Most other levels either contain nothing or an object layout from the first Act of that stage. However, the 'Act 4' stage ID ( 03) is also functioning, to varying degrees. 1' briefly appearing onscreen, followed by the game softlocking because no level data exists for this level slot. Trying to access it by modifying the current Zone/Act address will lead to 'ZONE ACT. Zone ID 06, which is used in the final game for the ending, hasn't been implemented yet. Every Zone contains many differences in the layouts themselves. The level select still shows the prototype level order, meaning that either the developers already decided on the final level order, or that they went back to the original level order only to go back to the prototype order near the end of development.įinal Zone isn't available in the Level Select, and levels use their early names. Normally, only eight stages are playable without the Level Select: Green Hill Acts 1-3, Marble Acts 1-3, Sparkling Act 1, and Star Light Act 1. According to drx, this proto was confirmed to be sourced from a UK magazine at the time.ĭownload Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis Prototype) Also, Splats the Bunny!Ī Sonic 1 prototype was sought after for 15 years, during which time prototypes of all the other 16-bit Sonic games were eventually found, until one was finally dumped in late 2020 by Buckaroo. It also features a plethora of cut content that was previously only seen in grainy magazine screenshots and blurry video footage, like the giant rolling ball in Green Hill Zone, the UFOs in Marble Zone, and Spring Yard Zone when it was still Sparkling Zone. Playing this build reveals a game that was originally tuned more for traditional platforming and exploration, rather than for speed, which eventually became the hallmark of the Sonic series. Many stages cannot be completed due to the lack of signposts and bosses some (like Clock Work Zone Act 3 and Final Zone) haven't been started at all, or are obvious placeholder designs (like the Special Stage). A prototype of Sonic the Hedgehog was released by Hidden Palace at Midnight GMT on January 1, 2021.

Sonic 1 prototype sprites