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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis)

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Title Screen

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Developers: Sonic Team, Sega Technical Institute
Publishers: Sega (JP/US/EU), Tec Toy (BR)
Platform: Genesis
Released in JP: November 21, 1992
Released in US: November 24, 1992
Released in EU: November 24, 1992
Released in KR: November 21, 1992


AreasIcon.png This game has unused areas.
GraphicsIcon.png This game has unused graphics.
MusicIcon.png This game has unused music.
SoundIcon.png This game has unused sounds.
DebugIcon.png This game has debugging material.
LevelSelectIcon.png This game has a hidden level select.
Carts.png This game has revisional differences.


ProtoIcon.png This game has a prototype article
PrereleaseIcon.png This game has a prerelease article
NotesIcon.png This game has a notes page
BugsIcon.png This game has a bugs page

Hmmm...
To do:
Most of the removed zones can be found here in some form, except for Blue Lake (which was present but unused in the Simon Wai build). Check if there are any leftovers.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the sequel to the first game, which introduces Miles "Tails" Prower, the iconic Spin Dash, the idea of robot versions of Sonic, and an actual reward for collecting all six seven Chaos Emeralds, the golden-quilled Super Sonic. A large number of interesting things were cut from the final version, such as the mysterious and ever-famous level, the Hidden Palace Zone.

Sub-Pages

Read about development information and materials for this game.
Development Info
Read about prototype versions of this game that have been released or dumped.
Prototype Info
Read about prerelease information and/or media for this game.
Prerelease Info
Miscellaneous tidbits that are interesting enough to point out here.
Notes
Read about notable bugs and errors in this game.
Bugs
Carts.png
Revision Differences

Debug Functions

Level Select

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Genesis Level Select.png

Like the first game, Sonic 2 has a well-known level select:

  • Go into the Options menu.
  • In the sound test, play sounds 19, 65, 09, 17 (September 17, 1965 being Yuji Naka's birthday). This enables the Level Select.
  • Press Start to return to the title screen. When the menu appears, hold A and press Start to bring up the Level Select screen.

Debug Mode

Enabling the game's debug mode requires the level select to be enabled.

  • In the level select's sound test, play sounds 01, 09, 09, 02, 01, 01, 02, 04 (November 24, 1992 being the date of the game's US release).
  • Choose any level, then hold A and press Start. Keep A held down until after the title card pops up.

Alternatively, it can be accessed with Pro Action Replay code FFFFFA:0001.

From here, you have access to a variety of things:

  • Invincibility
  • Unlimited time
  • Debug coordinates (in place of score)
  • Sprite counter (in place of time)
  • Placement mode: Press B to enter placement mode. From there:
    • Press A to move forward one object.
    • Hold A and press C to move backward one object.
    • Press C to place the object.
  • While the game is paused, some debugging options are available:
    • Press A to go back to the title screen.
    • Press and hold B to slow down the game by 50%.
    • Press C to advance the game by one frame.

In addition, if Sonic dies, he can be revived by entering placement mode, moving to a safe spot, and exiting. Trying to place an object in this death state will freeze the game, however. You must also be playing as Sonic, as Tails cannot enter object placement mode.

"Night Vision" Mode

Sonic2 Black Layers.png

Go to the Level Select screen, enable Debug Mode, then hold C and press Start when selecting a level. This will cause the console's VDP to activate a debug function: background graphics drawn behind the sprite layer will be covered with a translucent black overlay.

Moving Background Debug

Use PAR code 00EBEC:4E71 (Rev. 00), 00EBC0:4E71 (Rev. 01), or 00EBC2:4E71 (Rev. 02) to enable a special debugging feature: Hold 2P Up or 2P Down to move the rising floor / lava in Hill Top and the moving clouds in the background of Wing Fortress.


(Source: Sonic 2 Disassembly)

Cheats

  • All 7 Emeralds: To get all 7 Chaos Emeralds, unlock the Level Select screen and play sounds 04, 01, 02, 06 or enter the Pro Action Replay code FFFFB1:0007.
  • Extra Continues: For 14 extra continues, play sounds 01, 01, 02, 04 on the Options screen. This cheat makes Oil Ocean Zone music play all the time due to an incorrect sound command.

