It hurts how unfinished Sonic 3 is

[Orchid87]

I know I said this before, but I still feel bad about the split of S3&K.
S&K alone is my favorite Sonic game ever, it has better stages than S3 and it has the proper ending. S3 really feels rushed (because it was rushed) and probably is the biggest wasted opportunity by Sega in it's 16 bit days. I mean yeah, the lock-on stuff works, but am I the only one who thinks that it's cheap and unfair? We could get a single game that is as good as S3 + S&K - the ultimate 16-bit platformer game! Instead we got an early example of episodic content.

Well, at least we got one good game in the end (S&K), that weirdly lacks stuff like Tails, competition mode and battery saves. Anyway S&K >>> Sonic 3 by far, feel free to discuss.

[Barone]

I almost totally disagree with you.
Well, Sonic 3's ending is depressing, but I think that the rest of the game is much more inspired than S&K. I really do not like the S&K level design...

I think you should check Sonic 3 Complete: http://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_3_Complete_%28hack%29
It's some kind of Sonic 3 lovers wet dream: S3 + S&K but with the Sonic 3 style, proper "ending" between stage 6 and stage 7, better bonus level system and improved gameplay (I like the option to switch Super Sonic form on and off, to be able to use the double jump without auto-transform in Super Sonic, etc...).

For me, Sonic 3 Complete is the whole and best Sonic package.

[profholt82]

It's sort of like a 16-bit era version of DLC, but at the same time, it was pretty innovative of Sega.

[djshok]

Yeah I like the S&K levels more than the ones in Sonic 3. Carnival Night Zone has to be my least favourite stage from any Sonic game. But it's really splitting hairs at this point, if you ask me both games are great.

[Mr Smith]

I agree with you in every way. Sonic 3 as a stand alone game is abject tosh and not up to the same standard as Sonic 2 or Sonic and Knuckles.

Mr Smith reviews Sonic 3:
Angel Island: Below Average
Hydrocity: Tosh
Marble Garden: Abject Tosh
Carnival Night: Utter Tosh
Icecap: Above Average, but seems better because the rest of the game sucks
Launch Base: Average at best
Special Stages: Tosh
Bonus Stage: Good

So, if we do the maths:
Sonic 3 = (Below Average + Tosh + Abject Tosh + Utter Tosh + Above Average + Average at best + Tosh + Good) ÷ 8 = Below Average.

This is clear proof that Sonic 3 is not as good as the other Mega Drive Sonic games and it is impossible to argue with science.

[Zebbe]

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Mr Smith again".

[zetastrike]

I always like playing Sonic 3 by itself. It's just the right length for a play session after I'm done with schoolwork. I can blow through it in about an hour. I never liked S&K too much. The level design is lacking and some of the zones are way too long. Sandopolis completely discourages me from continuing the game beyond that point.

[Guntz]

Yeah, I like Sonic & Knuckles better as well. Overall feels more like a pick up and play kind of Sonic game. The levels, graphics and sound are more memorable than Sonic 3. And besides, isn't S&K where the Lock-on feature starts from? That alone makes S&K better than Sonic 3.

[ThugsRook]

Sonic 3 is the worst of the "5".

[Growl]

Sonic 2 and Knuckles is where its at.

[Orchid87]

Sandopolis completely discourages me from continuing the game beyond that point.
Admit it, you're just afraid of teh ghosts :p

[Gamer101]

Sonic 3 is as close to Platforming perfection as they come.

[Mr Smith]

Sonic 3 is as close to Platforming perfection as they come.

I must have played a different Sonic 3 to you.

[Gamer101]

I must have played a different Sonic 3 to you.

You say that with such uncertainty.

[Bastardcat]

For me the series went.
Sonic 1: Good!
Sonic 2: Fantastic!
Sonic CD: HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!!!

Everything after was digitized diarrhea...

[Devil N]

Sonic 3 & Knuckles as a single entity is pretty awesome, but it's more because of the sheer size of the game than the actual quality. I can't really say which part I like better, because neither really works on itself. Maybe S&K does have a slight edge, because some of the levels are actually quite decent, and it has some interesting storytelling sections. But I can't think of any one level that I'd really want to play right now - it's only through the sheer epicness of the whole thing put together that S3&K becomes worthwhile.

[Ecco]

Yeah Sonic 3 is the absolute worst of the main series!

Sonic 1: awesome
Sonic 2: AWESOME
Sonic 3: Good in parts and HORRIBLE in parts. When it came out, I ruined my bday party (and my friend ruined his) because we rented Sonic 3 and made it the center of the night :(

1st zone: Good.
Hydrocity: Good.
Carnival Zone: UGLY HELL; WORST STAGE EVAR. WORST MUSIC EVAR.
Ice Cap: Good
Launchbase: ORANGE AND PURPLE HELL

[Clessy]

I always really liked Sonic 3. I Feel like S&K was more like and, "heres some more of the same"

[Why-Disciple]

Sonic 2 and Knuckles is where its at.

You know what?
...
I like this.

[Kamahl]

Yeah Sonic 3 is the absolute worst of the main series!

