Dust Hill Zone

File:Sonic 2 beta level select.png

Level Select screen featuring Dust Hill Zone.

Dust Hill Zone is the name given to Mystic Cave Zone in Sonic 2 (Simon Wai prototype). The only references ever made to Dust Hill Zone could be found in the dumped prototype ROM and some magazines, as seen below.

Anilization of Name

The "general view" of the words Dust Hill could bring to mind a desert area hot and sandy, not a dark cavern such as Mystic Cave Zone. This is why it's often thought to be the unreleased desert level that can be seen in some early concept art. Although Brenda Ross has never used the name "Dust Hill" for her desert, she does think the name was intended for this desert level as she stated in the first interview conducted by Deviance and in the second interview conducted by Wetflame.

Magazines which use the name Dust Hill

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Dated Scans

• Video Games and Computer Entertainment (October 1992) - Dust Hill Zone included on the list of levels on the first page. A screenshot of Mystic Cave is shown on the third.
• Electronic Gaming Monthly (November 1992) - The name Dust Hill is given to the Mystic Cave zone section.
• Game Pro (November 1992) - Dust Hill name used under Mystic cave screenshot on page 46.
• Supergame (November 1992) - Dust Hill is the name given to the Mystic Cave section.

Undated Scans

• Sega Guide (1992) - Dust hill is included on the list of levels on page 16, the screen caption below Mystic Cave Zone calls the level Mystic Zone.
• Unkown UK magazine - Dust Hill is not mentioned, but a screenshot of the Desert Level is.
• Videogame (Issue 20) - Dust Hill is used for the Mystic cave images.
• Sega Guide Clip (Before) and Sega Guide Clip (After) - Images of the Desert Level are shown. Mystic Cave is not mentioned.