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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 a different color palette) in a [[winter level]]{{intref|Brenda Ross interview by Deviance (February 2001)}}{{intref|Tim Skelly interview by ICEknight (August 2004)}}.
 
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 a different color palette) in a [[winter level]]{{intref|Brenda Ross interview by Deviance (February 2001)}}{{intref|Tim Skelly interview by ICEknight (August 2004)}}.
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Desert levels have since proved common in ''Sonic'' games, the first being the [[Sonic the Hedgehog 3#Competition mode|Competition mode]] stage [[Desert Palace]] in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'', followed by [[Sandopolis Zone]] in ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]''. The [[Sonic the Hedgehog CD (2011)|2011 version]] of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]'' was planned to feature a new [[Round]], [[Desert Dazzle]], with a similar look to this mock-up. By extension, the ''[[Sonic Mania]]'' stage [[Mirage Saloon Zone]] also draws inspiration, as it is based on the ''Sonic CD'' Desert Dazzle concept.
  
 
===Mock-up image===
 
===Mock-up image===
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The crocodile badnik, [[Gator]] was programmed 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 intended to be seen in this level, as Brenda Ross did not work on the objects and enemies.
 
The crocodile badnik, [[Gator]] was programmed 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 intended to be seen in this level, as Brenda Ross did not work on the objects and enemies.
 
Desert levels have since proved common in ''Sonic'' games, the first being the [[Sonic the Hedgehog 3#Competition mode|Competition mode]] stage [[Desert Palace]] in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'', followed by [[Sandopolis Zone]] in ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]''. The [[Sonic the Hedgehog CD (2011)|2011 version]] of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]'' was planned to feature a new [[Round]], [[Desert Dazzle]], with a similar look to this mock-up. By extension, the ''[[Sonic Mania]]'' stage [[Mirage Saloon Zone]] also draws inspiration, as it is based on the ''Sonic CD'' Desert Dazzle concept.
 
  
 
==Rock World Zone==
 
==Rock World Zone==

Revision as of 13:27, 14 November 2019

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Scrapped Levels
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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit) scrapped levels

During development of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Mega Drive, a number of levels were planned which were not completed in time for the final game. Some are more (in)famous than others: Hidden Palace Zone and Wood Zone were to some degree playable and featured in the printed press, while Genocide City Zone was referenced in-game by several known Sonic 2 prototype builds.

However, there are many more that did not make it past the design stage, or were radically overhauled by the time the game was released. Some exist only as names in developer notes, while others were partially completed before being axed. The following lists the levels that are known to have existed.

"Desert Zone"

A "Desert Zone"[1][2] also known as "砂漠 Zone" ("Sabaku Zone", literally "Desert Zone")[3] and similar phrases such as "Desert"[4][5] and "Desert level". Devised by Brenda Ross, this level was seen in an early mock-up image, but is not thought to have ever made it into an actual build of the game.

The level'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 the present timeline[6] with a past timeline counterpart known as "Rock World Zone" and "Rock Zone"[3].

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[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 a different color palette) in a winter level[7][2].

Desert levels have since proved common in Sonic games, the first being the Competition mode stage Desert Palace in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, followed by Sandopolis Zone in Sonic & Knuckles. The 2011 version of Sonic the Hedgehog CD was planned to feature a new Round, Desert Dazzle, with a similar look to this mock-up. By extension, the Sonic Mania stage Mirage Saloon Zone also draws inspiration, as it is based on the Sonic CD Desert Dazzle concept.

Mock-up image

Shortly after Sonic 2's announcement, Sega distributed three "screenshots" of the game, which were mock-ups 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, this desert stage was pictured:

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

The crocodile badnik, Gator was programmed 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 intended to be seen in this level, as Brenda Ross did not work on the objects and enemies.

Rock World Zone

Rock World Zone, likely known internally as just "Rock Zone" is mentioned multiple times in internal documents and sketchesMedia:Sonic 2 Level Map Concept 04.png[11]Media:Sonic 2 Level Map Concept 02.png[12], though what it contained is unclear. The scrapped Banper enemies were also set to appear in the stage[3], suggesting some thought had been put into its creation before being scrapped.

With a very generic working name it is fully possible Rock Zone became something else, such as Mystic Cave Zone or even Hidden Palace Zone, which take place in rocky environments.

Winter Zone

Winter Zone, created by Brenda Ross was to recycle graphics from the above desert stage but with a suitable winter palette[7]. Cacti would have been replaced with Christmas trees[7], and the two levels placed far apart so that the recycling would be less obvious[2]. According to art director Tim Skelly, very little else was produced for the winter theme[2].

Others

A number of unknown levels appear time travel sketches by Hirokazu Yasuhara, including present levels Ocean Wind ZoneMedia:Sonic 2 Level Map Concept 01.png[13] and Sand Shower ZoneMedia:Sonic 2 Level Map Concept 01.png[13] (Which may be the desert zone), alongside past stages Blue Lake ZoneMedia:Sonic 2 Level Map Concept 04.png[11], Tropical Plant ZoneMedia:Sonic 2 Level Map Concept 04.png[11] and OlympusMedia:Sonic 2 Level Map Concept 04.png[11].

Ocean Wind also has concept artMedia:Sonic2 ConceptArt OceanWind.jpg[14] alongside presumed levels known as "Emerald Isle"Media:Sonic2 ConceptArt EmeraldIsle.png[15], "Secret Jungle"Media:Sonic2 ConceptArt SecretJungle.png[16], "Madness Mountain"Media:Sonic2 MadnessMountain ConceptArtScrapped.jpg[17], "Tropical Sun"Media:Sonic2 ConceptArt TropicalSun.png[18] and "Blue Ocean"Media:Sonic2 ConceptArt BlueOcean.png[19]. It is not known how many (if any) got past the concept stage.

References


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