Dust Hill Zone

Dust Hill Zone is the name given to Mystic Cave Zone in Sonic 2 Beta. The only references ever made to Dust Hill Zone could be found in the dumped prototype ROM and some magazines, as seen below.

Rumor mill

The "general view" of the words Dust Hill could describe a desert area hot and sandy, or cold and snowy. Hot and sandy would apply to the desert concept arts as seen above.

It's often thought to be the unreleased desert level that can be seen in some early concept art. Although Brenda Ross has never used the name "Dust Hill" for her desert, she does think the name was intended for this desert level both stated in the first interview conducted by Deviance and the second interview conducted by Wetflame.

Magazines which use the name Dust Hill

Dated Scans

• Video Games and Computer Entertainment (October 1992) - Dust Hill Zone included on the list of levels on the first page. A screenshot of Mystic Cave is shown on the third.
• Electronic Gaming Monthly (November 1992) - The name Dust Hill is given to the Mystic Cave zone section.
• Game Pro (November 1992) - Dust Hill name used under Mystic cave screenshot on page 46.

Undated Scans

• Sega Guide (1992) - Dust hill is included on the list of levels on page 16, the screen caption below Mystic Cave Zone calls the level Mystic Zone.
• Unkown UK magazine - Dust Hill is not mentined, but a screenshot of the Desert Level is.
• Sega Guide Clip (Before) and Sega Guide Clip (After) - Images of the Desert Level are shown. Mystic Cave is not mentioned.