In which game is Hill Top Zone found?

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992), where it is the 5th zone.

What is Hill Top's gimmick?

Earthquakes, which cause the ground to shift and lava to rise in the caverns.

Is Hill Top an ice level?

No: it's green mountains overlooking lava caverns. There is no ice or snow.

What character/setting does it reuse?

The palette and graphics of Emerald Hill, the first level of Sonic 2.

The Egg Scorcher Mk. II, a flamethrower submarine piloted by Eggman, to be defeated in 8 hits.

Hill Top Zone : le niveau volcanique de Sonic 2

Hill Top Zone: Sonic 2's volcanic level

July 11, 2026

747 words | Reading time: 4 minutes

LevelSonic the Hedgehog 2West Side Island

Perched above the clouds on the mountains of West Side Island, Hill Top Zone is the 5th zone of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992), between Casino Night and Mystic Cave. It reuses the green palette of Emerald Hill but hides lava caves beneath its hills. Its house gimmick is the earthquakes: the ground rumbles, tips and tilts, while magma rises from the bottom of the cave in Act 2, forcing you to climb before it floods everything. At the end, the Egg Scorcher Mk. II, Eggman's flamethrower submarine, gives way in eight hits.

Peaks perched above the clouds, earthquakes that shake the ground, and rivers of lava beneath the surface: Hill Top Zone is one of the most tumultuous levels in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Ascend the mountains of West Side Island.

🎰 Casino Night Zone.

⚡ Chemical Plant Zone.

Sonic 2's 5th Zone

Hill Top Zone is the 5th zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992), after Casino Night and before Mystic Cave. Perched above the clouds, it reuses the verdant palette of Emerald Hill... but hides lava caverns beneath its hills.

The snow-capped peaks of Hill Top Zone — Above the volcano, the zone offers its rocky ridges and its zip lines.

Earthquakes

The main gimmick is earthquakes. The ground starts to rumble, then entire sections of terrain rise, tilt, or flip: Sonic constantly has to adapt to the changing landscape under his feet. The level also brings back the seesaws already seen in the first Sonic.

In full sprint

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Rising Lava

The earthquakes have a formidable consequence: they cause lava to rise. The highlight of the level is a section in Act 2 where magma rises from the bottom of the cavern — you must then climb to the top before being submerged. It has nothing to do with ice, however: Hill Top is a green and volcanic level, with no snow.

Lava surfacing beneath Hill Top Zone — The lava rises in stages and cuts off the route: the zone alternates climbing with vertical escape.

The Flamethrower Submarine

At the end of Act 2, Eggman awaits Sonic in the Egg Scorcher Mk. II: an Egg Mobile transformed into a small lava-resistant submarine, equipped with a flamethrower that projects a horizontal jet. Eight hits will defeat it.

Its reappearances

Hill Top is playable in all re-releases of Sonic 2, from Sonic Jam to Sonic Origins, as well as via the "Knuckles in Sonic 2" mode. Its music was composed by Masato Nakamura, from the band Dreams Come True.

Summary Sheet

Element	Detail
Level	Hill Top Zone
Game	Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992)
Position	5th zone (2 acts)
Setting	Mountains of West Side Island + lava caverns
Gimmick	Earthquakes + rising lava
Boss	The Egg Scorcher Mk. II (flamethrower submarine, 8 hits)
Style	Reuses the Emerald Hill palette

FAQ

In which game is Hill Top Zone found?
In Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992), where it is the 5th zone.
What is Hill Top's gimmick?
Earthquakes, which cause the ground to shift and lava to rise in the caverns.
Is Hill Top an ice level?
No: it's green mountains overlooking lava caverns. There is no ice or snow.
What character/setting does it reuse?
The palette and graphics of Emerald Hill, the first level of Sonic 2.
Who is the boss?
The Egg Scorcher Mk. II, a flamethrower submarine piloted by Eggman, to be defeated in 8 hits.