Sonic 2's TWELVE Scrapped Zones

You probably already know about some of the scrapped zones in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. But did you know that a total of TWELVE zones went unused? Let's talk about them!
Special thanks:
The Video Game History Foundation: gamehistory.org
The Cutting Room Floor: tcrf.net
Sonic Retro: sonicretro.org
FCPlaythroughs - Sonic 2, Sonic Advance, and Sonic 3 Gameplay
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Xbox Live: CousinsSF
Music Used:
"Rusty Ruin Act 1" from Sonic 3D Blast (Saturn)
"Hidden Palace" from Sonic 2
"Hill Top" from Sonic 2
"Aquatic Ruin" from Sonic 2
"Ice Cap" from Sonic 3
"Egg Fortress Act 1" from Sonic Superstars
"History" from Sonic Mega Collection
#sonic #sonic2 #sonicthehedgehog #sonicthehedgehog2 #beta #unused #scrapped #sonic2024

[@Sb129Gaming]

It’s insane how many zones were cut from Sonic 2, it’s understandable since the game had less than a year in development

[@blowitbubber]

ye

[@TooGodlyforthisworld]

ye

[@vivrey]

ye

[@libyanhomie1186]

I heard that sonic 2 was planned for a 1993 release, to possibly fit all zones + scrapped zones, although there is little to no info supporting that statement

[@LightLife4]

Well if they'd been added we'd have more probably more than 13 levels. Also we wouldn't have had the levels that they were changed into

[@evdestroy5304]

Several of these scrapped stages were actually repurposed for Sonic 3K, as in they literally took the original concept art from Sonic 2, slightly tweaked them, and used them as a basis for several 3K stages. Hidden Palace obviously became Hidden Palace, Wood Zone became Mushroom Hill, and the desert and snow levels presumably became Sandopolis and Ice Cap. Death Egg also became Death Egg, obviously.

[@heftyrumble]

And in the concept art for Blue Ocean Zone, we can see something similar to Hydro City (or Hydrocity) Zone's water tunnels

[@LocalRetroNerd]

​@@heftyrumbleit looks more like azure lake

[@SirDavid290]

Ciber city went on to be used as a level for Spinball

[@Fughckyou822]

Tropical Plant became Angel Island

[@amandadraws8682]

​@@heftyrumbleBut new Sonic games have entirely different level design style. A Desert level in Sonic 3 wont play like a Sonic 2 level.

[@thebeard9392]

Actually, the inspiration for Vector's design was one of Sonic's original band members, who was a green crocodile wearing headphones and played keyboard.

[@PhantomOfficial07]

p sure that WAS vector. or at least an early version of him

[@PilaCiu]

His name was literally Vector

[@kriioflame2249]

That was also Vector

[@chocov1233]

​@@PhantomOfficial07Vector is the 3rd or 4th oldest Sonic character, alonside Eggman, Mighty, and Sonic, in that order.

[@LilyPlaysGames214]

We Need Sonic 5, containing vector and amy and trip!, alongside knuckles, sonic, and tails. YES 6 PLAYER!!!

[@Brawlsonic18VA_andDubs]

6:35 It turns out,Ocean Wind is not an early version of Emerald Hill. If you look at the concept art for the island map design of the present. You can see that "Green Hill Zone" (which then turned into Emerald Hill Zone) and "Ocean Wind Zone" are actually split up,meaning they are not the same zone. Ocean Wind Zone was supposed to be the second zone of the game,taking place after completing Green Hill/Emerald Hill and the next stage after Ocean Wind was Wood Zone.

[@goofyahhafcat]

Probably combined them

[@caseyblox4674]

Is no one talking about 06 the first level is ocean wind zone?

