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Sonic the Hedgehog 3

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3
System(s): Sega Mega Drive/Genesis
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: 2D Platform

Introduction

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the Sonic series' third outing on the Megadrive/Genesis. Many fans consider it the best Sonic game. The game was rushed and released in two cartridges so the first could be shipped earlier. Cartridges:

Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which is the first half of the game (Sonic's arrival on the island to the first launch and crash of the Death Egg; Angel Island Zone to Launch Base Zone);

Sonic & Knuckles, which is the second half of the game (immediately after the first crash of the Death Egg and the race to the Master Emerald to the battle on the Death Egg and in space, and the ending; Mushroom Hill Zone to The Doomsday Zone);

Sonic 3 & Knuckles - the complete version, adding 7 Super Emeralds to the Chaos Emeralds for a total of 14, allowing Super and Hyper forms, and having 14 levels and three playable characters.

The plot of the game is the most complex of the Genesis/Megadrive games Sonic was featured in. The Death Egg crashes on an ancient island kept afloat in space by the Master Emerald. The force lowers the island into the sea. Dr. Robotnik begins repairs, and convinces the guardian of the Master Emerald, Knuckles the Echidna, that he is with Knuckles in protecting the island and that Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles Prower will try to steal it. Halfway through the game Robotnik attempts to launch the Death Egg agian after repairing it, but Sonic crashes it again. This marks the transition from the levels on Sonic 3 to the levels on Sonic & Knuckles when playing the full version. Robotnik rushes to the temple of the Master Emerald with Sonic in persuit, and launches the Death Egg again with its power. Sonic inflitrates the Death Egg and manages to retrieve the Master Emerald after battling Robotnik on the Death Egg and in space. If you did not collect seven or more emeralds, you defeat Robotnik on the Death Egg, but he escapes into space, leaving you with no way of chasing him since you are unable to go super.

This game is a classic and a model for most platformers that proceeded it.

Technical Information

Sonic 3 had the option, unseen so far in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, to record the game level where a player had been on an SRAM chip backed by a CR2032 battery and resume it at a later date - which increased the replay value tremendously as several levels sport secret passages and, although not vital to the ending of the game, allow the collection of 7 Chaos Emeralds at a later date.

A closer inspection of the ROM by fans provides some details on the marketing scheme pulled by Sega with the release of Sonic & Knuckles. While Sega originally stated that the new "revolutionary" lock-on technology literally transformed the secondary game (i.e. Sonic 3 or Sonic the Hedgehog 2), the analysis of the ROM reveals that Sonic 3 was produced with full knowledge and possibly having most of Sonic & Knuckles already completed, as it provides a whole second version of the game, not an "add-on".

Manuals

Levels

Normal play

2P VS mode

2P VS levels can be played with either one or two players. These levels are extremely short, looping along the X axis and requiring 5 laps.

Scoring

Hitting bumpers: 10 points for each of the first ten hits on any given bumper; after that no more points can be gained from that bumper

Hitting enemies: (a chain refers to all enemies destroyed until the next time Sonic lands on some form of ground or jumps)

  • First enemy in a chain = 100
  • Second enemy in a chain = 200
  • Third enemy in a chain = 500
  • Fourth through 15th enemies in a chain = 1000 each
  • 16th and all subsequent enemies in a chain = 10,000 each

Destroying a Dr. Eggman boss robot or mini-boss: 1000 points

Ring bonus at end of level: 100 points for each ring held

Signpost: At the end of each Act 1, a signpost falls from the air; jump at it before it hits the ground to keep it in the air and score 100 points. You can get as many 100-point bonuses as you're able to keep the sign in the air for.

Time bonus at end of level:

  • Game clock reads 0:59 or less = 50,000
  • Game clock reads 1:00 to 1:29 = 10,000
  • Game clock reads 1:30 to 1:59 = 5000
  • Game clock reads 2:00 to 2:29 = 4000
  • Game clock reads 2:30 to 2:59 = 3000
  • Game clock reads 3:00 to 3:29 = 1000
  • Game clock reads 3:30 to 9:58 = 100
  • Game clock reads 9:59 exactly = 100,000

Special stage: 100 points for each ring held. If you collect all rings, you also get a 50,000-point Perfect bonus (even if you don't get the Emerald).

