Sonic Advance (Game Boy Advance)

This page details pre-release information and/or media for Sonic Advance (Game Boy Advance).

To do: There exists, apparently, a lot more prelease screenshots than we thought. Most were shared in a Discord server dedicated to the documentation of this game, and a few reposted on Twitter. I forget where the server is, would appreciate if someone can get in contact

Sonic Team's Website#

A section on Sonic Team's Japanese website had an advertisement for Sonic Advance, including an early screenshot with some differences being the background, Sonic has different sprites used and the foreground has a more asymmetrical design.

At some point between February 10 and August 15, 2001, the picture was replaced with one that looks closer to the final build, but still has some minor differences: the ring HUD is different and the ring count positioning is slightly different, and the timer is placed further below the score. The lives HUD is lighter and is more to the right than in the final.

This screenshot shows Sonic with a shadow when running on walls compared to the final in which he has none.

The ring and enemy positions were changed and a star post was removed, along with the platform being a block shorter.

Different water and cloud background designs.

The sign and lightpost were removed in the final and has a different cloud and water design.

An early screenshot of the race multiplayer mode.

An even earlier screenshot of the race multiplayer mode, with a different HUD design and Tails' flying sprite.

An early screenshot of Casino Paradise Zone which has a completely different background than the final. The castle also has a different, very familiar design that was (maybe wisely) changed for the final release.

This second screenshot of Casino Paradise Zone shows the castle in the center of the background, indicating that the castle was to move with the camera but in the final, the castle remains stationary. Tails' sprite is also different.

An early screenshot of Egg Rocket zone which has a more detailed background and has red and blue tubes compared to only gray tubes in the final.

The foreground has slightly different tiles.

An early screenshot of the second Special Stage, featuring totally different sprites altogether.

E3 2001#

Gameplay footage of the game were shown at E3 2001, held from May 17–19. The footage featured an early version of Neo Green Hill Zone Act 1:

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• An early/temporary title screen is shown, featuring the 10th Anniversary logo alongside the provisional title "Sonic The Hedgehog Advance".
• Much of the level layout differs significantly, with the final stretch before the goal signpost even also lasting approximately five seconds at normal speed.
• An early version of the background, being the same one seen on the screenshots from Sonic Team's website:
  • Different water and cloud designs.
  • The central cloud formations are more linear in appearance.
  • The upper clouds do not scroll automatically, moving only when the player does.
  • Lacks details such as the distant islands on the right side.
• The zone title banner is green instead of white.
• The spin-dash dust is positioned closer to the center of Sonic. Additionally, while revving a spin-dash briefly displays Sonic's second animation, the dust otherwise continues to use only its first one.
• Sonic lacks some in-between animation frames, including those when he's looking up and skidding. The latter here only has two frames.
• The skidding dust sprites are positioned a bit higher.
• Monitors are slightly larger, and their respective icons aren't raised nier visible once broken.
• Starposts are absent.
• Rocks are non-solid, although they can still be crushed while rolling or jumping, which also undo both status. The falling pattern of the rock's pieces is also different.
• A ring located at the top-center of the second loop before the downhill rail cannot be collected when the player passes through it.
• While still counted, no score is displayed when enemies are destroyed.
• Animals released from destroyed enemies behave differently, with only birds appearing and immediately flying away. In the final game, rescued animals fall to the ground before either remaining still or hopping away.
• Reaching the goal signpost causes it to spin only once before disappearing. No results screen appears, and the player is not automatically moved to the right as in the final version.

Tokyo Game Show 2001 Autumn#

Watch on YouTubeThe game was also showcased at Tokyo Game Show 2001 Autumn, held from October 12–14, alongside Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. It was also available to attendees in a playable form for the first time.

Footage from a late-development build was displayed during the event and was later reused in the Japanese television commercial for the game.

Playable Demo#

The playable demo included an almost complete version of Neo Green Hill Zone. Act 2 could be played up to the boss area, although the Eggman battle itself was not present. While largely similar to the final release, several differences remain:

Neo Green Hill Zone Act 2#

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• Ring, monitor, and enemy placements differ slightly from the final version. The stage's ring count is also somewhat higher.
• Some individual rings are positioned closer together.
• Several spikes are present that were later replaced or removed in the final game: the second spike was replaced with a 5-Ring Monitor, while the third was replaced with a GamiGami enemy.
• The first red spring is positioned a bit more to the left, partially embedded within the wall.
• The suspended wooden bouncing platform and its accompanying three-ring trail at the top are located near the ground instead of being further to the right.
• The hanging pole plays Sonic's swinging animation facing the opposite direction.
• Sonic gains slightly more height when automatically jumping off the end of a rail.
• The dash pad features a completely different design, resembling the one seen in Sonic Adventure 2 more than the design used in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis).
• Breakable platforms are absent.
• A section of the lower route feature a briefly different chunk layout and ring placements before the second-to-last starpost.
• Upon reaching the bridge leading to the boss area, the game fades out to a "TO BE CONTINUED" screen rather than transitioning to the Eggman cutscene and boss battle.