Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)/Beta elements

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This article pertains to the beta elements of Sonic the Hedgehog (1991).

Title screen

In the title screen there was a "Press Start Button" text on-screen. The level select shows the original order of the zones placed, with some Xs listed after some levels, Final Zone is not listed in it. The "Press Start Button" text is visible once again.

Gallery
Title Screen.jpg A near final title screen with "Press Start Button" text on-screen. The title screen from the Tokyo Toy Show demo. S1StageSelect.jpg The original order of the stages.

Zones

Green Hill Zone

An early version of Green Hill Zone.

The first glimpse of Sonic the Hedgehog in video game form was at the Tokyo Toy Show in June 1990, which also happened to be the first time the game could be played by the general public. In a retrospective interview with Yuji Naka, it was revealed that the original Sonic Team put together a small, playable technical demo for the show featuring Sonic in an early version of the Green Hill Zone. Of note is that in the interview, Naka claims that this tech demo was planned at one stage to be included in Sonic Mega Collection, but was never in any build as the ROM has since been lost internally at Sega.

Green Hill was different; the sky was darker than in the actual zone, the conical mountains were normal mountains (they appear to be close in the background unlike the actual Green Hill) with few small waterfalls and no river to be found, the clouds are also bigger. There was a signboard giving the welcome to Sonic, in which it is thought to say: "You Are Welcome Sega, Sonic", with a picture of a palm tree in the top right hand corner. The rocks were original orange, they weren't a layout obstacle, they were a foreground along with the palmtrees being independent from the clouds and other objects in the background, all separate from the scrolling of Sonic as he ran through the hilled terrain, similar to those light posts from Star Light Zone.

The second early Green Hill.

There is a second beta iteration of Green Hill, elements such as the taller purple flowers and the strikingly close water/sky shades of blue in this build did make their way in the finished version. The layout was different, the Ball Hogs were here with the Robotnik monitor from Sonic 2. There was a rolling ball, in which you could move by pushing it, which was later used for the wrecking ball Egg Mobile. The differences are less evident, though the Debug Mode is evident. This version was in the Consumer Electronics Show March 1991.

Labyrinth Zone

The early Labyrinth Zone.

The background was dark rocky with celing crystals (similar to this zone in the 8-bit version), the crystals were a bit smaller. Due to at that point was in development, there are some sections empty with no water, and Act 3 had a completely black background.

Labyrinth Zone was going to be the second zone, according to the unaltered Level Select menu, but due to its high difficulty compared with the earlier stages, it was put as the fourth zone in the final version.

Marble Zone

The floating platforms in action along with different background details.

The background of Marble Zone originally had different ruins and floating platforms in the sky. UFOs are also in the sky, although in a different build. These can be placed via debug mode in the 2013 remake At first, there were no torches present in the background when inside the ruins.

Unused horizontal spikes.

Horizontal counterparts of the the spiked crushers were also found in some prototypes. These can also be placed via debug mode in the 2013 remake. Spikes, who is in Spring Yard Zone in the final version, was intended to appear in Marble Zone.

Marble Zone was going to be the third zone, according to the unaltered Level Select Menu, but was put as the second zone in the final version.

Star Light Zone

In the data for star light zone there are unused flashing lights.

Sparkling Zone

Sparkling Zone being compared to Las Vegas.

Sparkling Zone is an early version of what would later be known as Spring Yard Zone. It had a starry sky background and more of a focus on neon lights and signs with text. It was originally going to be the second to last zone in the game.

Clock Work Zone

Clock Work Zone is known as "Scrap Brain" in the final version and originally had a different background and other changes. The zone is sometimes called “Clock Ork”, as the game itself does not have a “W” in it’s title code.