[@amandadraws8682]

Ocean Wind was the 2nd level. The Sonic 2 original level order was revealed

[@jaxer6893]

A few corrections: -Sand Shower wasn't going to "turn into Rock World" mid-level, it was planned to be a completely separate zone that simply shared graphical assets, think of Emerald Hill and Hill Top. Those maps reveal that Rock World was the past version of Sand Shower, just like Hill Top was meant to be a past version of Emerald Hill. -Neither Ocean Wind or Tropical Sun were early versions of Emerald Hill, as they occupy different spots on the world map. Ocean Wind Zone was seemingly inspired by Master System Sonic 1's Bridge Zone, as both were the games' second levels with a bridge setting. Tropical Sun Zone was set to be the first zone you visit in the past. -That level layout sketch with the marine animals might not belong to Blue Ocean. It's the most likely candidate currently, but it's important to note that its palmtrees look very similar to the ones seen in Tropical Sun's concept art. Also, the concept art shows a seemingly ridable submarine moving along a set path, so many people also assume that it could've been the inspiration for Sky Chase. -Olympus was not set to be a regular level, note how its name on the map is in an oval rather than a box, and the lack of a -Zone suffix. It's speculated to have been a cutscene-only area where Sonic travels back into the future. Some people assume that it was cut very early on before any progress was made, while others assume that it was an early version of Hidden Palace. The maps show Olympus being a past version of Oil Ocean, while an enemy design document from Tom Payne suggests that Hidden Palace was set to have the same enemies as Oil Ocean. This same document suggests that Emerald Hill/Hill Top and Sand Shower/Rock World were also meant to share enemies, which is why people believe in said theory.

[@frontierdx]

I really wish we got these levels in the original release. It’s crazy how many unused levels there are in Sonic 2.

[@nathansos8480]

Well, with the power of *FANGAMES* this can be achieved!

[@OmarEssawyGD]

@@nathansos8480 but theyre just, not the same :(

[@OmarEssawyGD]

hopefully when we find out every information necessary to do it, someone can make a fan game thats sonic 2 if unused stages existed

[@MysticMike]

Its been stated that Tom Payne who created Genocide City Zone, which was scrapped due to lack of time and that Zone became the third Act of Metropolis Zone.

[@amandadraws8682]

Genocide City had 3 acts

[@amandadraws8682]

Metropolis Zone Act 3is missing many of the gimmicks from Genocide City. Such as the turrets and fans blowing the player all over Wing Fortress Zone has some of those gimmicks but Metropolis Zone Act 3 is a mess because it combined stuff that didnt fit.

[@Some_Cat_]

Vector existed before the release of the first game. He was seen in concept art as the keyboardist in a band with sonic as the singer. This is why Sonic Generations has a challenge stage where vector plays a keyboard and it's why Sonic is seen singing with a microphone at the end of the first 8- bit sonic game.

[@user-mo2gb8ez8d]

1:59 No, that's not how it was originally was to access to Hidden Palace. You have to get 7 Chaos Emeralds to get to there according to the concept

[@mehiloll]

Sonic 2 is probably the most nostalgic classic game for me. It’s also probably my favorite classic sonic game out of the original 4.

[@basilplushie2534]

3"

[@mehiloll]

@@basilplushie2534 Sonic 1, CD, 2, and 3. That’s *four.* I’m counting CD as one of them.

[@basilplushie2534]

@@mehiloll good that didn't include sonic 4

[@Bp12s]

fun fact: metropolis act 3 was originally the cyber city level, but for unknown reasons it was changed to the third act of metropolis

[@alptugraakan7490]

Cause its first name was genocide city zone and genocide means manslaughter+mayber time constrains

[@caseyblox4674]

I think the reason why it's was scraped maybe it was do to time

[@Cortez_blast]

We were going to have ice cap before ice cap 4:55

[@gensteps923]

Wood zone looked so freaking good. Also I love that original desert zone concept, mirage saloon is a freaking awesome compromise to never having gotten it.

[@SparklingJam]

If all those zones were put in then sonic 2 would of released in the year sonic 3 did

[@lilrobofella9500]

4:00 funny story but Vector was planned for sonic 1, him and a band, along with sonic would've played when you accessed the sound test, but unfortunately it was scrapped and Vector would later appear in Chaotix

[@tlst94]

What would've been like if only one Sonic game came out for each console? Like Sonic 1 in 1986 for the Master System. Then Sonic 2 in 1991 for the Genesis. Then Sonic 3 in 1996 for the Saturn. And Sonic 4(SA1) in 2001 for the Dreamcast. Each being really ambitious with a 5-year development cycle.

[@gamedestroyer112]

This vid deserves more recognition. Also we barely get any vids on scrapped sonic zones...

