Difference between revisions of "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 CD"

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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 CD

System(s): Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: Sega
Genre: Action

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 CD, also frequently referred to as Super Sonic, and at one point reportedly subtitled Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Escape from Ring Zone^[1]^[2]^[3], was a planned version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the Sega Mega-CD.

The Sega Mega Drive version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog CD are thought to have at one point been the same thing, likely separating at an early point in development when a disgruntled Yuji Naka and several members of the original Sonic Team migrated from Sega of Japan's offices in Tokyo to Sega of America (or specifically, the Sega Technical Institute) in California - travelling to where Sonic the Hedgehog was actually popular, as opposed to staying in Japan where the reception had been more lukewarm.

The entirety of the story is unclear, and many former developers seem unaware of the situation, however Sega spent a large part of 1992 promoting four different versions of Sonic 2 - the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear ports, all of which shipped, and a Sega Mega-CD version which did not. Development on Sonic 2 CD is thought to have began with an aim of launching after the aforementioned versions, however the project was axed, potentially as a response to Japanese Sonic 2 sales, and became an entirely separate game, Sonic CD.

Slightly enhanced Mega-CD ports of Mega Drive games were not uncommon during the early 1990s, and Sonic 2 CD appears to have followed a similar pattern - the addition of CD quality audio, cutscenes between levels and the potential for more stages were all announced by various sources, though very little seems to have been demonstrated and may relate soley to the Japanese-led Sonic CD project. An enhanced port of the original Sonic the Hedgehog was also announced around this time before being canned.

No known screenshots or footage of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 CD has ever been released, however several publications mistook a demonstration CD by Sega Multimedia Studio as Sonic 2 CD footage. The demo, shown at Summer CES 1992, sees Sonic standing on (and holding) a compact disc, but is merely a demonstration of the Mega-CD technology, not a game.

Magazine articles

Main article: sega:Sonic the Hedgehog 2 CD/Magazine articles

Dated Issues

Sega Visions (September 1992) - Additional zones mentioned.
Video Games & Computer Entertainment (October 1992) - Mega CD port confirmed.
Mean Machines (November 1992) - Super Sonic will have CD soundtrack and extra levels.

Undated Issues

GamePlayers Sega Guide - Sega CD port confirmed.
MegaTech - This article confirms that the Sega CD Sonic game isn't a port of Sonic 2.

References

Sonic the Hedgehog games for the following systems

1991 Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic Eraser 1992 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 1993 Sonic the Hedgehog CD | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine | Sonic Spinball 1994 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Sonic & Knuckles 1995 Chaotix | Sonic Classics 1996 Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island

Unreleased Sonic the Hedgehog games
Sonic's Edusoft \| Sonic the Hedgehog (home computers) \| Sonic the Hedgehog \| Sonic the Hedgehog 2 CD \| SegaSonic Bros. \| Sister Sonic \| Treasure Tails \| Pre-May 1993 Sonic arcade games \| Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Limited Edition \| Sonic Sports \| Sonic Ride \| Sonic Saturn \| Sonic X: Chaos Emerald Chaos \| Sonic DS \| Sonic the Hedgehog Extreme \| Sonic Riders \| Sonic the Hedgehog: Awakening \| Sonic Central \| Sonic Demo
Sonic X-treme incarnations
Sonic Mars \| Sonic X-treme (Point Of View \| Project Condor \| SonicPC)

[:File:EGM_US_029.pdf_p32-1] File:EGM US 029.pdf, page 32

[:File:ElectricBrain_UK_25.pdf_p22-2] File:ElectricBrain UK 25.pdf, page 22

[:File:Supergame_BR_07.pdf_p38-3] File:Supergame BR 07.pdf, page 38

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 ==Magazine articles==
-{{magtable|
+{{main|sega:Sonic the Hedgehog 2 CD/Magazine articles}}
-{{magrow|supergame|7|38
-| file=Supergame BR 07.pdf
-| title=Rola la Fora - ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2''
-| comment=A single page preview of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' in the February 1992 issue of ''Supergame''. A translation can be found [[Rola la Fora - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Supergame, February 1992)|here]].
-}}
-{{magrow|mz|23|12
-| file=Megazone AU 23.pdf
-| title=''Sonic II''
-| comment=Brief mention of a Mega-CD version of ''Sonic 2'', scheduled for an Australian release in early 1993.
-}}
-{{magrow|sv|9|23
-| file=SegaVisions US 09.pdf
-| title=Sega Interview
-| comment=After an interview with [[Yuji Naka]], ''Sega Visions'' claims that a Sega Mega-CD version of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' is coming, with extra levels and "special bonus rounds" between zones.
-}}
-{{magrow|joypad|12|31
-| file=Joypad FR 012.pdf
-| title=Preview: ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' - ''Sonic II'' Sur Mega CD
-| comment=
-}}
-{{magrow|mms|1|101
-| file=MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf
-| title=Mega CD Sonic Update
-| comment=Short article describing the game as an enhanced version of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' called "''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 CD|Super Sonic]]''".
-}}
-{{magrow|mega|1|76
-| file=Mega UK 01.pdf
-| title=Top 100: ''Sonic the Hedgehog''
-| comment=While ''Mega'' explains its decision to rate the original ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' as the third best Mega Drive game available in the UK, it briefly alludes to ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' and a Mega-CD game, ''Super Sonic''.
-}}
-{{magrow|mega|1|90
-| file=Mega UK 01.pdf
-| title=Mega Mouth
-| comment=Later in the issue, ''Mega'' briefly predicts a Mega-CD port of ''Sonic 2'', but is likely speculating at this point.
-}}
-{{magrow|sfus|0|61
-| file=SegaForce US 1992-11.pdf
-| title=CD ROM Showcase: ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2''
-| comment=<!-- TODO: Add this to [[sega:Sega MultiMedia Studio (demo)/Magazine articles]] -->
-}}
-{{magrow|egm|41|183
-| file=EGM US 041.pdf
-| title=''Sonic the Hedgehog 2''
-| comment=A brief mention at the back of this ''Sonic 2'' preview, suggesting ''Sonic 2 CD'' exists.
-}}
-{{magrow|mega|4|22
-| file=Mega UK 04.pdf
-| title=''Super Sonic''
-| comment=''Mega'' reminds its readers of ''Super Sonic''. The magazine pairs this with a screenshot of the original ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'', though does not otherwise suggest the two games are linked. The publication merely confirms "high quality" music is on the cards.
-}}
-{{magrow|mms|5|11
-| file=MeanMachinesSega05UK.pdf
-| title=Sonic Speaks!
-| comment=Short article about the game, still called "''Super Sonic''" at this point, and how voice acting will be included.
-}}
-{{magrow|sfuk|16|12
-| file=SegaForce UK 16.pdf
-| title=Gutter Talk!: ''Sonic CD'' Slips Up
-| comment=UK magazine ''Sega Force'' reports that sales of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' in Japan have fallen below expectations, leading to a rethink in ''Sonic CD''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s development. No longer will it be an enhanced version of the Mega Drive game.
-}}
-{{magrow|cvg|139|120
-| file=CVG UK 139.pdf
-| title=Super Sonic
-| comment=Brief mention of the game, still referred to here as "''Super Sonic''", said to be released in Japan "any week now".
-}}
-}}
 ===Dated Issues===