Launch Base Zone

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

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Launch Base Zone

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Launch Base Zone
Sixth Zone, Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Number of Acts: 2
Level themes: industrial, underwater
Sub-boss: Twin Hammer
Boss: Launch Base Zone bosses
Maximum rings, Act 1: 294 + 130
Maximum rings, Act 2: 409 + 160
Underwater areas: Act 2
Non-English names: JP: ランチベースMedia:Sonic3 MD JP SonicJam manual.pdf DE: AbschussbasisMedia:Sonic3 MD EU manual.pdf FR: Base de LancementMedia:Sonic3 MD EU manual.pdf ES: Base de LanzamientoMedia:Sonic3 MD EU manual.pdf IT: Base di LancioMedia:Sonic3 MD EU manual.pdf SE: StartrampenMedia:Sonic3 MD EU manual.pdf NL: AfvuurbasisMedia:Sonic3 MD EU manual.pdf FI: LaukaisutukikohtaMedia:Sonic3 MD EU manual.pdf
← IceCap Zone | Mushroom Hill Zone →

Launch Base Zone is the sixth zone in Sonic 3. All characters would enter by popping out of a patch of snow at the beginning. Unlike most of Robotnik's bases, this one isn't a completely robotic fortress of machines; instead, it is basically a very large construction site where he is repairing the Death Egg. In S3&K, the part of the level where Knuckles had faced his bosses would blow up and send him falling to Mushroom Hill Zone. With Sonic, Tails would fly him into the next zone after the bosses.

The zone uses a technique for showing/hiding tiles indoors and outdoors. This effect was originally used in Sonic 2's Wing Fortress Zone as a one-off, but like many of Sonic 2s' one-off features, it appears several times in S3&K, being used in Angel Island Zone (Act 1), this zone and Flying Battery Zone.

The Zone is rendered slightly less dangerous when played as part of Sonic 3 & Knuckles as opposed to just Sonic 3, with several enemies and several sets of spikes above doorways removed from Act 1, and Robotnik monitors and some of the boss fights dropped from Act 2.

Quotes

“	You're getting close to where Dr. Robotnik is repairing his Death Egg ship. This is your last chance to stop the Doc's evil scheme.	„

“	This is the place where you can see the construction site where Eggman is rebuilding the Death Egg, hidden among the various ruins on the island. You never really see the Death Egg in Sonic 2, but here you can see it quite clearly. This is the climax at the midpoint of the story.	„
— Takashi Iizuka, Sonic Jam Official Guide

Enemies

• Flybot767 — Silver bird.
• Orbinaut — A silver orb surrounded by four spiked orbs.
• Corkey — A gray energy cannon.
• Snail Blaster — A snail with protective sheath that covers blaster cannons.
• Ribot — Robotic frog.

Bosses

Main Article: Launch Base Zone bosses

Ball Shooter

You must avoid Eggman's black balls, shot out from under or over a disappearing ledge on the right-hand side of the screen, while jumping on the ledge to hit him.

Beam Rocket

This boss is comprised of three sections in addition to the Eggmobile: two lasers and a rocket. After four hits one laser breaks off, after another four hits the other breaks off and after the last hit, the rocket breaks off. It's not that easy, though: circling the column is a small orb that when hit will hurt you, so be careful.

Big Arm (Knuckles / Sonic 3 only)

Eggman will swoop across the screen and you must jump between the spiky top and the claw to hit him. After two swoops with Sonic or Tails, or four swoops with Knuckles, he will start floating across the top of the screen, drop down, and move across the platform a few times, his spikes protruding from the platform, before starting the cycle anew. Eggman can't be hit during the phase where he is floating across the top and bottom of the screen.

If playing Sonic 3, when you are fighting this boss as Super Sonic, this boss has the ability to squeeze Sonic and drop his rings, losing his Super ability in the process. This issue is not present if that game is locked on to Sonic & Knuckles: in the combined game, Sonic does not fight this boss; Knuckles does, but this behaviour has been removed if the player uses Super or Hyper Knuckles.