Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Nick Arcade Prototype)

The Nick Arcade Prototype of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a very early build with many visible remnants from Sonic 1, such as level names and music. It is very incomplete, with missing enemies, levels, and graphical glitches everywhere. However, the basic layouts for a few levels have been completed, and Tails has been implemented.

The prototype was sold to drx in cartridge form for $1,500 via a community effort, and was dumped and released to the public on November 7, 2006. It was given its name due to its similarity to a version of Sonic 2 that was showcased on at least two episodes of the game show Nick Arcade, as this build appears to be very close to (if not exactly the same as) the build used on the show.

Various Differences

 * This build is less developed than the Simon Wai Prototype.


 * This build is using Sonic 1's Serial Number.
 * At this point in development, Tails is quasi-independent: Player 2 is able to control Tails, except he will also follow Sonic. Further, Tails cannot complete a level on his own, since the game only loads the goal sign when Sonic approaches it. If Tails gets hurt, he can lose rings for Sonic. The AI is also much simpler; Tails copies Sonic's moves and makes no attempt to keep up with him.
 * 2-Player mode is even less complete, due to all sorts of odd glitches and not being enabled for every Zone.
 * Invincibility doesn't show the star effect, though the music is still played. The music and invulnerability last until the end of the Act.
 * There is a mechanic where Sonic rebounds off walls if he runs into them at high speeds, using sprites that became unused by the Simon Wai Prototype.