This article pertains to the beta elements of Sonic Drift.
Image from Sega's autumn catalogue 1993
The mockup shot of the game's early version from Japanese Catalogue page in 1993.
The possible pre-production image shown on the right, presents the very early version of the game and it is featured on the back of Sega's autumn catalogue for the Game Gear in 1993.[1] The graphics in the image are very different from the final game, showing an alternate Green Hill race course and odd-looking HUD icons.
Totem poles, which are only featured on the map screens in the final game, appear as obstacles on sidelines along the race course. The image also shows that Flicky was considered to be the fourth playable character in the game, until it was switched out with Amy in the final version.
Larger map icons
The following set of images are from an English magazine preview,[1] which show a version of the game that is closer to final version, albeit with smaller differences:
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 The HUD background is black instead of lime green and is without any Ring or rank counters. The background scenery also has small differences that do not exist in the final version, and the character icons on the course map are larger.  The HUD and map screen are different like in the previous image. The background has small differences compared to the final game.  The HUD (now with a lime green background) shows the characters' ranking counters. However, they are glitched, displaying water blocks behind them (except Tails'). Other than that, the background still has small alternations and its position is completely different from where it is placed in the final game. |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sonic Drift - Scans and Other Media. Secrets of Sonic Team. Retrieved on 6 December 2015.
| Playable characters | Sonic · Tails · Amy · Eggman | |
| Courses | Green Hill · Marble · Spring Yard · Labyrinth · Star Light · Scrap Brain | |
| Vehicles | Breeze · Cyclone · Egg Typhoon · MTP-01 Whirlwind | |
| Gimmicks and obstacles | Heart Attack · Mine · Spring | |
| Items | Item Box (High Speed, Invincible) · Ring | |
| Other | Chaos Emerald · Chaos GP · Egg Mobile · "Sonic - You Can Do Anything" · Sound Test | |