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Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball (Mega Drive prototype; 1993-08)/Comparisons

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Back to: Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball (Mega Drive prototype; 1993-08).

General comparisons

SonicSpinballProto MD Intro.png
Prototype
SonicSpinball MD Intro.png
Final game

The prototype goes straight into the introduction, rather than the title screen. Mount Mobius is red, the clouds in the background are pink, and there is no music. The plane's propellers can be heard, the lasers make a different noise, and when Sonic jumps into the water, a jingle, not used in the final game, is played.

Sonic Spinball (Beta) 000.png
Prototype
Spinball title.png
Final game

There are several minor differences to the title screen. The red lines only fade in after the central animation is finished, the ™ symbols are missing and there is a missing tile above the "N" in Sonic. The title screen is also missing audio, and the "options" menu has yet to be implemented (attempting to access it will just restart the game).

SonicSpinballProto MD Escape.png
Prototype
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Final game

The escaping cutscene has similar palette differences to the introduction, but also some corrupt sky graphics. Again, there is no audio.

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Prototype
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Final game

While you can't reach the ending by normal means, it has been partially implemented.

Gameplay comparisons

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Prototype
SonicSpinball MD Paused.png
Final game

A free movement mode is activated by default; Sonic can be moved to any point of the level just by pausing the game and using the d-pad (though lodging Sonic within walls risks breaking the camera). There is no "Game Paused" text when the game is paused, and much of the scenery will continue to animate.

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Prototype
SonicSpinball MD Nag1.png
Final game

The game doesn't pester you for standing still...

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Prototype
SonicSpinball MD Nag2.png
Final game

...or lying down.

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Prototype
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Final game

In the final game, the game keeps track of any emeralds collected before you die. In the prototype, you're forced to start from scratch.

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Prototype
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Final game

There is no fanfare for collecting all the rings in a level, though the bonus level warps still appear.

Graphics comparisons

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Prototype
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Final game

All of the trapped animals are different. In the final game, Sonic only rescues birds; Cucky, Flicky and Locky (and an unknown red bird), whereas in this prototype he rescues bats and insects, in addition to a different blue bird.

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Prototype
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Final game

When hanging, Sonic is missing the animation frame that has him look at the camera.

SonicSpinballProto MD Emerald.png
Prototype
SonicSpinball MD Emerald.png
Final game

Sonic frowns when he gets an emerald.

SonicSpinballProto MD Machine DeadBoss.png
Prototype
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Final game

When bosses explode in the final game, 16x16-sized tiles are removed to symbolise destruction. Here the same effect is in place, but only applied to 8x8 tiles. As the explosion sequence is the same length as the final game, much of the supposedly destroyed boss is clearly visible when the level ends.

Audio comparisons

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Prototype
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Final game

The Sega logo is missing the sparkle sound effect and has different propeller sounds.

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Prototype
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Final game

The explosion sound effect is different, being more muffled and less impactful than the final game.

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Prototype
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Final game

Jingles don't stop the main stage theme, so the collecting emerald jingle is masked by other noises and is cut off prematurely.

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Prototype
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Final game

Possibly as a side-effect of the above, the tempo of the stage music is affected by jingles, causing it to speed up and slow down as you play. It seems to reset to the correct speed once the stage music hits its looping point (or if the level is restarted).

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Prototype
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Final game

Some actions cause the classic Sonic the Hedgehog theme to play, usually reserved for the title screen and end of level jingle.

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Prototype
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Final game

The boss music will play if Sonic is near the boss area, regardless of how many emeralds have been collected.

Level comparisons

Other comparisons

References


Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball (Mega Drive prototype; 1993-08), prototype version of Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball
Sonic Spinball (Beta) 000.png

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Part of Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball development