New Sonic 2 development lore drop - Genocide/Cyber City palette and art!

It’s been a bit, so I’m wondering; have we got any updates on the GCZ scans yet?

 

Someone will have to check in with Frank. It sounded like some stuff was scanned but not released yet, but that may be because there are plans to scan the remaining images, and contact with Tom has been reestablished to help that move along, ensuring we get as much as reasonably possible this time.

I too am hoping for an update and that whatever is uncovered won't be held back from us for too long, given that we apparently should've had scans of these 4 years ago.

However, it's seems now a matter of when, not if.

 

It's being dropped RIGHT NOW on the Completionist channel

 

Wait what? I didn't even have time to dress myself appropriately for this moment!

 

BOOM

 

Excuse me WTF...

 

Wait… is that WATER?

…and that’s Act 3???

 

W A T E R

 

Wait, was Sonic 2 meant to have cutscene between stages just like Sonic 3?! Like I knew Hidden Palace (S2) was meant to have something like that, but Cyber City / Genocide City?!

 

Maybe it was something like the cut-scene at the end of Scrap Brain Zone Act 2?

 

Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking too.

I’m also curious if the intention behind GCZ3 was to have the zone appear to be the final zone, only for Death Egg to be next…


As a side note, I wouldn’t call this the original layout image; it’s probably built using an actual layout image (or array?) from dev, and then had the chunk definitions from the previously discovered chunk list placed in.

 

Hi, opposite actually, we converted the chunks to a tile map and arranged them programmatically, then I copy-pasted the drawings from Yasuhara's design into it. Working on the rest now, just wanted a sneak preview during our charity stream, will put it all online as promised.

 

Endlessly in awe of you and your teams trailblazing work in preserving video game history and presenting important context for all, for free. For anyone unfamiliar, please check out the Video Game History Foundation's website, their fantastic podcast, and consider donating to them through either this TheCompletionist charity event or directly to their 501(c)3 non-profit organization (Tax deductible!). Thank you so much Frank, I eagerly await whatever else you may have to offer!

 

Can we just appreciate not just the devotion of those finally managing to unearth the documents of long lost assets of Sonic 2, but that the developers had enough sentimentality to their work to actually keep all these documents in the first place. Really shows how beloved these games are by both the fans and creators.

The use of water is the most unexpected asset of the map (how does water work in a CYBERNETIC stage filled with electricity, unless it's maybe oil or Mega Mac?). I'm also intrigued by the verticality and size of the map, seems almost S3K scope.

 

Thanks for this. I look forward to whatever else you finally unveil. Hopefully more tiles/visuals that we can continue toying with for years to come.

I would guess water could be seen as a kind of coolant system. Technically, my powerhouse video rendering PC has water in it, afterall.

 

It doesn't even resemble Metropolis Act 3 in any way. And water!?

 

Funnily enough, this sounds a concept a ROM hack would do.

 

More incoming right now: https://www.twitch.tv/thecompletionist

Timestamp: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1794506854?t=10h37m13s

 

Well. I guess now we know where the gravity switching in DEZ in Sonic 3 came from.

 

YOOOOOOOOO. IT'S THE OLD HOAX MOCK UP! Crazy to see this in crystal clear pixels here.