Green Hill & Green Forest Zones: Grass Levels in Sonic Games

[Sonictrainer]

The Green Hill Zone is one of the most iconic levels in Sonic’s universes and gaming history. So it’s no mystery why it’s appeared multiple times as a throwback level and been remade and reconstructed into new levels, creating its own Sonic level theme and a subdivision of the grass and mountain themes. Some of the remixed Green Hill Zones have been great while others didn’t go above and beyond. Besides the Green Hill Zone and its family, the series has expanded on the grass level trope and has added a number of beautiful forests, jungles, savannahs, and gardens filled with plants, trees, animals, and secrets. Unfortunately, these areas are also ideal for Eggman who needs animals to power his Badniks and then bleed the area dry of its resources.

NOTES: 

1. Starting with this topic, I’m going to add all Official Sonic Game Action Stages and Hub levels that match a theme, regardless if I have actually played them personally or not. As long as my research is good, I should be able to do the levels justice...if they deserve it.

2. All entries in the opening post are: 

• All Versions of the Green Hill Zone
• Other Zones and Hubs similar to and inspired by the Green Hill Zone that are grassy hills with unique patterns in the rock
• Zones and Hubs with the words “Green”, “Turquoise”, “Forest”, “Jungle”, or “Botanical” in their names
• Zones and Hubs that have grasslands, savannahs, forests, and jungles in the foreground and background

3. Even though some Green Hill and Grass themes appear in Mini-Games, Bonus Stages, Special Stages, Multiplayer Stages, and certain Tutorials, I’ll save those for another topic at another time.

4. Also, the same goes for Versions of the Green Hill Zone, Seaside Hill, and Windy Hill that have made an appearance in other franchises and crossover games, like Super Smash Bros. and the Sega All Stars games. I’ll talk about them another day.

5. I was debating on whether or not Pumpkin Hill would fit on this list. However, after asking about it, people agreed that it doesn’t match the Green Hill or Grass level themes.

6. If you have a favorite Green Hill themed and/or Grass themed Level/Hub that fits Note #2 and was mentioned in Notes #3 and #4, know an awesome level from a Sonic fan game that fits Note #2, have a level that follows the themes that I missed, or have a level you feel can be debated as a Green Hill or Grass Styled level, feel free to talk about it in the topic.

Sonic the Hedgehog: Green Hill Zone

There’s no way I can do this list without reviewing the original level in both the Genesis and Game Gear versions of the first game. The Green Hill Zone is the tropical, grassy, rocky, and checkerboard coastline of South Island. The area is filled with palm trees, flowers, and totem poles. While exploring Sonic can check the trees for hidden Springs and Item Boxes, catch a ride on swinging and levitating platforms, carefully cross the bramble bridges and avoid spike pits, and roll down hills and use his momentum to break into some of the rock walls or reach higher areas. The first Badniks introduced in the series and encountered in the Green Hill Zone are Motobug, a slow moving robot ladybug, Buzz Bomber, a robot wasp that flies and only comes to a stop to shoot a projectile at Sonic, Chopper, a robot piranha that jumps out of the water to bite anyone who crosses their bridges, Crabmeat, a robot crab that slowly moves and fires projectiles from its claws, and Newtron, a robot chameleon that either teleports to areas and fires projectiles or transforms into a missile. Waiting for Sonic at the end is Eggman with a giant Green Hill Wrecking Ball.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Emerald Hill Zone, Aquatic Ruins Zone, and Hill Top Zone

The Emerald Hill Zone is the first Green Hill on Westside Island, starting off Sonic and Tails’ Adventure. The area has coconut trees, transparent bushes, horizontal spiral bridges, mini caverns with secrets, Diagonal Springs, plenty of slopes to practice Sonic’s new Spin Dash ability, waterfalls that lead to lower paths, and more varied rock formations that still have checkerboard patterns. The Badniks stationed at the Emerald Hill Zone are Buzzer, an upgraded Buzz Bomber that travels in pairs, Masher, an upgraded Chopper that looks more aggressive but still jumps out of the water to bite anyone who crosses their bridges, and Coconuts, a new robot monkey that climbs the trees and throws coconuts as projectiles. At the end, Eggman flies into his Drill Car, overdoing it by trying to impale and run over Sonic and Tails.

The Aquatic Ruins Zone is a set of underwater ruins surrounded by plants and vegetation. Sonic and Tails will have to use Springboards to bounce and reach certain areas, Spin Jump to destroy old pillars, use old tree trunks as bridges, anticipate Eggman’s fake pillars and dodge the arrows they shoot when someone passes them, avoid falling pillars that break apart underwater, and use the swinging platforms that return from the Green Hill Zone. The Badniks exploring the Aquatic Ruins Zone are Grounder, an upgraded Burrowbot that sometimes crashes through walls like Kool Aid Man, Whisp, a fly Badnik that swarm Sonic and Tails in groups, and Chop-Chop, an upgraded version of Jaws that swims in the water and attacks anything alive that comes into its path. Before reaching the Prison Capsule, Sonic and Tails face Eggman in a game of Whack-A-Pole.

The Hill Top Zone is the second Green Hill on Westside Island, that’s an Aqua Green volcano rising high above the clouds. Sonic and Tails will have roll and Spin Dash through Shuttle Loops to drill into the ground, jump over lava lakes, ride old, grassy lifts, use the seesaws that return from the Star Light Zone, and carefully navigate the area during earthquakes that cause the ground and lava to rise and fall. The Badniks warming up in the Hill Top Zone are Sol (aka Gohla), a fire version of Orbinaut, Spiker, an ground based Orbinaut with a spiked hat for a projectile, and Rexon, a dinosaur Badnik that swims in the lava, spits fireballs, and can be used as a platform after its head is destroyed and its animal is freed. Eggman waits for Sonic and Tails with at the end of Act 2 with a lava proof machine and a flamethrower.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles: Angel Island Zone and Mushroom Hill Zone

The original Angel Island Zone was a jungle filled with many plants and trees, located on the Floating Island. Unfortunately for Sonic and Tails, Eggman was waiting for them when they first arrived. After landing, Super Sonic was Sucker Spin Jumped by Knuckles and lost the Chaos Emeralds, Sonic and Tails watch the area become a giant bonfire thanks to Eggman’s robots in Act 1, and try to avoid drowning, burning, and getting shell-shocked before being dropped into a massive waterfall. The Jungle Badniks in the Angel Island Zone are Rhinobot, a faster and more aggressive Rhino version of a Motobug, Monkey Dude (this is seriously their official English name), an upgraded version of Coconuts that repeats the process of throwing fruit as projectiles from the safety of its trees, Catakiller Jr., an upgraded version of Catakiller that flies and is protected by electricity instead of spikes, and Bloominator, a spiky, robot flower that shoots spiked balls out of its top. The Mini-Boss is unique, not only because it’s the first Mini-Boss in the game, but also because it appears halfway through Act 1 before it and its squad start torching the area. If Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles have a Flame Shield, they will be protected from the flamethrower and bombs. At the end of Act 2, Eggman (or Eggrobo for Knuckles) comes in with a camouflaged machine that also shoots flames.

The Mushroom Hill Zone is a Green Hill with a rice pattern surrounded by a giant woodland forest on the Floating Island, where Sonic and Tails land after stopping the Death Egg from launching again. The Mushrooms that grow here can be used as Springs, seesaws, hang gliders, and parachutes. There’s also new gimmicks like gymnastic Swinging Poles that Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles can swing from, chain like vines that can trap Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles until they use a Spin Dash, and a giant...elevator…thing that can be used as a ladder. Each Act also has different seasons, changing the colors of the level starting with green grass and red & orange mushrooms in summer, then orange grass and blue mushrooms during the fall, and finally grayish green grass and green mushrooms in the winter. The Badniks that harvest the Mushroom Hill Zone are Butterdroid, a robot butterfly that slowly swarms Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, Mushmeanie, a bouncing robot that has wears a mushroom as a shield and needs 2 hits to be destroyed, Dragonfly, a robot dragonfly with a sharp tail that flies up and down, Madmole, a respawning robot Mole that uses sticky mushrooms as projectiles, and Cluckoid, a weather vain rooster that can blow Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles backwards…if it gets the chance to collect air. The Sub Boss of Act 1 is a Jet Pack Lumberjack that cuts down trees, turning the chopped up wood into projectiles. The main boss in Act 2 is a running battle where Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles have to jump over Spiked Ball hurdles and Spin Jump Eggman/Eggrobo in the face while avoiding the mini thrusters.

Sonic CD: Palmtree Panic Zone, Collision Chaos Zone (Past & Good Future), Quartz Quadrant Zone (Past, Present, & Good Future), Stardust Speedway (Past), and Metallic Madness (Good Future)

The Palmtree Panic Zone is a Green Hill with a triangle pattern located on the Little Planet. The Zone has star shaped plants, a unique 3D slope that Sonic runs through to get some air in Act 1, a few tunnels with secrets, unique gem like platforms, machines that spin Sonic when he stands on top of them, and the new Past and Future Signposts, that allow Sonic to time travel if he can maintain speed for a period of time. The Badniks causing a panic in the Palmtree Panic Zone are Anton, an Ant version of the Motobugs, Mosqui, a robot Mosquito that comes down to stab Sonic with its nose like a spear and sometimes appears in groups, Pata-Bata, a bigger pink version of Butterdroid, Kamemusi, a robot stinkbug that shoots projectiles out of its back, and Taga-Taga, a robot water bug that acts like a Chopper here but also appears in the Tidal Tempest Zone’s underwater sections. At the end of Act 3 in the Bad or Good Future, Eggman appears in a machine that looks a boxer, with spikes on its feet and Bumpers as Boxing Gloves. Fortunately, it’s very weak, only takes 3 hits to destroy, and each hit takes out the gloves.

In the Past, the Palmtree Panic Zone looked like an area where dinosaurs may have lived with its prehistoric plants.

In the Bad Future, this tropical paradise becomes a polluted environment with toxic water, pipes going through the ground, and the scariest looking mechanical palm trees. Even the Badniks are depressed, damaged, attack less often, and move slower than in other time periods.

In the Good Future, the palm trees, pipes, and metal are less scary and help transfer water throughout the zone.

Besides the Palmtree Panic Zone, some of the other Zones started off with grass elements in the past and end up with grass elements in their good futures.

In the Past, the Collision Chaos Zone was a prehistoric jungle almost similar to the Palmtree Panic but with its own unique plants, rock formations, and has Sonic running during Sunset. 

In the Good Future, the Collision Chaos Zone blends the past and present together, having nature and technology on even terms and new blue towers and red orange mountains in the background as Sonic runs through the daytime.

In the Present, the Quartz Quadrant Zone is a quartz quarry within a forest.

In the Past, the Quartz Quadrant Zone was another Green Hill with more plants and vegetation, green lakes in the caves, and a smaller forest outside of the caves.

In the Good Future, the Quartz Quadrant Zone becomes a futuristic cavern city with tall buildings and trees on the outside.

In the Past, the Stardust Speedway Zone was a stone city with a grassy highway made of plants and vines.

In the Good Future, the Metallic Madness Zone goes green and looks a little less threatening.

 
Knuckles Chaotix: Isolated Island and Botanic Base

Isolated Island is a Green Hill outside of the Newtronic High Zone, where Knuckles finds Eggman locking up Espio in a prison called a “Combi Catcher”. After Knuckles frees Espio, Eggman escapes the area using Metal Sonic. In this Zone, Knuckles and Espio practice using the Link Rings and Power-Ups insides Item Boxes and run through the area throughout an entire day, from morning until night. There are no Badniks or Bosses here in Scenerio Mode. At the end, players finish the level by playing a Special Stage.

The Botanic Base is one of 5 Attractions in the Newtronic High Zone that has Chaotix Tag Teams explore the inside of a giant greenhouse. Like the other Zones, enemy placement and the Boss’s difficulty change depending on the time of day. The Badniks in the Botanic Base are Bushbubble, a robot plant with a dome that become a shield at night, Spiketower, a Badnik with a grappling hook, and 3 unnamed ones: a robot bush that works similarly to Red Bubbles, a new type of Catakiller that extends itself without any protection, and a floating like robot plant that acts like Grabber. In Botanic Base Level 5, Eggman uses a crane to capture one of the partners and the Leader has to spin jump into Eggman and avoid Eggman while his machine is electrified.

Sonic 3D Blast: Green Grove Zone

The Green Grove Zone is the Green Hill of Flicky Island. Sonic will have to run through the area, avoiding landmines and rotating turret guns to destroy Badniks, and collect Flickies. Besides Caterkiller, the other Badniks in the game do not have official names. In Act 3, Eggman appears with a giant spiked ball and tries to drop it and have it bounce on top of Sonic. Sonic can attack when Eggman comes down to pick up the Spiked Ball but can only damage him by Spin Jumping into the dome.

In the Sega Saturn Version, the colors for the zone are paler shades of brown, there are unique animations, moles with construction hats can sometimes be seen on the sides of walls or inside little holes, and there are more flowers, mushrooms, and plants. There’s also a Map on the Pause Screen.

Sonic the Hedgehog (Master System/Game Gear): Green Hill Zone, Bridge Zone, and Jungle Zone

Starting the trend of Version Exclusive Zones, the Game Gear Version of Sonic the Hedgehog also showed a world map as Sonic goes through South Island from the Green Hill Zone to the Sky Base Zone. The Game Gear Version of the Green Hill Zone is shorter than the Genesis Version, has signs to warn Sonic about spike pits, and has Sonic exploring the insides of the Hill in Act 2, which has a few water sections and a hidden Chaos Emerald. For this Boss Battle, Eggman doesn’t modify the Egg-O-matic with anything. No wrecking ball. No drill car. Nothing. He simply tries to ramp Sonic with it weaponless.

The Bridge Zone is a taller Green Hill with diagonal patterned blocks of the same color. Sonic climbs higher into the mountain and crosses bridges built over rivers and waterfalls filled with Choppers. Act 2 is an auto-scrolling stage while in Act 3 Eggman appears with an aquatic Egg-O-Matic that can shoot projectiles.

