Sonic the Hedgehog 3C (prototype 0408)/Comparisons/Lava Reef Zone

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Act 1

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Knuckles doesn't walk in at the start of the Act.

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The start of Knuckles' route is different. Later builds remove one of the stalactites and add rock barriers in the floor and ceiling.

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The staircase at the start of Sonic/Tails' route has falling stalactites, making the climb more dangerous than in the final.

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Shields do not protect the player from the debris of Iwamodokis.

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This Fire Shield monitor was later changed to a second Super Ring.

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It is possible to destroy the four pistons of the Tunnelbot like they were Badniks before it begins drilling. Knuckles can Glide into them, while Sonic can have Tails attack them before he approaches it.

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There's no collapsing platform to save Knuckles after being dropped down by the Tunnelbot, leading to a cheap hit on lava.

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One of the stepping stones across lava in Knuckles' route was changed from a tall narrow rock formation to a wider platform to make it easier to stand on.

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This Giant Ring room has a Super Ring monitor that was taken out later.

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This 1-Up was replaced with two red springs.

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This 1-Up was changed to a second Super Ring.

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Instead of a door here, there was originally a rocky blockade that the player had to Spin Dash under to pass.

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The bullets from Heat Arms' turrets can penetrate Shields.

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Like in Sandopolis Zone, the bonus monitors at the end of Act 1 are visible for some reason, and have reversed gravity when released by the Signpost.

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However, when Act 2 begins, any monitors that have gone off the top of the screen can be seen underneath the ground.

Map

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Act 2

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The lava does not cool when Act 2 begins, but the player can still walk on it.

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Act 2's palette hasn't "fully cooled". Rather than having blue rocks, they are brown like Act 1, which gives the Act a very different look.

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The left level boundary won't lock after passing the first flamethrower at the start, meaning the player can backtrack as they please.

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The start of the Act has a moving block that was removed later. The Rings that floated above it were moved down to the ground after its removal.

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The spinning cylinders that the player can swing from don't launch the player as high, which makes it difficult to reach the top.

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This Fire Shield monitor in Knuckles' route is placed rather weirdly - it's floating slightly above the block it's placed on.

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Some of the spikes would be removed, as it made getting past this part more difficult for Knuckles.

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When Sonic and/or Tails encounter Knuckles, his theme does not play, and he laughs after punching the boulder at them.

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The boulder doesn't make any sounds as it rolls, and won't cancel the player's Super form.

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Sonic 3 & Knuckles final

These hidden monitors beneath the staircase where the boulder cutscene takes place are all 1-Ups. Two of them were changed to Super Rings in later builds.

Map

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Act 3

The fight with Hot Mobile is treated internally as a third Act in Sonic & Knuckles. The regular music for Lava Reef Act 2 plays until the player reaches the boss, rather than the boss music playing immediately from the start of the area. There are also no sound effects defined for almost everything here.

NOTE: Debug mode must be enabled in order to access this Act via the level select.

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This series of platforms just before the Hot Mobile has less Rings and is missing a Lightning Shield.

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The descending platforms have an incorrect palette.

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The lava does not cool after breaking open the Capsule. If the player gets hurt on the lava after breaking the capsule, they will retain control during the results tally.

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After the results tally finishes, the platform will slowly move to the right, leading to a stepping-stone sequence across the lava. The player has to be careful here, as they can still get hurt and die.

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The transition to Hidden Palace Zone does not work here, so the player is basically stuck.

Map

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