Sonic 2 prototype now playable

by James Ransom-Wiley { Nov 8th 2006 at 2:25PM }

Known only as "drx," some mysterious mage has resurrected a Sonic the Hedgehog 2 prototype cart and promptly dumped it (for emulation). It's an early build of Sega's sequel that's more akin to the first game than to the final version of Sonic 2. Can you spot the differences?

It's been suggested that this prototype is the same alpha build that was featured in several episodes of Nick Arcade. Another early build, often referred to as Sonic 2 Beta, was stolen from a toy show in New York back in '92. The cart was pirated and sold as a final version in parts of Asia and Brazil, despite only featuring four semi-playable levels.

Tags: alpha, beta, cart, cartridge, Emulation, Genesis, Megadrive, Nick Arcade, NickArcade, pirate, prototype, ROM, Sega, Sonic 2, Sonic 2 Beta, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic2, Sonic2Beta, SonicTheHedgehog

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

JonnyFitness @ Nov 8th 2006 2:36PM

A few years tooo late

AceMilo @ Nov 8th 2006 2:40PM

This got dugg earlier today so the site is down.

Phoenix @ Nov 8th 2006 2:41PM

I had that pirated Sonic 2 Beta.
It was funny by that time.

GOD @ Nov 8th 2006 2:49PM

http://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_2_Early_Prototype

The site seems to be down, but this site has all the info including the ROM link.

Veotax @ Nov 8th 2006 2:51PM

"1. A few years tooo late"

This is a different one

futanari futanari futanari @ Nov 8th 2006 3:11PM

Whoa, the mythical Nick Arcade game?

The one that certain members of the Sonic 2 hacking community contacted Melissa Joan Hart about?

A-frigging-mazing.

MI5 @ Nov 8th 2006 3:16PM

Too many joysiqers visiting the site?! lol.

futanari futanari futanari @ Nov 8th 2006 3:22PM

Man, I really wanted to grab that file, but, as MI5 said, I think everyone's hammering the server.

villainy @ Nov 8th 2006 3:28PM

torrent anyone? pretty please?

shamowfski @ Nov 8th 2006 3:29PM

I was able to nab it, and threw it up on gigasize, enjoy:

http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/165226/Sonic_The_Hedgehog_2_Early_prototype.rar

Allen @ Nov 8th 2006 3:30PM

‘Known only as "drx," some mysterious mage’

What? drx is the artist Dragan Espenschied. Here’s his webpage:

http://drx.a-blast.org/~drx/index.en.html

bolt @ Nov 8th 2006 3:37PM

Afew screens for those whom cannot get the ROM,

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/9849/sonicthehedgehog2earlypud1.png

http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/7476/sonicthehedgehog2earlypop7.png

http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/9074/sonicthehedgehog2earlypoa4.png

austin @ Nov 8th 2006 3:39PM

drx means directors cut

Scarred Sun @ Nov 8th 2006 3:49PM

#11: Wrong drx. :P

Also, drx had to take out loans to help pay for the purchase of this prototype, and certainly could use a hand in repaying those. If you enjoyed this beta and would like to see more prototype releases from Hidden Palace, help support the site:

http://www.hidden-palace.org/?support