Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (prototype; 1993-11-03)

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (prototype; 1993-11-03)
Prerelease of: Sonic the Hedgehog 3
System: Sega Mega Drive
Build date: 1993-10
ROM size: 2 MB
Source: EPROMs
Found by: drx

The Sonic the Hedgehog 3 1993-11-03 prototype is a prototype build of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 for the Sega Mega Drive. The EPROMs it was contained on claim it to be dated November 3, 1993, though its header suggests it might have been built in October 1993.

This build of the game reflects a time during development when the developers were beginning to split the game into two. As such, some of the content in this prototype would be eventually cut from Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but would resurface in Sonic & Knuckles. Programming for objects, stages, and more that would be completely removed from the released Sonic 3 ROM are still present in this build.

Two major differences of this prototype are that Sonic and Tails still use their sprites from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and a number of songs are early compositions that would later be repurposed for Sonic & Knuckles Collection and Sonic Origins. All six Zones that would be in the final Sonic 3 are playable with numerous differences and bugs, with two Zones later repurposed for Sonic & Knuckles also present in unfinished forms.

History

This prototype was discovered and acquired by drx of Hidden Palace in conjunction with The Cutting Room Floor, along with other prototypes of Sonic games, and dumped as part of "Sonic Month 2019" from October to November 2019. This prototype was released to the public on November 16, 2019 as the finale of Sonic Month.

Comparisons

Main article: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (prototype; 1993-11-03)/Comparisons

Images

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  EPROMs

Downloads

Download Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (prototype; 1993-11-03) File: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Nov 3, 1993 prototype).zip (1.11 MB) (info)

External links

• 
  Sonic Retro discussion thread
• Hidden Palace release page
• Hidden Palace news page: Sonic Month Part 5 - Before Hard Times - Sonic 3 (MD)