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'''Dust Hill Zone''' is the name of a scrapped level intended to be featured in the [[Sega Mega Drive]] version of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''. Development of this stage was handled primarily by [[Brenda Ross]] of [[Sega Technical Institute]], and is themed on a desert, similar to those found in Southwest America, complete with cacti and sand.
  
'''Dust Hill Zone''' is the name of a scrapped level intended to be featured in the [[Sega Mega Drive]] version of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''. Development of this stage was handled primarily by [[Brenda Ross]] of [[Sega Technical Institute]], and is themed on a desert, similar to those found in Southwest America, complete with cacti and sand.
+
==Design==
 +
Dust Hill Zone's origins date back to early stages of ''Sonic 2'' when time travel was still a planned feature for the game, where it existed as part of a "ruined present" timeline{{intref|Game Development:Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)#Time travel}}. Devised by [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]], the "planner" of the game, Dust Hill existed at this point by name only, being analogous to present and past versions of a stage, [[Emerald Hill Zone|Green Hill Zone]] (Emerald Hill) and [[Hill Top Zone]], respectively{{intref|Game Development:Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)#Time travel}}.
  
Dust Hill Zone is infamous among its level contemporaries as unlike many other scrapped stages, it was revealed (albeit in mock-up form) early in ''Sonic 2'''s development cycle. Despite this, Dust Hill Zone is not thought to have been implemented to any significant degree in the actual game. It is claimed by Ross that the level's layout was completed before work began on [[Wood Zone]], Ross' second level which was also ultimately scrapped.
+
The zone survived the time travel concept and at some point became a desert level. [[Brenda Ross]] was responsible for the levels' artwork, where it was known internally as "砂漠 Zone" (''Sabaku'' Zone, literally "Desert Zone"){{fileref|Sket banper.png}} and similar phrases such as "Desert"{{fileref|S2badnikconcepts3.jpg}}{{fileref|S2enemylevels.jpg}}, "Desert level" and "Desert Zone"{{intref|Brenda Ross interview by Wetflame}}{{intref|Tim Skelly interview by ICEknight (August 2004)}}.
  
Dust Hill was referred to in an [[:Image:Sket banper.png|early concept sketch]] as "砂漠 Zone" (''Sabaku'' Zone, literally "Desert Zone"). Brenda Ross claimed in [[Brenda Ross interview by Deviance (February 2001)|an interview]] that the level would have above ground and below ground sections.
+
It is claimed by Brenda Ross that the level's layout was completed before work began on [[Wood Zone]], Ross' second level which was also ultimately scrapped{{intref|Brenda Ross interview by Deviance (February 2001)}}.
  
The idea of a desert-themed zone was later implemented into both the 2P zone [[Desert Palace Zone]] in ''[[Sonic 3]]'' and the full zone [[Sandopolis]] in ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]''. The scrapped ''[[Sonic CD]]'' stage [[Desert Dazzle]] and the ''[[Sonic Mania]]'' stage [[Mirage Saloon]] draw heavy inspiration from the stage.
+
Ross also claimed in an interview that the level would have above ground and below ground sections{{intref|Brenda Ross interview by Deviance (February 2001)}}. Alongside Ross, art director [[Tim Skelly]] has suggested that most of the graphic tiles would have been reused (with different colors) in a [[winter level]]{{intref|Brenda Ross interview by Deviance (February 2001)}}{{intref|Tim Skelly interview by ICEknight (August 2004)}}.
<br clear="all">
 
  
== Mockup image ==
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==Mock-up image==
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Shortly after ''Sonic 2''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s announcement, Sega distributed three "screenshots" of the game, constructed out of both completed ''Sonic 2'' assets and holdovers from the original ''Sonic the Hedgehog''. Alongside what would become [[Emerald Hill Zone]] and [[Hidden Palace Zone]], a desert stage was pictured:
 
<center>[[Image:Mag compare3a.jpg]][[Image:Desert preview.jpg]][[Image:DesertlevelCorrectColor.JPG]]</center>
 
<center>[[Image:Mag compare3a.jpg]][[Image:Desert preview.jpg]][[Image:DesertlevelCorrectColor.JPG]]</center>
 +
While using Brenda Ross' artwork for the stage, the HUD positioning is incorrect, Sonic is off-centre and some graphics (such as the clouds) are borrowed from the original game.
  