The Jungle Zone is a jungle filled with fruits and wild flowers. Sonic will have to run and roll on vines and log run on top of logs in water to reach the Goal Post. At the end, Eggman appears with a machine that drops bombs.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Master System/Game Gear): Green Hills Zone

The Green Hills Zone is just a remixed version of the Green Hill Zone. I’m not entirely sure that adding an “s” to the name does much to change it. What does change is that the level is the 4th Zone in the game, making it the only Green Hill in the Genesis Era that doesn’t appear as the first level of the game, the music for the level is “Toot Toot Sonic Warrior” from the Japanese Sonic CD soundtrack, and the Boss of the level is a big Ball Hog dressed like a sumo warrior that rolls into a ball and tries to hit Sonic. For some reason in Act 1, there’s a formation of Rings that spell out the word “END”.

Sonic Chaos: Turquoise Hill Zone and Mecha Green Hill Zone

The Turquoise Hill Zone may actually be the Green Hill Zone once South Island began sinking into the ocean after Eggman took the Red Chaos Emerald, scattering the rest of the Chaos Emeralds, and disturbing the balance thus creating chaos. The area has the horizontal spiral bridges from Emerald Hill Zone, breakable walls like in the Green Hill Zone, and the new Rocket Shoes Power-Up for Sonic, which allow him to fly in a straight line for a period of time. The local Badniks are bombless Buzz Bombers and Boing-O-Bot, an upgraded Motobug with caterpillar wheels and Springs on top that protect it from Spin Jumps. The Boss of this area is a giant Boing-O-Bot…that has no offensive attacks unless Sonic and Tails decide run directly into it.

The Mecha Green Hill Zone is a gray, artificial, and polluted version of the Green Hill Zone. I’m not sure if this is the original, affected by chaos from the Red Emerald being taken or if this is Eggmanmade. As cool as Mecha Green Hill Zone sounds, I feel that there’s some missed potential here. The coconuts in the trees are actually bombs and will explode if Sonic and Tails touch them. Like the Green Hills Zone, the music is a remix of “You Can Do Anything” from the Japanese Sonic CD soundtrack. The Boing-O-Bots from the Turquoise Hill Zone return but are now blue for some reason. The Boss of this area is a either a metal beetle, monkey, sloth, or all of thee above, climbing up and down a tree while firing projectiles out of its back.

Sonic Triple Trouble: Great Turquoise Zone and Meta Junglira Zone

The Great Turquoise Zone is the Green Hill of Sonic Triple Trouble and more than likely a remixed version of the Turquoise Hill Zone. In this area there are special types of trees that grow here that have Springs hidden in the top, which Sonic can use to reach higher areas. Also there are a few water sections, Tails can enter Special Stages, and the Boing-O-Bots have been changed into robot Turtles. The Boss of this Zone is the Tart Turtle, a bigger version of the turtle Badnik that flies around and requires Sonic and Tails to use the mini ones to reach it with a Spin Jump.

The Meta Junglira Zone is a jungle with a weird name. Here Sonic and Tails can Spin Dash to make tunnels, use cannon like jars, avoid swamp water that acts like quicksand, and bounce off the round objects that were in the Collision Chaos Zone. The Boss of this Zone is a Robot Snake. Be careful, because even after it gets defeated, Sonic and Tails have to dodge the fiery debris. …I searched and couldn’t find any definition for the word “Junglira”…

Sonic Blast: Green Hill 

This is currently the worst version of the Green Hill Zone in Sonic games. The level design is bland, even for an intro level, the enemies are taken from the Emerald Hill Zone, and the earth here doesn’t have any unique patterns whatsoever and is completely generic dirt and gravel. What happened here? I would call it the Splash Hill Zone of the Genesis Era but it predates Splash Hill Zone by 14 years! The only positive thing I can say about this Zone is that the Boss Battle is at least original with Eggman’s machine firing boomerangs.

Tails Adventure: Poloy Forest, Green Island, Lake Crystal, and Caron Forest

Poloy Forest is a forest close to one of Tails’ Labs on Cocoa Island, where Tails is currently on vacation, being invaded and burned by the Battle Bird Armada (aka Battle Kukku Empire) searching for the Chaos Emeralds. While armed with Regular Bombs, Tails fights and avoids the Battle Birds while grabbing the Red Chaos Emerald and his first ever RC, T-Pup (aka Remote Robot). At the end of the forest, Tails fights the Kukku Walker, a robot walker controlled by 2 Battle Birds armed with a flamethrower and can be destroyed by 10 Regular Bombs.

Green Island is one of the smaller islands to the west of Cocoa Island and is a jungle filled with beehives and micro macho versions of the Battle Birds. Once Tails gets the Napolm Dan from Cavern Island, he can blow up walls to explore the level. Tails can find the Extra Speed item to upgrade the Seafox, the Night Vision item to use for Polly Mt. 2, and the White Chaos Emerald to upgrade his health. Afterwards, he can leave by returning to the entrance.

 

Lake Crystal has Tails ride the Seafox up river rapids while avoiding Battle Birds and water logs.

Caron Forest can be accessed after finding a path in Poloy Forest using the Napalm Dan. Here Tails can find the Blue Chaos Emerald, the Triple Bomb, a stronger version of the Regular Bomb, the Sonic Item, which allows Tails to Spin Dash and Roll like in other games, and the Proton Torpedo upgrade for the Seafox.

Tails Skypatrol: Training Area and Rail Canyon Area

The Training Area is a Green Hill where Tails practices his moves without worrying about Badniks or Bosses. This is a mandatory level and can’t be skipped.

The Rail Canyon Area is a grassy canyon filled with Baby Turtleoids where Tails faces off against Focke-Wulf at the end.

History Reference: Focke Wulf was a German company known for manufacturing military aircraft for the Luftwaffe during World War II.

Sonic Drift: Green Hill

The Green Hill is a simple course available at the start of every Chaos GP.

Sonic Drift 2: Emerald Hill (1 & 2), Hill Top (1 & 2), and Balloon Panic

The Emerald Hill course appears in the Purple and White GPs, featuring a short section near a beach and landmines.

The Hill Top course appears in the Purple and White GPs, featuring dirt piles that can be used as ramps. Watch out for the Motobugs.

The Balloon Panic course appears in the Blue GP and appears to be a Green Hill where Hot Air Balloons are flying in the distance and balloons are scattered on the course as Power-Ups.

Sonic Jam: Sonic World

Sonic Jam’s hub world called “Sonic World,” was the first time Sonic was ever playable in 3D. In this area, Sonic could collect 100 Rings, jump and catch a ride with Tails, go to the Museums, and do a few missions.

Sonic R: Resort Island

Resort Island is a beautiful tropical landscape with a small forest, a few ruins, a small mountain, 5 Sonic Tokens, and 1 Chaos Emerald. Collecting all 5 Sonic Tokens and getting at least 3rd Place will allow players to challenge Metal Sonic.

Sonic the Fighters/Championship: South Island, Mushroom Hill, and Canyon Cruise

South Island is the first stage of the game in Arcade Mode, where players fight Knuckles in a Green Hill themed area.

Mushroom Hill is the third stage of the game in Arcade Mode, where players fight Espio in a mushroom arena on top of a giant tree thump.

Canyon Cruise is the fourth stage of the game in Arcade Mode, where players fight Tails on a boat near a checkerboard canyon.

Sonic Adventure: Mystic Ruins Adventure Field

The jungle area of the Mystic Ruins is a big maze where Big lives and fishes with Froggy, a ancient ruin sits in the middle, and a bridge leading to Eggman’s ground base is located. Tails, Knuckles, and Gamma can easily fly, glide, and hover around the area while Sonic, Amy, and Big have to jump and run on top of stable branches until they fall through. There are a few items, Power-Ups, and Emblems hidden here.

