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Difference between revisions of "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)/Development"

From Sonic Retro

(Emerald Hill Zone)
(WTF This is not the same title screen you idiots)
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Image:mag_compare8a.png|Title screen found in manual.
 
Image:mag_compare8a.png|Title screen found in manual.
Image:mag gamepro 2.jpg|Same Title screen in color.
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Image:mag gamepro 2.jpg|Older Title screen without the menu.
 
Image:mag_compare10a.jpg|Different level select screen.
 
Image:mag_compare10a.jpg|Different level select screen.
 
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Revision as of 10:34, 4 September 2008

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has gone through several changes over its development process. There are several rejected ideas, levels, and other things that were left on the cutting room floor. The following details several of these things.

Prototype Versions

Several prototypes have been found over the years. The first prototype discovered, the Simon Wai prototype, found by Simon Wai, is famous for its deleted levels. This particular prototype was stolen during a toy show in New York in 1992 according to Yuji Naka. It was recently stated in an interview with Yuji Naka that this beta was from a demonstration cartridge that was stolen at a toy show in New York in 1992.[1]

Another much earlier beta was found by drx and looks similar to the one featured on the TV show Nick Arcade. This was followed later by drx's discovery and release of five more betas, named Beta 4, Beta 5, Beta 6, Beta 7, and Beta 8. These seem to be very similar to the final version.

Time Travel

The concept of Time Travel in Sonic 2 was referred to in early concept art, as well as several gaming magazines including a August 1992 EGM article. Only past and present timezones are referred to in the concept art, so it may not have had as many alternate time zones as Sonic the Hedgehog CD. It isn't known at what point the time travel concept was dropped, but the 1992 EGM article refers to the game as being 40% complete whilst mentioning time travel being associated with the game. The concept art refers to the scrapped level Rock Zone as being the past version of the scrapped Desert Zone.


Allusions to Time Travel in the Simon Wai prototype
Although time travel is not present whatsoever in the final game there are possible leftovers in the Simon Wai prototype that indicate it was present in the game at one point.

Deleted Levels

Hidden Palace Zone

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was originally envisioned to have many more levels than those included in the final version. Three levels, Wood Zone, Hidden Palace Zone, and Genocide City Zone, were found in the the "Simon Wai prototype" in unfinished form. There was also a desert themed level which had a single mockup image printed in several gaming magazines but was dropped very early in the games development. Lastly, two other levels, Winter level and Rock Zone, were also dropped early in development and the only references to their existence come from concept art and interviews by Sonic Team staff members. More info on these Zones can be found in their respective articles.

Concept Art

The following is concept art for the game which doesn't fit in any of the preceding sections. The Tails concept art was found in the Sonic 1 segment of a "History of Sonic" documentary. It is possible that the image was used in the wrong segment as directly preceding this image is someone flipping through a art book and one page clearly displays a logo for Sonic 2.

Levels

Enemies

Early Game Design

These scans come from various magazines. Many things found in these images can be found in the multiple Sonic 2 prototypes that have been discovered. For in depth comparisons of which prototypes contain what is seen in the scans see Magazine Preview Scans.

Various

Emerald Hill Zone

Aquatic Ruin Zone

Casino Night Zone

Hill Top Zone

Mystic Cave Zone

Hidden Palace Zone

Wood Zone

Desert Zone

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