Literally one of the most underrated games of all time, in terms of present-day perspective.
User Rating: 10 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 GEN
For starters, the legacy of Sonic games has been tainted and pales in comparison to that of Mario games due to some mediocre 3D incarnations over the past few years. However, those that do give Sonic his due tend to only focus on the original and the first sequel. But Sonic 3 (which is in its "true" form when combined to make Sonic 3 & Knuckles), is perhaps the greatest of them all. It features larger environments, livelier graphics, better looking sprites, and a killer soundtrack that may or may not have been composed by Michael Jackson (snoop around google for more on that tidbit). It is the first Sonic game to really feature cutscenes and segues from one level to the next. But it is not overdone as there are no subtitles, the actions are brief and they still tell a great story. In addition to the graphical overhaul and the level size increase, Sonic 3 has more features to offer. Instead of the bland shield from the first to Sonic adventures, 3 contains special shields inspired by the elements: a water bubble, which prevents drowning, a fire shield that protects you from the effects of flames, and a lightning shield, which actually has magnetic abilities which attract rings. Aside from the graphic touches, the shields are the most noticeable additions right off the bat. Additionally, Sonic 3 features mini-bosses at the end of each zones first act. The difficulty of these mini-bosses never gets too out of hand, but it is a nice change of pace. Other wonderful aspects of this game include the music. Each stage contains catchy melodies (which are remixed in the second act) that will get stuck in your head, but not in an annoying way. Also, the third game picks up where 2 left off in the multiplayer department. Now, you no longer compete in the main game's zones, but rather, new stages designed specifically for racing. These too contain some amazing music. As nostalgic as I get about Sonic 2 (and I still would probably select that as my favorite), Sonic 3 contains higher replay value. That may seem blasphemous, but I believe it is true. There are multiple avenues for exploration, and with the addition of the new special stages (large rings resembling those in Sonic 1 are now littered throughout most acts), you can't just play a zone once. Also, playing with different characters allows you to unlock new areas of the zone. Sonic Team brought some serious game to the table with this installment of the Sonic series. History has not been so kind to this game, but give it a chance. You too will see why the third game is getting a raw deal. 