[@AxZelAnimations30]

There's that weird nostalgia I feel with Mystic Cave Zone's 2 Player and Track 10 music. Years later apparently they are somehow connected to a classic unused content. Also ironically that you are stuck in spiked pit as Super Sonic, which somehow feels intentional now.

[@knowingjordankid]

Sonic 2 did have some lost levels in Sonic 2 and the Zones look really cool, I heard some of these lost levels in Sonic 2. SEGA was for sure doing some improvements with Sonic 2 and they made a lot of progress in some of the lost levels but they decided not to release it. Great SF Productions)

[@gamedestroyer112]

Also I watched the VGF vid. It's very good. Tho very long.

[@mr.avocado8582]

I'm surprised you didn't mention, the actual fully completed Hidden Palace Zone from the beta version in the 2013 Version of Sonic 2 (renamed Proto Palace) unfortunately it didn't make it in the Origins Version also there's Egg Gauntlet, a unused Boss Rush Zone (also from the 2013 Version of Sonic 2)

[@ForestCore]

Seeing how similar cyber city and metropolis zone are, cyber city might've actually been the 3rd act of metropolis especially since it has only one act layout.

[@theangrycolossal]

Some of the developer comments originally featured in Sonic Jam say this was the case, actually. There was meant to be a one-act level that got scrapped and they figured since they had the layout finished they appended it on to Metropolis

[@theanonymousgamer4638]

Would've been really cool if the scrapped levels in Sonic 2 could have been remade in the Christian Whitehead port like how Hidden Palace Zone was remade.

[@theshredshow2639]

Glad some mechanics saw the light of day in sonic cd…kind of

[@UltraSTH]

They could make an entire game with these

[@zachpro5475]

3:44 technical no desert palace zone in sonic 3 before and knuckles

[@Emberdoor]

3:45 finaly someone understands that sandopolis is the first desert level in sonic history. There was a scraped level in sonic cd remeaster that people thought that will be the first desert level and some people think mirage salon in sonic mania was the first desert level XD

[@bubbykins4864]

However, they did get the winter theme zone thing wrong, since Icy Isle released in 1993 alongside the other zones in _SegaSonic the Hedgehog:_ Volcanic Vault, Desert Dodge, Trap Tower, Landslide Limbo, Wild Water Way, and Eggman's Tower. The individual responsible for this video also wondered, and perhaps still does wonder, if a scrapped badnik from _Sonic the Hedgehog 2_ was inspiration for the design of a cut character from the original _Sonic the Hedgehog_ released in 1991 for the Sega Genesis, with the most rereleases between the three Sonic games simply titled _Sonic the Hedgehog,_ so it's only mistake #2.

[@SpeederLight]

Oh wow I didn't know there were alot of lost levels 😅 Such a good video 😁

[@ChibiTails]

One note you barely missed is that the pit you fall into to reach Hidden Palace Zone is *THE* Pit. As in, that inescapable spiked floor that became infamous for people getting stuck there as Super Sonic and having to wait for their rings to run out.

[@eljaminlatour6633]

Also Sonic 2's scrapped time travel mechanic became used in Sonic CD. Another thing to mention, since Genocide City/Cyber City was scrapped from Sonic 2, the Cyber City we get is Metropolis Zone Act 3. The reason why Desert Dazzle was scrapped from Sonic CD was because the staff of Sega were against that idea because they don't want the remaster to stray too far away from the original game, but Desert Dazzle could work, maybe it could replace the missing R2 level, and the scrapped Hidden Palace Zone from Sonic 2 inspired the Hidden Palace Zone from Sonic and Knuckles.

[@tomc1384]

As someone who was active on the old Simon Wai Sonic 2 Beta website and the community that sprung up around that almost 25 years ago, it is incredibly satisfying to see this video summarize all of the content that has been discovered since then. Fantastic video!

[@edogganimations9633]

If feel strangely honored for having the gifs of wood zone and sand shower zone I made for the tcrf be used here lol

[@SFproductions1]

Yoooo?! Good work 🫡

[@kevintbobomb]

funny seeing you here

[@edogganimations9633]

@@kevintbobomb oh hey

[@Themasktrooper]

Ocean Wind and Tropical Sun does resemble Tropical Isle from Sonic Superstars

[@blakfloyd]

Excellent video! Thank you for making it.

