Elemental shields lack their specific effects.

Sonic and Knuckles are also able to use this ability in Competition Mode.

Sonic has a Drop Dash-esque move that can be performed by holding Up on the D-pad, then jumping.

The prototype seems to be the same one that was showcased in Sega Magazine in December 1993, given that all of the screenshots are 1:1 matches of what's seen in this prototype.

It's also horrendously buggy, especially in regards to music. Flying Battery Zone (which was moved to Sonic & Knuckles) is still present by default, and Lava Reef also exists deep within the ROM. Differences include early sprites, palettes, character abilities, missing Act transitions, and different music that would later be repurposed for Sonic & Knuckles Collection. It was made at a time where Sonic 3 was starting to be split into two separate games. The October date makes sense, given that this build is wildly incomplete for a game that was supposed to be finished by the end of November. Although the EPROM labels claim a date of 3 November 1993, the ROM header suggests the data may be from late October. It is the first and currently the only true prototype of Sonic 3 to have been discovered, as all previous prerelease ROM images match the final.

The November 3rd, 1993 prototype of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was dumped on Novemas the finale of Hidden Palace's Sonic Month.

Sonic 3 super sonic theme