Sonic 1: awesome
Sonic 2: AWESOME
Sonic 3: Good in parts and HORRIBLE in parts. When it came out, I ruined my bday party (and my friend ruined his) because we rented Sonic 3 and made it the center of the night :(

1st zone: Good.
Hydrocity: Good.
Carnival Zone: UGLY HELL; WORST STAGE EVAR. WORST MUSIC EVAR.
Ice Cap: Good
Launchbase: ORANGE AND PURPLE HELL

Tottaly agree on the level descriptions, but S3+K is still my favorite sonic (no counting the sonic 3 complete hack).
Sonic CD is my least favorite, physics feel broken and the time travel mechanic while cool breaks the flow of the game too much for me.

[Flygon]

Am I the only person here that thought that Hydrocity Zone was absolutely full of kickass?

[Guntz]

Yeah, Hydrocity had some cool visuals for sure. And these days, I find these levels to be less annoying now.

People need to stop hating so much. I love all the Sonic games, including Sonic CD, except for Sonic 2's special stages and some of Sonic 1 as a whole.

Either way, all the Sonic games have shades of what made Genesis so great. To me, the Genesis was the console that did things Nintendo never did. That is what we need to remember and appreciate in these games. :D

[Rusty Venture]

Am I the only person here that thought that Hydrocity Zone was absolutely full of kickass?

Nope. It was always jawusum to blast across the top of water. Plus the music is cool.


Carnival Night...that level *is* utter tosh.

[Barone]

Nope. It was always jawusum to blast across the top of water. Plus the music is cool.


Carnival Night...that level *is* utter tosh.

Yes, yes...

Hydrocity Zone has a great soundtrack IMO.

Carnival zone is the perfect opposite to the Sonic 2's Casino stage: annoying music + boring level design + no fun at all!
However I'd bet that the developers were looking for a "Casino"-like stage when they began to develop the Carnival Nightmare... Seems like they were trying to brake the linear-running-forward gameplay, like Casino did; but they totally failed this time.

[Vyse of Arcadia]

I greatly prefer Sonic 3. The levels were just more fun, as were the bosses.

[snotmaw]

launch base is one of my favorite sonic levels ever, it's probably the most memorable level from my childhood. I also love marble garden and icecap zone, plus the third game has my favorite bonus stages. i think the third game stands very well on its own

[Assman]

Hydrocity's one of my favorite Sonic zones ever. I'll be bummed if it doesn't make the cut for Generations.

Anyway, Sonic 3's definitely my favorite half, but that's no slight at S&K. I guess I'm the only person on the planet who likes Carnival Night, though.

[StarMist]

S&K, barely. Hydrocity and Marble Garden are fair, but S&K has Sandopolis--interesting, though slug-slow--along with the opening zone, Mushroom something. Both are badly underdeveloped, all the more noticeable for their merits. And Knuckles sucks. I can't stand him. The premature ejaculation of Nights.

[TmEE]

Sonic3 alone is still better than Sonic2. Only stinker stage in the game is Marble Garden, it just drags on, but Hydrocity and Launch Base are total jawusumness, only stage that compares in Sonic2 is Emerald Hill, all others except Mystic Cave suck (and Bonus stages, those I love). S&K is great, I love Flying Battery, Sandopolis, Sky Sanctuary and Death Egg.
I can already visualize the disagreement that will come:mrgreen:

[Foxysen]

I always like playing Sonic 3 by itself. It's just the right length for a play session after I'm done with schoolwork. I can blow through it in about an hour. I never liked S&K too much. The level design is lacking and some of the zones are way too long.

This.
Win.

[knicksfan89]

can we just end this by saying that all the sonic games for the megadrive were good, and in my opinion sonic 3 was the best megadrive game ever along with s+k

[Mr Smith]

can we just end this by saying that all the sonic games for the megadrive were good, and in my opinion sonic 3 was the best megadrive game ever along with s+k

Hell no. Even if it were possible to accept Sonic 3 as a 'good' game that doesn't account for Sonic 3D and Spinball, both of which sucked.

[The Jackal]

I think the reason Sonic 3 'sucks' is because it's got the worst line-up of levels out of the classic games. Had they put the two games together like they originally planned and put more thought into the level order, it would of been a killer of a game. S3&k's only fault is that the first 6 zones are still Sonic 3's; but it still whoops Sonic 2 with ease any day.

[StarMist]

3 also sucks because it's damned easy, without being fast like 2 is till near the end. Unless boredom is a species of difficulty. And the only thing that could redeem Knuckles were a giant spliff....
***Knuckles the Echidna in: The Harder They Come***

[knicksfan89]

Hell no. Even if it were possible to accept Sonic 3 as a 'good' game that doesn't account for Sonic 3D and Spinball, both of which sucked.

sonic spinball did suck in my opinion but sonic 3d didnt

[Barone]

Sonic 3 is a great improvement in the tech department over Sonic 2. The bonus levels are mind-blowing. The design of characters are beautiful, much more polished... The power-up system is much more complex...
Sonic & Knuckles improved nothing technically over Sonic 3. It's like Sonic 3 with different levels. And the design of characters, power-up system... All the same!
I really can't see how S&K can be superior to S3, as long as it was just like an expansion pack to S3.