Monitors

Artwork	Name	Description
	Robotnik monitor	Does nothing. This monitor was likely intended to hurt the player, as it does in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. It appears to be located in the second beta from Green Hill Zone.
	Goggles monitor	This monitor was most likely accompanied by the unused goggle graphics, replacing the Air Bubbles. It was going to appear in Labyrinth Zone. Due to the programmers thought that the air bubbles gives Sonic some sort of weakness, the goggles were removed.
	Static monitor	Does nothing. This monitor can be found in some parts of Scrap Brain Zone and can be broken by clipping through the walls. This is shown in Debug Mode when chosen a monitor in place, just before you step a monitor while Sonic 2 uses the Teleport monitors
	S monitor	Does nothing. This monitor also appears in Sonic the Hedgehog CD prototype 510, where it grants the player extra speed and invincibility. This is most likely the intended function of the monitor here, as a Computer & Video Games issue alludes to a powerup which grants extra speed and invincibility. A similar version exists in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles which grants the user his Super State.

Special Stage icons

Note: All of these items can be seen in-game by using the Debug Mode to fall outside the playing area of the Special Stage. It is easier to see them when advancing frame-by-frame by pausing and pressing C.

Artwork	Name	Description
	"Zone" Icons	Found in the object list for the Special Stages with their graphics in the ROM. They are labeled as Zones 1-6, and are solid, like normal blocks, and were likely intended to show which Special Stage the player was in.
	"1-up" Icon	An extra-life icon for the Special Stages. It is listed in the manual for the game, but it never actually appears. It is, however, fully functional, and can be placed in any special stage. The icon disappears when touched, like a ring.
	"W" Icon	An icon with the letter W on it. Its use is unknown, and it has no function when placed in-game. It is solid, like a normal block.

Unused Sonic sprites

Artwork	Description
	This sprite shows Sonic standing while gasping for air. This was presumably intended to be used in Labyrinth Zone.
	This animation shows Sonic holding his breath while running. This may have been used during the countdown to signify Sonic is running out of air.
	This unused sliding sprite is similar to the one used in Sonic CD's Wacky Workbench.
	As seen in a couple of prototype screenshots in magazines, Sonic appears to be striking a victory pose after passing the signpost. This sprite made its way into Sonic Mania.
	These sprites, reminiscent of the Spin Dash, are present in the final ROM, but their use is unknown. Some theories are that they were used for a move similar to the Spin Dash or that they were intended for some sort of warp movement, perhaps through winding tunnels. It's also possible that a teleporter (like the one found in the 8-bit version of Scrap Brain Zone) would have played the animation.
	This set of sprites showing Sonic shrinking are not used in the game. While their intended use is unknown, they could have been used to simulate the death animation for falling. They may have also been used for a "speed tunnel" that would extend into the background.
	These unused set of sprites shows the use of a type of goggle power-up. It is unknown what the power-up would have done but it is likely they would have allowed Sonic to breathe underwater. Sources of this were found in the ROM data of the game and was added as an extra debug monitor in the iOS remake.

Original Egg Mobile-H design

The wrecking ball that Dr. Robotnik uses to fight Sonic in Green Hill Zone originally had a more reddish color along with a white rhombus in the center of it.

Unused Egg Mobile explosion sprites

Unused sprites that show the Egg Mobile exploding. Their purpose is unknown.

Trivia

• The idea of the welcome signpost was reused later in Casino Paradise Zone of Sonic Advance.
• The purple flowers make an appearance in Green Hill in the final moments of the game after the player has fought the final boss, while the similar shades of blue in the sky and water appear in the title screen.
• Originally, the 1-Up could be obtained by collecting 50 rings instead of 100. This can be seen during the North American commercial for the game.

Videos

File:MD Sonic 1 prototype 3

Gallery

Green Hill Zone

Gallery
The "Welcome" signpost. Japanese message in the background ("Debut approaching"). An early version of Green Hill Zone. An unused badnik. The purple flower and a taller palmtree. The rolling ball. A Shield monitor. Totem.gif Unused totem faces.

Marble Zone

Gallery
The floating platforms in action along with different background details. The UFOs in the sky Unused horizontal spikes. Removed secret area. No flames on the background. Horizontal spike trap sprite.

Spring Yard/Sparkling Zone

Gallery
Different object placement, the Roller is purple instead of blue. Unused "Goodbye" sign. Unused "Good Luck" sign. Unused "let's go" sign

Labyrinth Zone

Gallery

Scrap Brain/Clock Work Zone

Gallery

Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)

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