In the pictures above, the first two use inaccurate colors while the last image is using the correct colors. The second image was printed on the back of a Sears, Roebuck and Co. Magazine from a November/December 1992 issue. None of these pictures were accompanied with a caption mentioning any level name.
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The level was not named, and may have never been known by the US artists, however when pressed, Hirokazu Yasuhara identified the level as Dust Hill Zone<ref>{{LinkRetro|title=The Truth About Dust Hill Zone|topic=12023}}</ref>.
  
Before its level artist [[Brenda Ross]] unveiled that this screen was in fact a mockup image for promotional use, this could already be deduced based on three things:
+
The crocodile badnik, [[Gator]] as brought into the game, and in older builds was a placeable debug object in [[Hidden Palace Zone]]. Its artwork does not exist in the final game. Much like the [[Buzzer]]s in this image however, it cannot be confirmed whether it was indended to be seen in Dust Hill, as Brenda Ross did not work on the objects and enemies.
* The HUD is not in italics, and a "08" instead of the typical "8" is shown.
 
* Sonic is off-centered in the image.
 
* The running sprite uses a walking sprite from ''Sonic 1'', which would be incorrect according to the development timeline the picture was shown in.
 
  
== Mystic Cave connection ==
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==Mystic Cave Zone connection and leftovers==
 
[[Image:Ss.s2bls.png|thumb|right|200px|The [[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Simon Wai prototype)|Sonic 2 Simon Wai prototype]]'s level Select screen, featuring Dust Hill Zone's name.]]
 
[[Image:Ss.s2bls.png|thumb|right|200px|The [[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Simon Wai prototype)|Sonic 2 Simon Wai prototype]]'s level Select screen, featuring Dust Hill Zone's name.]]
 +
Prototype versions of ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' list a level called "Dust Hill Zone". When accessed in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Simon Wai prototype)|"Simon Wai" prototype]], the player is taken to an unfinished [[Mystic Cave Zone]]. This prototype and some later builds were sent to the gaming press, and as a result, Mystic Cave Zone was often referred to as "Dust Hill Zone"{{fileref|EGM US 040.pdf|page=205}}{{fileref|GamePro US 040.pdf|page=48}}.
  
Many gaming magazines received prototypes of ''Sonic 2'' for review, which used the name Dust Hill Zone when referring to Mystic Cave Zone in the level select screen, thus making them label it as such. These entries in the level select listings are the only references to Dust Hill Zone that can be found in any known version of ''Sonic 2''.
+
It is not known whether this was an overlooked error, the result of levels being re-arranged, or the name being recycled for Mystic Cave for a short period. As many levels were scrapped in ''Sonic 2'' at various stages of development, it cannot be confirmed or denied that the two stages were linked in any way.
 
+
[[File:DHZBetaLeftovers.PNG|thumb|right|200px||Possible Dust Hill Zone leftovers, as shown in the Simon Wai prototype.]]
Despite this, Dust Hill was often thought to be the desert level shown in the concept art and mockups. It is possible that the level slot the Zone was meant to be in could have been replaced with [[Mystic Cave Zone]], so picking Dust Hill Zone on level select would lead to Mystic Cave Zone instead.  However, the Dust Hill/Mystic Cave association was kept when the level select screen was reworked in the prototypes, so this is purely speculation.
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Other possible remnants of Dust Hill include an empty level slot, accessed in this prototype by entering the [[Game Genie]] code '''AA7A-AGGY''' and choosing [[Emerald Hill Zone|Green Hill Zone]] Act 1 in the stage select. Like [[Genocide City Zone]], [[Death Egg Zone]], and the second Act of [[Wood Zone]], the stage is entirely empty, with the default background music being the tune used in [[Oil Ocean Zone]] in the final game.
 
+
[[File:DHZFinalLeftovers.PNG|thumb|right|200px||Possible Dust Hill Zone leftovers, as they appear in the final.]]
After [[Brenda Ross]]' e-mail was found and made public, several internet-goers pelted her with questions about the Dust Hill desert, something that prompted her to choose just one person (nicknamed Deviance) to conduct an interview in behalf of the rest.
+
These leftovers can also be accessed in the final game by entering the Game Genie Code '''ACLA-AGD8''' ('''AB6X-AGBR''' in ''[[Knuckles in Sonic 2]]''), and pressing start on "Sound Test" (or in ''[[Knuckles in Sonic 2]]'', the [[Special Stage (Sonic the Hedgehog 2 16-bit)|Special Stage]]). This version of the stage is also comparable to the Genocide City Zone, as they both use broken Emerald Hill Zone tiles, have little collision data, and no objects, making the stages impossible to finish by any means.
{{quote|Sorry I haven't written sooner, but because I got so much email regarding the Sonic level art, I decided to just answer one person, and gave him all the info I have.
 
