I know there is already a topic on the release of the protos, but I wanted to create one that deals with the differences in the prototypes outside the Sonic ones. Just for reference, here are some useful links: Location of the Torrents/DRX's homesite: http://www.hidden-palace.org/ Sonic prototype discovery forum (Signup required): http://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showforum=39 Mega Drive/Genesis Protos: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7CDC0ZNT 32X Protos: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UTX2JTVV GameGear/Master System/Sega CD/Pico/Saturn Protos: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MMGIJGD0 Anywho, I have already gone through some of the earliest prototypes. Here is some of the things I have found: Adventures of Batman and Robin -------------------------------- -No Music in the earliest build Bonkers -------------------------------- -March 28th build is unplayable, mostly engine stuff and bare bones. -May 3rd build is still unplayable, but with some added completion and some weird MS-Paint quality placeholders for the Holywood Highway stage Escape from Mars Starring Taz -------------------------------- -Almost every proto has something different in it. Earliest version is nothing more then menus, while the version after that is mostly barebones. Debug is available by pressing start Magic School Bus -------------------------------- -Earliest version list it as a work in progress. Very basic with some changes from the near final release. I don't think you can shoot in the space levels. Later versions tend to have a infinite energy debug on. Phantasy Star IV -------------------------------- -Released after the Japanese version, mostly translation. Earlier version has the translated Japanese names instead of the final US ones. Cosmic Carnage: -------------------------------- -Earliest version is just a barebones menu screen, don't think you can get past it. Doom: -------------------------------- -Earliest version is a map version with menus (unless I am missing something). Version after that one has no sound effects and less items and enemies Motocross Championship -------------------------------- -Earliest version is barebones, has a bunch of stuff missing and placeholders. Very slow. Metal Head -------------------------------- -Earliest version has no voice overs, some HUD stuff missing, and subtitles in Japanese. Draw distance also seems to be smaller. Virtua Fighter -------------------------------- -Earliest version has very few options and music.
I don't know why everyone is saying the earliest Taz build is "only menus", even drx said it's only a small engine test room. If you press start you'll see a level select that lets you go to a lot of early levels, including one level cut from the final. How anyone can overlook "level select" when pressing start is beyond me
I tested the Saturn stuff first, naturally. Sonic 3D has the digging moles missing, some ring count bugs, (you can't access the bonus rounds afaict), many sprite/collision glitches.. Sonic R has a different title screen (the 'R' can, however, be manipulated like in the retail version). A different interface, different loading animation (a spinning disc, looks pretty cool), different ring placement, 9 instead 5 coins to collect pro track.. and plenty of other stuff. Gotta play this one again soon. EDIT: Oh you said outside the Sonic stuff
Ristar: Jul 1 - No music during SEGA intro, no glitter on SEGA logo, Title screen has 1994 copyright in top right, Round 1 titled "Planet Neer", Debug enabled with START button, 2 lives Jul 18 - Music for SEGA intro, glitter, Title screen has 1995 copyright on bottom, Round 1 titled "Planet Neer", No debug (that I've found), 4 lives Aug 12 - Music for SEGA intro, glitter and added the ™ to the SEGA logo, Intro movie has text with grammatical errors, Title screen is different with name change to "DEXSTAR" with added ™ an added neon sign shooting star, and the planet with ring replaced with a star on both sides of the "Press Start Button" text, copyright is moved up some, Round 1 titled "Planet Flora", 4 lives no debug Aug 26 - Intro Same as Aug 12 with completely different intro text, still called "DEXSTAR" and still no debug. I'm sure there are more changes but I didn't dig much deeper than loading up the first stage. Someone with a PC (I'm running a Mac), should look at all 4 of them with drx's "Feel" utility, a Ristar level editor: http://www.hacking-cult.org/?utils
Great work on the differences guys ! Makes for interesting reading on what to try out next. I think Sonic R is the next one :thumbsup: Yakumo
It's worth mentioning that the Sonic 3D test still has graphics from the Genesis game not redone for the port. Edit: Oh, and apparantly, though I don't know this game, X-Men 2 is, as one person put it, "95% a completely different game."
Yeah, most of the levels in the proto I don't remember from the final. Even has the same test level and debug menu from the Taz 2 proto...
Just looking at the earliest build of XMEN 2 and the latest build of XMEN 2, you can see huge differences, to the point that it's not even the same game. Sure the sprites are similar but different enough that they even have different animations. For example in the early build Nightcrawler's up-attack is a backflip kick, in the latest build, he swipes upward with his hands.
The earliest build for Sonic 3D Blast genny has a different "logo" intro, I think it's a lot cooler than the final's. There's also the fact it is the E3 Version that I've seen pictured but never dumped, at least until now.
There was an old e3 version dumped months ago, which reminds me of one of the builds. Hidden-palace dumped that as well, I think, and I did a small feature on my site about it