Also Released for

Cheats

In-Game Codes

Level Select: Right after the Sega logo disappears and the title screen begins, quickly press Up, Up, Down, Down, Up, Up, Up, Up. This code is notoriously hard to do due to timing, but if performed correctly, a chime will play. Press Down twice to see a "Sound Test" on the menu screen. Selecting this will allow you to listen to music and select a level to start with. All Chaos Emeralds: At the sound test screen, play songs 02, 04, 05, 06. Debug Mode: After activiating level select, hold A+Start when selecting a level to start object debug mode. This mode's controls are the same as in Sonic 1 and Sonic 2. To play in night mode, hold C+Start. Finally, to play animations, hold B+C+Start.

Game Genie Codes

AWHA-CA92 Don't lose rings
SCGT-DJYL Rings worth 2
SCGT-DNYL Rings worth 3
SCGT-DTYL Rings worth 4
SCGT-DYYL Rings worth 5
SCGT-D2YL Rings worth 6
SCGT-D6YL Rings worth 7
SCGT-DAYL Rings worth 8
KRGT-CAE0 75 Rings needed for a free guy
GLGT-CAE0 50 Rings needed for a free guy
D4GT-CAE0 30 Rings needed for a free guy
CWGT-CAE0 20 Rings needed for a free guy
BLGT-CAE0 10 Rings needed for a free guy
HCGT-DJZY Get 2 free guys for 100 rings instead of 1
HCGT-DNZY Get 3 free guys for 100 rings
HCGT-DTZY Get 4 free guys for 100 rings
HCGT-DYZY Get 5 free guys for 100 rings
HCGT-D2ZY Get 6 free guys for 100 rings
HCGT-D6ZY Get 7 free guys for 100 rings
HCGT-DAZY Get 8 free guys for 100 rings
AC5A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 0
A05A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 5 instead of 10
B85A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 15
CW5A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 20
DG5A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 25
D45A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 30
GL5A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 50
NW5A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 100 (1-Up every time)
AJZA-CA8N Super Sonic doesn't lose rings
AJ3A-CA7A Infinite lives
AG4T-AAH4 Start with 1 life
AL4T-AAH4 Start with 2 lives
A04T-AAH4 Start with 5 lives
BL4T-AAH4 Start with 10 lives
DG4T-AAH4 Start with 25 lives
GL4T-AAH4 Start with 50 lives
NR4T-AAH4 Start with 99 lives
ACAT-CAB6 Shield can be activated multiple times
AJRT-CA8R Invincibility power-ups last forever
986A-CAB6 Invincibility lasts almost twice as long
KR6A-CAB6 Invincibility lasts half as long
E06A-CAB6 Invincibility lasts 1/4 as long
SCFT-BJT4 Only need 6 chaos emeralds
SCFT-BNT4 Only need 4 chaos emeralds
SCFT-BTT4 Only need 3 chaos emeralds
SCFT-B2T4 Only need 2 chaos emeralds
ACGA-AA8T 1 Blue sphere needed for chaos emerald
TAYA-CRB6 Bonus jump
AAYA-CWB6 Super jump
AAYA-C0B6 Mega-jump
ATST-CA38 Never drown
SCGA-BL0N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 2
SCGA-BR0N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 3
SCGA-BW0N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 4
SCGA-B00N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 5
SCGA-B40N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 6
SCGA-B80N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 7
SCGA-BC0N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 8

