Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Reviews

During my later grade school years, the 16-bit machines were at the height of the industry. To most, and because of Sega's more than successful advertising, the in-thing was to own a Sega Genesis over a Super Nintendo. Seriously, anyone who grew up during this era has to remember that the "Genesis did what Nintendon't." While the Genesis would be doomed to live out its final days as the guinea pig for failed add-ons, I have to admit there were Genesis titles I was fond of despite my love for the Super Nintendo.

As if one has to guess, Sonic the Hedgehog was at the top of that list, and at the top of the Sonic the Hedgehog list was Sonic 3. While I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday, I can sure as hell remember playing the hell out of this game during the brief time I had access to a Genesis when my friend and I temporarily traded consoles in the sixth grade. As blasphemous as some would consider it, Sonic 3 ultimately became the Sega equivalent of Donkey Kong Country to me, easily amongst the best titles the console had to offer. Yet, of course, my friend and I would eventually reacquire our respective consoles and thus I wouldn't touch Sonic 3 - let alone a Genesis - for more than a decade.

Fast forward to 2010 and I would again procure a Sega Genesis and Sonic 3. Needless to say those fond memories of playing the game remained crystal clear in the back of my mind and I was more than looking forward to reliving what I considering a gaming triumph. Unfortunately, a decade is a sizable portion of time and one can only imagine how many games I encountered and played within that frame of time - especially with the lifespan of the original PlayStation in there. So here I was, Sonic 3 in hand once again. Would it live up to the memories? Could it? I was more than curious, I was ecstatic.

So what do I think of Sonic 3 now? Well, the game is as beautiful now as it was back then - at least graphically - but time has certainly thrown it two cents into the equation. For better or worse, Sonic 3 is not the juggernaut I remember. Sure, it's enjoyable but there are several things about the Sonic formula that are way more apparent now than they were back in 1994. The first (and most surprising) is how the game's sense of speed systematically puts a limit on exploration. There are tons of hidden areas within each zone (some of which lead to the insanely awesome Chaos Emerald levels) and their respective acts but there's always an abstract force that constantly reminds you this is not your objective. The levels may be huge and ingeniously designed but with the speed fed "drive-by" approach so ingrained in the gameplay you never truly get to experience your surroundings like you would in a Mario game. I'm sure to some I'm missing the point but the game obviously wants but can't seem to juggle both.

The game also runs into a hitch with Knuckles the Echidna. As a character, I really love Knuckles despite his lack of development here. And that's the problem. I can't fathom introducing such a clever creature and only using him as a prop. This is what makes Sonic 3 feel unfinished in more ways than one, something that was more than proved when Sonic and Knuckles came out. This and the final zone somewhat unhinge all the good the game manages to do with it's new trio of elemental shields, the previously mentioned Chaos Emerald levels and the soundtrack which skillfully hides the deficiencies of the Genesis' sound processor.

When all is said and done, if you still have access to a Sega Genesis it goes without saying that any of the cartridge based Sonic titles would make worthy additions to a growing collection. Still, as should be more than obvious to anyone that's lived a few decades, just be aware that current realities may not much up to the rosy images that have been taking up residence in your mind since your last playthrough. That said, it's somewhat revealing that I feel I have to tread with caution within the era that's billed as the "golden age of Sonic."

When in need of a best-seller, always slice a game in half and release it as a full one. Always the best solution, right? Not this time. This is a pretty mediocre game. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was set to be released as a huge 34 meg Sonic adventure, which makes it a second to Sonic CD. That is, until a strict deadline and a dirty marketing scheme Sega had. The result was Sega slicing up the game in two halves, and this is the one you don't want to get, unless you have Sonic & Knuckles, the second half. Why? Because, since it was cut in half, it turned out to be the most glitchiest and smallest Sonic Genesis game ever. It shines with the graphics they are perfect, and almost of Sonic CD, the sharpest of the series. It's just perfect, and Sonic, Tails, and Eggman have been remodified to look their snazziest for this Genesis release. Knuckles, the new character, also looks great. But Super Sonic, from Sonic 2, has been upgraded to look "better". It also shines with it's music. In it's highest quality, considering the sound systems used were probably of higher potential in 1994, and being a Genesis game, it's not half-bad. Only downfall here is the Super Sonic/ Invincibility/ Title Screen music. You see, Sega nor Sonic Team had the rights toward the original Sonic theme, used in Sonic 1 & 2 and the Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon. That meant they had to replace anything that even sounded similiar to the original score. Why didn't they have the rights, you ask? Because they didn't write it. Instead a Japanese band, Dreams Come True, wrote it. The storyline is another deeper-toned Sonic game. Continuing off of Sonic 2, Eggman's super Death-Egg has crashed on Angel Island, and he's been introduced to Knuckles the Echidna, the guardian. You see, he's the last descendant of the Echidna Tribe (alot of plotholes were explained in Sonic Adventure), and he has to guard the Master Emerald, which lets the island float. Although the Master Emerald isn't present in this game, it'll be in Sonic & Knuckles. The weird part about this is that, instead of actually going into the Death-Egg and blowing it up there, you don't even need to touch it. Sonic and Tails arrive, and apparently, Knuckles was tricked by Eggman into thinking that Sonic & Tails are the villians. The gameplay was pretty bad so much detracts from the gameplay. The thing that detracts from the gameplay is that there are too many secrets left unanswered, too many levels gone missing, and the detraction of Knuckles. The game ending was cut short, and it got a mock-up of the Death Egg blasting into pieces. The gameplay is horrible, the game is short, and the Save Feature is not needed at all, at least until after you get past the barrel in Carnival Night Zone Act 2. You won't want to play this, unless you plan on having Sonic & Knuckles to play next.