ===Aquatic Ruin Zone=== | ||
<gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | <gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | ||
| − | | | + | Image:mag_compare12a.jpg|Title card is messed up, also reads "Neo Green Hill Zone". |
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
===Casino Night Zone=== | ===Casino Night Zone=== | ||
<gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | <gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | ||
| − | Image:mag_compare6a.jpg|Early level design. | + | Image:mag_compare6a.jpg|Early level design and graphics. |
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 54: | Line 60: | ||
<gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | <gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | ||
Image:mag gamepro 3.jpg|Level referred to as Dust Hill Zone. | Image:mag gamepro 3.jpg|Level referred to as Dust Hill Zone. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
===Hidden Palace Zone Zone=== | ===Hidden Palace Zone Zone=== | ||
<gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | <gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | ||
| − | Image:mag_compare1a.jpg|Mockup screenshot of Hidden Palace Zone. | + | Image:mag_compare1a.jpg|Mockup screenshot of Hidden Palace Zone. Sonic is off center and there is a strange background. |
| − | Image:mag_compare2a.jpg| | + | Image:mag_compare2a.jpg|Shield glows through tube. |
| − | Image:mag_compare7a.gif| | + | Image:Image:mag_compare7a.gif|Green object above lives icon. |
| + | Image:Image:mag_compare13a.jpg|Similar to final. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
===Wood Zone=== | ===Wood Zone=== | ||
<gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | <gallery widths="140px" heights="140px" perrow="4"> | ||
| − | + | Image:mag_compare11a.jpg|Sonic laying down. | |
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Revision as of 21:28, 17 August 2008
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has gone through several changes over its development process. There are several rejected ideas, levels, and other things that were left on the cutting room floor. The following details several of these things.
Time Travel
The concept of Time Travel in Sonic 2 was referred to in early concept art, as well as several gaming magazines including a July 1992 EGM article. Only past and present timezones are referred to in the concept art, so it may not have had as many alternate time zones as Sonic the Hedgehog CD. It isn't known at what point the time travel concept was dropped, but the 1992 EGM article refers to the game as being 40% complete whilst mentioning time travel being associated with the game. The concept art refers to the scrapped level Rock Zone as being the past version of the scrapped Desert Zone.
Allusions to Time Travel in the Simon Wai prototype
Although time travel is not present whatsoever in the final game there are possible leftovers in the Simon Wai prototype that indicate it was present in the game at one point.
- Aquatic Ruin Zone's name is listed as Neo Green Hill Zone, possibly indicating it as a future version of Emerald Hill Zone (which was listed as Green Hill in this prototype).
- Some prototype zones share soundtracks, Wood Zone shares the same music as Metropolis Zone and Genocide City Zone shares music with Chemical Plant Zone.
- The level design for Wood Zone and Metropolis Zone are similar.
- An unused futuristic looking Star post can be found using debug.
Prototype Versions
Several prototypes have been found over the years. The first prototype discovered, the Simon Wai prototype, found by Simon Wai, is famous for its deleted levels. Another much earlier beta was found by drx and looks similar to the one featured on the tv show Nick Arcade. This was followed later by the discovery and release of five more betas, named Beta 4, Beta 5, Beta 6, Beta 7, and Beta 8. These ones seem to be very similar to the final version.
Deleted Levels
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was originally envisioned to have many more levels than those included in the final version. Three levels, Wood Zone, Hidden Palace Zone, and Genocide City Zone, were found in the the "Simon Wai prototype" in unfinished form. There was also a desert themed level which had a single mockup image printed in several gaming magazines but was dropped very early in the games development. Lastly, two other levels, Winter level and Rock Zone, were also dropped early in development and the only references to their existance come from concept art and interviews by Sonic Team staff members. More info on these Zones can be found in their respective articles.
Early Game Design
These scans come from various magazines. Many things found in these images can be found in the multiple Sonic 2 prototypes that have been discovered. For in depth comparisons of which prototypes contain what is seen in the scans see Magazine Preview Scans.
Various
Title screen found in manual.
Same Title screen in color.
Different level select screen.
Emerald Hill Zone
Mockup with Sonic off-center. Note the Green Hill Zone clouds in the background.
Tails lives counter says Sonic.
Tails lives counter says Sonic still.
Eggman flying straight down.
- Mag compare25a.gif
Score counter in 2p mode.
Chemical Plant Zone
Same as final.
Same as final.
Aquatic Ruin Zone
Title card is messed up, also reads "Neo Green Hill Zone".
Casino Night Zone
Early level design and graphics.
Hill Top Zone
Green balls on see-saws.
Mystic Cave Zone
Level referred to as Dust Hill Zone.
Hidden Palace Zone Zone
Mockup screenshot of Hidden Palace Zone. Sonic is off center and there is a strange background.
Shield glows through tube.
- Image:mag compare7a.gif
Green object above lives icon.
- Image:mag compare13a.jpg
Similar to final.
Wood Zone
Sonic laying down.
Desert Level
Mockup of Desert level.
