Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)/Hidden content

Unused Special Stage Icons

"Zone" Icons

Found in the object list for the special stages, and its graphics found in the ROM, these unused special stage icons have no known use. They're labeled for Zones 1-6, implying that they may have warped you to another Zone from within the special stage as a sort of shortcut.

1-up Icon

Extra life icon for the special stages. It's listed in the manual for the game, but it never actually appears in any of the special stages. It is, however, fully functional, and you can place it in any special stage, provided you know how to edit them.

"W" Icon

Strange icon with the letter W on it. Use is unknown, and has no function when placed in-game.

Spring Yard Graphics

This unused graphic can be found in the tileset for Spring Yard Zone. It is unused in the final game, and can be found in several prototype screenshots shown in magazine previews.

Unused Monitors

Robotnik

Does nothing. Is likely intended to hurt the player, as it does in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)'s 2-player mode.

Goggles

Does nothing. Most likely went with the unused Goggle graphics found in the ROM.

Static

Does nothing. Found in various areas of [{Scrap Brain Zone]] in areas where the player can not normally access (such as inside walls).

"S"

Does nothing. This monitor also appears in a Sonic CD prototype, where it grants the player extra speed and invincibility at the same time. Perhaps that was the intended effect here as well?

Splats the Bunny

Graphics for an scrapped badnik, found in the ROM. Splats was listed in a strategy guide for the game, but was never actually featured in-game. He has no object in the ROM, and only the graphics exist.

Unused Warping Effect

Thought to be the original method of accessing the special stage, this warp effect activates when Sonic touches the area in which the object is placed. Sonic disappears as he runs into it, and a warping noise plays. Sonic then reappears a few seconds later, likely as a method of testing the object.

Goggles

The graphics were found hidden in the ROM. While the actual purpose of the goggles is unknown, it is speculated that they were meant to give Sonic the ability to breathe underwater.

Each frame of the graphic fits together with one of Sonic's poses. For example: File:Sonicgoggles run.gif

Unused Eggman Graphics

These graphics were found buried in the ROM. Their purpose is unknown, but it is speculated that they may be part of an "alternate ending sequence" in which Eggman explodes in the background while Sonic runs across the ending level in victory.