Unused Graphics

Sonic

Hmmm...
To do:
Add better images and frame IDs for the "Balance turn" sprites
Graphic Frame ID Description
S2-Sonic falling.gif
52-53 An animation very similar to one used in Wing Fortress Zone when Sonic grabs the panels on the side of the ship. However, this is vertical.
Sonic2SonicAltDeath.png 5E An alternate death frame, defined in animation 16. This returns from (and is also unused in) Sonic 1.
BalanceTurnAnimationSonic2.jpg ?? Altough not unused, this animation appear for only a single frame when turning from the "panic" balance animation.

Robotnik

Graphic Name Description
Sonic2 CPZ Robotnik goop drop.gif
Unused CPZ Animation There's an unused animation for Robotnik accidentally dropping the blue goop on his own head in the Chemical Plant Zone fight. This animation has been around since the Nick Arcade prototype, but it was never implemented. There's a fix to implement the lost animation here.
Sonic2-RobotnikLaugh.gif
Robotnik laugh In Death Egg Zone, Robotnik is programmed to laugh when Sonic takes damage during the Mecha Sonic battle. However, as there are no Rings in this Zone, Sonic instead dies immediately when hit and all animation is frozen, so this is never normally seen without debug mode. In the 2013 mobile remake, this animation is not frozen when the player dies. You can also view the animation in the Sonic Jam port by playing in Easy mode, as well as the 3DS port by playing in Ring Keeper mode.

Other

Graphic Name Description
HPZiconS2.png
HPZ Icon A Level Select icon for Hidden Palace Zone. It is not normally used in any version of the game, but Pro Action Replay code 0096D8:0303 will cause it to replace the Emerald Hill icon in the Stage Select. It also appears in Sonic the Hedgehog 3's stage select, which contains icons for the Sonic 2 Zones. The final game's stage select wasn't implemented until Beta 7, while Hidden Palace itself was removed around the time of the Pre-Beta. Why this is here after the level was given up on, is anyone's guess.
Sonic2CPZSirenLight.gif
CPZ Decorative object Unused decorative objects for Chemical Plant Zone, stored at 0x0383-0x0393 in VRAM. These can be placed in the iOS/Android 2013 version's debug mode.
Sonic2OOZSpringHolder.png
OOZ spring holder A holder for the OOZ ball launcher (see below). This appeared in the Simon Wai prototype, and is still loaded into VRAM in the final game.
Sonic2AquisAngry.gif
Sonic2AquisSpray.png
Unused Aquis graphics An unused animation for Aquis spitting up oil, along with an oil spray.
Sonic2gen Balkiry2.png
Unused Balkiry frame An unused frame of the Balkiry badnik from Sky Chase Zone with its landing gear deployed. It's possible that they were originally intended to take off from the Wing Fortress as it passed by. If a Balkiry is selected in debug mode, this sprite will be seen instead of its flying one.
S2-Turtle.gif
Walking Tocky A walking animation for the Tockys in Sky Chase Zone. The only way to see this sprite is by using debug mode to create and destroy a badnik while the Wing Fortress passes by. This would later on make an appearance in Sonic Mania, shortly before the Metal Sonic boss battle at Stardust Speedway Zone.
S2-Picky.gif
Picky Picky, a returning animal from Sonic 1, is present in Death Egg Zone. However, there are no badniks or animal capsules, so he's never seen.
(Source: Sonic Retro)

Unused Objects

CPZ Hovering Platform

Sonic2CPZFloatPlat.png
Object ID: 0C

This object has been around since the Nick Arcade prototype. Every 1024 frames, it will slowly rise up for 128 frames, float in the air, then come back down 128 frames later. The amount of time it floats in the air is 128*(lower four bits of subtype) frames. The upper four bits can be used to offset when it starts to rise in the air.

HPZ Blocker

Look guys, it's the Master E- oh.
Object ID: 12

This crystal was used in the earliest two prototype to block off a tube in Hidden Palace Zone. The graphics are long gone, but the code is still there, such as it is. It's a simple solid indestructible object and its coding hasn't changed since the Nick Arcade prototype. In the 2013 remaster, it appears in the revised Hidden Palace as a breakable object, which often concealed springs, whereas the one that appears in the Proto Palace Zone warps the player back to the stage select.

