So I was looking at some maps, and I realized there are a bunch of paths and secrets I never knew about. I've been playing these games for years and yet you get so stuck going a certain way that you just don't look for these things. So I went through Sonic 1, 2, 3 maps to discover some of these secret paths, and I wanted to share and hear if you guys knew about these. I found a lot more in Sonic 2 then anything else. Some of the Sonic 3 maps are either a total maze or I knew about a lot of the secrets already. I want to see more of these, you guys should post some! Here's my findings: http://imgur.com/a/4rZyX EDIT: Obviously I know these are documented, I just want to share and hear some of the secret paths some might not be aware of. Like the platform that appears in Labyrinth, for example.
You talk about the LZ platform in Act 1? SBZ Act 3 has one as well, though you'd never know it... because due to a small coding mistake, it doesn't show up. A simple byte change and its there. As for alternate paths... Sonic 1 is my favorite to look through. Only because Sonic 3K... I already know most, if not all of the secrets... and Sonic 2 is just almost WAY too linear in comparison to the other 2... Speaking of alternate paths in Sonic 1, in the new Taxman/Stealth release, Marble Zone Act 3 has a new alternate route accessible by Tails and Knuckles. Had fun finding that, I did... as for the original game, Spring Yard has paths that I am aware of, but almost never take... so re-finding them every once in a while is a nice treat.
Those are some nice finds! And it makes sense really - Sonic stages are so expansive and there's so much potential for exploration that the devs just had to tuck some extra goodies in as many places as they could think of. What I think they might have done is had testers play through the stages and try to get into nooks and crannies that they weren't supposed go in, so the devs decided to carve them out a bit and make them legitimate secret areas. That's what I do usually.
The cool/crazy thing about these kind of things, is that two of them I've found really recently, despite playing the games for 20 years.
The casino night zone secret you posted I knew about when I was younger and in recent years I've forgot how to access it but always remembered it. So thanks to your post I now know again Anyway a few years ago I found the chemical plant zone act 2 secret that takes you straight to the boss. From the checkpoint just before the water section if you use the ramp to get to the top route, then jump over the speed booster, you can jump into the wall and there is a whole other route with no enemies, a bunch of rings and an invincibility box. Then at the end it drops you straight at the boss. And just recently I found a couple of things in Sonic 3K. One was a life for tails in sky sanctuary. When you use the spring in the first tower, if you fly to the right there is a life there. Another was in lava reef act 2. I can't remember where exactly but there is a button on the end of a pathway and if you press it then it opens a wall with a special stage ring inside. Also thanks to the recent sonic 1 re-release I found the secret scrap brain teleporter. I saw the achievement and had to look into that one. Never knew about that. Those are the main ones I can remember finding most recently. I'm impressed these games can still surprise me after playing the series for 20 years. Just goes to show how expansive and well designed the levels were. I also enjoyed finding the new routes added for Tails and Knuckles in the recent sonic 1 re-release.
Just looking at the maps for Marble Garden tell me I need to play S3K as Tails again at some point. Favorite game, favorite level, and I still haven't completely explored it!
I've known about that MCZ 2 one in the first post for as long as I can remember. It was a staple for me in 2-player mode, because when I was little I was pretty bad at the area immediately following it.
I knew about all these already... =( The hidden platform that doesn't appear in SBZ3 due to a bug sounds interesting, though. Please do show us, o KingofHarts. =)
I'm extremely curious about this bugged out platform. Does it allow LZ3 to be played in a drastically different way like in act 1?
The hidden path in the wall in Chemical Plant act 2 to bypass the rising water is my favorite. Before that I just used a well timed jump to go straight up to the rotating floor and platforms.
I need screenshots of some of these locations you guys are talking about! hah. I think my favorite hidden secret path is the block appearing in LZ1: EDIT: just looked at that secret path in CPZ2 that goes right to the boss, that's awesome.
One that comes to mind is the secret goodie room just before the Mushroom Hill Act 2 boss. Took me years to figure out how to get up there!
I am ashamed to say that I don't know how this one works. Been up there a handful of times and never worked out how I got up there. Please put me out of my misery! Also only found out how to get that platform to appear in LZ from this thread.
I've known about the Mystic Cave thing for a long time, I discovered that myself when I was a kid. Can someone make a video on how to get to the Casino Night and Chemical Plant secret paths? I've never seen those before! As Knuckles in Chemical Plant Zone I remember finding an odd secret path that involves gliding, there was like two or three 1ups in a row in act 1.
I can make a video from Sonic Mega Collection, I'll do it when I'm home for you, say, in about 6 hours :v:
I don't think I ever knew about the Chem Plant act 2 one. That's pretty cool. Kinda surprised some of those are secrets though. Especially the Chem Plant act 1 ledge. I found that one out pretty quick when I was little. The Casino Night low road I am a bit surprised that is considered a secret as well.