 
 
Max Lazarov
 
He can be reached at ********@********
 
 
 
thanks,
 
Brenda}}
 
 
 
Once [[Brenda Ross interview by Deviance (February 2001)|this interview]] was made, she could be seen mentioning Dust Hill when asked about the desert level's name. Later, there was also a [[Brenda Ross interview by Wetflame|second interview]] with her conducted by [[Wetflame]], where she also mentioned that she had always called it the Desert Zone or Desert Level, as a working name.
 
 
 
Dust Hill Zone was finally confirmed to be the Desert Level's name on September 13, 2008 as [[Tweaker]] and [[Sik]] released conclusive evidence proving so. Through [[Chris Senn]] they were able to get into contact with [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]], a staff member that worked on ''Sonic 2'' whom confirmed that the Desert level was Dust Hill Zone:{{ref|{{LinkRetro|title=The Truth About Dust Hill Zone|topic=12023}}}}
 
 
 
{{quote|1='''Tweaker and Sik''': What significance did the name "Dust Hill" have in regards to ''Sonic 2'''s development? Was it the original name for Mystic Cave Zone? Or was it supposed to be a conceptual name for the scrapped Desert Level?
 
 
 
'''Yasuhara''': "Dust Hill" was one of dropped levels from original plan of ''Sonic 2''. Sega of America did want to sell the game at Christmas time of that year, I had no choice, but decided to cut some levels out from original plan. So if Sega allowed me to use enough time to pursue the plan, The Dust Hill zone would be in the game.
 
  
'''Tweaker and Sik''': What kind of level was Dust Hill Zone? Did it represent any of the following images? If not, can you give any details about what it was supposed to be like?
+
In both cases there is no definitive proof that the slot was intended for Dust Hill, but with most other levels from the era being accounted for and Dust Hill being reportedly complete on paper, the stage was a likely candidate for the slot.
  
[images of both Dust Hill Zone and Mystic Cave Zone are linked]
+
==Legacy==
 +
Dust Hill Zone continues to be a topic of speculation, being the only Sonic 2 game to be shown to the public that has yet to be found in a playable form. It is not functional in any preserved prototype of the game, and only Hirokazu Yasuhara has ever reliably linked the name to an image.
  
Also, feel free to give out any other information you might want to share.
+
Desert levels have since proved common in ''Sonic'' games, the first appearing as the 2P zone [[Desert Palace Zone]] in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' and as a full zone [[Sandopolis]] in ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]''. ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]'' has also been speculated to have its own scrapped desert stage (nearly re-imagined in the 2011 release as [[Desert Dazzle]], with a similar look to Dust Hill). The ''[[Sonic Mania]]'' stage [[Mirage Saloon]] also draws heavy inspiration from the stage.
 
 
'''Yasuhara''': Ok, the DustHill zone is like below.
 
 
 
[[Image:Mag compare3a.jpg]]
 
 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ4kc9sY88Y}}
 
 
 
It was after this information was revealed that any speculation regarding the name Dust Hill was finally put to rest.
 
 
 
== Other Zone connections ==
 
According to [[Brenda Ross]] and [[Tim Skelly]] (Art Director), most of the graphic tiles would be reused (with different colors) in a [[winter level]]. One of the possibilities was that Dust Hill Zone would change into a snow level half way through, but Tim Skelly explained: "''There would have been two separate zones, spaced far enough apart so that the player wouldn't notice the repetition of the art.''"
 
 
 
As a side note, this level was originally planned as being the "present" time zone of another scrapped level, ([[Rock Zone]]), but the idea of time travel was quickly dropped and it's quite possible that it never got to be implemented in the game. Additionally, "砂漠 Zone/Desert Zone" and "Rock zone" are just descriptions, or working names, and not proper names of the zones.
 
 
 
== Possible Leftovers ==
 
[[Image:DHZBetaLeftovers.PNG|thumb|left|200px||Possible Dust Hill Zone leftovers, as shown in the Simon Wai prototype.]]
 
[[Image:DHZFinalLeftovers.PNG|thumb|right|200px||Possible Dust Hill Zone leftovers, as they appear in the final.]]
 
In the Simon Wai prototype, there is an empty level slot that can be accessed by entering the [[Game Genie]] code '''AA7A-AGGY''' and choosing [[Emerald Hill Zone|Green Hill Zone]] Act 1 in the stage select. Like the [[Genocide City Zone]], [[Death Egg Zone]], and the second Act of [[Wood Zone]], the stage is entirely empty. The default background music in this stage is the same as the [[Oil Ocean Zone]] in the final.
 