Production Credits

Executive Producer: Hayao Nakayama
Executive Management: Shoichiro Irimajiri, Thomas Kalinski, Mamoru Shigeta, Tomio Takami, Diane A. Fornasier, Roger Hector, Takaharu Utsunomiya, Hayao Nakayama, Paul Rioux
Producer: Yuji Naka
Director: Hirokazu Yasuhara
Project Managers: Shinobu Toyoda, Masaharu Yoshii, Hisashi Suzuki, Roger Hector
Lead Programmer: Yuji Naka
Senior Programmers: Masanobu Yamamoto, Hiroshi Nikaidoh
Lead Game Designer: Hirokazu Yasuhara
Senior Game Designers: Takashi Iizuka, Hisayoshi Yoshida, Takahiro Hamano
Character Designer: Takashi Thomas Yuda
Scene Artists: Shigeru Okada, Satoshi Yokokawa, Chie Yoshida, Takashi Thomas Yuda, Kunitake Aoki, Tsuneko Aoki
Enemy Artist: Satoshi Yokokawa
CG Artist: Kunitake Aoki
Animator: Takashi Thomas Yuda
Art Assistant: Osamu Ohashi
Sound Project Coordination: Hisaki Nimiya
Composers: Brad Buxer, Bobby Brooks, Darryl Ross, Geoff Grace Doug Grigsby III, "Scirocco"
SEGA Sound Team: Masaru Setsumaru, Jun Senoue, Tatsuyuki Maeda, "Milpo", "Bo," Sachio Ogawa, Tomonori Sawada, Masayuki Nagao
Marketing: Pamela Kelly
Sound Special Thanks: Mayumi Nina Sakazaki (MRM), Cube Corp., Opus Corp., Masanori Nakayama (Studio Who), Howard Drossin
Promotions Director: Thomas J. Abramson
Product Manager: Pamela Kelly
Screen Shots: Clint Dyer, Nemer Velasquez
Test Manager: Stephen Patterson
Lead Testers: Jason Kuo, Blair Bullock, Michael Baldwin, Dermot Lyons
Testers: Greg Becksted, Julio Martinez, Andrew Podesta, Vy Nong, Keith Higashihara, Chris Pepper, Mark Lindstrom, Tony Lynch, Steve Bourdet, Joanna Pataki, Maria Tuzzo, Crisi Albertson, Janine Cook, Bill Person, Christine M. Watson, Michael A. Williams, Heather Meigs, Vasily Lewis, David Wood, Mark Subotnick, Dan Jung, Loran Pudinski, Siegie Stangenberg, Simon Lu, Mark Paniagua, Michael Bench, Ivan Foong, Conan Tigard, Tim Spengler, Rick Greer, Ari Warner, Tony Hursh, Lance Nelson, Richard Wong, Daniel Dunn, Matthew Rosaaen, Matt Underwood
Special Thanks: Deborah McCracken, Emi Kawamura, Jina Ishiwatari, Dominique Adevereaux
Manual: Jason R. Rich


Miscellaneous

GoodGen Versions

  • Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (E) - European Sonic 3.
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (J) [!] - Japanese Sonic 3.
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (U) [!] - American Sonic 3.

Archie Comic Adaption

The adaption featured Knuckles for the first time in a comic book. One thing different about this comic is that Dr. Robotnik mentions his plans to recharge his hovercraft, not the Death Egg. It was published in August 1994.

Oddities/oversights/strange happenings

  • Sometimes, Tails won't turn up for the Marble Garden boss. This is currently believed to happen at random.
  • By using the level select in Sonic 3 alone, it is possible to get strange title cards in the bonus stages.
  • By using the level select in Sonic 3 alone, it is possible to see Knuckles with strange palettes underwater in various places.

Resources

Hacking Guides

Original Sound Version Recordings

See Sonic the Hedgehog 3 OSV for a download page.

Box Art

(Via Sonicology)

  • Sonic3-box-us.jpg

    US Cover

  • Sonic3-box-eu.jpg

    EU Cover

  • JP Cover

  • Korean Cover


Sonic the Hedgehog games for the following systems
Sega Mega Drive

Sega Mega-CD
Sega 32X
  1991  Sonic the Hedgehog | Sonic Eraser     1992  Sonic the Hedgehog 2     1993  Sonic the Hedgehog CD | Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine | Sonic Spinball     1994  Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Sonic & Knuckles     1995  Chaotix | Sonic Classics     1996  Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island    
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