Behind the Screens Yuji Naka, producer of the original Sonic the Hedgehog, was flown over to the US to oversee production of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in the American-based Sega Technical Institute. This was probably due to the fact that the Genesis was much more popular in the US than it ever was in Japan, and the American audience was the primary focus. As magazines and other news sources strived to get info on the hottest game of 1992, many early screenshots were printed...screenshots of a version of the game that never made it to market. This "ghost" Sonic 2 changed drastically, to the point where the final version was unrecognizable from early screenshots. Different Zones, different Badniks, different character models, and different level-design. For years, the beta Sonic 2 was shrouded in mystery, with unclear rumor as the only info source. But now, thanks to the wonder of Genesis emulation, the myth may be beaten into reality. Here's some screenshots and info: Here's that cool title screen that was replaced with that really sucky one in the final version. There's something very funny about all of this... Green Hill in Sonic 2? Actually, it's just the Emerald Hill Zone. But what do you call that thing? It rolls along slowly, but when it sees you, it picks up the pace and chases you down. Looks kind of like those snail Badniks from the Quartz Quadrant Zone (Sonic CD), but it behaves differently. Weeeiiird... The Zone is also notably devoid of Coconuts. So this is the Wood Zone. My, how very...generic-looking. Which is probably why they pulled it out. Nothing to see here except some unfamiliar graphics...no Rings, no Badniks, and about three screens worth of level before you're blocked off. The Metropolis Zone is the same except for some drastically different level-design. And this interesting obstacle here... This sharp-looking thingie here chases Sonic through this pointy tunnel. I'm going, I'm going. Don't shove... I remember something like this from the Scrap Brain Zone... I died right after taking this screenshot. Here we go, my friends! The infamous Hidden Palace Zone! The original, not quite the version we've all played in Sonic & Knuckles... This is the most complete of the "cancelled" Zones in the demo...it's well-known that this level was taken out at the last minute. The reason is uncertain, but the Zone's music was left right in the Sound Test (song #10). This could've been such an awesome Zone... Does this screen look familiar? The links in this bridge light up as you run across them. Ooh, pretty! HELLO! The Master Emerald in Sonic 2? Well, this is the Hidden Palace Zone... Step on the button, and these checkered spheres pop up and roll down the oily slides. You could paste these items in the Sonic 2 "construction mode", but there weren't any in the final design. Dust Hill, schmust-hill. This is nothing more than a very nasty Mystic Cave Zone. The layout seems to be the same, but object placement is totally different and downright merciless. It's the Casino Night Zone, but definitely not how I remember it. Hm...almost looks like a 2D Twinkle Park, except not quite as pretty. Obviously, this level was very incomplete at this stage in development. For the most part, the Chemical Plant Zone is in its completed form (sans Badniks & certain obstacles). The Genocide City and Death Egg Zones don't work in this beta version, and the Neo Green Hill Zone is what we know as the Aquatic Ruin Zone. And just for the record, this site is not named after it like many folks think... ^_^ Despite an obviously shaky developmental period, the guys & gals over at STI apparently did something right, because Sonic the Hedgehog 2 went on to become the best-selling 16-bit game of all time. Infact, they did such a good job, we'll just nevermind that whole "blast processing" scam... Another interesting tidbit...the game's beautiful ending theme is actually based off of an equally as beautiful Dreams Come True song called "Sweet Sweet Sweet". If you're a Sonic fan who already knows the Sonic 2 ending theme by heart, I highly recommend checking out a "Sweet Sweet Sweet" MP3, because you're in for a real treat. You can find said MP3 ready for download at The Dream Avenue.