HPZ Waterfall

Sonic2HPZWaterfall.gif
Object ID: 13

Another Hidden Palace Zone leftover. Again, the graphics no longer exist in the ROM. Its height is equal to 16*(lower five bits of subtype)+16 pixels. Placing one with a subtype greater than 17 will spawn garbage objects on the right.

Green Hill Zone Spinning Spikes

Object ID: 17

A leftover from Sonic 1. Unfortunately, the graphics have been deleted, but the coding is intact.

OOZ Ball Launcher

Sonic2-SpringBall.gif Sonic2OOZCheckeredBall.gif
Object ID: 46

A ball and spring object, which can be placed in Oil Ocean Zone via debug mode. If a switch is placed near it and pressed, the ball will pop out and start rolling in whichever direction Sonic was facing when the object was placed. It seems this object would have been used to cross something, as it can be stood upon, much like the boulder object that appeared in early versions of Sonic the Hedgehog. It does not collide with breakable floors or elevators, and it will go up slopes and even vertical walls without slowing or stopping. It can be seen in the Simon Wai prototype.

MZ Small Platform

Object ID: 6C Although very similar to the small platforms used in Metropolis Zone, this platform behaves strangely, usually rising at an angle.

MCZ Ring Platform

Sonic2-mrzobject.png
Object ID: 73

An odd platform made of rings, which can be placed in Mystic Cave Zone via debug mode. It can be stood on, and moves in a similar motion to the spinning spiked balls in the level.

WFZ Turbine Fire

Sonic2-giantlaser.gif
Object ID: B7

If the sub-ID of the rotating platforms in Wing Fortress Zone has bit 02 of their subtype set but not 04, some kind of laser will appear (with no sound effects) when the platform spins. This object can be placed with debug mode, where it oddly appears before the used platform in the object list.

WFZ Pole Badnik

Sonic2-wfz-spinnything2.gif
Object ID: BF

A strange object that seems to be a spinning pole, which can be placed in Wing Fortress Zone via debug mode. It's like a badnik: you can destroy it, and it can damage you, but it doesn't move.

Unused Subtypes

Monitors
Who touched the antenna again?
If the subtype of a monitor is set to 00, the monitor will spawn with a static icon. Breaking the monitor will harm the player.

CPZ Tipping Platform
The amount of time that the platforms in CPZ can stay flipped is variable -- equal to 10+(upper four bits of the subtype) frames -- but in the final game, the upper four bits are always set to 70.

ARZ Door
Sonic2gen Aquatic ruin door.png
An unused door from Aquatic Ruin Zone, which like similar doors in other Zones closes as soon as the player enters it. These can be placed via debug mode.

CPZ Bubble Snakes

Sonic2 CPZBubbleSnake.png

The blue bubble snakes in Chemical Plant Zone have many subtypes that define their movement pattern (00-0F for jumping back and forth, 10-1F for jumping between the floor and ceiling) and their length, which can be any number of segments between 1 and 16. However, only those that are 6 segments long are used (subtypes 05 and 15), leaving all other subtypes unused.

OOZ Pressure Stopper
Sonic2OilOceanPressureStopperH.png
The used pressure stopper in Oil Ocean Zone launches the player upwards. If the object subtype is set to zero, as it is in edit mode, it will launch the player to the right. This would have been used in the Simon Wai layout of the stage, but has no purpose in the final layout.

Unused Score Tally

Sonic2UnusedScoreTally.png

This configuration for the score tally, replacing "ACT #" with "ZONE", is meant to be used in levels with only one act, such as Sky Chase Zone, Wing Fortress Zone, and Death Egg Zone. However, none of those levels have a score tally, so this text never appears unless a capsule is placed via debug mode and destroyed. This was later used in Hidden Palace Zone in the 2013 remake.

Unused Audio

Music

The song at entry #10 in the Sound Test is unused in normal gameplay; however, it will play if the corrupted remains of Hidden Palace are accessed in the final build through the use of cheating devices or otherwise hacking the game. It does not exist in the Simon Wai prototype, where instead the functional version of Hidden Palace uses the music that was later used for the 2-player version of Mystic Cave.

