Difference between revisions of "Dust Hill Zone"
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'''Yasuhara''': "Dust Hill" was one of dropped levels from original plan of Sonic2. Sega of America did want to sell the game at Christmas time of that year, I had no choice, but decided to cut some levels out from original plan. So if Sega allowed me to use enough time to pursue the plan, The Dust Hill zone would be in the game. | '''Yasuhara''': "Dust Hill" was one of dropped levels from original plan of Sonic2. Sega of America did want to sell the game at Christmas time of that year, I had no choice, but decided to cut some levels out from original plan. So if Sega allowed me to use enough time to pursue the plan, The Dust Hill zone would be in the game. | ||
| − | '''Tweaker and Sik''': What kind of level was Dust Hill Zone? Did it represent any of the following images? If not, can you give any details about what it was supposed to be like? (images of both Dust Hill Zone and Mystic Cave are linked) | + | '''Tweaker and Sik''': What kind of level was Dust Hill Zone? Did it represent any of the following images? If not, can you give any details about what it was supposed to be like? (images of both Dust Hill Zone and Mystic Cave are linked) Also, feel free to give out any other information you might want to share. |
| − | + | ||
'''Yasuhara''': Ok, the DustHill zone is like [the Desert Level mockup image and video of hack].}} | '''Yasuhara''': Ok, the DustHill zone is like [the Desert Level mockup image and video of hack].}} | ||
Revision as of 17:02, 13 September 2008
Dust Hill Zone was the name given to desert level intended to be featured in Sonic 2, but was cut out of the game due to time constraints during the development of the game. It was referred to in a early concept sketch as "砂漠 Zone" (Sabaku Zone, literally Desert Zone). Based on the concept art published in magazines, it was going to take place in a typical southwest American desert and feature lots of sand. There are cacti in this level, and the Zone would have above ground and below ground sections.
In an interview it was stated that the level design for this level was completed before work on Wood Zone started.
Contents
Mockup Image
In the pictures above, the left and middle ones use inaccurate colours while the one on the right is using the correct colours. The middle one was printed on the back of a Sears, Roebuck and Co. Magazine from a November/December issue of 1992. None of these pictures were accompanied with a caption mentioning any level name.
Before its level artist Brenda Ross unveiled this screen was in fact a mockup image for promotional use, this could already be deduced based on three things:
- The HUD is not in italics, and a "08" instead of the typical "8" is shown.
- Sonic is off-centered in the photo.
- The running sprite uses a walking sprite from Sonic 1, which would be incorrect for the development timeline the picture was shown in.
Mystic Cave connection
It is assumed that no work on Dust Hill Zone had been done up to the Nick Arcade prototype of Sonic 2, as that ROM contains no information or references related to Dust Hill Zone. As of the Simon Wai prototype of Sonic 2, any remnants of Dust Hill Zone, had they ever been in the ROM, were removed. The slot the Zone was to be in had been replaced with Mystic Cave Zone. Many gaming magazines received prototypes of Sonic 2 for review, and some of these prototypes probably had a prototype level select screen similar to the Simon Wai prototype. Thus many magazines labeled Mystic Cave as Dust Hill Zone.
The "general view" of the words Dust Hill for years brought to mind a desert area hot and sandy, not a dark cavern such as Mystic Cave Zone. This is why it was often thought to be the unreleased desert level mentioned in concept art and mockups as seen above. Brenda Ross used the name Dust Hill in the first interview conducted by Deviance. Some believe that she came to call it that due to the common belief by several internet-goers which pelted her with questions about "Dust Hill" when her e-mail was made public. There was also a second interview with her conducted by Wetflame.
It was not until September 13, 2008 that Tweaker and Sik released evidence of Dust Hill Zone referring to this desert level. Via Chris Senn, they were able to get into contact with Hirokazu Yasuhara, the one person who would definitely be able to settle this once and for all:
| “ | Tweaker and Sik: What significance did the name "Dust Hill" have in regards to Sonic 2's development? Was it the original name for Mystic Cave Zone? Or was it supposed to be a conceptual name for the scrapped Desert Level?
Yasuhara: "Dust Hill" was one of dropped levels from original plan of Sonic2. Sega of America did want to sell the game at Christmas time of that year, I had no choice, but decided to cut some levels out from original plan. So if Sega allowed me to use enough time to pursue the plan, The Dust Hill zone would be in the game. Tweaker and Sik: What kind of level was Dust Hill Zone? Did it represent any of the following images? If not, can you give any details about what it was supposed to be like? (images of both Dust Hill Zone and Mystic Cave are linked) Also, feel free to give out any other information you might want to share. Yasuhara: Ok, the DustHill zone is like [the Desert Level mockup image and video of hack]. |
„ |
It was after this information was revealed that any speculation regarding the name Dust Hill was finally put to rest.
Other Zone connections
According to Brenda Ross and Tim Skelly (Art Director), most of the graphic tiles would be reused (with different colors) in a winter level. One of the possibilities was that Dust Hill Zone would change into a snow level half way through, but Tim Skelly explained: "There would have been two separate zones, spaced far enough apart so that the player wouldn't notice the repetition of the art."
As a side note, this level was originally planned as being the "present" time zone of another scrapped level, (Rock Zone), but the idea of time travel was quickly dropped and it's quite possible that it never got to be implemented in this game. Additionally, "砂漠 Zone/Desert Zone" and "Rock zone" are just descriptions, or working names, and not proper names of the zones.
Level Inclusion in ROM hacks
Several enthusiasts in the community, such as Esrael with his hack, Sonic 2 Delta, and Sonic Hachelle-Bee, with Sonic 2 Long Version, have used the image of this desert level to create full zones based on the artwork. These levels provide an alternative to perhaps understand how this level would have been had it moved past the concept stage.
Magazines which reference 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.
- Supergame (November 1992) - Dust Hill is the name given to the Mystic Cave section.
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.
- Unknown UK magazine - The name Dust Hill is not mentioned, but a screenshot of the level is.
- Videogame (Issue 20) - Dust Hill is used for the Mystic cave images.
- Sega Guide Clip (Before) and Sega Guide Clip (After) - Images of Dust Hill are shown. Mystic Cave is not mentioned.