Sonic Adventure 2: Green Forest, White Jungle, and Green Hill

After being freed from jail, jogging through Metal Harbor, upgrading his shoes to perform Light Dashes, and fighting Shadow, Sonic learns that the entire island is set to explode. Now Sonic has 8 minutes to run through the forest area of Prison Island to find Tails and Amy and escape. While rushing Sonic will grind, swing, and bungee jump from vines, run around broken Shuttle Loops, and, if he’s fast enough, grab the Ancient Light upgrade to be able to do Light Attacks. If the timer in the corner of the screen and music doesn’t get you pumped to get through this level as fast as possible, I don’t know what to tell you. Be careful in the area with the Goal Ring because some of the ground sinks and rises for some reason.

The only reason Shadow is still on the island is because he finds out Rouge is locked inside of the safe, remembers Maria, and decides to go rescue Rouge and the 3 Chaos Emeralds. White Jungle is very different from Green Forest, giving Shadow 10 minutes to clear the level, forcing him to somersault under barricades, grab level exclusive pulleys that launch him up and down and all around, and grabbing his own upgrade to perform Light Dashes.

After collecting 180 Emblems, completionists are rewarded with this Dreamcast Era remix of the original Green Hill Zone. The entire level is in 3D with Sonic starting out in 2D. Enemies include Buzz Bombers and Choppers and destroying them releases animals that can be used in the Chao Gardens. I still haven’t unlocked it myself…

Sonic Shuffle: Nature Zone

The Nature Zone is a beautiful forest area in Maginery World that was created from the dreams of those who love nature. Unfortunately, Void’s influence is causing a set of black ruins to overtake the trees and plants. Players will have to carefully walk across alligators, get blocked once some of the Void Pillars fall onto the paths, and use a Key to get to the last Precioustone, whose Monster is a Tree. The Ending Minigame for this level has players experience an early version of Sonic Dash as they outrun an earthquake.

Sonic Heroes: Seaside Hill, Ocean Palace, Frog Forest, and Lost Jungle

Seaside Hill is a group of Green Hilled islands in the shape of whales. Most of the Teams will practice formations, use the Bobsled, and reach the Goal Ring at the end while Team Chaotix searches for Hermit Crabs.

Ocean Palace is a group of white ruins located in Seaside Hill. Knuckles, Big, Omega, and Vector will have to help their teams by smashing through giant blocks and doors and using big fans to reach higher areas. Sonic, Shadow, and Espio can also use the Triangle Jump to wall jump horizontally off of walls over gaps. After outrunning giant wheels with spikes called Kao, Teams will have to face off against the Egg Hawk.

The Frog Forest is a remixed version of the Mushroom Hill Zone filled with giant frogs that can make it rain...literally. All that rain has caused the plants that grow here to reach new record, breaking sizes. Unfortunately for Team Rose, even though all of the giant frogs look exactly the same as him, Froggy cannot be found here… Was this Froggy’s original home?

The Lost Jungle is the second half of Frog Forest and a swamp like area where a black version of the giant frogs live. Unlike their Act 1 cousins, Black Frogs create a special type of rain that destroys plants, which can be helpful and dangerous for Teams. At the end, Teams will have to Tarzan their way through the swamp while avoiding a giant alligator. At the end Team Heroes fights against Team Dark while Team Rose fights against Team Chaotix.

Shadow the Hedgehog: Death Ruins and Iron Jungle

Death Ruins is one of 5 choices for Level 4, which can only be accessed by helping Tails in Circus Park. Death Ruins is a set of jungle ruins used as a battlefield with Rouge & G.U.N. VS Black Arms. There’s no Neutral Mission and even if Shadow helps Black Doom, he has a Boss Fight with Black Bull anyway.

Iron Jungle is one of 5 choices for Level 5, which can accessed by helping Maria in the flashback, The Doom, being Neutral in Sky Troops, or helping Black Doom in Mad Matrix. Iron Jungle is one of Eggman’s bases in a jungle, which is being infiltrated by Omega & G.U.N. Shadow can help Omega shoot down Eggman’s ship to be a Hero, destroy G.U.N. Beetles to be Dark, or just go for the Goal Ring. Even if Shadow helps Eggman, he has to fight the Egg Breaker. 

Sonic Pocket Adventure: Neo South Island Zone

The Neo South Island Zone is a remixed version of the Green Hill Zone and Emerald Hill Zone. Unlike Sonic 4, Modern Sonic still has his Classic Physics so the reuse of certain elements from other 1st levels in the Genesis Era, like the 3D slope from the Palmtree Panic Zone, isn’t as bad. The music that plays during this level is a remixed version of Sonic World from Sonic Jam in Act 1 and a remixed version of the Angel Island Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in Act 2. Even though players control Modern Sonic in this game, Eggman switches back and forth between his Classic and Modern outfits. In this Zone, he’s in his Classic Outfit and has removed the drill on his car and replaced it with the Hammer he used in the Aquatic Ruin Zone.

Sonic Advance: Neo Green Hill Zone

The Neo Green Hill Zone is a Green Hill that starts Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy’s adventure from a local beach, through a forest area, and finally across a bridge similar to the one from Radical Highway. The zone has a few Grind Rails for Sonic and Amy to use, Spring Poles that characters can grab and use to get some air, and a Special Spring in Act 1 that leads to the Red Chaos Emerald. The Newly upgraded and designed Badniks in the Neo Green Hill Zone are Kiki, returning from Sonic Adventure to act just like Coconuts, an upgraded Buzzer, with a propeller, Rhino Tank, with a new look that’s similar to Rhinobot, an angrier Crabmeat, and a new Frog Badnik, known as Kero-Kero in Japanese so its English Name could have been Croaker or Ribbit. After finding Eggman, he appears with the Egg Hammer, a finalized version of the machine he used in the Neo South Island Zone.

Fun Fact: Neo Green Hill Zone was the original name for the Aquatic Ruin Zone.

Sonic Advance 2: Leaf Forest Zone

The Leaf Forest Zone is a Green Hill with a “boomerang” or “wooden picture frame” pattern in the dirt and a unique set of unknown, green, and checkerboard patterned objects in the background. Besides the mystery of what those are, the Zone also has long stretches of land for Sonic to practice entering Boost Mode, Blue Springs, Ramps, Grind Rails, and slopes that Sonic can use to get airborne and practice Aerial Tricks, bridges that can broken by Sonic’s bounce attack, Bungee Poles on the side of walls that Sonic can bounce off of, Aerial Pulleys that swing Sonic in a circle, horizontal bridges and secret tunnels that return from the Emerald Hill Zone, the only water areas in the entire game, and 7 hidden Special Rings in each Act that lead to the Red Chaos Emerald. At the end, Sonic finds Eggman in his Egg Hammer mk. II, which moves faster, has a better hammer, and, on the first playthrough, it has a giant hand that is holding Cream and Cheese. After defeating Eggman, Sonic saves and meets Cream and Cheese for the first time and continues his search for Tails and Knuckles and his quest to free the animals while Cream and Cheese try to find Vanilla.