(Source: Sonic Retro)

Disc 2, Track 37 of the Sonic the Hedgehog 1&2 Soundtrack contains Masato Nakamura's original demo version of this song, but it doesn't loop and then fade out like the Zone demo tracks; instead, towards the end of the track, the tune changes significantly and has a proper ending. This may suggest that the music was originally intended for some sort of cutscene, perhaps taking place in Hidden Palace. Interestingly, this track is referred to as "STH2 Unused Song ~ Masa's Demo version ~", without specifying its intended use, though all track titles can be taken to be indicative only of how each song was used in the final release version.

Although popular speculation is that this song was at one point intended to be used as the background theme for Hidden Palace, the 2013 remaster of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 instead uses the same music as the Simon Wai, August 21st, and September 14th prototypes, as the developers felt that it better suited the revised level. However, this track later found use in the aforementioned remaster's "Proto Palace Zone".

Sounds

A few unused leftovers from Sonic the Hedgehog and other unused sounds can be heard in the Sound Test.

Sound ID Sound Description
Sonic the Hedgehog Leftovers
$29
The sound used when hitting the R, UP, and DOWN blocks in the Special Stage.
$31
Electricity sound from Scrap Brain Zone.
$38
Sounds similar to the sound of spikes popping up. This is also unused in Sonic 1.
$3A
The sound made while hitting the colored diamonds in the Special Stage.
$43
The warp noise made by a Giant Ring at the end of an act if Sonic enters it. This sound was later reused in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
$47
Chain pulling sound from Marble Zone.
$49
Bonus point tag appearing at the end of an act.
Other Unused Sounds
$51
Unknown. Sounds like something popping or skidding on the ground.
$52
A low siren, similar to $53 which is used in the 2-Player mode.
$68
Appears to be a slightly shorter version of Mystic Cave Zone's bridges stopping in place ($69).

Inaccessible Rings

Some levels have rings in places that cannot be reached, making a Perfect bonus impossible.

Location Image Level Approximate coordinates Description Location Image (Prototype)
Sprites Always on Top enabled in Gens. Aquatic Ruin Zone
Act 2
1FA90626 Two rings lined up horizontally. The rightmost can actually be touched without going inside the pillar, but there's no way to reach it. The pillars weren't there in CENSOR and Beta 4 prototype, allowing the rings to be collected. Sprites Always on Top enabled in Gens.
Sonic 2 CNZ2 rings.png Casino Night Zone
Act 2
027F00F8 Two clusters with seven rings each, just above the start, but way too high to reach. These rings have mysteriously been transported from Act 1 to Act 2, this same problem also occurs with the rows of rings that should be from a launcher.

These rings would be easily reached using fippers that are centered just below the rings. When locked-on to Sonic & Knuckles, it is possible for Knuckles to collect these rings by gliding to the far left from the highest wall.
In the August 21 prototype or final version, these flippers could be used to reach the enigmatic rings on Act 1.

