Difference between revisions of "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)/Development"
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[[Category:Game Development|Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)]] | [[Category:Game Development|Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)]] |
Revision as of 16:48, 11 February 2009
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.
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. This particular prototype was stolen during a toy show in New York in 1992 according to Yuji Naka. It was recently stated in an interview with Yuji Naka that this beta was from a demonstration cartridge that was stolen at a toy show in New York in 1992.[1]
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 drx's discovery and release of five more betas, named Beta 4, Beta 5, Beta 6, Beta 7, and Beta 8. These seem to be very similar to the final version.
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 August 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.
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 Dust Hill Zone 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 existence come from concept art and interviews by Sonic Team staff members. More info on these Zones can be found in their respective articles.
Concept Art
The following is concept art for the game which doesn't fit in any of the preceding sections. The Tails concept art was found in the Sonic 1 segment of a "History of Sonic" documentary. It is possible that the image was used in the wrong segment as directly preceding this image is someone flipping through a art book and one page clearly displays a logo for Sonic 2.
Levels
- Metropolis concept.jpg
Metropolis Zone. Looks like diagonal conveyor belts were originally planned.
Enemies
- Sket ball.png
Bouncing ball, sprites can actually be found in a proto in Oil Ocean Zone.
- Sket banper.png
Bumper badnik which sends player flying in opposite direction.
- Sket fishfrog.png
Fish and frog badniks. Frog jumps twice and jumps higher on 3rd jump. Fish is in the final game.
- Sket bee.png
Bee which is similar to Buzzer but it's attack would destroy bridges. Sprites for a burning log were found in a prototype.
- Sket snail.png
Snail which stick to the wall then rolls after player when near.
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
Emerald Hill Zone
Mockup with Sonic off-center. Note the Green Hill Zone clouds in the background.
- Mag compare25a.gif
Score counter in 2p mode.
Aquatic Ruin Zone
Casino Night Zone
Hill Top Zone
Mystic Cave Zone
Oil Ocean Zone
- OOZ sun.png
Different sun which can be found in prototype.
- OOZ walk.png
Proto walking animation and switch that causes a ridable ball to appear.
Metropolis Zone
Hidden Palace Zone
- Mag compare7a.gif
Green watermark (TV logo?) above lives icon.