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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JonnyFitness @ Nov 8th 2006 2:36PM
A few years tooo late
MI5 @ Nov 8th 2006 3:16PM
Too many joysiqers visiting the site?! lol.
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.
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
Sam McConnell @ Nov 8th 2006 3:59PM
Thank you, shamowfski! This is amazing, I never thought they would find this build of Sonic 2. This answers a lot of questions about Sonic 2's development!
Zachary Hinchliffe @ Nov 8th 2006 5:48PM
I've known drx in passing, and am a member of the community (Sonic-CulT) that found this in the first place.
DRX wins.
(Also, Sonic-CulT recently came into contact with a proto version of Sonic 3D Blast, too, if that tickles your fancy)
drx @ Nov 8th 2006 4:08PM
I'm the culprit behind the release. And no, I'm not any Dragan Espenschied :)
Enjoy the release :)
Roybertito @ Nov 8th 2006 9:36PM
OLD. NEWS.
Guess_Who @ Nov 8th 2006 5:14PM
Lol sup drx. I didn't think you came to Joystiq. D:
I don't normally read comments here, but since this is an S2B related topic I figured what the hell. :P
87th @ Nov 8th 2006 6:37PM
It's on UK Resistance, too ( http://www.ukresistance.co.uk }
The ROM is interesting, but not much to play. It'll do a great deal for the hacking community, though.
Veotax @ Nov 9th 2006 3:24AM
"20. OLD. NEWS."
DIFFERENT. PROTOTYPE.
This is NOT the one that was found several years ago
FTH @ Nov 23rd 2006 5:41PM
No it is NOT "old news" the one found years back was a beta this is the "nick arcade" one, which could be consitered a Alpha! The rom is also avalible on Knuckles-den under the downloads section http://knuckles-den.8m6.net