Big Shaker

Sonic the Hedgehog 3

»

Mini-Bosses

»

Big Shaker

Big Shaker
Game: Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Level: Hydrocity Zone (mini-boss)
Hits to defeat: 6

The Big Shaker (ビッグシェイカー) is the second mini-boss of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, fought at the end of Hydrocity Zone Act 1. It is a spherical contraption with a primary jet engine and four revolving rockets for defense.

Strategy

This mech spins back and forth through the U-shaped pit in which the player is standing in, before settling on a pole set in the middle of the arena. It's only safe to attack the mech after it plants itself on the pole in the middle of the pit, at which time it will turn off its revolving rockets and begin to turn the pole, which in turn stirs the water, and the player's character. However, the player can Spin Dash up the side and attack while it is off-screen without getting hurt. Though the boss itself is relatively simple to beat, the player must remember that Sonic and co. can still drown while underwater, and will need to resurface often.

Music oddities

This mini-boss is strangely the only mini-boss in Sonic 3 to use the full boss theme normally reserved for Act 2 bosses. This is changed in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, in which the normal mid-boss theme for that game is heard during this boss fight. The Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Limited Edition prototypes also correct the music choice to play Sonic 3's mini-boss theme.

Also, if the player stays in the water long enough for the drowning music to start, then comes out, the miniboss music from Sonic & Knuckles plays instead of the Sonic 3 mini-boss music.