Take the theme for the Mystic Cave Zone for example: The composer was given quite a bit of freedom when it came to writing the music for each game, which contributed to the catchy rhythms and pop melodies throughout. While all of this is rather fascinating, the music from the Sonic series has featured work from an accomplished pop artist since the very beginning.ĭreams Come True bassist Masato Nakamura was contacted by Sega to compose music for Sonic the Hedgehog and its sequel. There are various accounts of how much of the soundtrack was actually composed by Michael Jackson, but his influence is certainly heard in several tracks. The King of Pop and his team was brought in to compose the music for the game, but he ended up leaving the project before completion. But if you feel like experiencing the return of a long-lost Sonic 2 stage, it’s well worth your time just don’t expect anything earth-shattering.By now, the involvement of Michael Jackson with the soundtrack to Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is fairly common knowledge. Luckily, it’s an optional stage (as long as you don’t miss that jump in Mystic Cave Zone), so players who want to play the game as originally intended still can. It’s very much a bonus level, and won’t blow you away, but it’s a fun experience while it lasts. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad stage it plays well, and doesn’t feel out of place in Sonic 2 as a whole, but it’s not the perfect addition many fans will have hoped it would be.Īll in all, the Hidden Palace Zone is a nice addition to a time-tested classic. I personally would have liked to have seen them develop a brand-new second act for Hidden Palace Zone, which could have allowed them to realize the stage’s full potential, and reminded fans that they can still create terrific Sonic experiences in the vein of the hedgehog’s hey-day. The most exciting addition it brings is arguably its brand new Robotnik boss battle, which is pleasantly challenging Robotnik’s Egg Mobile is outfitted with a musical device that causes bombs to drop from the ceiling, and it’s a fun battle even if it seems a bit out of place after the watery caverns of Hidden Palace Zone.įans wills be happy to finally experience the stage after all these years, but it’s disappointing to see Sega play it safe on a level that had so much room for creativity. There’s also a notable lack of difficulty in the stage, making it feel like exactly what it is: a bonus level. Other one-act stages in Sonic games are unique and exciting experiences, but Hidden Palace Zone feels incomplete without a second act. There are a few bespoke elements, such as glowing bridges and dinosaur-inspired badniks, but the stage doesn’t do enough to make itself memorable. That being said, there isn’t a lot to find in Hidden Palace Zone, and overall it feels a bit bare. In true Sonic fashion, there are a multitude of ways to make your way through the stage, and a nice balance of speed and platforming throughout. The level is taller than it is long, making it suitable for explorers and speed demons alike. It’s not the most memorable track you’ll find in a Sonic game, but it suits the stage well. The first thing you notice about any sonic level is its music, and fans will recognize Hidden Palace Zone’s is the same as that found in the two player version of Mystic Cave Zone, which may be a bit disappointing to some. It was a terrific moment of childlike wonder that really took me by surprise, and I commend the developers for that. Instead, I kept falling, all the way down to Hidden Palace Zone. I stumbled upon it when I overshot a jump in Mystic Cave Zone Act 2, expecting to fall to my death in the spike pit every other version of the game had taught me was there. In fact, many players familiar with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 probably won’t find it on their first play-through of the mobile version, and I think that’s a great design choice. The question is, is it any good?Įven after its publicized resurrection, Hidden Palace Zone is designed to remain hidden. Although corrupted fragments of the stage can be found on the original cartridge through game enhancement, this marks the first time the level has appeared in its completed form. Originally created to display Sonic’s transformation into Super Sonic, Hidden Palace Zone was scrapped after the decision was made to grant players the ability directly after obtaining all seven chaos emeralds. Christian Whitehead and his teammates at Sonic Retro have revived the forgotten stage for the remastered mobile release. The game has been re-released several times since its debut on the Sega Genesis in 1992, but none of those iterations have officially included the Hidden Palace Zone until now. For many Sonic fans, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the pinnacle of the franchise.
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