The best Sonic the Hedgehog game, ever!!
Sonic and the gang are back in an all-new adventure! When Doctor Robotnik returns once again with another evil plan, it will take even more effort from the duo of Sonic and Tails as Robotnik has more tricks up his sleeve than ever, including a tricky ally known as Knuckles the Echidna, who pursues Sonic in his travels on a never ending quest to stop the blue hedgehog from succeeding!
Sonic 3 is, in my eyes, the ultimate 2D Sonic experience. It has a great soundtrack. Great enemies, and colorful worlds. The soundtrack is excellent, from the aquatic jazz of HydroCity to someone shouting "go go go!" at you in the Launch Base to the peaceful wintery music of IceCap. The final boss music is the best, it starts out sounding menacing and doomsdayish, then speeds up, then has a very positive "you can do it!" sounding finish.
There are also different types of shields, the best one being the lightning shield, which makes collecting rings much easier.
There are only 2 negatives to this game: it's a bit too easy and short, and it has a ridiculous number of underwater areas. EVERY single level except Marble Garden has an underwater area, and even that level has slime pits you can sink into. I mean, come on, who ever heard of an underwater carnival? Fortunately, both of these problems can be solved by locking the game on to Sonic & Knuckles, which is essentially the 2nd half of the game. S&K has no underwater areas and is a bit more challenging. If you buy S3, I recommend buying S&K and locking the two on in order to enjoy the TRUE Sonic 3 experience. While locking Sonic 3 with S&K, you can unlock hyper sonic, hyper knuckles, and a super tails...yes! now tails will transform when gaining all the chaos emeralds.
A neat feature i really like about this game, is the option to save your game, if you beat a level and decide to take a break, you can turn off the console, come back and start off in the last stage you where in.The new Special Stages are stellar, each in their own unique way, specifically the sphere-collecting Chaos Emerald levels that will ASSURE your reflexes a good workout.You also have the chance to play as tails, sonic & Tails, Sonic alone. YOU CAN MAKE TAILS FLY NOW! This is something I'm sure many fans complained about with Sonic 2, so now as the second controllable character, you actually have something to do. Plus, you can swim and lift Sonic up to otherwise unreachable areas out of his grasp. Pretty cool.The game also offers BONUS STAGES that reward you a nice change from the seriousness of the SS's in that you don't have to win them, just collect powerups, etc.
sonic 3 also has 2 player mode. but, its a bit dissapointing, Just run laps in very short zones. No playing through actual in-game levels or special stages like the ones in Sonic 2.
Sonic 3 is a true masterpiece, If you want a more intense gaming experience, buy Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles together and play Sonic 3 and Knuckles. Sonic 3 and Knuckles is quite possibly the best Sonic game ever.
Graphics:
+ The stages and characters have smooth animation and bright colors.
+The frame rate is always stable, the game will keep up with sonic's speed no matter what.
Sound:
+ The soundtrack fits each level and boss fight.
+Sound effects are clear and perfect
- No voices.
Game Play:
+ Choose from Sonic and Tails, play alone with jsut on character or both.
+ Easy to pick up and play, all you need is to blink your eyes less to keep up with all the action.
+ Cool new special stages and bonus rounds.
+ Save game feature
+/- supports 2 player split screen, but its not that amazing as the Single Player
Replay Value:
+Each zone is big and each round contains a mini boss
+ Plenty of hidden areas
+ Use the lock on technology with Snic and Knuckles, and expand your gaming needs
+/- even thought the levels are huge, the game is short in zones.
-Doesent offer much challenge, its an easy game.