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Sky High Zone (スカイハイ[1] Sukai Hai?, lit. "Sky High") is the second Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit). As with all other Zones in the game, Sky High Zone consists of two standard Acts followed by a shorter, third Act which contains the Zone's boss at its end.
Description[]
Sky High Zone, as the name suggests, is an exposed and windswept area located high up. It is surrounded by dense clouds and is prone to extreme lightning storms very often. The terrain in the Zone is blue with green grass on top of it, and has several small trees and beanstalks growing on the stretches of the landscape.
Story[]
On his quest to rescue Tails from the clutches of Dr. Robotnik, Sonic passes through Sky High Zone and locates the Chaos Emerald hidden within its stormy skies. After a brief battle with one of Dr. Robotnik's Master Robots, Hiyoko Master, Sonic destroys the Prison Egg located in the Zone and runs off towards Aqua Lake Zone to continue his journey.
Gameplay[]
True to its name, Sky High Zone relies heavily on vertical platforming, and traveling from point to point using hang gliders. Large pits filled with spikes are also prominent in this Zone, and usually placed at the bottom of the Acts.
Overview[]
Act 1[]
The first act starts the player on a flat stretch of land which leads to a collapsing bridge over a pit of spikes. After passing the bridge, the player has to use a Spring to ascend, then travel left and break through a wall to reach a vertical series of Springs. Although the player has to travel up and right to continue the Act, traveling left from the top spring will instead take the player to a secret platform with four large trees and a 1-Up monitor. Continuing onwards, the player will reach a downwards incline leading into a gap. The player has to use the hang glider present to cross the gap, and reach the Bonus Panel. Should the player fail to cross the gap, they will be dropped downwards to a pit of spikes, damaging them, and forcing them to start over from the bottom of the stage.
Act 2[]
The second Act starts out on a bumpy stretch of land which separates into two paths divided by a layer of horizontal clouds. While the top path generally sees the player bouncing across on clouds and traveling over gaps with hang gliders, the bottom path features large pits of spikes which the player has to avoid using Springs and more hang gliders. Regardless of which path the player chooses, both eventually merge into a flat area of land where the Bonus Plate is located.
This act also features several updrafts at areas, which will boost the player upwards, should they be riding on a hang glider.
Act 3[]
The third Act starts out on a flat area which leads to an ascending slope. The player then has to jump over three bottomless pits and run across a bumpy stretch of land to reach the boss arena for the Hiyoko Master, which is located on a floor of clouds. As the fight progresses, the player will descend to a lower floor, and then another, both made of clouds. After the boss is defeated, the player can move right to open the Prison Egg and complete the Act.
Boss[]
The boss of Sky High Zone is the Hiyoko Master, a goose-like robot. First, Sonic has to vanquish a horde of miniature Mecha Hiyokos, at which point he drops through the clouds to smash the cybernetic eggs which create them.
Only when its nest has been destroyed does the boss rear its chrome-plated head. It proceeds to fire energy balls in Sonic's direction, which possess a limited degree of homing.
Chaos Emerald location[]
The yellow Chaos Emerald in Sky High Zone is located in Act 2. Here, the player can find the Chaos Emerald by navigating halfway through the top path, then using a bouncy cloud to soar rightwards through the air to reach the Emerald.
Trivia[]
- At the end of Act 1 of this Zone, two words can be seen engraved in the rocks: "End" and "Tom". Although the significance of "End" is clear, it is unknown who "Tom" was meant to refer to.
- On the title card for this Zone, Tails is missing his twin-tails.
Gallery[]
Screenshots[]
Music[]
Name | Artist(s) | Length | Music track |
---|---|---|---|
"Sky High Zone" | Masafumi Ogata, Naofumi Hataya, Tomonori Sawada | 1:46 |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega Game Gear) Japanese instruction booklet, pg. 19.
Playable characters | Sonic | |
Non-playable characters | Tails · Eggman · Animals (Flicky, Ricky, Pocky, Rocky, Pecky, Cucky, Picky) | |
Zones | Under Ground Zone · Sky High Zone · Aqua Lake Zone · Green Hills Zone · Gimmick Mountain Zone · Scrambled Egg Zone · Crystal Egg Zone | |
Enemies | Bomb · Buton · Burrowbot · Flying Chopper · Game-game · Newtron · New Motora · Taraban · Zaririn | |
Bosses | Pit Master · Hiyoko Master · Balance Master · Dohyo Master · Charge Master · Mecha Sonic · Crystal Egg Zone boss | |
Moves/techniques | Crouch · Spin Attack · Spin Jump | |
Gimmicks and obstacles | Capsule · Goal Plate · Flywheel · Hang Glider · High-speed warp tube · Minecart · Spring | |
Items | Air bubble · Chaos Emerald · Item Box (1-Up, Invincible, Power Sneakers, Super Ring) · Ring | |
Other | Life · Loop · Master Robots · South Island · Teleporter · Water |