[@3face857]

Speaking of time travel, Hill Top was originally a past act of Emerald Hill, it was later changed into a completely different zone which focused on verticality.

[@prismavoid3764]

Cyber City is such a fascinating case. According to what the VGHF have found, it looks like the original plan was for Cyber City to be its own unique two-act zone with its own unique gimmicks, but once time ran out, they decided to reduce it to just a one-act zone that would reuse gimmicks and enemies from Metropolis to save time, only for even that to end up being too much since the art couldn't be finished in time, finally resulting in it just becoming Metropolis Zone Act 3. It's so fascinating how the team repeatedly tried to rework Cyber City to fit with the limited time they had, but in the end nothing was enough and it had to be scrapped.

[@KrheanosIsland]

Your editing is getting better

[@phorchybug3286]

5:24 No wonder they call it genocide city

[@MightyTheArmadillo_YouTube]

I don't wanna be that guy, but if we count games not on the Genesis, SegaSonic The Hedgehog had the first desert level, not Sonic and Knuckles. Overall tho, great video! Love the format and editing!

[@prolygamesstudios3443]

if you don't wanna be that guy, then why did you become that guy? 💀💀💀💀💀

[@The_123Gamer]

1:33 I'm pretty certain this icon still shows up in the retail release in the level select, as well as the music I believe

[@JamesRoblox440]

the fact that neo green hill is from sonic advance is just amazing ✨

[@shadaneanimates]

Vector was conceptualized way before the first Sonic game entered development, so I doubt that crocodile badnik inspired his design, it's more likely the other way around.

[@SillySnake-lt1ls]

Basically a list of zones for a Sonic game with all of Sonic 2's scrapped zones (my own list so make your own if you disagree with something): Ocean Wind, Madness Mountain, Wood, Blue Lake, Tropical Summer, Emerald Isle, Sand Shower, Rock World, Winter, Hidden Palace, Olympus, Cyber City (I'll edit this comment if I get something wrong. Also, I consider Sand Shower and Dust Hill separate, but I don't want to start a war in the replies😂).

[@2DCheese]

I've always known "Sand Shower Zone" as "Dust Hill Zone"

[@Doreai]

I remember seeing footage / images of Hidden Palace Zone and Wood Zone, they really looked like they would have been fun stages to play in Sonic 2. Wood Zone especially, I was always a fan of jungle / forest themed stages in video games like this.

[@caseyblox4674]

Is it modded or not?

[@494Supersonic]

I love the old days

[@moneygrabbercodswollop8133]

For Hidden Palace, it’s amazing that where to activate it is basically the spike trap in the original non-remake version

[@dnakatomiuk]

I grew up during the Nintendo Vs Sega war and not actually knowing S2 had levels cut it's a shame. It was crazy because sonic 2s launch had massive advertising from Sega and magazines. It was one of of the most anticipated games for Mega Drive, it sold well and yet it was still an awesome game. The Music for normal Sonic 2 was fantastic especially Mystic Cave omg what a tune and metropolis zone which had 3 acts. One has to wonder if all levels should have 3 acts but got cut to time/production constraints

[@prihamdebnath7816]

Actually the sms version of Sonic 1 does have a world map before a level starts

[@redchan_ebooks]

Maybe I'm boring, but I've always wanted to see Wood Zone and Sand Shower Zone finished

[@amarait2]

i want to mention aquatic ruin felt like an unfinished zone, it was so horrible. also there are romhacks with these scrapped zones, ive played through most of them and they were pretty good.

[@ayobamiodetoyinbo7418]

They should have released sonic 2 the lost levels

[@ashasalany]

That Hidden Palace music is one of the most beautiful tracks in video game music, period.

[@thesupermegagamer8397]

It honestly sucks that even though death egg is in sonic 2, we didn’t get a full level. Just spawn, beat silver sonic, run, beat death egg robot, win game

[@FrolicBTH_Official]

Fun fact: The Hidden Palace Zone name was reused in Sonic 3 & Knuckles after Lava Reef Zone.

