Sonic 3D Blast (Windows)

A Windows port of the Saturn port of the Genesis original. It retains the Saturn version's improved graphics and CD audio, though it's missing the 3D Special Stages due to Traveller's Tales not having the source code for them.

Debug Menu#

At any point in-game, hold down M and press Escape. This will open a hidden menu where all sorts of things from changing the refresh rate to loading custom saved games.

• "Motion Smoothing" can also be enabled which makes the game move significantly smoother.

• Editing the menu's code in a resource hacker, or by using a patcher, will enable a second menu, allowing the user to change the amount of available lives (0-9), how many emeralds on hand, and skip Acts or Zones. An option is also available to "Skip to last boss", which brings the player to Panic Puppet Zone Act 3, regardless of how many emeralds they have.

Unused Graphics#

NEW.LBM#

In \PCSONIC\System\ is NEW.LBM, which is a messy hodgepodge of UI elements, fonts and a brown texture.

Special Stage Textures#

BONUS0#

Present inside \PCSONIC\BONUS0\BONUSTX4.PCX on the disc is a placeholder texture for the first Special Stage with the numbers 9, 10, 11, and 12 written crudely on it.

BONUS0-6#

Present inside the different BONUS folders on the disc is a placeholder texture for all the Special Stages with the numbers 13, 14, 15, and 16 written crudely on it.

Rendered Images#

This version of the game includes several prerendered images that also went unused in the Saturn version.

Different 1-Up Jingle#

For unknown reasons, the 1-Up jingle was changed from the Saturn version to sound it more in-line with how it's heard in Sonic 1/2. Even weirder however is that, unlike the Saturn version, it doesn't stop the level music from playing, making it sound incredibly jarring when heard in-game.

1-Up (Saturn) 1-Up (PC)

Unused Music#

For some reason, the Saturn version's Invincibility and Speed Shoes themes don't play in the Windows version. Instead, the Invincibility power-up simply plays the ring chime, and the Speed Shoes plays no sound at all.

Speed Shoes Invincibility

Revisional Differences#

sonic3d.ini#

In the original 1997 release of the game is PCSONIC/sonic3d.ini, which is a copy of ABS.TXT from the Sega Saturn version. This was removed in most subsequent rereleases.

Abstracted by SEGA

References#