Sonic the Hedgehog 3

"Deadlines keep it from being better, but nonetheless still a great game."

Sonic Team came out with a bang when it released Sonic the Hedgehog 1. For most gamers, it was the first experience with the Sega Genesis and boy, most people saw it as a great experience. Super-fast gameplay, amazing graphics, great sounds, easy controls. This game put Sega on the video game map. Then Sonic the Hedgehog 2 came out. Even bigger levels, faster gameplay, better graphics, new moves, and new 2-player mode! Not to mention semi-co-op play with Tails as Sonic's sidekick, and the Chaos Emeralds add a new character: Super Sonic. For most gamers at this point, playing as Super Sonic was the fastest, most incredible rush anyone ever got out of a single video game. StH2 had to have been the best Sonic game ever created (even with the absent levels like the infamous Hidden Palace Zone). Then came Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Due to deadline issues, this game was literally released incomplete. This game was really good, but some elements in gameplay keep it from being better than it was. Now, that you've gotten a slight history lesson on the StH series, I'll now get into my review of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Graphics: 10/10
It's easily noticable that the developers pushed the Genesis's graphical potential to the very limit. Everything is amazing in detail, and Sonic has an updated look as well. If you haven't played this game yet, you'll be in awe with how good StH3 looks compared to even some current-gen games.

Story: 6/10 (w/ S&K: 7/10)
Dr. Robotnik is back again and has a new recruit, the oh-so-gullible Knuckles. Robotnik has tricked Knux into believing that Sonic and Tails are trying to steal the Chaos Emeralds. Knux, gullible as he is and being the protector of the Emeralds, will do his very best to keep Sonic from taking them. None too awe-inspiring of a story. However, it is also incomplete and unless you have Sonic & Knuckles, you don't get the whole story.

Gameplay: 7/10 (w/ S&K: 10/10)
Compared to StH2, this game has its ups and downs in the gameplay department. Each player you can use has a new ability to use. Sonic can use an Insta Shield. This gives Sonic a tiny amount of added protection against bullets and strengthens his Jump Spin slightly. Sonic can combine this ability with the 3 new shields as attacks to either gain access to different areas or make the levels slightly easier, and Tails can fly or swim to get to areas not accessible by Sonic. When playing with another person as Tails, this makes the game much funner to play. The levels are much, much bigger than StH 1&2 combined. There's also a save feature that allows you to continue on the level you stopped at, or once you beaten the game, go through your favorite levels. This is great and all, but there's a very big problem. THERE ARE ONLY 6 LEVELS! Yes, a huge downgrade from StH2's 11 (12 if you have Game Genie and gain access to the deleted Hidden Palace Zone, which uses the mysterious Track 10). Here's the reason: Originally, there were supposed to be even more levels, around the same amount as StH2. However, because of major time constraints, only 6 levels were available to play on the released game. The lost levels were then released as Part 2 of StH3, in a game called Sonic and Knuckles. S&K was designed to really be not only it's own game, but an expansion pack to StH3 and a bonus game with StH2 using a feature that was only used on this game, ever: Lock-on Technology. This also explains why Knux was playable on the 2-player mode. However, with the S&K lock-on, he's fully playable on StH3 levels, and Tails is now playable on the S&K levels. However there are problems with the levels themselves, even with this fixing. The levels tend to be very boring and dull, often repeating at points. The cutscenes upon entering and exiting a level are a nice touch, but it doesn't cut it. After the first two levels, the game goes on a slide. Up until you get to Ice Cap Zone (which is probably the greatest Sonic level, due to its surprising design and a snowboarding part at the beginning of Act 1), the levels are ridiculously straightforward and easy, making you pretty bored. The new mini games aren't great at all, and just consume time, but the Special Stage is really neat and challenging. And Super Sonic is kinda fun to use this time around, since you can control when you wanna turn into him. Overall, the gameplay has its shining moments, but the downfalls kill it.

Music/SFX: 9/10
The sound effects are nice, with some new additions, but the music just surpasses StH2 in everyway. Though some of them don't really match the levels that well, they have a hip-hop sound to it (which is cool, considering I listen to hip-hop), and they're really catchy. Good overall.

Replay Value: 8/10 (w/ S&K: 10/10)
Once you beat the game with each character, with all the emeralds, there's no point in playing.. But the game is still pretty fun to go through again for speed records, or just to have a good time again. However, it's really easy. But if you have S&K, you're liable to want to go through the whole game over and over to see all the endings with the Chaos Emeralds and the Super Emeralds. However, after that, no point, other than speed runs.

Buy or Rent:
If you aren't a Sonic fan, or are a casual gamer, I'd suggest playing it over a friend's house (they don't have Genesis games for rent anymore) just to see if you'll like it. If you are a fan and/or are a collector or gamer, buy it, because I guarantee you'll love playing through it for old times sake.

Overall:
Let's see, 10+6+7+9+8=40. Divide it by 5 and you get 8. That's my score. With the S&K expansion, 10+7+10+9+10=46. Divided by 5, that equals 9.2, or 9. If you want a better StH3, go out and buy S&K with this.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/21/06