Well then it's a good thing the 3DS game also looks terrible:Someone's streaming the game.
Turns out to increase your ring/health counter, you need the 3DS game. I love locked abilities like this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eU5QBXyAjc&list=UUK-65DO2oOxxMwphl2tYtcw
Sonic's spin dash is slower than his normal movement in the first Sonic game.