Hidden Palace Zone

Hidden Palace Zone
level, Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Number of Acts: 2, later 1 (incomplete)
Underwater areas: Yes

For the Hidden Palace Zone in Sonic & Knuckles, see Hidden Palace Zone (S&K). For drx's website, see Hidden Palace.

'Hidden Palace Zone is the most famous of the "lost levels" from Sonic 2 Simon Wai prototype, partly because it remains in a corrupted form on the final version of the cart, but also because of the number of magazines it was shown in. It is an underground level with water, featuring sparkling gems. There is a glowing bridge that is actually the same object as the bridge in Emerald Hill Zone but it checks the level number to make it glow. The idea of a bridge that will glow when Sonic runs on it was reused in Sonic 3s Icecap Zone. There is also a large ramp in the level that can't be climbed up (However, if a platform is placed on the ramp with debug mode it can be walked up normally). A second act can be accessed also, but it is nearly empty.

Many parts of the level were once grounds for debate, such as the so called "Master Emerald" which blocks a speed pipe. In actuality, this was meant to be just a breakable object similar to the ones found in Hill Top Zone.[1] There were also theories about the level being tied to Tails somehow, due to the Tails 1-up monitor in this level. The early Nick Arcade prototype also has Tails 1-up monitors in Green Hill Zone where the shield monitor should be. This proves that the Tails 1-up monitor in Hidden Palace Zone should really be a shield monitor and thus removes any ties to Tails in this level. There have been other theories about the level but most theories have been generally accepted as false. Some hacks, like Sonic 2 Delta, have attempted to restore the level using the graphics from the prototype version and level map and object data from the graphic-less version in the final release.

An interview with Yuji Naka later revealed that Hidden Palace Zone was originally intended to be a level where the player would be warped to after collecting the 7 Chaos Emeralds. Once there, they would recieve the power to morph into Super Sonic. The idea was ultimately killed and the ability was given to the player immediately[2]. In ICEknight's interview with Craig Stitt he mentioned that it started as two acts but then switched to a single act before being cancelled[3].

Tails 1-up Monitor

There was much speculation about the Tails 1-up monitor until the truth behind it was uncovered. The monitor designations were reassigned and the object subtype number for the Tails 1-up monitor was originally the object subtype number for Sonic 1-up monitor in Sonic 1. This was one of the first levels built and left untouched most of the development cycle since then, thus the old monitor was left in place (it was placed before the programming for the object subtypes was changed). Had the level been worked on further the original Sonic 1 1-up monitor would have been replaced with the new Sonic 2 1-up monitor instead. The shield monitor in the beginning was also presumably meant to be a 10 rings monitor, based on the changes in object subtype numbers.

In the Final Release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Hidden Palace is also playable in the final version of Sonic 2 if the Game Genie code ACLA-ATD4 is entered. From there enter the Level Select code (19, 65, 09, 17 in that order on Sound Test in Options) then go to the Level Select screen (A+Start at Main Menu while cursor is at "1 Player") and select Death Egg Zone. The level mainly is a green glitch with water at the bottom, and below the water is a bottomless pit. Interestingly the unused music track 10 from the sound test is played here. In many of the pre-releases of Sonic 2 another track is played. There is no end sign in the level so the only way to get to Act 2 is if a animal capsule is placed using the Debug Mode (1, 9, 9, 2, 1, 1, 2, 4 in that order at the Level Select Screen Sound Test and hold + on the highlighted level) and jumped on. When you get through both acts, you will come out at the Oil Ocean Zone.