Sonic the Hedgehog 3

About This Game

Gameplay

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a 2D side-scrolling platformer. As with Sonic the Hedgehog 2, players control Sonic while Tails runs along beside him; a second player can join at any time and control Tails separately. Players may also play as Sonic or Tails alone. Sonic 3 adds the ability for Tails to fly for a short time by spinning his twin tails like a helicopter rotor. Unlike Sonic, Tails can also swim underwater. Sonic 3 takes place over six zones, each divided into two acts. Levels are populated with "badniks", robots created by the villain, Dr. Robotnik; Sonic and Tails can defeat them by jumping on them or using the "spin dash" attack, which also gives the character a speed boost. The levels include obstacles and other features such as vertical loops, corkscrews, breakable walls, spikes, water that the player can drown in, and bottomless pits. There is a miniboss fight with one of Robotnik's large, powerful robots at the end of the first act of each level and a boss fight with Robotnik at the end of the second. Reaching a new level saves the game to one of six save slots.

History

Like Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was developed in California by Sega Technical Institute (STI). After the completion of Sonic 2, the producer, Yuji Naka, refused to develop another Sonic game with the Americans. STI split into two teams: one composed of Japanese developers, who worked on Sonic 3, and the other Americans, who worked on Sonic Spinball. Naka and Hirokazu Yasuhara were the primary creators of the Sonic 3 design document and project schedule. Naka selected the majority of the team, while the STI director, Roger Hector, oversaw development and Pamela Kelly led the marketing. Development began in January 1993. The team initially used the Sega Virtua Processor chip, allowing for 3D graphics.