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Hidden Palace Zone (Sonic Mania)

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Hidden Palace Zone (Sonic Mania)
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Hidden Palace Zone
Scrapped Zone, Sonic Mania
Level theme: ancient ruins
Boss: Heavy Rider

Hidden Palace Zone is a scrapped Zone from Sonic Mania. The Zone was set to be the original setting of the Heavy Rider boss fight, but was eventually cut due to time constraints.[1]

Overview

Hidden Palace Zone shares its name with two other Zones, a scrapped Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and the fifth Zone of Sonic & Knuckles.

As the Sonic 2 iteration of Hidden Palace was already playable in the 2013 remake of Sonic 2, Sonic Mania lead developer Christian Whitehead wanted this iteration to have a distinct and unique feel with brand new visuals and music, comparing its relationship with the Sonic 2 version to that of Mirage Saloon Zone and Sand Shower Zone.[2] It is unknown if any concept art or graphical assets were ever created for the Zone.

A boss fight against the Heavy Rider was to take place in the Zone,[1] corresponding with the Hard-Boiled Heavies' description in the early story concept of Sonic Mania, which described them as the rulers of the game's brand new Zones.Media:SonicMania_Development_EarlyStoryConcept.jpg[3]

Music

In 2016, Tee Lopes created a demo for the Zone's music track.[4]

Track name Audio Notes
Hidden Palace Zone demo
A snippet of the demo that Lopes shared online on June 23, 2024.[4]

Legacy

In the final game, the Heavy Rider's boss fight would instead take place in the second act of Lava Reef Zone, within a section modeled after the Sonic & Knuckles incarnation of Hidden Palace.

The music track for Act 2 of Lagoon City Zone in Sonic Superstars is based on Tee Lopes' Hidden Palace demo.[4]

References


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