Sonic Advance 3: Sunset Hill Zone

The Sunset Hill Zone is a Green Hill where time is stuck and the sun is always setting. This Zone is the second of 7 empires Eggman recently created after using all 7 Chaos Emeralds to perform Chaos Control on the entire planet. That also might explain why the trees look a little mechanical. On the first run, Sonic and Tails will run over wooden bridges and structures, use their momentum to bounce off of Fling Poles, swing from vertical poles, use Bungee cables to get some air, ride down wooden water slides, find some of the 10 Hidden Chao, and have a rematch with Gemerl before ending Act 3. The music of this zone appears to be a fusion of the original Green Hill and Central City from Sonic Battle. The Badniks here all return from Neo Green Hill Zone except for a new Mole Badnik that jumps in and out of the ground like a Chopper. If players enter Act 3 with Sonic & Tails (Sonic as the Leader), at the end Sonic and Tails will reunite with Knuckles. However, if players come in with Tails & Sonic instead, Knuckles won’t be unlocked. In the Boss Act, instead of using a Green Hill Wrecking Ball, this time Eggman and Gemerl become the Wrecking Ball and try to roll over Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles.

Sonic Battle: Emerald Town and Green Hill

In Sonic Battle, Emerald Town is the first hub of the game. In Sonic’s Story, he finds Emerl on Emerald Beach after Eggman copied Emerl’s data to make his Phi Series robots.

The Green Hill stage is unlockable after clearing Emerl’s Story.

Sonic Rush: Leaf Storm Zone

The Leaf Storm Zone is a giant forest where Sonic tries out his brand new Boost ability (for the first time outside of a Special Stage and while being Super Sonic), defeats a few Egg Pawns, finds Eggman testing out a new machine using a Sol Emerald, and meets Blaze for the first time. It’s the first level for Sonic and the second level for Blaze. Sonic and Blaze can run along tree branches, grind on vines, and outrun a giant Egg Ball. There’s a fan theory that the Leaf Storm Zone is actually the Mystic Ruins from Sonic Adventure based on the World Map and the location of Tails’ shop, but I’m not completely on board with it.

Pokémon 20th Anniversary Fun Fact: Leaf Storm is a special Grass Type attack introduced in the 4th Generation during Diamond and Pearl Version.

Sonic Rush Adventure: Plant Kingdom Zone

The Plant Kingdom Zone is a big island filled with giant plants and mushrooms, aggressive robot dinosaurs, and Green Material. This is the first island that Sonic, Tails, and Marine can reach from Southern Island using the newly created Waterbike, the “Wave Cyclone”. At the end of the island Sonic runs into the “Ghost Rex”, a giant robotic tyrannosaurus. The group also finds Tabby, a member of the Coconut Crew that travels to different islands, who gives them directions to the Machine Labyrinth Zone.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2006: Forest Hub and Tropical Jungle

While not as cluttered as the cities, the area is too large and everything is too far apart. It's also still very easy to get lost and not know where to go. 

Tropical Jungle is a jungle filled with temple ruins, giant trees, and the same issues and problems the rest the game has.

Sonic Riders: Splash Canyon, Green Cave, Red Canyon, and White Cave

Splash Canyon is a course going through a grassy and watery canyon, where Tails does his entry race. The rest and restore area is a river and there’s a secret route made out of a rainbow towards the Finish Line.

Green Cave is a heavily forested area, where sunlight is scarce and the course goes through the trees and through a cave. Here Tails races against Wave. The rest & restore area takes place on the back of giant centipedes. Towards the end, racers will bounce off of giant spider webs.

Red Canyon is the sunset version of Splash Canyon, where Wave races against Amy. This course has an extra cave to race through.

White Cave seems to be a deeper part of the forest than Green Cave, where dark loving plants, Venus fly traps, and pollen blocks out the sky. The only reason why Jet is here is to escape Wave’s lecture.

Sonic Riders Zero Gravity: Botanical Kingdom

The Botanical Kingdom is a grassy theme park inside of a giant greenhouse. Racers can swing from twisted vines and gravity dive on the inside of a giant, fake beehive.

Sonic Free Riders: Forgotten Tomb

Forgotten Tomb is a building of stone ruins on a jungle island. Though most of the stage takes place inside of the ruins, racers will go through part of the jungle when they exit.

Sonic Rivals: Forest Falls Zone

The Forest Falls Zone is a Green Hill conventionally turned into a racecourse. Here Sonic and Knuckles race to catch up with Eggman after finding out he turned Tails, Amy, and the Master Emerald into cards. Meanwhile Shadow gets a distress signal from Eggman and notices Silver, who no one remembers because of the reset of the timeline in Sonic 2006, chasing after Eggman. In the Forest Falls Zone, Rivals must vault over logs to reach different paths, grind on vines, jump across ponds and lakes, ride on giant leaves, destroy or avoid Egg Pawns, and use Power-Ups and Special Moves to reach the Goal. The Boss of this Zone is the Egg Turtle, where Rivals compete to see who can hit its head 6 times first to win.

Sonic Rivals 2: Sunset Forest Zone

The Sunset Forest Zone is a Green Hill during a beautiful sunset, which is also conventionally a racecourse. Here the matches are Sonic VS Silver, Tails VS Espio, Knuckles VS Shadow, and Rouge VS Metal Sonic. In the Sunset Forest Zone, Rivals will grind on vines, roll through tunnels, climb and jump from vertical poles, vines that can be used as catapults, use vines to climb walls, and use vines to swing to higher paths. The Boss of Sunset Forest Zone has Rivals use Batbrains as bombs to drop on the Boss Machine.

Sonic and the Secret Rings: Dinosaur Jungle

Dinosaur Jungle is a prehistoric area filled with unique plants and different kinds of dinosaurs. Here Sonic will outrun a stampede of triceratops, ride on logs in rivers, avoid giant cactus, save King Shahryar, collect Eggs, and find the Green World Ring, which represents Hatred.

Sonic and the Black Knight: Misty Lake, Deep Woods, Titanic Plains, Great Megalith, and Shrouded Forest

After being summoned into Avalon and confronting the Black Knight (aka King Arthur), Sonic travels with Merlina to Misty Lake, the first level in the game. Misty Lake is a misty forest area where Sonic trains on wooden targets with a new gauntlet and his first sword, Clarent, avoids and blocks wild boars, Grinds on stone rails and long vines, gets some help from Spring and Dash Fairies, and scares some frogs as he rushes through the area. To finish his training, Sonic fights against the Mist Dragon, whose weakness is the blue horn on its head. At the end, Sonic finds and awakens Caliburn, a magic talking sword that’s a weaker version of Excalibur, and immediately fights the Black Knight with it afterwards.

After visiting the Blacksmith in Camelot Castle and unlocking the Blacksmith Shop in the Menu, Sonic and Caliburn go to the Deep Woods to meet Nimue, the Lady of the Lake and the Avalon Version of Amy, and complete her challenges. In the beginning, Sonic rides on top of a horse cart while cutting down Knights that rush and jump towards him. As he continues, he’ll fight new Knights of the Underworld that use a spinning axe attack, trade items and give Rings to Villagers, and avoid swinging spiked balls, bear traps, and blocks of cheese, which is booby trapped to drop a wooden cage over Sonic if he touches them. Before meeting Nimue, he’ll first fight Lancelot, a Knight of the Roundtable and the Avalon Version of Shadow. Defeating Lancelot will get Sonic Arondight, Lancelot’s signature weapon, and sometimes the Medal of Lancelot, which plays Shadow’s theme song in the levels when equipped. 

