- Back to: Sonic the Hedgehog CD (Mega-CD prototype; 1993-05-10)/Comparisons.
While in a healthier state than Wacky Workbench and Stardust Speedway, Metallic Madness is still devoid of Rings and has several palette issues.
Zone 1
Seconds into the level, there's a trap door that leads to a pit. In the final there's a floor and some Rings down there. Other time zones give the player a chance to climb out thanks to a collapsing platform, but it requires very good timing.
Enemies appear but they're having some palette problems, such as this Mecha-Bu.
These sideways spikes aren't present in the final game. They move backwards and forwards and make negotiating this hole more difficult than it should be. In true Sonic prototype fashion, the spikes themselves are harmless - the real danger is the wonky collision detection registering the player being crushed.
These crushing objects have a neat little hole which can plant Sonic half-way through the ground. The player can't be flattened by these objects, but they can be pushed through the scenery and into a pit.
The rotating sawblades are more hedgehog-friendly in the 510 prototype. The game only registers a hit if the player touches the very centre of the disc. There are also four in this section as opposed to two, likely because four saws on-screen cause the sprite limit to be reached, as shown in the screenshot.
Palette problems mean the Scarabs are pink. In both the 510 prototype and the final game, some can be seen carrying monitors, however in this version, the monitors are always 1-Ups.
These giant scales don't exist in the final game. Sonic's weight adjusts the height of the other platform.
This door is going on a wander.
Maps
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| Final game
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Zone 2
Zone 2 is more sparse, with no enemies in sight and several key objecs missing. It can't be completed without debug mode.
In the bad future version, the player is greeted with palette errors in the background. They also start much higher up the level than in the final.
Taking a cue from the original Sonic the Hedgehog, Zone 2 has circular objects that Sonic can run around, and in this prototype, smaller versions are supplied too (coincidentally, the original game had smaller wheels in its prototype). Sadly, the small variants don't work properly.
Perhaps surprisingly given the trends in this prototype, these tubes do work, but many are missing lids. The buttons designed to open those lids appear to have corrupted graphics, and don't do anything when pressed.
This one in the bad future can freeze the game.
In the past, all sorts of objects are placed in strange locations.
The objects allowing Sonic to go behind these rotating shutters have yet to be implemented. But for once, falling down the hole doesn't kill him.
Sonic is not shrunk at any point in the level, but collision issues mean Sonic can squeeze through the gaps anyway.
Though not yet placed in the Zone, the shrink/growth lasers can be placed with edit mode, and have a delay before firing each laser. In the final, they are constantly firing.
Unfortunately the Zone cuts off in the "Mini Sonic" maze, as the Goal is at the same coordinates as this area.
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| Final game
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Zone 3
Some of the objects missing in Zone 2 exist in Zone 3.
Corrupted bumpers.
The iron shutters are covering the turntable and spiked wall when they shouldn't.
Dr. Eggman appears in Metallic Madness, although his intro palette isn't quite there in his good future incarnation. His attack patterns make him almost impossible to hit without Rings (the Shield from the start of the corridor is missing too).
Amy doesn't appear once the player has beaten Eggman. In all versions of Sonic CD, completing a level from the level select menu causes the game to go back to the title screen; however, even if the player could access Metallic Madness legitimately, the ending animation has yet to be implemented.
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| Final game
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| Final game
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Graphics
The flowers in the 510 prototype are unique to each Round. Like the other later Rounds, Metallic Madness' set use the wrong colour palettes.
References
