Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)/Development

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

Prototype screenshots

AutoDemo screenshots

These screenshots are consistent with the content seen in the Sonic 2 AutoDemo, and were most likely captured from that release.

• 
• 
• 
• 

  This map was stitched together by a magazine via individual screenshots, and turned out to be quite accurate.

• 
• 
• 
• 

Under Ground Zone

• 

  Wheels can be seen sparking. Different life icon, along with the lack of a ring icon. HUD is smaller than usual. Possible mockup.

Sky High Zone

• 

  Prototype screenshots show Sky High and Green Hills using some very basic checkered floors, similar to Sonic 1.

• 

  There's palette differences and more trees than in the final game too.

• 

  The checkerboard style is used in the opening cutscene, the ending and can be seen scrolling in the title card animations.

• 

  Blue rings? Early graphics for the clouds are seen here.

Aqua Lake Zone

• 

  A slightly different title card, with Sonic and Tails jumping onto a different type of floor.

• 

  Checkerboard floor and different palette for being underwater within the 2nd act. Found on the outside of a US Sonic 2 Game Gear bundle box.

• 
• 

Green Hills Zone

• 

  This image is thought to be a mockup, as far too many sprites are being rendered at once, for the hardware, the boss (and Robotnik) do not appear in this zone and there are a great deal more rings (in addition to the differing HUD, with the timer staying the same when compared to the possible mockup of Under Ground Zone, mentioned earlier).

• 

  A later build with finalized trees, alas with the rest of the graphics yet to be redone.

• 

  Found in Sega Visions: Issue August/September 1992.

Miscellaneous

• 

  Title screen with rearranged copyright information and no ™ symbol.