 
 
These leftovers can also be accessed in the final game by entering the Game Genie Code '''ACLA-AGD8''' ('''AB6X-AGBR''' in ''[[Knuckles in Sonic 2]]''), and pressing start on "Sound Test" (or in ''Knuckles in Sonic 2'', the [[Special Stage (Sonic the Hedgehog 2 16-bit)|Special Stage]]). This version of the stage is also comparable to the Genocide City Zone, as they both use broken Emerald Hill Zone tiles, have little collision data, and no objects, making the stages impossible to finish by any means.
 
{{clear}}
 
 
 
== Level Inclusion in ROM hacks and fan games ==
 
Several enthusiasts in the community, such as [[Esrael]] with his hack, ''[[Sonic 2 Delta]]'', and [[Sonic Hachelle-Bee]], with ''[[Sonic 2 Long Version]]'', have used the image of this desert level to create full zones based on the artwork. These levels provide an alternative to perhaps understand how this level would have been had it moved past the concept stage.
 
 
 
In 1999, Jan created a demo fan game called ''[[Dust Hill Zone (fan game)|Dust Hill Zone]]'', a representation of [[Dust Hill Zone]] based on the very limited information of the time. It was created using The Games Factory, and posted on the Dust Hill Zone page of the Area 51 section of [[SSRG]].
 
 
 
== Media which reference Dust Hill ==
 
=== Dated scans ===
 
* [[An Amusement Park called Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Video Games and Computer Entertainment, October 1992)|Video Games and Computer Entertainment (October 1992)]] - Dust Hill Zone included in the list of levels on the first page. A screenshot of Mystic Cave is shown on the third.
 
* [[:Image:Sonic2PrevUKMagazine.jpg|Mega (October 1992)]] - The desert mockup image is shown, without a mention to the name Dust Hill.
 
* [[Game Preview - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Electronic Gaming Monthly, November 1992)|Electronic Gaming Monthly (November 1992)]] - The name Dust Hill is given to the Mystic Cave zone section.
 
* [[Game Preview - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (GamePro, November 1992)|Game Pro (November 1992)]] - Dust Hill name used under Mystic Cave screenshot on page 46.
 
* [[Game Preview - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Supergame, November 1992)|Supergame (November 1992)]] - Dust Hill is the name given to the Mystic Cave section.
 
* [[Game Preview - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Electronic Gaming Monthly, December 1992)|Electronic Gaming Monthly (December 1992)]] - Page 182 gives the name Dust Hill to Mystic Cave Zone. The desert mockup is shown on 183.
 
* [[:Image:S2 SegaVisions 1993 February March Page6.jpg|Sega Visions (February 1993)]] - Desert mockup image contained in this advertisement, without a mention to Dust Hill.
 
* [[:Image:S2 GamePro Issue47 June1993 Page14.jpg|GamePro (June 1993)]] - A reader asks about missing levels like Dust Hill Zone, the response mentions Hidden Palace and a desert level, but does not give the name of it.
 
* [[:File:S2badnikconcepts3.jpg|Mother Bubbler concept art references Desert level.]]
 
 
 
=== Undated scans ===
 
* [[Backstage with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega Guide, 1992)|Sega Guide (1992)]] - The name Dust Hill is included on the list of levels on page 16, the screen caption below Mystic Cave Zone calls the level Mystic Zone.
 
* [[Game Preview - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Videogame, Issue 20)|Videogame (Issue 20)]] - The name Dust Hill is used for the Mystic Cave images.
 
* [[:Image:SegaGuideBefore.jpg|Sega Guide Clip (Before)]] and [[:Image:SegaGuideAfter.jpg|Sega Guide Clip (After)]] - The desert mockup image is shown on both articles without mentioning Dust Hill. Mystic Cave is not mentioned either.
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 
  
 
{{S2MDOmni}}
 
{{S2MDOmni}}

Revision as of 16:12, 25 May 2017

Sonic Retro emblem.svg Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)
»
Scrapped Levels
»
Dust Hill Zone
DesertlevelCorrectColor.JPG
Dust Hill Zone
Beta level, Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Level theme: desert/western

Dust Hill Zone is the name of a scrapped level intended to be featured in the Sega Mega Drive version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Development of this stage was handled primarily by Brenda Ross of Sega Technical Institute, and is themed on a desert, similar to those found in Southwest America, complete with cacti and sand.