Sonic 2 CNZ2 AUG21Proto rings1.png
Sonic 2 CNZ2 rings2.png Casino Night Zone
Act 2
10700611 It may seem strange, but this row of rings should be in Act 1, the level design fits perfectly where a ramp leads to a vertical launcher. This failure has always occurred since the prototype of August 21st, 1992. Sonic 2 CNZ2 AUG21Proto rings2.png
Sonic 2 MCZ2 hidden rings 1.png Mystic Cave Zone
Act 2
0F2B00F0 These may have been placed with the original level layout from the Simon Wai prototype in mind. In the same coordinates in that prototype is a tall pillar. The level design was copied from Simon Wai to the final version of Sonic 2 so that the objects were placed correctly.
Sonic 2 MCZ2 hidden rings 3.png Mystic Cave Zone
Act 2
15880160 These may have been placed with the original level layout from the Simon Wai prototype in mind. The level design was copied from Simon Wai to the final version of Sonic 2 so that the objects were placed correctly.
Sonic 2 MCZ2 hidden rings 2.png Mystic Cave Zone
Act 2
16050156 These rings may have been part of the original level layout for this Zone in the Simon Wai prototype. As there is a ledge and an empty space in the same coordinates in that prototype, a swinging platform may have been in these coordinates to accompany the rings. The level design was copied from Simon Wai to the final version of Sonic 2 so that the objects were placed correctly.
Sonic 2 OOZ hidden rings.png Oil Ocean Zone
Act 2
0BC003A8 These are leftovers from the original level layout seen in the Simon Wai prototype. The same rings can be found in the same coordinates in that prototype. The level design was copied from Simon Wai to the final version of Sonic 2 so that the objects were placed correctly.
Sonic 2 OOZ hidden rings2.png Oil Ocean Zone
Act 2
11BF023A These are leftovers from the original level layout seen in the Simon Wai prototype. The same rings can be found in the same coordinates in that prototype. The level design was copied from Simon Wai to the final version of Sonic 2 so that the objects were placed correctly.
Sonic 2 OOZ hidden rings3.png Oil Ocean Zone
Act 2
12C0023A These are leftovers from the original level layout seen in the Simon Wai prototype. The same rings can be found in the same coordinates in that prototype. The level design was copied from Simon Wai to the final version of Sonic 2 so that the objects were placed correctly.
Sonic 2 OOZ hidden rings5.png Oil Ocean Zone
Act 2
191001F8 These are leftovers from the original level layout seen in the Simon Wai prototype. The same rings can be found in the same coordinates in that prototype. The level design was copied from Simon Wai to the final version of Sonic 2 so that the objects were placed correctly.
Sonic 2 OOZ hidden rings4.png Oil Ocean Zone
Act 2
1A0001F8 These are leftovers from the original level layout seen in the Simon Wai prototype. The same rings can be found in the same coordinates in that prototype. The level design was copied from Simon Wai to the final version of Sonic 2 so that the objects were placed correctly.
Sonic 2 OOZ hidden rings6.png Oil Ocean Zone
Act 2
20880300 These are leftovers from the original level layout seen in the Simon Wai prototype. The same rings can be found in the same coordinates in that prototype. The level design was copied from Simon Wai to the final version of Sonic 2 so that the objects were placed correctly.
Sprites Always on Top enabled in Gens. Metropolis Zone
Act 2
02C0043F Three horizontal slanted rings, under the floor with the ten-ring box and a cog nearby. This floor used to be a slope in the Simon Wai prototype, so these rings may have been placed with the slope in mind. Rings placed via Debug Mode to show how they would have looked in the prototype layout.
Sprites Always on Top enabled in Gens. Metropolis Zone
Act 2
135000D0 These rings may have corresponded with the original level layout from the August 21st prototype. Judging by the layout in that prototype, these rings could have been reached by jumping from the nearby conveyor belt. The level design was copied from August 21st prototype to the final version of Sonic 2 so that the objects were placed correctly.
Sprites Always on Top enabled in Gens. Metropolis Zone
Act 2
0F000169 These rings appear to correspond with the original level layout from the Simon Wai prototype. There is a ledge in the same coordinates in that prototype, so the rings may have been placed on top of it. Rings placed via Debug Mode to show how they would have looked in the prototype layout.
Sprites Always on Top enabled in Gens. Metropolis Zone
Act 2
0F400354 These rings appear to correspond with the original level layout from the August 21, 1992 prototype. In the same coordinates, they would have been under a ceiling. Sonic2proto aug21 MZ2 rings4.png

Misplaced Objects

Various objects throughout the levels are misplaced or in odd positions, possibly indicative of earlier level designs.

