The long-awaited Christian Whitehead (“Taxman”) remake of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is finally launching on iOS and Android Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, and it’s bringing along a Christmas present: a fully restored and reintegrated Hidden Palace Zone. This zone was previously only known from the Sonic 2 prototype ROM posted online in the late 1990s.
Whitehead was hired by SEGA to use his highly accurate Sonic fan engine for a modern “port” (technically a remake) of Sonic CD. After the positive response to that release, he has gone on to do the same for the original Sonic the Hedgehog, bringing many new features, fixes, and secrets in both cases.
CLICK HERE to read the full details on Joystiq.
UPDATE: The Hidden Palace Zone added to this release appears to be only loosely based on the version that was present in the original Sonic 2 prototype, and it does not share the same layout. It is a single stage, accessible through a hidden entrance in Mystic Cave, and it contains a number of enemies, objects, and even a boss that appear to be new creations by Christian Whitehead. As such, it is more of a nod to diehard fans of the game than a “restoration” in the proper sense.
iPhone gaming site 148apps has posted a YouTube video of the zone in its entirety, including how to access it.