Launch Base Zone

This is a sub-page of Proto:Sonic the Hedgehog 3/Sonic 3 Zones.

Launch Base at this point in development's design matches the level select icon in the final game more than its design in the final version does. It also happens to be the buggiest of the Sonic 3 zones in the prototype.

General#

• Both acts use a completely different music track. MIDI renditions of these songs would go on to be used for the same zone in Sonic & Knuckles Collection (although the MIDI version of Act 1 is in a slightly different key).

Proto	Level Select Icon	Final

• The background has a different palette, resulting in a bluer ocean, a somewhat pink sky (not unlike Act 2) and a greenish Death Egg with darker supports. Much like Hydrocity Zone and Flying Battery Zone (initially), this palette would show up in the final game in Launch Base Zone's level select icon.

To do: Add better documentation for the Twin Hammer fight (and possibly a video)

• The player does not start by launching through the snow.
• Knuckles' palette and sprites mess with some objects.
• Some animated tiles are missing.
• The building doesn't collapse, though the transition to the boss still works.
• There are four warp tubes in the Twin Hammer boss arena, two on the floor and two on the ceiling. Entering a floor tube will warp the player to a corresponding ceiling tube.
• The top of Act 2's background bugs out when loading the animated water tiles.
• Certain invincibility monitors don't play music, and jumping into water with the effect active plays Mushroom Valley Act 2's theme for some reason.
• Jumping on the first floating platform encountered in Act 2 triggers a series of FM chirps. This can be found in a few other areas of the level. This does not seem to be found as a playable value in the sound test. Instead, this appears to be a bug related to jumping out of the water while only partially submerged.
• Part of the first Act 2 boss is overlapping the foreground.
• The first Act 2 boss only takes one hit to beat.
• Knuckles stands on a bridge. The animated tiles also disappear for some reason.
• After a certain point in the cutscene, Sonic freezes, making it impossible to beat the stage.
• If the cutscene after the first Act 2 boss is skipped via debug mode, one can advance to the end. Unfortunately, the other bosses are not yet implemented and the stage remains unbeatable. While the code for Beam Rocket exists already, and it can be spawned through hacking, it's not set to spawn at its usual location. Even if you could beat it, Big Arms isn't present and nothing happens afterwards.

Water Level#

Just like the final version, the water level is disabled, but intact. To activate it, follow the same directions as in the final version of Sonic 3.
Unlike the final version, these color palettes are greenish. The final version points to a copy of Launch Base Zone Act 2's palette. It would appear that water was intended for a much earlier layout, as the water levels do not match with the layout very well.

The greenish coloration of the palette matches the cyclic green palette of Act 1. This also allows the waterfall tiles that only exist in Act 2 to appear green.

According to the concept art for Launch Base Zone, it appears that more water was originally involved in that level (including in both acts).

The water level aligns well with Act 2, along Knuckles' path, though it is slightly higher than in the final version, remaining fairly consistent with other areas of the map.

It appears that the old Act 1 had the level design of Act 2 but with a background similar to Act 1.

The screenshot below is a modification, transferring the level design from the second act to the first act:

Layout Differences#

To do: Actual detailed comparisons. LBZ2 Final map doesn't cover the same amount of level space as the 1103 map.

Launch Base Zone Act 1 Map

Proto
Final

Launch Base Zone Act 2 Map

Proto
Final