What are the differences between difficulty levels?

On Easy, star blocks are always visible, more direction arrows are shown, an
d your mouse has three hit points instead of just one. However, there are no blu
e cups.
On Medium, star blocks become visible if you die seven times from the same s
ave point.
On Hard, star blocks are never visible, and hints are removed. More importan
tly, all levels include numerous extra enemies and spikes. Finally, all the blue
cups are somewhere else as on Medium.
Radiant difficulty is the same as Hard, except that you have to complete the
whole game in one stretch, using only 50 lives.
What are the unlockables?
Complete the game on Easy or Medium to unlock Hard difficulty.
Complete the game on Hard difficulty to unlock Radiant difficulty.
Collect all blue cups on Medium or Hard to unlock the sound test.
Collect all blue cups on Medium and Hard to unlock crazy mode.
What do I need for 100% completion?
On Easy difficulty, first complete all levels, and make par time on each.
On higher difficulties, complete all levels, make all par times, and find al
l blue cups. Note that for a cup to count, after obtaining it, you must reach a
checkpoint without dying.
Green Hill Zone, blue cup on Medium difficulty.
From the last checkpoint, die seven times then follow the star blocks.
Cliffs of Despair, blue cup on Medium difficulty.
From the first checkpoint, go right then down where the arrow says to go up.
Follow the platforms to the lower right.
The Quagmire, blue cup on Medium difficulty.
When you drop off the waterfall and the arrow says to go right, wait. Eventu
ally a flying akoop will show up from the left.
Halls of Illusion, blue cup on Medium difficulty.
Notice the switchblock in the first bridge. When you get to the second check
point, there's a switch right above you. Go back and drop down to find the easte
r egg level; the cup is right at the beginning.
Realm of Cactus, blue cup on Medium difficulty.
From the second checkpoint, drop down off the cliff. Move a bit to the left
and you'll find the cup.

Have An Ice Day, blue cup on Medium difficulty.

From the beginning, go down the first two slides, then make a lot of speed o
n the third and jump off at the end. Follow the path up.
Some Like It Hot, blue cup on Medium difficulty.
From the second checkpoint, first trigger the switch to the lower left. Then
go down and right, instead of straight to the right. Follow the path.
Moby Duck, blue cup on Medium difficulty.
Just defeat Moby Duck and jump over the end level cheese. The last blue cup
is right there on a platform.
Green Hill Zone, blue cup on Hard difficulty.
From the last checkpoint, use the fading blocks to go up. This is the only c
up that's in the same location as on Medium.
Cliffs of Despair, blue cup on Hard difficulty.
From the last checkpoint, drop down and take a running jump to the left.
The Quagmire, blue cup on Hard difficulty.
When you get to the end of the level, jump over the big cheese and to the le
ft, to the platform in the waterfall. Continue left from there.
Halls of Illusion, blue cup on Hard difficulty.
Notice the switchblock in the first bridge. When you get to the second check
point, there's a switch right above you. In the easter egg level, stand on the t
hird pipe and press down; if you had played the game that this is an easter egg
of, you would know that.
Realm of Cactus, blue cup on Hard difficulty.
From the last checkpoint, make your way up the maze of little platforms, and
go left at the top. Follow the platforms left to find the blue cup. You can dro
p straight down through the sandfall to return to an earlier checkpoint.
Have An Ice Day, blue cup on Hard difficulty.
At the first checkpoint, first trigger the switch to the left. Then go to th
e hole next to the checkpoint and drop down. You'll end up on a switchblock; jum
p left to reach the blue cup.
Some Like It Hot, blue cup on Hard difficulty.
The cup is easily seen near the beginning, but it's behind a wall of switchb

locks. The hard way is to play the level normally until you reach the first swit
ch, but don't touch the checkpoint; once you hit the switch, die to return to th
e beginning. The easier way is to go straight down from the start, take a series
of crumbling platforms to the lower right, and use the extra switch there. Eith
er way, the door to the blue cup is open.
Moby Duck, blue cup on Hard difficulty.
Beyond the cheese at the end of the level is a notice that your blue cup is
in another castle level. It is in fact in the credits level, which also has extr
a spikes and enemies on Hard difficulty. Just travel all the way to the right an
d you'll find it.