Emerald Hill Zone: Sparkling beaches with sugar white sand wrap around this island resort. Rolling hills make up the interior area of the tropical paradise, and palmtrees sway in the sea breezes.	Chemical Plant Zone: A massive factory that doubles as a city, this high-tech labyrinth of pipes and ducts has been deliberately flooded with a toxic lake of "Mega Mack".
Aquatic Ruin: Thick aquatic underbrush fills this Everglade-style region of shallow water and upraised hills. The overgrown ruins of an ancient civilization crumble in the sunken garden.	Casino Night Zone: Glowing neon lights and floating bumpers light up this massive casino city. The sparkling sea of stars above holds no shine over the exciting nightlife below.
Hill Top Zone: Teeter-totters and sliding platforms provide speedy transportation between heights on these mountain peaks. Boiling lava fills the pits and crevices below, while towering evergreens stand high above.	Mystic Cave Zone: Eerie flickering lights flare up around the dark passages in this massive underground cavern. Rails provide a steady path through the darkness in this Chaos Emerald dig site.
Oil Ocean Zone: An ocean of crude oil flows beneath the imposing towers in this refinery. Fans blow over metal floors slick with industrial fluids, and chutes channel excess petroleum into the sea of oil below.	Metropolis Zone Towering steel walls, spinning gears, and pumping pistons accent this massive industrial city. Giant corkscrews, rotating cylinders and bubbling lava add to the noise pollution in this loud plant.
Sky Chase Zone: Hop aboard the Tornado and give chase to Robotnik's massive Wing Fortress. But there's no time to enjoy the scenery, as these cloud banks are loaded with Badniks aiming to take you down...	Wing Fortress Zone: Whirling propellers, contstruction platforms and extreme firepower are the key concepts around this massive flying battleship.
Death Egg Zone: Two major Badniks lie waiting in this starbound battle fortress: the Silver Sonic, and Dr. Robotnik himself (in a very unfriendly machine)...	Special Stage: These colorful chutes are lined with Rings and Mines in various, wild formations. Collect the specified amount of Rings before the course ends to obtain the ultimate prize: a Chaos Emerald.

-- MIDI Collection -- Emerald Hill Zone -- Jarel Jones Chemical Plant Zone -- Steven King Aquatic Ruin Zone -- Koryan Casino Night Zone -- Koryan Hill Top Zone -- Jeff Read Mystic Cave Zone -- Koryan Oil Ocean Zone -- Koryan Metropolis Zone -- John Weeks Sky Chase Zone -- Jarel Jones Wing Fortress Zone -- Jeff Read Death Egg Zone -- John Weeks Emerald Hill Zone (vs) -- John Weeks Casino Night Zone (vs) -- John Weeks Mystic Cave Zone (vs) -- John Weeks Hidden Palace Zone -- Koryan Special Stage -- Koryan Robotnik's Theme -- John Weeks Final Boss -- Jeff Read Ending Theme -- Koryan Credits Music -- A.J. Freda Super Sonic -- John Weeks Versus Race Results -- John Weeks Options Screen -- John Weeks

-- Related Media -- · US cover · Japanese cover · European "Sega Classics" cover · Beta version cartridge · Beta version cover · Japanese manual art · The Tornado · Japanese manual cover · Japanese story (Part 1) · Japanese story (Part 2) · Japanese story (Part 3)

14 Continues: Go to the Sound Test and play the following tracks in this order: 1, 1, 2, 4. (November 24 was "Sonic Twosday", the game's US release.) Now highlight the "Player Select" option, and press START. You will start the game with the maximum limit of 14 continues. Change "Tails" to "Miles": In the area where your remaining lives are displayed, playing as Tails will have the name "Tails" in that space, of course. This can be changed to read "Miles" (Miles Prower is Tails' real name) by inputting the following sequence at the title screen: Up, Up, Up, Down, Down, Down, Up. You should hear a Ring chime if you've done it correctly. This is useless, but it's cute. Level-Select: Go to the Sound Test and play the following tracks in the following order: 19, 65, 09, 17. (August 17, 1965 was Yuji Naka's birthday.) You should hear a Ring chime. Go back to the title screen. Hold down A and press START. Construction Mode: Input the level-select code. Go to the new Sound Test and play the following tracks in the following order: 1, 9, 9, 2, 1, 1, 2, 4. (November 24, 1992 was "Sonic Twosday", the game's US release.) Now, hold down A and select your level. Controls are as follows: A = Changes highlighted item. B = Toggles between items and Sonic. C = Places highlighted item. Auto Super Sonic: Input the level-select code. At the new Sound Test, play the following tracks in the following order: 4, 1, 2, 6. You should hear the Chaos Emerald sound. Now select your Zone. Once you have obtained 50 Rings, jump in the air.

Beta version screenshots taken by Jared "Green Gibbon!" Matte. Final version screenshots thanks to Jonathan "WB" Gray. Genesis version shown. Box covers from Sega Online and Sega Entertainment Universe. Information compiled and arranged by Jared "Green Gibbon!" Matte.