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R2

From Sonic Retro

Revision as of 18:22, 3 March 2013 by MathUser (talk | contribs) (Design)
Sonic CD prototype 510 level select, with level 2 missing. The final level select can be seen here.

R2 is a reference to a deleted level from Sonic CD. Proving its existence is possible by examining the game files on a PC. When examining the level files the levels skip from R1 (level 1) to R3 (level 3), there is no R2 to be found. Its existence is also proven by using the level select menu. When switching between levels it skips from level 1 to level 3, again leaving out level 2. In an interview with Jim Tretheway it was stated that the level was likely cut as it didn't meet quality standards[1].

Based on the missing files name, the level would have been placed between Palmtree Panic and Collision Chaos. Judging from the level selection it would have been 3 Acts.

Design

SCDconcept-R2RainbowWaterfalls.jpg

The above concept art shows what was very likely intended to be the missing R2 level. The concept art was released in the Sonic CD developer's diary video, uploaded by SegaEurope onto Youtube on November 29, 2011.[2] A picture of the concept art as it appears in the video can be seen here. The Taxman, developer of the 2011 port claimed this concept art was R2.[3] The uncut extended ending video, which was released later also shows what R2 was intended to look like. The video shows a ruins area with a enemy bursting out of the ground. A still image from the video can be seen here.

What can be gathered from the concept art is that it had structures like the Aquatic Ruin Zone of Sonic 2. Also rainbow waterfalls.

Enemies

Three enemies are known to belong to the R2 level according to The Taxman. This includes the Antion from the uncut ending video, the Worm from concept art, and the Drill Armed enemy also from concept art. Also speculated to belong to R2 is a concept art featuring Robotnik in a machine. The concept art is found below.

Former-Theories

  • Note: This section contains fan speculation.

There has been much speculation as to what this missing level might have been; a popular theory was that the ruins area seen in the uncut extended ending video depicted it, although this clip could represent Tidal Tempest, as it was the only stage not to have a sequence in the final version of the video.

There was also speculation that R2 could be a desert level as a large desert can be found on the world map used in the PC version. When the bad future music is played the cactus turns into a Metal Tower.

It was also speculated that R2 was set to be Tidal Tempest, as this level is based on Labyrinth Zone in Sonic 1, which was originally intended to be the second zone. The initial releases of Sonic 1 continued to show a level select that reflected this. It was thought possible that R2 was reserved for Tidal Tempest, but when the team was told Labyrinth was moved to another slot, they too moved Tidal Tempest development to another slot and left R2 empty. Equally possible is that merely the same situation occured: Tidal Tempest was originally to be the second level, but was later moved, and the second slot never filled.

It was also thought possible that the Bonus Stage could have been R2 if it had been in the R2 slot at one point. There was also another Bonus Stage shown in one of the cutscenes. Although if any of these were R2 then that would mean the prototype level select screen included 2 zones too many.


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