After learning that a dragon had kidnapped some of the villagers, Sonic travels through Titanic Plains to get to Crystal Cave and save them. Titanic Plains is giant field of grassy plains with a few ruins, village settlements, and giant enslaved trolls pulling giant wagons. Here Sonic will have to deal with giant versions of the Underworld Knights that can grab Sonic and take multiple hits to defeat, a lance version of the Underworld Knights that charge forward, giant spiked balls that Sonic has to avoid by Jumping over them or grinding on giant spears, and different types of stone pillars that Sonic can cut down or jump through. Sonic will also fight Gawain here, who is another Knight of the Roundtable and the Avalon Version of Knuckles. Defeating Gawain will get Sonic Galatine, Gawain’s signature dual axes, and sometimes the Medal of Gawain, which plays Knuckles’ theme song in the levels when equipped.

The Great Megalith is a fort near Titanic Plains that has prisons for the villagers and giant trolls and is one of the points to create a barrier to seal Avalon Castle. Players can tackle this level as Sonic, Lancelot, Gawain, and Percival but it will show Lancelot activating the barrier point in the cutscene.

The Shrouded Forest is a corrupted forest that’s been covered in webs and powder, surrounded by weird plants, and is one of the points to create a barrier to seal Avalon Castle. It’s also home to a species of butterflies with hallucinogenic pollen. If Sonic, Lancelot, Percival, and Gawain touch them, they’ll get the Confused status and see fake versions of the level. Players can tackle this level as Sonic, Lancelot, Gawain, and Percival but it will show Gawain activating the barrier point in the cutscene.

Sonic Chronicles The Dark Brotherhood: Green Hill Zone

The Green Hill Zone is the first area in the game, where Sonic teams up with Amy and fights a Marauder. Players will return to find Eggman and get Cream the Rabbit, who is an optional character.

Sonic Unleashed: Mazuri/Savannah Citadel and Adabat/Jungle Joyride

Mazuri is a Country based on Africa. It's the 3rd Country Sonic visits, the first Gaia Temple Sonic and Chip enter, and the first Country whose Planet Piece gets restored.

In the PS2 and Wii Versions of the game, there are no Savannah Citadel Action Stages in the Mazuri Gaia Gate. There is only the Egg Beetle Day Boss Battle.

In retrospect the cutscene where Sonic saves the Mazuri villagers from Eggman doesn't make sense in the HD Versions because Eggman intercepted Sonic in the Egg Cauldron...

In the PS3 and Xbox 360 Version, Savannah Citadel has Sonic runs and fights through grassy sands of the savannah while rushing around parts of a castle and climbing to the top of a giant tree. Personally, I like the Japanese Name “Clay Castle” better but that’s just a minor complaint. During the first visit during the evening, Sonic, Tails, and Chip rescue Professor Pickle and retrieve the Gaia Manuscripts from Eggman’s base in Savannah Citadel Night Act 1. On the second visit during the day Sonic saves some Mazurians from Eggman’s Egg Fighters and chases after Eggman in Savannah Citadel Day Act 1. Once Sonic and Chip catch up to Eggman, Sonic fights against the Egg Beetle, a giant robot insect armed with big pinchers and a variety of missiles and bombs. After stomping the Egg Beetle, Mazuri’s Planet Piece is fixed, the Green Chaos Emerald is restored, Holoska is unlocked, and the World Map is fully accessible.

Adabat is a Country based on Southeast Asia, with a beautiful and unique sky during the night. In Jungle Joyride, Sonic crosses beaches, wooden bridges, ocean water, and ruins. In both Versions, the Egg Fighter Series Robots only appear in the Daytime.

In the PS2 and Wii Versions, the Jungle Joyride Day Acts are much shorter, Sonic can use Egg Fighters holding Spring Shields to reach new areas, and "Thwomp" like obstacles. The Night Acts have Sonic travel between the villages more, carefully walk on grassy paths in the jungle, jump around platforms being moved by ocean currents and whirlpools, and navigate ruins floating over waterfalls.

As mentioned earlier, the HD Jungle Joyride Day Acts are longer and more challenging. The HD Night Acts have Sonic travel between mini islands with a mix of jungle and ruins unlike the Day Acts and the PS2/Wii Version Night Acts.

The guardian of the Adabat Gaia Temple is Egg Lancer, a fusion of Egg Beetle and Egg Devil Ray. While it has more offensive capabilities and Sonic fights it over bottomless pits at one point, the giant electric shield is no longer a problem. After defeating Egg Lancer, Adabat’s Planet Piece, the Purple Chaos Emerald, and Chip’s Memory are restored.

Sonic Colors: Planet Wisp

Planet Wisp is the home planet of the Wisps, a beautiful alien habitat that’s been disturbed by Eggman Enterprises’ construction sites. In the Wii Version, Sonic teams up with the Pink Wisps and uses their Color Power, Pink Spike, to roll and Spin Dash along walls and ceilings. Let’s not forget that Act 1 BGM. The Pink Wisp was my favorite Wisp the Wii Version and Planet Wisp is my favorite level in the game.

In the DS Version of the game, Sonic meets the Yellow Wisps and uses their Color Power, Yellow Drill, to dig underground while avoiding spiked bombs, alien plants, Burrowbots, and a giant crush death drill.

Sonic Generations: Green Hill (HD and 3DS), Mushroom Hill, Seaside Hill, and Planet Wisp
Like the Genesis and Game Gear Versions of the original Sonic the Hedgehog, the HD and 3DS versions of Sonic Generations start out with the Green Hill Zone. Once Green Hill is restored, Classic Tails will appear, Modern Tails will be freed, and the rest of the Genesis Era Area of the White World will be open, except for Sky Sanctuary.

The HD Version of Green Hill has Classic Sonic run and Spin Dash through a remixed version of the original level with the Horizontal Spiral Bridges from the Emerald Hill Zone in Act 1, probably because Emerald Hill was the second most picked level in surveys (according to an interview in the History of Sonic the Hedgehog). In Act 2, Modern Sonic boosts his way through a Modern Era version of Green Hill with 2D and 3D areas, tries out the new Freestyle Tricks, and avoids getting eaten by a giant Chopper.

In the 3DS Version Act 1 of Green Hill is an updated copy of the original Act 1 from the Genesis version of Sonic the Hedgehog. In Act 2, Modern Sonic rushes through the Green Hill Zone while using the Homing Attack and avoiding getting crushed by a giant collapsing Totem Pole.

The last Genesis Era Stage of the 3DS Version is the Mushroom Hill Zone. Like Green Hill and Casino Night, Act 1 is an updated copy of the original level during the Spring/Summer. Act 2 has Modern Sonic running through the Autumn Version of the level, with Seed Propellers that return and got remodeled from Frog Forest and Egg Fleet, and grinding on a giant vine in a cave at the end before using a Homing Attack to break through a wall.

The last Dreamcast Era Stage of the HD Version is Seaside Hill. Act 1 combines elements of the Labyrinth Zone with the original Seaside Hill and Ocean Palace, having Classic Sonic run on land and water and outrunning a Kao to reach the end. In Act 2, the original level get remixed to be bigger and have a number of multiple pathways for Modern Sonic, including the Bobsled above the Turtles that can be accessed through a Terminal. Just don’t go past the buoys. Restoring Seaside Hill frees Espio and unlocks the Challenge Gates for the Dreamcast Era of the White World.

