- Back to: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (prototype; 1993-11-03).
General comparisons
The Sega logo animation is the same one from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, though it has a number of glitches here. Sonic is seen with incorrect colours, and after he has run across the screen once, the screen blacks out with the remainder of the logo being drawn on the black screen.
The title screen is very different. As shown here, Sonic uses a less-polished render and doesn't animate, and the logo and title banners have different colours, with the banner being light blue/white and the logo being dark blue/orange. There is also no background, menu options or copyright information.
The rolling demo plays after waiting for eight seconds on the title screen instead of waiting for the music to finish playing.
There is no Data Select screen yet. Pressing 
on the title screen sends the player straight to the level select.
Gameplay comparisons
Sonic cannot yet perform the Insta-Shield. However, he is capable of performing a move similar in function to the Drop Dash by holding 
, then jumping (Knuckles can also perform this move in competition mode). The move only works if Sonic lands on solid ground - should he land on an object (such as the bridges in IceCap Zone) he will just land normally.
Tails is capable of flying, though he has different momentum than in the final. He will never get tired no matter how long he flies, allowing him to fly indefinitely.
Tails can also fly underwater, and can even carry Sonic underwater. In the final, he will swim instead, and he cannot carry Sonic and swim at the same time.
AI tails still plays by Sonic 2 rules. This means if Sonic is underwater and Tails flies in, Tails will hover above the water rather than start swimming.
Neither of the Shields have their respective abilities nor do they repel projectiles. The Water Shield will not prevent the player from drowning. In fact, the player can still take in air bubbles with it equipped.
The Fire Shield does not protect Sonic and Tails from fire.
The Lightning Shield won't attract Rings. It also renders incorrectly.
Fire and Lightning Shields also do not disappear if taken underwater.
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| Prototype (without a Shield)
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| Prototype (with a Shield)
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Invincibility works but the graphics are wrong, using the graphics of the last Shield the player had acquired, or no graphics at all if the player didn't pick up any Shields beforehand.
There are no Giant Rings, meaning the player cannot access the Special Stage.
Although stars will circle above a Star Post after passing one with 50 Rings, they will not transport the player to the Bonus Stage.
There are no celebration animations, so Sonic and Tails will revert to one frame of their "hurt" animation when finishing an Act. There is also no jingle, and no monitors beneath the surface for the signpost to bounce off.
Holding 
+ on the title screen sets Tails as the primary character. Life for Tails is tough - the game recognises that Tails has got through an Act, but he has Sonic's life icon and the selected signpost is Blue Knuckles.
The only animals you will ever rescue in this prototype are Flicky and Ricky.
Graphics comparisons
Title cards use a darker red for the panel on the left. The zigzag underneath the game title is a lighter red instead of orange, and does not underline the whole title.
Sonic, Tails and Super Sonic all use their sprites from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in this build.
Very few new Sonic graphics have been created, so in areas which require sprites not available in Sonic 2, Sonic and Tails continue to use whatever animation was playing previously. This applies to all spinning platforms and lifts and the pulley system in Marble Garden Zone.
Digits in the HUD have more shading. Also, the "GS" in "RINGS" is another pixel apart from the rest of the word.
The Game Over text uses the older graphics from Sonic 2 and have not been adjusted to accommodate the game's palette, appearing red instead of white.
Audio comparisons
Level comparisons
References
on the title screen sends the player straight to the level select.
, then jumping (Knuckles can also perform this move in competition mode). The move only works if Sonic lands on solid ground - should he land on an object (such as the bridges in IceCap Zone) he will just land normally.
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