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Sonic the Hedgehog 3C (prototype 0408)

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Revision as of 17:23, 21 November 2019 by Black Squirrel (talk | contribs) (Comparisons)

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3C (prototype 0408)
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
ROM size: 4 MB
Genre: Action

Sonic the Hedgehog 3C Prototype 0408 for the Sega Mega Drive was released by drx during the February 23rd, 2008 proto release. A later in development beta with a compilation number of 0517 was also found. When this beta was obtained by drx the file was labeled 3C indicating this was a unreleased version of Sonic 3. Due to the late development date (dating after Sonic 3's release), it's obvious this isn't Sonic 3 before it was split into 2 games.

This is a prototype for the canceled Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles compilation called Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Limited Edition.

Download.svg Download Sonic the Hedgehog 3C (prototype 0408)
File: Sonic 3C (Prototype 0408 - Apr 08, 1994, 17.29) (hidden-palace.org).zip (2.2 MB) (info)

Cheat Codes

  • Level Select: Enabled by default. Just scroll down on the title screen and select "Sound Test".
  • Debug Mode: At the sound test screen, play songs 01, 03, 05, 07. The ring counter will be replaced with a player sprite/frame counter. Or hold A+Start while selecting a level in sound test and you will start the level with the ability use debug
  • All Chaos Emeralds: At the sound test screen, play songs 02, 04, 06, 08.

Comparisons

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  • The ending sequences have yet to be implemented.

Audio Differences

  • The music for the title screen, mini-bosses, Knuckles, invincibility, and collecting 1-ups are all from Sonic 3.
  • Many sound effects are missing, especially in the Sonic & Knuckles Zones and when playing as Knuckles.
  • Has additional unused sound bytes of music at the following sound test codes: 24, 23, 32, 2D, 22, 21, 20, 1E.
  • Sound test numbering is different for most sounds. Lots of empty slots for sounds in the sound tester.
  • The Data Select music bug from Sonic 3 alone is still there.
  • If Lava Reef act 4 (Hidden Palace Zone) is accessed via Level Select it will use Sky Sanctuary music.
  • The lead echo track of Flying Battery Zone's Act 1 music will go off sync after the first loop, and will increasingly gain drag behind after every loop.

Angel Island Zone

  • Act 1 will still play Act 2 music when returning from a Bonus Stage after the Zone has been set on fire, like in Sonic 3.
  • Knuckles' route in Act 2 still has its object layouts from Sonic 3.

Carnival Night Zone

  • When playing as Sonic alone in Act 1, Tails randomly appears after the boss. (This randomly happens in the completed Sonic 3, but with a different frequency.)

Sandopolis Zone

  • Some more object layout differences.
  • The first of Knuckles' alternate routes in Act 2 does not lead to the sand slides, instead forcing you to drop back down into Sonic's route.
  • The rising sand in Act 2 rises more slowly.
  • In the rising sand sections, all three shields and a 1-UP are tucked away in a corner. They are later replaced with a Super Ring and a Super Sneakers monitor.
  • The area where there would be a very long slide in the final is very different. It is a series of slides which also includes a loop-de-loop that uses level chunks which are completely absent in later prototypes and the final.

Lava Reef Zone

  • Even more object layout differences.
  • Knuckles doesn't run in at the start of Act 1. He just stands there.
  • Knuckles can destroy the four pistons of the driller robot by gliding into them before it begins drilling.
  • The bonus monitors at the end of Act 1 are visible for some reason, and for some stranger reason, the monitors have reversed gravity when released by the goal sign. When Act 2 begins, any monitors that have gone off the top of the screen can be seen underneath the ground.
  • Act 2's palette has yet to be changed to indicate a freeze-over.
  • The screen does not lock behind your character after having passed the first flamethrower.
  • When you encounter Knuckles, his theme does not play, and he laughs after punching the boulder at you. The boulder doesn't make any sounds and won't cancel your Super form.
  • The Act 2 boss area does not play the boss theme at the start. It plays it as soon as the boss pops up from the lava.
  • The Act 2 boss area does not have a Lightning Shield. The ring pattern is also different.
  • The lava in the boss area does not cool after breaking the Prison Egg. Instead, once the results tally has finished the platform you're standing on will drift to the right a bit, then you'll have to jump across more platforms as the lava can still hurt/kill you. The level music does not resume either.
  • The tunnel at the end of Sonic's Act 2 does not go to Hidden Palace, so you're basically stuck. Knuckles' exit to Hidden Palace works, though.
  • Without debug mode, the boss area cannot be accessed directly from the level select.

