In development
Note This article compiles information given out by the developers of SRB2 about future releases after v2.2. SRB2 is developed without a fixed release date or deadline for the next version, and new releases are made whenever a sufficient amount of content has been finished. Future development of SRB2 will focus mainly on completing the Single Player campaign and refining existing content, but new features may be developed concurrently. The next major version after v2.2 is still in early stages, which means that there is very little content confirmed for the next version. Note that all information in this article is subject to change before the next release. |
Game mechanics
SRB2's player physics are set to be overhauled from the ground up, with the intent of improving the game's feel and control. These changes include, but are not limited to:
- an adjustment from the current multiplicative acceleration and deceleration curve to a linear one, in order to make it easier to move from a standstill;
- increased gravity, jump height and midair acceleration for better control over aerial movement;
- the ability to build and preserve momentum from slopes and springs.[1]
Some characters' movesets are also expected to be reworked to account for these changes in the game mechanics. Sonic's midair jump ability, which has been the thok ever since SRB2 Christmas, is planned to be replaced or redesigned entirely to allow for a more intuitive experience for beginner players.[2] Additions to Amy's abilities are also in the experimental stage, with ideas including a midair swirling hammer move granting her some extra air time.[3]
Single Player campaign
SRB2's Single Player campaign is currently incomplete. Notably, the second and third acts of Red Volcano Zone have not been completed yet, and two additional zones are planned to appear between Red Volcano Zone and Egg Rock Zone: Dark City Zone and Grand Eggship Zone. Additionally, some of the levels currently present in the game are either being reworked, fully remade, or further expanded upon.
- Greenflower Zone: Significant updates to GFZ are planned, with work-in-progress screenshots of Act 1 showing much of the level remade with heavier use of sloped terrain in mind.
- Techno Hill Zone: A new steam jet gimmick with a diagonal launch angle is being worked on. It will seemingly launch the player character in their jump state, leaving them capable of using their midair jump ability.
- Deep Sea Zone: The version of Act 2 released in v2.2 is a placeholder comprised of a mix of new sections and repurposed old sections. The stage is planned to be significantly revamped to be more cohesive.
- Castle Eggman Zone: Act 2 was not finished in time for v2.2's release and was therefore released in an incomplete state. Empty areas were filled in with placeholder content, while several incomplete paths were removed or made inaccessible, most notably the back right path splitting off from the central courtyard. In v2.2.1, the inaccessible paths were removed to save space in the map. It remains to be seen if they will be brought back in the future.
- Red Volcano Zone: While a plan existed during the development of v2.0 to replace RVZ2 with a snow-themed act (a teaser of which was included in v2.0 as Blue Mountain Zone Act 2), this plan has since been scrapped. RVZ2 will be a regular lava-themed level like the first act.[4] It will feature hang gliders that the player can hang on to as a gimmick.
- Dark City Zone: Brak Eggman was originally intended as the boss for Dark City Zone, but it was moved to Egg Rock Zone in v2.0, originally as a placeholder for the final boss. Currently, Brak Eggman is used as the game's final boss in Black Core Zone Act 3.
- Grand Eggship Zone: As the name implies, this zone will take place on Eggman's spaceship.[5] Its original name was Doom Ship Zone, but it was changed because it shared an abbreviation with Deep Sea Zone. Both Dark City Zone and Grand Eggship Zone are still in the planning stages because the completion of Red Volcano Zone has a higher priority.[5]
- Egg Rock Zone: A remake of this zone is in development for future releases.
Bonus levels
- Challenge stages: SRB2 is planned to include a series of extremely difficult bonus levels called "challenge stages". Three of these, Haunted Heights Zone, Aerial Garden Zone and Azure Temple Zone, are already included in v2.2. Textures and a basic layout for another challenge stage called Sweet Tooth Zone were made during the development of v2.1, but no further work has been done on it since then.[6] Aerial Garden Zone and Azure Temple Zone have been stated to be subpar by the developers, and are planned to be removed or remade to modern design standards. Despite an in-progress remade version of Aerial Garden already existing in Mystic Realm: Community Edition, the developers have stated said version will not be used due to the different designing methods used by the community.
- Multiplayer Special Stages: The current multiplayer Special Stages, which are retextured versions of v2.0's Special Stages, are placeholders and will eventually be replaced by new Special Stages designed specifically for multiplayer.
Miscellaneous
- Proper menus are planned to be in the next version, rather than just text that overlays the title screen.
- Emblems will receive a visual overhaul. They will rotate continuously and bob up and down, flapping their wings.
- The Flame Shield's visuals will be updated.
- Map names will no longer be restricted to the
MAPxx
format, instead allowing for any string of text. - Proper level transitions to connect the main zones as seen in Sonic 3 are planned to be implemented in a future release. A primitive form of these were previously present in v2.0, but were removed in v2.1 due to issues regarding netgames.
- It is eventually planned to add a passive ability to the Whirlwind Shield, to match the other shields which have both an active and a passive ability.
- The sprite2 system will be completely removed.
- The animation system will be replaced with a json-based animation system.
- Eventually, there will be an in-game WebM video recording feature.
Gallery
To do Add more officially revealed content. (No leaks) |
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The first proposed change to Sonic's moveset. This ability has since been scrapped.
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Another showcase of the new physics.
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Showcase of a working ceiling transfer.
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A look at the new spawn room in Greenflower Zone, Act 1.
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Another look at the updated Greenflower Zone, Act 1. This appears to be a new path.
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The opening area in Greenflower Zone, Act 1. More sloped terrain is present in this update, and the thok barriers are notably missing.
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The area after the first checkpoint in Greenflower Zone, Act 1. This screenshot shows new textures.
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A showcase of the new steam jets planned for Techno Hill Zone.
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What appears to be a new area in the updated Egg Rock Zone.
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An early version of the new main menu.
References
Versions | [view] | |
Pre-demo | SRB2 TGF • SRB2 Halloween • SRB2 Christmas | |
Demo | Demo 1 • Demo 2 • Demo 3 • Demo 4 • Demo 4.32–4.35 • SRB2 2k3 | |
Final Demo | Final Demo 1.01–1.04 • Final Demo 1.08 • Final Demo 1.09–1.09.2 • Final Demo 1.09.3–1.09.4 | |
Post-demo | Match beta • Version 2.0 • Version 2.1 • Version 2.2 • In development |