[@AlphaDango]

Blue Ocean Zone actually reminds me a bit of Hydrocity with this underwater tube that sucks you in and that badnick fish

[@xRocketzFighterx]

If I remember right (might be having a mandella effect) Vector was ment to be in Sonic 1 as part of Sonic's band in the sound test.

[@MisterPoleyYT]

hidden palace is almost exactly how i imagine sonic cd's dubious depths/relic ruins/ridicule root/r2 zone

[@Kratos7560]

Sega could make a good amount of revenue by getting the OG team for Sonic 2 and remaking it into its envisioned state. Many fans already know of the many unused zones, and to see them fully realized into a complete game would be a no-brainer.

[@Kookie_13_]

While I’m not disappointed with what we got it’s a shame to see all these ideas put to waste, I know the devs can’t do everything and I think sega did give them a little bit of time crunch(tho don’t quote me on that), hidden palace would be a great way to balance out the super forms so any random person can turn super

[@AlphaAurora]

Wow, a lot of the concepts went into Sonic 3&K. Even the better "island" art in the background. Admittedly, the Island map and Jungle Zone theme are both from Sonic 1 on the 8-bit Master/Game Gear systems.

[@AgentLazarus]

I remember playing this when it first released and I went to sound test after beating the game, and it weirded me out that song number 10 was never in the game. I always suspected that the song was part of the level that was not in the game. Then much later in 2006, I found out that I was right.

[@Brianycus]

You ever wonder how we get access to these zones? Like where do we get the original source code of these zones?

[@SFproductions1]

Well Hidden Palace and Wood Zone are found in the Simon Wai prototype of Sonic 2 that leaked online.

[@TheMan-ht5uq]

I think Olympus is actually an early Hidden Palace because its position on the map corresponds with Oil Ocean on the Now 2 map, and there is a lot of evidence that Oil Ocean was planned to be the ruined version of Hidden Palace (similar color scheme of yellow, purple, and green, water/ oil slides, similar tiles like stairs, and the possibility that the oil falling in the background was meant to parallel the waterfalls in the background of Hidden Palace).

[@shadow_rider_is_cool]

0:44 Hidden Palace Zone 2:11 Wood Zone 3:26 Sand Shower Zone 4:32 Rock World Zone 5:16 Genocide City Zone 6:28 All of the rest

[@cardinalcar]

They should honestly release a version with the lost zones or make a whole new game with those zones. There’s definitely enough

[@RylieCoombe]

The Sky Chase music was originally for Rock World Zone

[@I-will-never-too-be-seen-again]

Sand shower was actually named dust hill, which is now known as mystic cave

[@UltraZelda64]

I wish Sega would create a temporary "Super Sonic Team" consisting of as many of original developers as possible who were involved in the original Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic 2, have them all sit down together and completely redo the game, bringing a *truly* finished version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, including all the lost mechanics like time travel and scrapped zones. It might be two or three times as long as the original if it truly was as ambitious as it's said to be, but man... that would be amazing.

[@ekaterinamaroshkina5043]

Fun fact: in mobile sonic 2 there's hidden palace zone. You have to jump to a hole in mystic cave zone act 2 to reach it

[@heitorsant1759]

That's a whole ass game jesus

[@chezluis5542]

Wood Zone: Works on Genesis. Hidden Palace/Proto Palace: Works on Genesis? Sand Shower: Maybe Forgotten Or On Genesis. Tip: i think all of them is Genesis. Rock World: Idk. Genocide City: Its Completed On Genesis i think Unused Levels: Can Be Seen On Sonic Origins Artbook Edit 1: Press This Button If You Saw This Edit 2: Please it Taked me alot of time to do this 👇 Please Like It 👍

[@mi1key]

i wish these were playable (not all of them but at least some of them besides hidden palace) in s2 mobile also vector wasnt inspired by that enemy, seeing how he goes all the way back to scrapped sonic ONE art ( im talking about 4:00)

[@andrewchapman4267]

I could’ve sworn I played Hidden Palace in the original Sonic 2 on Megadrive. It is of course on the android version but I thought I could remember the secret way to access it through the hole in the Mystic Cave level on the Megadrive game. Perhaps my memory is playing tricks!

