Green Hill Zone (8-bit)

Green Hill Zone

First Zone, Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)
Number of Acts: 3
Boss: Robotnik (Green Hill Zone Boss 8-bit)

Green Hill Zone is the first zone on Sonic the Hedgehog for Game Gear and Sega Master System.

It is loosely based on Green Hill Zone from the Sega Genesis version of the game, which was the original.

The zone, again like its Genesis counterpart, is filled with rolling plains of green and jauntily colored flowers. It's not all natural goodness, though, as Robotnik has installed spike pits and set his ubiquitous robotic minions loose on the verdant landscape. Geographically speaking, the Zone is located on South Island.

Differences

The differences between the Genesis version and the Game Gear/Master System version are fairly obvious. Less dynamic colors, with limitations caused by the hardware of the SMS/GG.

The blue background of the MD game is now somewhat paler, and the plants in the background do not animate quite the same.

With regard to non-technical differences, underground tunnels containing water appear in Act 2, which are unlike anything in the Genesis version of this level.

Enemies

Moto Bug - Insect robots that scoot along the ground.
Crabmeat - Crab bot that shoots fireballs from its pincers
Buzz Bomber - Insect bot that shoots stinging fireballs

Walkthroughs

Act 1

This is the introductory level to the Sonic game. The first enemy is a Motobug on the ground, which you can either jump on or over, followed by a Crabmeat. To reach the end of the level, you must simply run from the left of the level to the right, avoiding obstacles, enemies, and spike-filled pits (which can be passed by jumping on small floating blocks in the air).

Act 2

You begin on the top left of the level, and as you walk to the right, Sonic trips and falls through the ground. You end up in a cave near a Crabmeat. Navigate to the cave floor, move through to the water pools at the bottom of the level, and climb up ledges to get to the top of the "mountain". As you climb back up the cave (after having bounced back out of the cave using a spring), you will need to enter a cave on the left (so as to reach the top of the level). Instead of using the spring to reach the top, jump over the spring, fall down the water fall, and fall down the next one. On a ledge is the Chaos Emerald.

Act 3

Run and avoid the pits. When you get to the top, Robotnik will fly around higher than can you reach for a bit and descend. This is when you hit him. Get out of the way — he will zoom off screen, then repeat the process. Hit him eight times to get rid of him.

Technical Information

Offset	Description
$627C	Green Hill palette
$628C	Green Hill cycling palette
$10000	Green Hill 32 x 32 mappings (184 tiles)
$155CA	Green Hill level header pointer
$15AB4	Sprite Layout for Green Hill 1
$15B00	Sprite Layout for Green Hill 2
$15B43	Sprite Layout for Green Hill 3
$32FE6	Header for Green Hill art
$32FEE	Line Pre-Load for Green Hill
$330EE	Line selection for Green Hill
$337A8	Green Hill art data