Image Level Approximate coordinates Description
Sprites highlighted enabled in Gens. Aquatic Ruin Zone
Act 2
08E606CC A misplaced air bubble object.
Sprites Always on Top enabled in Gens. Hill Top Zone
Act 1
128A020C This poor seesaw was overlooked once the layout was altered from the Simon Wai prototype.
Sprites Always on Top enabled in Gens. Metropolis Zone
Act 3
0A89026C This object, found next to an invincibility monitor, acts like spikes despite not using spike graphics. It serves the practical purpose of preventing zipping bugs.
Sprites Always on Top enabled in Gens. Metropolis Zone
Act 3
116905AC A door object with no use or any real reason to exist. This fits with the August 21st prototype's layout.
Sprites Always on Top enabled in Gens. Metropolis Zone
Act 3
1D1F054D A platform that moves if Sonic is underneath it. This fits with the Simon Wai and August 21st prototype's layouts.
Sprites Always on Top enabled in Gens. Metropolis Zone
Act 3
1F75056C Either a lava pit was intended to be here, or this is another anti-glitch trick. This fits with the August 21st prototype's layout.

Scrapped Zone Remains

Zone ID 01

Empty, with only a Tails life icon.

This is an empty level slot that exists in the game, which contained remnants of Labyrinth Zone in the Nick Arcade prototype. It can be accessed via Pro Action Replay code FFFE10:0100 or Game Genie code ACLA-ACD8 (AB6X-ACBR when locked-on to Sonic & Knuckles), and choosing "Sound Test" on the stage select menu (Special Stage with lock-on). This stage is an objectless version of Emerald Hill Act 1. Additionally, it has a Tails icon, much like the Wood Zone remains. Finishing Act 1 by hacking in an animal capsule will send you to Emerald Hill Zone Act 1. It reuses Emerald Hill Zone's animals, Ricky and Flicky.

Going by early concept art which shows roughly what the level order would have originally looked like, and lines up rather closely with the internal order, this slot was going to be used for a level called "Ocean Wind Zone".

Wood Zone (ID 02)

The original color palette is all that's left.

The level slot containing Wood Zone in the prototypes has something left in the final, albeit less than Hidden Palace: palette, palette cycle, start position, rasterized layer deformation data, background scrolling data, object data and music selection data. Accessing it via Pro Action Replay code FFFE10:0200 or Game Genie code ACLA-AECY (AB6X-AEBR with Sonic & Knuckles lock-on) and selecting Emerald Hill Act 1 (or by simply starting the game with the code active) or selecting Special Stage in Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2) in the level select leads to an objectless (since Wood Zone had no objects to begin with, even the debug object listing only has rings and teleport monitors) version of Emerald Hill Zone Act 1 with Wood Zone's palette, Metropolis Zone's music and some glitchy collision. Sonic uses Tails' life counter as the code points to it (in the Simon Wai and August 21st builds, this was Wood Zone's PLCs), and while locked on to Sonic & Knuckles the life counter's text is red. Playing this on Revision 02 and every version based on it (Mega Play Arcade, Knuckles in Sonic 2 and Sonic Classics) will have a scrolling glitch due to said versions removing its scrolling code. Some sprites from Metropolis Zone can be loaded into this zone. If you hack in an animal capsule and clear Act 2, you'll go to Metropolis Zone. It reuses Emerald Hill Zone's animals, Ricky and Flicky.

Zone ID 03

Only Oil Ocean Zone music is played.

Another empty stage can be accessed with Pro Action Replay code FFFE10:0300 or Game Genie code ACLA-AGD8 (AB6X-AGBR with Sonic & Knuckles lock-on), and like with ID 01 above, it can be accessed by choosing "Sound Test" on the stage select screen (Special Stage with lock-on). This stage is nearly identical to ID 01, with the only differences being that some of the background is still intact, as well as the fact that it uses Oil Ocean Zone's theme as its default music. Badnik sprites from Metropolis Zone and Emerald Hill Zone are loaded. This level slot belonged to Emerald Hill Zone in the Nick Arcade prototype and then went unused in the Simon Wai prototype. Finishing Act 1 will send you to Emerald Hill Zone Act 1. It reuses Emerald Hill Zone's animals, Ricky and Flicky.

Going by early concept art which shows roughly what the level order would have originally looked like, and lines up rather closely with the internal order, this slot was going to be used for a level called "Sand Shower Zone".

Hidden Palace Zone (ID 08)

Various objects and items remain the same as they were in the Simon Wai prototype. This level was untouched since.

The level slot containing Hidden Palace Zone in the prototypes actually retains the level's object layout, palette, underwater palette, palette cycle, ring layout, but the art and block mappings point to Oil Ocean's 16×16 mappings, the level layout points to Oil Ocean Zone Act 1, the collision is from Oil Ocean's 16x16 Collision index, and the Badniks' code was removed. By using Pro Action Replay code FFFE10:0800 or Game Genie code ACLA-ATD4 (ACLA-ATDR in the "Rev. 00" version of the final, and AB6X-ATBR with Sonic & Knuckles lock-on) and selecting Death Egg in the level select (Special Stage in Knuckles in Sonic 2), you can see this for yourself. This level uses track 10 of the sound test (otherwise unused) and Oil Ocean's debug item list. The second Act can be accessed with the code AGLA-ATD4, and finishing it by placing an animal capsule with debug mode will take you to Oil Ocean Act 1. While locked onto Sonic & Knuckles, the game will automatically reset upon reaching the end of the stage.

Contrary to popular belief, this zone did have minor changes after the Simon Wai and August 21st prototypes. An object that forces Sonic into a ball was added inside the long tube near the start of the level and new background scrolling data. This was absent in all known prototypes. It otherwise seems to be identical to how it was in the Nick Arcade prototype, with the only difference being a lack of badniks, garbled graphics, and almost nowhere to stand on. Decorative objects, platforms, bridges, water, rings, shield, and Tails 1-Up monitors can be found if you use debug mode to navigate the level. Unlike the prototypes, striking this monitor does not grant an extra life, but it does while locked onto Sonic & Knuckles. It is also worth noting that with the aforementioned lock-on, going too far into the stage will automatically reset the game. It uses its own unique set of animals, Micky and Rocky.

Zone ID 09

Empty and strange.

Another empty level slot, which can be accessed by using Pro Action Replay code FFFE10:0900 or Game Genie code ACLA-AWD8 (AB6X-AWBR with Sonic & Knuckles lock-on) and choosing "Sound Test" (Special Stage with lock-on) in the level select. This version of the stage uses garbled Emerald Hill Zone tiles and badnik sprites from Oil Ocean Zone are loaded, has very little collision data, and no objects present within the debug menu, making it impossible to finish by any means. Just as it is originally the Simon Wai prototype, the default background music is the same as Sky Chase Zone. When finished by hacking in an animal capsule, you'll go to Emerald Hill Act 1. It reuses Hidden Palace Zone's set of animals, Micky and Rocky. This zone has water height listed however, this is likely just a leftover from HPZ.

Zone ID 11

In Sonic 2's code, the pointers that controls the animals PLCs, list another entry after zone 0x10. This extra stage would've brought the total stage count up to 18, which was the amount that were originally planned. Attempting to load this stage will cause the game to crash on the title card as no other code references it, meaning necessary stuff like level art won't load and instead read garbage data. It reuses Sky Chase Zone's animals, Tocky and Cucky.

Unused Oil Ocean Zone Background Section

Oil Ocean Zone's background

Oil Ocean Zone's background layout is 768 pixels wide internally, but the game only uses the first 512 pixels. Sonic 2 has 64×32 tiles (512×256 pixels) loaded at a time, and loads new tiles on the edges as you move around the level. Oil Ocean's scrolling code doesn't reload any tiles as you move horizontally, leaving you with the same horizontal area of the background that you started with. Presumably, this is because the tile loading would eventually overwrite the tiles used for the sun, which never moves.

Oddities

CPZ/DEZ Door

In-game sprite Correct sprite
Sonic2 IncorrectDoor.png Sonic2 CorrectDoor.png

The door sprite in Chemical Plant Zone and Death Egg Zone is actually assembled incorrectly. By using Debug Mode to place a door, you can see how the door's sprite is supposed to be assembled, using 8×8 tiles that go unused due to the incorrect sprite assembly. The reason for this is because the doors use the object subtype $00, the subtype meant to be used by the doors in Hill Top Zone, rather than subtype $02 which is meant to be used in Chemical Plant and Death Egg.

The 2013 rerelease uses the correct sprite for the doors, and Chemical Plant in Sonic Mania also uses the correct appearance.

