Level themes
From Sonic Retro
NOTE: This article first appeared on RyogaMasaki's defunct site "The Shadow Zone"
Below is a list of all the Sonic zone clichés:
Contents
Tropical Island cliché
This is probably one of the most common of all the clichés. To my knowledge, it's appeared in every Sonic game to date, except Sonic Spinball. Common features in levels like this include palmtrees, waterfalls, bright flowers, and badniks relating to the environment (i.e., monkeys, pirahna, etc.). Furthermore, this is typically the first zone of the game when it does occur (Sonic Advance 3 a notable exception). First appeared: Green Hill Zone, Sonic 1 Also in:
- Emerald Hill Zone, Sonic 2
- Angel Island Zone, Sonic 3
- Mushroom Hill Zone, Sonic & Knuckles
- Palmtree Panic Zone, Sonic CD
- Green Grove Zone, Sonic 3D Blast
- Resort Island, Sonic R
- Emerald Coast, Sonic Adventure
- Neo South Island, Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure
- Neo Green Hill Zone, Sonic Advance
- Seaside Hill, Sonic Heroes
- Splash Canyon, Sonic Riders
Ancient Ruins cliché
Another common cliché found in most Sonic games. Expect to find Roman style pillars, brick walls, plenty of secret passageways, and spikes. On an interesting note, alot of the Ancient Ruins zones have small, unique variations to them, usually in the area of a natural trap. For instance, Marble Zone has lava, Aquatic Ruin has water, Marble Garden has tar, etc. etc. First appeared: Marble Zone and Labyrinth Zone, Sonic 1 Also in:
- Aquatic Ruin Zone, Sonic 2
- Marble Garden Zone, Sonic 3
- (Possibly the famous lost R2 level from Sonic CD?)
- Rusty Ruin Zone, Sonic 3D Blast
- Regal Ruin, Sonic R
- Lost World, Sonic Adventure
- Angel Island Zone, Sonic Advance
- Ocean Palace, Sonic Heroes
- Glyphic Canyon/Sky Troops, Shadow the Hedgehog
- Babylon Gardens, Sonic Riders
Carnival/Casino cliché
Here you'll find lots of pinball bumpers and springs, lots of stuff to keep you in the air. Also, the Casino variations contain the obligatory bright neon lights and ring giving slot machines. First appeared: Spring Yard Zone, Sonic 1 Also in:
- Casino Night Zone, Sonic 2
- Collision Chaos Zone, Sonic CD
- Carnival Night Zone, Sonic 3
- Slot machine bonus stage, Sonic & Knuckles
- Casinopolis, Sonic Adventure
- Cosmic Casino, Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure
- Casino Paradise Zone, Sonic Advance
- Casino Park and BINGO Highway, Sonic Heroes
- Circus Park, Shadow the Hedgehog
Underwater cliché
Another of the common clichéd zones. All or most of the level takes place underwater and the use of air bubbles is critical. You'll find plenty of piranha badniks as well. First appeared: Labyrinth Zone, Sonic 1 Also in:
Techno City/Large Factory cliché
Jeez, Eggman's one busy little scientist! It always seems like he's building a technological city for himself in every game. I've also included levels that are set in factories of city-sized proportion, since they both seem to go along together. Metal galore, electric sparks, spikes, and nasty badniks are a few of the things often found in these zones. First Appeared: Scrap Brain Zone, Sonic 1 Also in:
- Chemical Plant Zone, Metropolis Zone, and Oil Ocean Zone, Sonic 2
- Launch Base Zone, Sonic 3
- Metallic Madness Zone, Sonic CD
- Reactive Factory, Sonic R
- Hot Shelter and Final Egg, Sonic Adventure
- Egg Rocket Zone, Sonic Advance
- Techno Base and Egg Utopia, Sonic Advance 2
- Grand Metropolis and Power Plant, Sonic Heroes
- Egg Factory, Sonic Riders
Flying Fortress/Death Egg cliché
This one has been worked to death, at least in the Death Egg area! No matter how many times you destroy the damn thing, it'll climb back up, crippled and wounded, and yell, "BRING IT ON, YA LITTLE BLUE SISSY!" Flying Fortress/Death Egg zones all take place on some type of aerial battleship made by Eggman for the singular use of destroying Sonic. First appeared: Wing Fortress Zone and Death Egg Zone, Sonic 2 Also in:
- Flying Battery Zone and Death Egg Zone, Sonic & Knuckles
- Egg Carrier, Sonic Adventure
- Space Colony ARK levels, Sonic Adventure 2
- Egg Fleet and Final Fortress, Sonic Heroes
- The ARK, The Doom, Sky Troops, Space Gadget, Cosmic Fall, Lost Impact, Shadow the Hedgehog
Underground Cavern cliché
This type tends to be very popular among Sonic fans, probably because the famous Hidden Palace Zone was of this type. The setting is a huge cavern, littered with badniks and traps. First appeared: Hidden Palace Zone and Mystic Cave Zone, Sonic 2 Also in:
Desert cliché
Hot sand, hot sun, quicksand, spikes... a virtual hell. You just gotta think to yourself that those rings are hot too! Note that this first appeared in the desert level in Sonic 2 (prototype), but since we have no concrete proof except a picture, I won't include it. First appeared: Sandopolis Zone, Sonic & Knuckles Also in:
Lava/Volcano cliché
Bubbling lava, nasty traps and fire-based badniks, all part of the Lava cliché, these levels are generally tough to complete due to the hot magma that litters the zones. First appeared: Marble Zone, Sonic 1. Also in:
- Underground Zone, Sonic 2(GG/MS)
- Lava Powerhouse and The Showdown, Sonic Spinball
- Lava Reef Zone, Sonic 3 & Knuckles
- Volcano Valley Zone, Sonic 3D Blast
- Red Mountain, Sonic Adventure
- Hot Crater, Sonic Advance 2
- Lava Shelter, Shadow the Hedgehog
- Egg Factory, Sonic Riders
- Flame Core, Sonic the Hedgehog '06