Design

Dust Hill Zone's origins date back to early stages of Sonic 2 when time travel was still a planned feature for the game, where it existed as part of a "ruined present" timeline[1]. Devised by Hirokazu Yasuhara, the "planner" of the game, Dust Hill existed at this point by name only, being analogous to present and past versions of a stage, Green Hill Zone (Emerald Hill) and Hill Top Zone, respectively[1].

The zone survived the time travel concept and at some point became a desert level. Brenda Ross was responsible for the levels' artwork, where it was known internally as "砂漠 Zone" (Sabaku Zone, literally "Desert Zone")[2] and similar phrases such as "Desert"[3][4], "Desert level" and "Desert Zone"[5][6].

It is claimed by Brenda Ross that the level's layout was completed before work began on Wood Zone, Ross' second level which was also ultimately scrapped[7].

Ross also claimed in an interview that the level would have above ground and below ground sections[7]. Alongside Ross, art director Tim Skelly has suggested that most of the graphic tiles would have been reused (with different colors) in a winter level[7][6].

Mock-up image

Shortly after Sonic 2's announcement, Sega distributed three "screenshots" of the game, constructed out of both completed Sonic 2 assets and holdovers from the original Sonic the Hedgehog. Alongside what would become Emerald Hill Zone and Hidden Palace Zone, a desert stage was pictured:

Mag compare3a.jpgDesert preview.jpgDesertlevelCorrectColor.JPG

While using Brenda Ross' artwork for the stage, the HUD positioning is incorrect, Sonic is off-centre and some graphics (such as the clouds) are borrowed from the original game.

The level was not named, and may have never been known by the US artists, however when pressed, Hirokazu Yasuhara identified the level as Dust Hill Zone[8].

The crocodile badnik, Gator as brought into the game, and in older builds was a placeable debug object in Hidden Palace Zone. Its artwork does not exist in the final game. Much like the Buzzers in this image however, it cannot be confirmed whether it was indended to be seen in Dust Hill, as Brenda Ross did not work on the objects and enemies.

Mystic Cave Zone connection and leftovers

The Sonic 2 Simon Wai prototype's level Select screen, featuring Dust Hill Zone's name.

Prototype versions of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 list a level called "Dust Hill Zone". When accessed in the "Simon Wai" prototype, the player is taken to an unfinished Mystic Cave Zone. This prototype and some later builds were sent to the gaming press, and as a result, Mystic Cave Zone was often referred to as "Dust Hill Zone"[9][10].

It is not known whether this was an overlooked error, the result of levels being re-arranged, or the name being recycled for Mystic Cave for a short period. As many levels were scrapped in Sonic 2 at various stages of development, it cannot be confirmed or denied that the two stages were linked in any way.

Possible Dust Hill Zone leftovers, as shown in the Simon Wai prototype.

Other possible remnants of Dust Hill include an empty level slot, accessed in this prototype by entering the Game Genie code AA7A-AGGY and choosing Green Hill Zone Act 1 in the stage select. Like Genocide City Zone, Death Egg Zone, and the second Act of Wood Zone, the stage is entirely empty, with the default background music being the tune used in Oil Ocean Zone in the final game.

File:DHZFinalLeftovers.PNG
Possible Dust Hill Zone leftovers, as they appear in the final.

These leftovers can also be accessed in the final game by entering the Game Genie Code ACLA-AGD8 (AB6X-AGBR in Knuckles in Sonic 2), and pressing start on "Sound Test" (or in Knuckles in Sonic 2, the Special Stage). This version of the stage is also comparable to the Genocide City Zone, as they both use broken Emerald Hill Zone tiles, have little collision data, and no objects, making the stages impossible to finish by any means.

In both cases there is no definitive proof that the slot was intended for Dust Hill, but with most other levels from the era being accounted for and Dust Hill being reportedly complete on paper, the stage was a likely candidate for the slot.

Legacy

Dust Hill Zone continues to be a topic of speculation, being the only Sonic 2 game to be shown to the public that has yet to be found in a playable form. It is not functional in any preserved prototype of the game, and only Hirokazu Yasuhara has ever reliably linked the name to an image.

Desert levels have since proved common in Sonic games, the first appearing as the 2P zone Desert Palace Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and as a full zone Sandopolis in Sonic & Knuckles. Sonic the Hedgehog CD has also been speculated to have its own scrapped desert stage (nearly re-imagined in the 2011 release as Desert Dazzle, with a similar look to Dust Hill). The Sonic Mania stage Mirage Saloon also draws heavy inspiration from the stage.

References


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