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Difference between revisions of "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)/Development"

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Image:mag_compare9a.gif|Green balls on see-saws instead of enemies. This is consistent with the [[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Nick Arcade Prototype|"Nick Arcade" prototype]].
 
Image:mag_compare9a.gif|Green balls on see-saws instead of enemies. This is consistent with the [[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Nick Arcade Prototype|"Nick Arcade" prototype]].
 
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Image:HTZ magma.jpg| A [[Rexon]] badnik, as well as Tails dying.
 
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Revision as of 19:26, 14 September 2010

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. [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.

Deleted Levels

Hidden Palace Zone

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.

Scrapped Badniks

There are several Badniks which can be found in concept art which cannot be found in the final game. This includes: Banper, Bee, Bubbler, Bubbler's Mother and Frog. There are also badniks whose object code has actually been found in prototypes, this includes: BBat, BFish, Gator, Redz, Snail and Stego.

Concept Art

The following is concept art for the game which doesn't fit in any of the preceding sections.

Documents

Other

Badniks

Levels

Miscellany

Chemical Plant Zone

Metropolis Zone

Sky Chase Zone

Objects

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

Aquatic Ruin Zone

Casino Night Zone

Hill Top Zone

Mystic Cave Zone

Oil Ocean Zone

Metropolis Zone

Hidden Palace Zone

Wood Zone

Dust Hill Zone


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