- Back to: Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit) (prototype).
General comparisons
The protoype uses the generic Sega logo screen commonly used for most other Mega Drive games, with no Sega Scream present.
The "SONIC TEAM PRESENTS" screen is not present yet. The game goes straight to the title screen from the Sega logo.
The "PRESS START BUTTON" prompt is enabled by default in this prototype. It would be disabled in the final due to an oversight with the "SONIC TEAM PRESENTS" screen. There is also no ™ symbol regardless of the console's region.
The level select displays the early names for each of the Zones, with "X"s next to all of Star Light Zone's Acts and Clock Work Zone Act 3 - the latter cannot be selected, but all of Star Light's Acts are still playable. Final Zone is also missing.
Title cards have a period present after the word "ACT".
Rolling demos appear to be using older recordings from an earlier build, as Sonic dies almost immediately from enemies. The Special Stage demo also plays inbetween every Zone rather than being at the end of the demo order.
Gameplay comparisons
Walking/jumping onto objects such as platforms and bridges causes Sonic to lose some of his speed.
Extra lives are awarded at 50 and 100 Rings, rather than 100 and 200 Rings in the final.
There is no combo bonus for destroying multiple Badniks in a row yet.
Invincibility cannot protect Sonic from spikes.
In some Zones, if Sonic falls down a pit, rather than die he wraps around to the top of the map.
There are no hidden bonus points at the end of an Act. The Giant Ring doesn't appear either, regardless of how many Rings the player has.
Sonic does not automatically run to the right when finishing an Act. Instead, the player can run around during the score tally. Jumping makes Sonic punch the air in celebration.
There is no Time Over. When the timer reaches 9:59, it resets back to 9:00.
Graphical comparisons
As seen in several prerelease screenshots, the Ring counter in the HUD displays as "RING", with the number positioned slightly to the left. Additionally, the HUD doesn't flash red when Sonic has no Rings or time is nearly up.
Audio comparisons
Level comparisons
References