Duplicate Rings

A column of rings found next to a giant cog at coordinates 08F005E8 if you take the path to the right after the first yellow spring shaft in Metropolis Zone Act 2 is very unusual. Each ring collected gives you four rings instead of one, for a total of 12 rings. This is because these rings are actually four columns of rings that are all laid out on top of each other in the same coordinates. This oddity is still there in the 2013 remake.

Unused Level Chunks

Emerald Hill Zone only:

Emerald Hill Zone or Hill Top Zone:

Hill Top Zone only:

Chemical Plant Zone:

Casino Night Zone:

Mystic Cave Zone:

Oil Ocean Zone:

Note that none of the unused chunks are in the table that the game checks to determine whether or not Sonic & Tails should slide.

Metropolis Zone:

Wing Fortress Zone:

Unused 2x2 Tiles

Tiles loaded in the VRAM are organized by tileset at RAM address FF9000. IDs are created at this point for each line, representing 2x2 chunks of VRAM graphics. Address FF0000 is in charge of adding mirroring and collision to the 2x2 tiles, creating 8x8 chunks. In all, there are 256 chunks created from FF00000. To add these chunks, add the IDs below in the format 0xxx at FF0000, and search for chunk ID 00 in the stage data. Some unused graphics can be found in this way:

Zone Plane A Low Plane B High IDs
Oil Ocean Zone Sonic2-Unused-2x2 chunk Plan A Low-OOZ.png Sonic2-Unused-2x2 chunk Plan A High-OOZ.png

017, 01B, 081, 08D, 093, 0B2, 0B3, 0C8
0C9, 0D0, 0D1, 0DB, 0DC, 0F3, 0F4, 114
11C, 11D, 11E, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127
128, 129, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E, 12F
130, 131, 134, 139, 13A, 13F, 141, 144
146, 147, 157, 15B, 182, 183, 184, 187
189, 18A, 18E, 1AB, 20F, 210, 216, 217
218, 250, 25E, 262, 263, 270, 272, 27E
28A, 28B, 293
This mapping includes several unused graphics, one of the better-known ones being used in the Simon Wai prototype for the spring-and-ball object.

Metropolis Zone Sonic2-Unused-2x2 chunk Plan A Low-MZ.png Sonic2-Unused-2x2 chunk Plan A High-MZ.png

023, 024, 025, 026, 028, 029, 048, 049
04A, 04B, 04C, 04D, 04E, 04F, 050, 051
052, 053, 054, 055, 056, 057, 058, 059
05A, 05B, 05C, 05D, 05E, 05F, 060, 061
062, 064, 065, 066, 067, 068, 09F, 0C2
134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 13A, 13B
13C, 13D, 13E, 13F, 140, 141, 142, 143
144, 145, 147, 174, 17B, 196, 197, 198
199, 19A, 19B, 19C, 19D, 19E, 1A1, 1A2
1AF, 1B0, 1B1, 1B2, 1B3, 1B4, 1B5, 1B6
1B7, 1B8, 1B9, 1BA, 1BB, 1BC, 1BD, 1BE
1BF, 1C0, 1C1, 1C2, 1C3, 1C4, 1C5, 1E4
1E6, 1E7, 1E8
Some leftovers from the level design of the trapezoid lift area from the Simon Wai prototype, as well as some unused silver pipes that were possibly intended for background decoration.

Sky Chase / Wing Fortress Zone Sonic2-Unused-2x2 chunk Plan A Low-WFZ.png Sonic2-Unused-2x2 chunk Plan A High-WFZ.png

147, 14D, 151, 157, 162, 16C, 1BB, 1F8
1FE, 1FF, 201, 210, 211, 215, 219, 21A
227, 228, 259, 262, 268, 27C, 2A0, 2A2
2B7, 2E3.
Not too much interesting, except for some kind of railing and various tiles with unused graphics and clouds for use in Sky Chase.

Early Wing Fortress Zone

Sonic2 Early Sky Fortress.png

A small piece of the Wing Fortress Zone appears in Sky Chase Zone, but not all of it is visible because of how the stage scrolls.

This Wing Fortress has several differences from the actual stage version: some windows were removed and others added, the rivets are placed differently, there is a long metal frame on the left, and a small platform exists near the propellers on the lower right.