Sky Sanctuary Zone

  • Once again, more level layout differences.
  • Both Sonic's and Knuckles' versions of this Zone are considered to be Act 2 as the above Zone counts as Act 1.
  • The air ducts are not active while Knuckles is going to enable the bridge in Sonic's act.
  • There seems to be some palette conflicts.
  • The bouncy clouds don't seem to animate.
  • The screen lock works differently in the GHZ boss fight and the teleporter emerges in a different positions.
  • After the MTZ boss has been defeated, the balloons don't pop until they reach the ground.
  • After beating the Green Hill and Metropolis bosses, the timer freezes and Sonic loses the ability to turn super. Dying or entering a Bonus Stage fixes the problem.
  • After defeating Mecha Sonic at the end of Sonic's act, the game cuts straight to Death Egg Zone with no results tally or cutscene.
  • Knuckles' act does not have any rings and the teleporter is absent.
  • Pausing and returning to the level select from Knuckles' act messes up the level select background slightly.
  • As soon as the final boss theme plays, the normal Act 2 boss theme starts up again.
  • Doomsday Zone music does not play in the second half of Knuckles' final boss fight.
  • The screen does not flash when Mecha Sonic becomes Super Mecha Sonic.
  • Some of Super Mecha Sonic's poses are a bit different.
  • When Super Mecha Sonic is defeated, he does not land on the ground and drops off the screen, and nothing else happens after that.
  • The Floating Island overlaps the Master Emerald.

Death Egg Zone

  • The player does not run in at the beginning.
  • The overscan border color for Act 1 is red instead of black like the other zones.
  • There are a few object layout differences, with notable ones being the absence of rings and monitors in some bonus rooms.
  • Many sound effects are missing, and the missile launchers play a different sound when firing.
  • Red Eye's pillar overlaps the player and has tile transparency issues.
  • The explosions seen when Red Eye moves to phase two last longer than usual.
  • Red Eye's laser overlaps the floor.
  • The palette changes too soon when transitioning to Act 2. In Sonic & Knuckles 0525 and later, the palette is changed after the Act 2 transition completes.
  • If the Signpost has been hit before landing, it'll fall at an angle when the floor explodes during the Act 2 transition.
  • Tails has an animation error during the Act 2 transition.
  • Act 2 ends with a Prison Egg after the Death Ball is defeated, then the player moves on to The Doomsday Zone regardless of whether they have all of the Chaos Emeralds or not.
  • The final boss (accessible by selecting Doomsday Act 2 in the level select) is really incomplete, only having a background, a few rings and various poses of the final boss laid out throughout the act. There's no solid ground to stand on, so all you can do is fall to your death repeatedly.
  • There is also a prototype floor tile that is not seen in the final game located in the final boss area.

The Doomsday Zone

  • This Zone is really incomplete, only having the boss graphics and a background, and no super forms are available. As a result, the only thing you can do is fall to your death over and over again. You can use debug mode and fly over to a section with glitchy collision.
  • The background palette is the same as in DEZ2.
  • The HUD and ring palette is incorrect here.

Bonus Stages

Slot Machine

  • There is a higher chance of getting 3 Robotnik/Eggman pictures on the slots than in the final version.
  • Using debug to fall out of the stage causes the game to crash. In the final, it takes you to a glitchy area with randomly placed tiles, a la Sonic 1.

External Links

Sonic Retro
Sonic Retro discussion thread

References


Sonic the Hedgehog 3C (prototype 0408), prototype version of Sonic the Hedgehog 3
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Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Hidden content

Part of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 development

Sonic the Hedgehog 3
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