Obscure and Unusual Areas in Sonic the Hedgehog
37,177
Published 2023-12-09
Patreon: www.patreon.com/Cifesk
Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/cifesk
Thumbnail art: sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/
Special thanks to:
@PretzelYT for coming up with the video and title idea
@Anon7906 for providing footage
@StarlightDX for providing me with the Free Cam / No HUD mod for Unleashed
Everyone that contributed with suggestions on my posts, thank you!
Dreamcast Conversion by PkR: www.moddb.com/mods/sadx-dreamcast-conversion
SADX Debug Mode by PkR: github.com/X-Hax/sadx-debug-mode
SA2 Debug Mode by Sora: gamebanana.com/mods/349067
Sonic Generations Free Camera by Skyth: gamebanana.com/mods/50768
Sonic Forces Free Camera by SuperSonic16: gamebanana.com/tools/6391
Music: pastebin.com/87cH9BDD
All Comments (21)
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Oh my gosh, I spent so much time in that little room in Grand Metropolis, I never thought that would be a shared experience, that's so cool
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I really thought tails' workshop in sa1 was really perplexing and cool. Always thought i was missing something to get into his room at the top.
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I always felt that Station Square felt so much bigger than it actually physically is in the game and I think it's those weird spots like the burger shop that really gave me that impression.
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The strangest area in a Sonic game I can think of is probably the secret area in Big’s version of Hot Shelter in Sonic Adventure. Unlike the other secret areas, it’s actually a somewhat complicated process to get there, and once you do get in it’s full of unfinished background geometry, and is still mostly pretty pointless. You don’t even need to go there for the A mission because you can find all the fish you’d need in the main room.
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another spot that recently got my attention was right above the 1-1 portal in Kronos. That plateau is supposed to be accessible via a black wall but it never lights up, so you can only get there with a spin dash. It's cool and peaceful, there's a little stone structure and it gives a lot of beta kronos vibes
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This one's not really obscure but, Grind Race in SA2:B. For some reason it captivated me when I was little, so empty yet so detailed. The same goes for a lot of SA2 levels actually. I couldn't reach stages like Security Hall, White Jungle and Sky Rail in single player, so playing them in 2-player made them feel so special. White Jungle may have helped form my love of rainy settings in video games.
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As an 06 modder, it's my job to find these places and make them super unique when I can! The oasises in Dusty Desert are one of my favorite places, and I like to include them in levels I've made for LoS. Another one I really like is the backside of the castle before the mach speed section in Kingdom Valley, as well as the unused cave FAR into the left cliff near the castle.
I could go on and on about little places like this in 06. Maybe I should do my own video on it lol -
I've not seen anyone say it so far but the room at 13:59 behind the big box is actually seen in normal gameplay: you go past there for a required upgrade for Big's story.
This aside, amazing video! I love secret areas and hidden things like this, especially with Unleashed! That one side passage upper balcony place that just has a moon medal in Windmill Isle (at 10:06) is one of my favourite hidden areas in any game ever! -
8:26 That random path actually does serve a purpose, in one of Rooftop Run Act's 2 side missions. Can't recall the name, but effectively its the mission where you have to complete most of the level on the Snowboard from City Escape. That mission starts from this offscreen ramp 👍
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Sonic Team used to be Kings when it came to making the Levels seem like Real Lived in Worlds with tons of Details and Decorations.
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8:25
I think the reason there's collision right there is because of the rooftop rail grind challenge with the opening in that little area. -
The cave in the Dreamcast version of SA2's Dark Garden is so dope I have no idea why they removed it. I also really love the hero garden
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this is such a weirdly specific topic to discuss and I'm so happy that other people did these things. the vibes of being bored as a kid with a sonic game trying to hunt for weird parts of the stage just to hang out is so fucking real
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Mystic Ruins is a standout for me, specifically the waterfall area where you find the metallic coloured chao egg, Tails workshop, the tunnel leading to the chao garden and Bigs house
There's something about the cozy, secluded ancient overgrown ruins of the waterfall area though that gets me. -
Here's one from my childhood. When I was eleven, I got a Sega Genesis for my birthday off of eBay with Sonic 1, 2, and 3K. I played 3K the most and I think Sky Sanctuary invoked this feeling out of me the most, as it had the most nooks and crannies I went through. 3K just had so many of these little hidden areas and that's why I love S3K.
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I always liked how in Cyberspace 2-7, you could go to Sky Rail’s Mystic Melody spot. Speaking of which, I loved how in the original Sky Rail, it’s straight up a spot you could go to as Knuckles in Pumpkin Hill.
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I really appreciate that you take the time to do videos on the smaller details like this. A lot of the Sonic analysis videos on youtube tend to focus exclusively on things like gameplay, characters, and story, all of which are the most important things in these games, but so much more goes into each and every game, and every part of it deserves to be analyzed and appreciated. I haven't yet finished your level design video or even begun the one architecture, but I'm looking forward to them
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As a kid I loved just walking around station square and the beach level connected to it. Even to this day I think Sonic Adventure 1 might have my favorite video game world to just walk around in and chill. Something about the dreamcast graphics really grabs me. I don't think there will ever be a game that captures that same feeling. Anyways amazing video!
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For some reason, I really like that one part in Mortar Canyon with the square pillars before that big rail loop. Jumping from platform to platform with the daunting abyss below just felt so cool and atmospheric.
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Obscere cozy rooms in any video game are just one of my favorite things ever. Im glad im not the only who would spend hours in a certain spot as a kid.
My cozy spot for sonic specifically is the first section in Aquariam Park act 1, roght agter yoy exit the entrance tubes. I would spend a lot of time just on the top of the downhill road, just overlooking the grand water planet.
