Launch Base Zone

Launch Base Zone
Sixth Zone, Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Number of Acts: 2
Sub-boss: Launch Base Zone Sub-boss
Boss: Launch Base Zone Boss
Maximum rings, Act 1: 294 + 130
Maximum rings, Act 2: 409 + 160
Underwater areas: Act 2

Launch Base Zone is the sixth zone in Sonic 3.

The zone uses a technique for showing/hiding tiles indoors and outdoors. This effect was new for Sonic, and it was only used in this zone and Flying Battery Zone.

Sonic Team Commentary (from Sonic Jam Strategy Guide)

“	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

Glitches

• If you use debug mode to go above the act 2 boss arena, you can see that the art for the Death Egg was made. This art isn't actually used anywhere in normal play.
• In act 1, if you go into the first alarm, then start spin-dashing but don't release it, the points for defeating the birds will eventually reach a point at which you get a new life every 5 enemies.

Villains

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

Mid-boss

The Act 1 boss is a floating, spherical machine with two spike-equipped arms. After 3 hits, one will drop off. As Knuckles, there are two machines to defeat, but you can climb up the walls to hit them more easily.

Bosses

Robotnik's Black Ball Machine (Sonic only)

You must avoid Robotnik'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.

Robotnik's Laser Column

This boss is comprised of three sections in addition to the Eggpod: 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.

Robotnik's Giant Claw, aka "Squeeze Tag" (Knuckles only, unless playing Sonic 3 alone)

Robotnik 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. Robotnik can't be hit during the phase where he is floating across the top and bottom of the screen.