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Sonic the Hedgehog 3C (prototype 0408)/Comparisons/Lava Reef Zone

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Act 1

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ1 KnuxStart.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ1 KnuxStart.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

Knuckles doesn't walk in at the start of the Act.

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Sonic 3C 0408
SonicandKnuckles MD Map Lr1.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

The start of Knuckles' route is different. Later builds remove one of the stalactites and add rock barriers in the floor and ceiling.

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Sonic 3C 0408
SonicandKnuckles MD Map Lr1.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

The staircase at the start of Sonic/Tails' route has falling stalactites, making the climb more dangerous than in the final.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ1 IwamodokiShield.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ1 IwamodokiShield.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

Shields do not protect the player from the debris of Iwamodokis.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ1 MonitorSwap1.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ1 MonitorSwap1.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

This Fire Shield monitor was later changed to a second Super Ring.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ1 TunnelbotKnux.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ1 TunnelbotKnux.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

It is possible to destroy the four pistons of the Tunnelbot like they were Badniks before it begins drilling. Knuckles can Glide into them, while Sonic can have Tails attack them before he approaches it.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ1 NoLavaPlatform.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ1 NoLavaPlatform.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

There's no collapsing platform to save Knuckles after being dropped down by the Tunnelbot, leading to a cheap hit on lava.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ1 KnuxSteppingStone.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ1 KnuxSteppingStone.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

One of the stepping stones across lava in Knuckles' route was changed from a tall narrow rock formation to a wider platform to make it easier to stand on.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ1 GiantRingMonitor.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ1 GiantRingMonitor.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

This Giant Ring room has a Super Ring monitor that was taken out later.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ1 MonitorSwap2.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ1 MonitorSwap2.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

This 1-Up was replaced with two red springs.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ1 MonitorSwap3.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ1 MonitorSwap3.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

This 1-Up was changed to a second Super Ring.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ1 Door.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ1 Door.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

Instead of a door here, there was originally a rocky blockade that the player had to Spin Dash under to pass.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ1 HeatArmsBullets.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ1 HeatArmsBullets.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

The bullets from Heat Arms' turrets can penetrate Shields.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ1 BonusMonitors1.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ1 BonusMonitors1.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

Like in Sandopolis Zone, the bonus monitors at the end of Act 1 are visible for some reason, and have reversed gravity when released by the Signpost.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ1 BonusMonitors2.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ1 BonusMonitors2.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

However, when Act 2 begins, any monitors that have gone off the top of the screen can be seen underneath the ground.

Map

100%
Sonic 3C 0408
100%
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final


Act 2

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ2 StartLava.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ2 StartLava.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

The lava does not cool when Act 2 begins, but the player can still walk on it.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ2 DifferentPalette.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ2 DifferentPalette.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

Act 2's palette hasn't "fully cooled". Rather than having blue rocks, they are brown like Act 1, which gives the Act a very different look.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ2 Backtrack.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ2 Backtrack.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

The left level boundary won't lock after passing the first flamethrower at the start, meaning the player can backtrack as they please.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ2 StartBlock.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ2 StartBlock.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

The start of the Act has a moving block that was removed later. The Rings that floated above it were moved down to the ground after its removal.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ2 SwingLaunch.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ2 SwingLaunch.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

The spinning cylinders that the player can swing from don't launch the player as high, which makes it difficult to reach the top.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ2 KnuxFireShield.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ2 KnuxFireShield.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

This Fire Shield monitor in Knuckles' route is placed rather weirdly - it's floating slightly above the block it's placed on.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ2 KnuxSpikes.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ2 KnuxSpikes.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

Some of the spikes would be removed, as it made getting past this part more difficult for Knuckles.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ2 KnuxBoulderLaugh.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ2 KnuxBoulderLaugh.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

When Sonic and/or Tails encounter Knuckles, his theme does not play, and he laughs after punching the boulder at them.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ2 SuperSonicBoulder.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ2 SuperSonicBoulder.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

The boulder doesn't make any sounds as it rolls, and won't cancel the player's Super form.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ2 KnuxExtraLives.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ2 KnuxExtraLives.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

These hidden monitors beneath the staircase where the boulder cutscene takes place are all 1-Ups. Two of them were changed to Super Rings in later builds.

Map

100%
Sonic 3C 0408
100%
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final


Act 3

The fight with Hot Mobile is treated internally as a third Act in Sonic & Knuckles. The regular music for Lava Reef Act 2 plays until the player reaches the boss, rather than the boss music playing immediately from the start of the area. There are also no sound effects defined for almost everything here.

NOTE: Debug mode must be enabled in order to access this Act via the level select.

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Sonic 3C 0408
SonicandKnuckles MD Map Lr3.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

This series of platforms just before the Hot Mobile has less Rings and is missing a Lightning Shield.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ3 PlatformPalette.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ3 PlatformPalette.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

The descending platforms have an incorrect palette.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ3 ResultsTally.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ3 ResultsTally.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

The lava does not cool after breaking open the Capsule. If the player gets hurt on the lava after breaking the capsule, they will retain control during the results tally.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ3 SteppingStones.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ3 SteppingStones.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

After the results tally finishes, the platform will slowly move to the right, leading to a stepping-stone sequence across the lava. The player has to be careful here, as they can still get hurt and die.

Sonic3C0408 MD Comparison LRZ3 Transition.png
Sonic 3C 0408
Sonic3&K MD Comparison LRZ3 Transition.png
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

The transition to Hidden Palace Zone does not work here, so the player is basically stuck.

Map

100%
Sonic 3C 0408
100%
Sonic 3 & Knuckles final


References


Sonic the Hedgehog 3C (prototype 0408), prototype version of Sonic the Hedgehog 3
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Part of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 development