Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is well-known for its reduce content material, and whereas snippets of this have been teased through the years, The Video Recreation Historical past Basis has now offered what is likely to be probably the most complete deep dive into Sonic 2’s misplaced phases (thanks, Time Extension).
In keeping with the video, three designers had contributed content material that in the end would not make it into the Genesis / Mega Drive sequel, together with Brenda Cook dinner (previously Ross), Craig Stitt, and Tom Payne. The reasoning behind the degrees getting the chop is that Sonic 2 was initially meant to be way more bold than the ultimate product, roping in time journey mechanics that might finally be seen in Sonic CD.
Levels similar to Cyber Metropolis Zone, Winter Zone, Wooden Zone, and Sand Bathe Zone (also called the Desert Zone) sadly by no means made the reduce. Nonetheless, because of the efforts of the Video Recreation Historical past Basis, gameplay footage and property from these phases have now been preserved because of very important contributions from Cook dinner and Payne.
Documentation from the Cyber Metropolis Zone and pictures from a VHS portfolio containing Cook dinner’s Winter, Desert, and Woods phases at the moment are absolutely viewable. The workforce even went as far as to partially reconstruct the Cyber Metropolis Zone to offer a glimpse into how this may need seemed to gamers.
It is a captivating have a look at what might have been, however fortunately, Sonic 2 nonetheless turned out to be a banger, proper?