The last Modern Era Stage and Stage in the HD Version is Planet Wisp. Act 1 has Classic Sonic team up with the Pink Wisps and use Pink Spikes to destroy Pink Blocks and activate gears to open paths. In Act 2, Modern Sonic can explore more of the non-construction areas, ride Carts, team up with the Orange Wisps, climb one of the construction towers, and avoid a crushing obstacle, similar to the one in the DS Version of Act 2, that Sonic can breakthrough and push back using the Orange Rocket. Once Planet Wisp is restored, Charmy will be freed, the Modern Era Challenge Gates will open, and the Red Chaos Emerald will be added to the collection.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Splash Hill Zone and Sylvania Castle Zone

The Splash Hill Zone is a yellow checkerboard hill fusion of the Green Hill Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog, Emerald Hill Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and Angel Island Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Unfortunately, it doesn’t recognize what made those levels unique and comes off as uninspired, especially with the Boss Battle. The Sonic Rush physics don’t help either. Maybe if they added more water elements to emphasize the “Splash” part of the level. For some reason there’s an area from the Leaf Storm Zone that reappears in Splash Hill Zone…

The Sylvania Castle Zone is a fusion of the Aquatic Ruins Zone and Marble Garden Zone, creating a unique set of ruins surrounded by water, stone, and plants. Sonic and Tails explore the ruins while testing out their new Combo Abilities. The Boss for this Zone is the Egg Serpentleaf, a giant mechanical flower that can only be hit using the Copter Combo.

Sonic Lost World: Windy Hill, Silent Forest, and Sky Road

Windy Hill is the Green Hill of the Lost Hex and the first area Sonic and Tails land in after being shot out of the sky by Eggman. It combines the Green Hill Zone with elements from past Sky/Windy/Air themed levels and the Space theme, such as unique gravity mechanics, giant Windmills, and bouncy clouds. There’s also a special kind of sheep that lives here that has wool as bouncy as a Spring. At the end of Act 2 and Act 4, Sonic fights against Zazz and his bizarre Moon Mech.

In the 3DS Version, Zone 1 has Sonic team up with the Indigo Wisps, Zone 3 Sonic runs through a sunset version of Windy Hill with Zazz sometimes interrupting the run to play dodgeball with the Moon Mech, and Zone 4 has Sonic fight Zazz and his Moon Mech on a 3D planetoid. Also, Tails’ Lab is located in Windy Hill.

Silent Forest is a swamp and ruin area of the Lost Hex, where Tails gets kidnapped by the Deadly Six. Zone 1 has Sonic run and grind rails through a swamp while avoiding alligators. Zone 2 has Sonic sneak through forest ruins while an Owl Mech is searching for him. Zone 4 has Sonic enter and explore the temple ruins. At the end of Zone 2 and Zone 4, Sonic fights Zor on his Owl Mech and with his Shadow Clones.

In the 3DS Version, Zone 1 has Sonic team up with the Gray Wisps and use their Color Power, Gray Quake, Zone 2 has Sonic Grind on rails while avoiding minecarts, Zone 3 has Sonic run through a version of the Wii U Zone 2 level but without the Owl looking out for him, and Zone 4 has Sonic fight Zor on the top of the Owl Mech by using cannons.

The Wii U Version of Sky Road Zone 1 is a higher version of Windy Hill, filled with giant Catakillers, insane Parkour Areas that also have Crimson Wisps, and a Tank Turtle.

Sonic Boom Rise of Lyric: The Pit

The Pit is a mix of different level themes that unfortunately thrown off by the game’s other issues.

Sonic Boom Shattered Crystal: Seaside Jungle

Seaside Jungle is the second level of the Seaside Coast Hub. The level has areas that require Sticks and her boomerang.

Sonic Jump/Sonic Jump Fever: Green Hill

The Green Hill Zone in Sonic Jump is just a vertical remixed version of the Green Hill Zone.

Sonic Dash: Seaside Hill

In Sonic Dash, players can play as Sonic and Friends to see how far and how long they go through Seaside Hill.

Sonic Runners: Windy Hill

Windy Hill is the first level in Sonic Runners and has been remixed into a 2D endless runner. During Events, the levels changes.

During the Spring Event, the area gets Easter Colors and Easter Eggs.

During the Birthday Event, ribbons, presents, balloons, and cake were added to the level.

Discussion Questions
1. If you had to choose, what would be the choices for your #1 Green Hill Level/Hub Area and your #1 Grass Level/Hub Area in a Sonic Game?

2. What would be your least favorite Green Hill and Grass themed levels in a Sonic Game?

3. What are your favorite Green Hill and Grass Level Music Track(s)?

4. What are some old or new ideas you'd like to see in future Green Hill and Grass themed Levels in Sonic games?

5. What's another level theme you'd like to see fused together with the Green Hill and Grass themed levels, that haven’t been done yet, in Sonic games?

6. Would you personally, like to see a Green Hill inspired Level/Hub Areas in the 25th Anniversary Game?

7. Would you personally, like to see a Grass themed Level/Hub Areas in the 25th Anniversary Game?

Edited November 8, 2023 by Sonictrainer

[Salamander]

5 hours ago, Sonictrainer said:

Discussion Questions

 

1. If you had to choose, what would be the choices for your #1 Green Hill Level/Hub Area and your #1 Grass Level/Hub Area in a Sonic Game?

2. What would be your least favorite Green Hill and Grass themed levels in a Sonic Game?

3. What are your favorite Green Hill and Grass Level Music Track(s)?

4. What are some old or new ideas you'd like to see in future Green Hill and Grass themed Levels in Sonic games?

5. What's another level theme you'd like to see fused together with the Green Hill and Grass themed levels, that haven’t been done yet, in Sonic games?

6. Would you personally, like to see a Green Hill inspired Level/Hub Areas in the 25th Anniversary Game?

7. Would you personally, like to see a Grass themed Level/Hub Areas in the 25th Anniversary Game?

1. My favourite iteration I'd have to say would probably be Sunset Hill, as I think it achieves the biggest difference in atmosphere with the smallest and most elegant change.  Just changing the time of day and the lighting gives a completely different impression to the original.  But probably my overall favourites are the Sonic 2 range; something about how geometric and almost abstract their designs are really lends them an especially Sonic-like character, to me.  There's something very game-like about their fusion of the natural and the regular.

2. I don't know if I could pick a single one, but any that are just too samey, probably.

4. If it's an old idea, I'd really like to see another take on the Angel Island "destroyed" version, perhaps with more of an emphasis on the aftermath of an attack, with ashes and craters and fallen trees; maybe also a mechanical version, like a better-presented Mecha Green Hill or, best of all, the Good Future Palmtress Panic, a utopic vision of mechanical integration.

5. Snow, perhaps?  There are plenty of areas in Sonic games with both trees and snow, but these levels always look like ice levels first and foremost; I'd like to see a version that looks more like Green Hill Zone in winter.

6. If they do something new enough with it; at this point, I'm not sure what they could add to the Generations upgrade.

7. Sure, why not - if it's sufficiently original.

[Semi-colon e]

The Green Hill trope is pretty awesome, I mean, it's the definitive Sonic trope. I feel you're missing Adabat, I mean if jungle type levels are here too, then Adabat must be, same with the Soleanna Forest Hub. Now for the questions.

