Sonic Advance 3

"Sonic Has PWNED You."

Intro

I 've just finished pwning the ex boss from Sonic Advance 2 for the 50th time when I got this game. To put it simply: The best 2-D Sonic since Sonic CD/3&K. True this game is short, but the replay value is incredibly high and very awesome as well. If you're a Sonic fan, get off of your butt and get this game. NOW. It's that good.

Plot: 5/10

Although more developed than your average Sonic Advanced game (or any of the 2-D Sonics for that matter) It's still "3ggman will rule teh j00iverse unless j00 pwn him." Deal. However, Dr. Eggturds has developed this new freak called G-Mel (you might remember his cousin/underform/prototype Emerl from Sonic Battle), who morphs into the various bosses you encounter throughout the game (don't be afraid of spoilers, the instruction booklet doesn't have him, and you encounter him very early.). Other than that, nothing new.

Graphics: 10/10
When I first cut on the game: "Holy F. CRAP!" Five minutes into the game: "Oh... this is too good." Throughout the game: "Impressive!" Zone 7: "God, if you hear me now, I'm in heaven already." This game is perhaps one of the best graphical achievements of the GBA so far. When you reach the 7th zone, try not to crap your pants.

Audio: 9/10
Do you hear that? Sounds of an old Sonic game with fresh beats, doesn't it? Perhaps one of the best Sonic Soundtracks ever, giving Sonic CD and Sonic Adventure 2 a run for their money. Each song fits the zone perfectly, and familiar Sonic sounds echo as you rip-race through the Zones. The boss music is very cool, matching the feel just like Sadv2's, and unlike the first, which sounded less like Sonic and more like Metroid. However, not all of it is perfect. One remix of Sunset Hill is headache inducing, and Route 99 is pretty weak. BUT this does pretty much have one of the best GBA soundtracks ever.

Gameplay: 10/10
Here's where it shines. Gameplay has changed since you've last played a Sonic Advance game. Gone is the "hold right to win" philosophy. Doing that will jack you into walls or even kill you. However, the speed and stunts aren't lost. You'll be flying through loops, dashing up and down rails and riding all sorts of strange poles and semi-vehicles. The prominent thing bout this game is the partner system. Sort of like Sonic Heroes, you pick a character and his partner. Who your partner is greatly affects the main character you play as. For example, take Sonic as the player and Tails as the second banana. Sonic controls just like he would in SA2, and can use a Tag Action to leapfrog off tails or fly. On the other hand, if Knux is your partner, Sonic gains an awesome sliding kick as well as an upward thrust attack. There are some 20 combinations in all, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. You're going to need to experiment with all of them to smash bosses and find secrets. You may also have to play around to get used to all of this as well. Trust me, because you'll need to be perfect to master the later bosses. THEY WILL CREMATE YOU. Unlike most of SA2, they are hard. VERY. The first three may be somewhat easy or even a joke, but the other will PWN j00. Hang tight, though, as there are many rewards. Keep experimenting. It's all I'll say and repeat.

Control: 9/10
Almost perfect. Speed is well done, and using partner tricks is a piece of cake. However, they accelerate sluggishly from a standstill, and like I said before, you have to EXPERIMENT. IT'S IMPORTANT.

Okay, there ya have it. To recap:

Pros: Awesome gameplay, sweet music
Cons: some music is grating, steep difficulty level with bosses.
Cooler than: the other Sonic Advance games
Most irritating boss: The Egg-in-the-Box
What you need to do to succeed: EXPERIMENT.

Rent/Buy: Sonic Fan? BUY NOOOOWWW. Casual gamer? Buy. Sonic Hater? Rent at least.

Overall Grade: 10/10 (NOT AN AVERAGE)

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/30/04