[@Andrews_Studio]

4:09 ermmm actually Vector's design was made way before Sonic 2

[@user-ef6xh8pl8g]

I know hidden palace but every else I don’t know

[@thedinobros1218]

I honestly feel sad that Wood Zone, Olympus Zone, and Blue Ocean Zone were scrapped, they would’ve been unique concepts.

[@jacknjellify_arabic]

oh wow! i subcribed on your channel

[@Snorlax0912]

I think Gyakusatsu City is a cool level name

[@ChimpManZ1264]

At least the time travel happened in Sonic CD but just imagine how different the lore would have been about Sonic becoming his super form. The original plan tells a story that he journeys through time to discover a hidden power under threat to fall into the wrong hands but instead we have a lore where the 6 emeralds chaos control to West Island and try to guide Sonic to the hidden 7th that realises his super form. A lot of Sonic 3 seems inspired by the hidden palace part though where they create a guardian character for the game. If the original Sonic 2 had happened I don't think we would of had Knuckles.

[@Blotling360]

Vector was gonna be in Sonic 1

[@travv88]

The Pokemon anime song of "Viridian City", but instead it's Genocide City.

[@thuggeegaming659]

The Sonic fandom website is not really accurate with the naming of Sand Shower Zone. The citation it provides for that stage shows Brenda Ross refer to the zone as Dust Hill Zone in a 2001 interview, which is how it was always known. This is the first time I'm hearing it being called Sand Shower Zone. Some more digging shows that the zone didn't have an official name, and she just referred to it a "the desert level".

[@ThatGuyVelvety]

TWELVE?!?!?!!? THERE’S TWELVE UNUSED LEVELS?!?!?!?! damn.

[@amandadraws8682]

Missing Sonic 2 levels repurposed in Sonic 3 is one thing. But Sonic 3 has extended (if padded) level design. Sonic 2 has a collection of short yet condensed levels. Sonic 2 has a "feel" Sonic 3 doesnt have.

[@TerribleChannel69420]

I kinda wish some of these stages made it Sonic 2 is my favourite but compared to other sonic games alot of the zones are *bland* and more simple/boring than others in a sense. A wooden zone or some sort of snow theme wouldve been awesome, really wish more of these made the cut

[@user-sr7tn5vd4d]

Wood zone wood been amazing

[@chaphidoesstuff]

Epic

[@crimsonamogsus7351]

They should have made a 4th Sonic game on the genesis that included all of these levels, and Knuckles.

[@arzfan29]

They need a sonic 2 remake with all cut zones finished

[@JoshHarris-ld5yc]

We already know what cyber city game play look like since it got recycled to Metropolis act 3

[@lepopcornnaisseur546]

I thought some level graphics from Genocide City Zone got reused for one of the stages in Sonic Spinball?

[@Squished-Adam12427]

Fun fact: in the 2013 mobile ver. Of sonic 2 in mistic cave act 2 if you to a hole next to unactevated bridge youl fall to hidden pallace zone😮

[@Screensonic2015]

I like hidden palace zone I wonder what egg man’s mobile look like

[@Hellonice1234]

You should make a ranking of all the 2D sonic games

[@turbotheo69]

Fun Fact: Sand Shower Is Also Known As Dust Hill

[@suriyanphotirat211]

Tips: Sonic 2 Mania has that Genocide city zone.

[@AmberLB93]

The name Genocide City is cursed, but iirc it happened because of a language barrier, the devs were not fully fluent in English and didn't realize how off it sounded in English. Cyber City is a better and more fitting name, and isn't cursed.

[@GodsLeastFavorite-vs3xv]

If Sonic the Hedgehog was released nowadays Twit- i mean the 25th letter of the alphabet would lose their mind if they heard that Genocide City was in a Sonic game. Sonic the fictional Hedgehog would be cancelled on the 25th letter of the alphabet. Hedgehogs all together would be cancelled.

[@thesupermegagamer8397]

Sorry, but that snow level is actually called winter zone. Rock world is an entirely different level.

[@Oysterblade84]

''Sonic The Lost Worlds'' is a hack that has a zone called ''Rock Zone'' the art and tileset is totally different and doesn't seem to ripped from anything else, though the badniks are recycled from Hill Top Zone.