 

1. I think the original Green Hill just does it the best in terms of structure and level design, with lots of alternate pathways and platforming, and the S curves were really something special. I'm also fond of Emerald Hill, because while all it adds in terms of level gimmicks is the corkscrews, it has some really good level design with many ways to play, either you can explore around to get all the emeralds in one go, or you can blaze through each act in like a minute tops.

 

I also really like the atmosphere and level design in both Aquatic Ruin and Sylvania Castle, I think the former is really clever in how you can avoid the water by playing well, while the latter has some great visuals, variety in level structure, and is honestly probably the best level in Sonic 4 as a whole. Plant Kingdom in Rush Adventure and Mushroom Hill are really good levels too, with some of the most fun level gimmicks in the series, and while I wouldn't have picked Seaside Hill for Generations, the level design and variety in both acts was so good it doesn't even matter. Planet Wisp is one of my favourite levels in Colours, but I consider that mainly a construction base level, especially in that version rather than the Generations version which adds a few more green areas. Same with stuff like Collision Chaos Good Future, which is a pinball level with a green motif, or Stardust Speedway, which is the highway trope but with ancient ruins and greenery in the past.

 

Oh yeah, Angel Island is great too. Not my favourite 3&K by a long shot, but it's a great introduction to the game and Sonic 3's more action orientated setpieces as a whole. The greenery levels tend to be some of the best levels in Sonic games!

 

2. I really don't like Sunset Hill at all. It looks nice, but the music sounds like ass, and the level design with random bottomless pits everywhere and Act 3's awful "fall down and you redo the entire level" thing is just a massive drag. Other than that, I don't mind the more boring ones, as they're mostly easy, my problem with the Green Hill thing is that it's just so done to death and they all get samey. I prefer it when the greenery levels are more varied in visual design, such as Angel Island, Plant Kingdom, and the like. While it's not a bad level, I also consider the Generations version of Green Hill to be the weakest level in that game as it's just essentially tutorial. Looks amazing, though. Splash Hill, not so much. I don't like Episode 1 as a whole though, so I don't care for Splash Hill either.

 

Silver's Tropical Jungle in 06 is really bad as well with the maze thing and the slowdown everywhere. Sonic's is pretty good actually, while Rouge can just fly over everything, and when Knuckles returns here in End of the World, it's also very brief. And the Soleanna Forest Hub World? Haha! That hub is so big, empty, and pointless. The worst hub of that game by far.

 

3. Plant Kingdom, Angel Island Act 1, the entireity of Planet Wisp in both games, Jungle Joyride Night, Aquatic Ruin, Collision Chaos Good Future, Metallic Madness Good Future (US for both!), there's so many good ones here, I mean jesus.

 

4 and 5. Honestly, I just want to see more varied types of this level. The Sonic games used to do this, but then nowadays you've got Splash Hill and Windy Hill, and it's like "Can we stop whoring this out and do something original?" Or not start with a greenery level at all like SA2 or somewhat SA1 with Emerald Coast. There's so many games where it starts with a fairly generic green level. Other than that, a more wintery version or perhaps more water levels like big lakes, especially as Green Hill type levels often tend to contain water.

 

6 and 7. I'd personally prefer a game that strayed towards new ideas, much like what Colours did, rather than another Green Hill rehash, especially after Lost World, Generations, and Sonic 4. Perhaps a grassy type level, but not necessarily a Green Hill type one.

[Mors]

1. I really like how Forest Falls Zone looks, and Green Hill Modern is also my second favorite Sonic level. But I have to go with Seaside Hill. I just love how it looks both in Generations and Heroes. And It's fun in both games too.
2. Hard question. I think Splash Hill is a really dumb zone. It's just a boring clone of Green Hill and it lacks charm of most other Green Hill Clones, so I'll go with that. I don't hate it though.
3. Seaside Hill is fucking awesome. Maybe because of nostalgia idk but I love Seaside Hill's music.
4. Well, I liked how the whole island burned in Angel Island, so I would like to see something similar to that.
5. I don't even have a single idea.
6. I don't know. As long as it's not like Splash Hill or Windy Hill, I would be okay.
7. Yeah why not?

[Sonictrainer]

18 hours ago, Semi-colon e said:

The Green Hill trope is pretty awesome, I mean, it's the definitive Sonic trope. I feel you're missing Adabat, I mean if jungle type levels are here too, then Adabat must be, same with the Soleanna Forest Hub.

Adabat/Jungle Joyride was there, I just didn't add pictures or differences between the PS2/Wii Version and PS3/Xbox 360 Version until now.

I did actually forget the Soleanna Forest Hub and have added it.

 

Discussion Questions
1. If you had to choose, what would be the choices for your #1 Green Hill Level/Hub Area and your #1 Grass Level/Hub Area in a Sonic Game?

....This is tough...I'll come back and answer this one later after I brainstorm some more.

2. What would be your least favorite Green Hill and Grass themed levels in a Sonic Game?

For Green Hill Levels, it's a tie between Sonic Blast's Green Hill and Sonic 4's Splash Hill Zone.

For Grass Levels, I'm picking the Soleanna Forest Hub

3. What are your favorite Green Hill and Grass Level Music Track(s)?

Sunset Hill Zone and Planet Wisp Act 1

I never knew about the divide of people who like and don't like Sunset Hill's music until I did research for this topic.

My current favorite versions of the songs are remixes done by MasterJace, who remixed Sunset Hill in "Racing Over the Horizon," and a Piano/Sequencer Cover by Kenichi Tokoi and Dave Harris.

 

4. What are some old or new ideas you'd like to see in future Green Hill and Grass themed Levels in Sonic games?

• I really like the idea of running on or just using wood logs to cross water in the Jungle Zone and Dinosaur Jungle. I mean nowadays Sonic can just boost over water but still
• Season changes like in Mushroom Hill
• Time of Day system like Knuckles Chaotix and Sonic Unleashed
• Some of the Badnik designs from Botanic Base
• maybe a level that has a fruit or harvest festival and Badniks attack by starting food fights.

5. What's another level theme you'd like to see fused together with the Green Hill and Grass themed levels, that haven’t been done yet, in Sonic games?

Green Hill Level Fusions are kind of hard to do. For example, Sonic 3D Blast had a lot of levels that had checkerboard patterns on the paths but no grass and Pumpkin Hill was a mountain but had no unique patterns in the rock. As long as it can follow that definition, any other level theme is fine.

I would still like to see a Grass City or something like Knothole Village in the games. Also, I want see something like Botanical Kingdom outside of the Riders games' futuristic view.

6. Would you personally, like to see a Green Hill inspired Level/Hub Areas in the 25th Anniversary Game?

Green Hill themed Hubs are always welcome. 

I'm also Ok with Green Hill themed Levels as long as:

• we don't get another Splash Hill Zone. Almost every other Green Hill themed level has their own special pattern and ideas 
• it doesn't call itself Green Hill Zone and do nothing to expand by what was already done in Generations or Lost World
• it doesn't appear as the first level in the game
• it uses a mix of old and new Badniks and enemies 

7. Would you personally, like to see a Grass themed Level/Hub Areas in the 25th Anniversary Game?

As long as the Hubs are a decent size and not extremely hard or boring to navigate, sure. 

I'm not sure if there's anyway to mess a Grass level up though.