[Gamer101]

Sonic 3D and Sonic Spinball are both amazing games.

[16bitter]

I will admit to liking Spinball -- its heightened focus on an embedded concept in the 'true' games' DNA, and it finds the right balance in parallel -- but 3D Blast?!?! It's like biscuits without gravy, sunglasses without pretension, condoms without sex. It's a fucking abomination is what it is.

And even worse, it's boring.

On no level does it capture what makes Sonic a special character, or key-in on any feature from the mainline games in a new, positive manner that allows the game to have a worthwhile identity of its own that also connects to the broader material.

In fact, the game's underlying concept, just by way of its viewpoint, subverts any sense of speed, discovery or balance between reflexive action and exploration. It's a slow trudge based around a character that's supposed to be all initiation, intuition and brevity.

It's Sonic...without speed. It's Sonic without id. It's Sonic, really, in name-only.

In other words, it was a precursor to about 98% of Sega's output for the franchise post-Genesis. Which is also another way of saying that it's fucking terrible.

[Barone]

...
In other words, it was a precursor to about 98% of Sega's output for the franchise post-Genesis. Which is also another way of saying that it's fucking terrible.
...

Exactly!

But Sonic Spinball is an abomination too... Sound-wise, it makes you bleeeed!
And the gameplay, oh the gameplay... When I think about pinball in 16-bit I think about Devil Crash MD. Then somebody says: "Sonic Spinball" and I think about suicide!

[16bitter]

A5yXjghKpO4

[cowboyscowboys]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to 16bitter again. You need to write my university essay's.

[Ecco]

Hydrocity's one of my favorite Sonic zones ever. I'll be bummed if it doesn't make the cut for Generations.

Anyway, Sonic 3's definitely my favorite half, but that's no slight at S&K. I guess I'm the only person on the planet who likes Carnival Night, though.

I just can't imagine how anyone can like Carnival Night Zone. I would always like someone to explain how they possibly like it. lol Worst music, colors, level layout (bumper hell), etc. And it gets destroyed by Casino Night and also Springyard Zone. I even prefer those springyard bonus levels in Game Gear Sonic 1!

Also for the complaints about Knuckles, I do dislike his sprite in S3&K, mainly because it's pink. I tried readjusting the tint on my TV to force him to be RED but then all the levels looked screwed-up and purple. I guess the in-game Knuckles is pink while the player-controlled Knuckles is more red (or something like that) but playing as Sonic, the in-game Knux sure is pink, and Sega really seemed to have lost their damn way with the series already...

[ItellYaHuat]

Knuckles is red, not pink. That's such an irrelevant point to make against the game (that is, if your directing it against the game). That's as low as the crowd who whines about Sonic having green eyes. Maybe I'll take another look at the non-playable Knuckles and if he is indeed pink, it's probably palette limitations. You can't blame the developers on that one. The series was 'lost' by 3D Blast. Funny how in old mags S3&K was considered 'more of the same.' Looking back it was better that than what else would've been churned out. So I say it was lost after '94.

As for the poll, S&K is the better part overall. You can't go wrong with the S&K environments and music (MHz, LRz, HPz, SSz, DEz, and DDz) Am I the only one here who actually likes Mushroom Hill?

[Ecco]

^I do like Mushroom Hill. :cool:

As for non-playable Knuckles being pink, I guess it's irrelevant to some, but to me it's a big deal, and a clear sign that Sega had lost their way with the series already, especially with Sonic 3's other parts that I disliked... I also don't like the 3D games for the most part, and I don't like modern green-eyed Sonic. lol

[Rusty Venture]

I guess I'm the only person on the planet who likes Carnival Night, though.


http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/invasion-of-the-body-snatchers-78.jpg

[cowboyscowboys]

Spring Yard zone is fricken amazing Casino Night and Carnival don't even come close (Casino Night is one of my least favorite in Sonic 2 it's saving grace is it's appeal to little kids. Carnival I don't think has any appeal except you appreciate the rest of the zones in S3K's even more)

Think of it like a CD there is only so many hit songs that are gonna be on it Carnival zone is definitely filler (I wish they did a remix of the Aquatic Ruin zone in S3K's would have been epic)

[Ecco]

Spring Yard zone is fricken amazing Casino Night and Carnival don't even come close (Casino Night is one of my least favorite in Sonic 2 it's saving grace is it's appeal to little kids. Carnival I don't think has any appeal except you appreciate the rest of the zones in S3K's even more)

Think of it like a CD there is only so many hit songs that are gonna be on it Carnival zone is definitely filler (I wish they did a remix of the Aquatic Ruin zone in S3K's would have been epic)

maybe it's the drink talking, but when you said that I pictured the Sonic 2 special stages remixed with Aquatic Zone, so that you'd be running down the half-pipe with the waterfalls, Roman arches, and ruins passing overhead. :cool:

[Assman]

I just can't imagine how anyone can like Carnival Night Zone. I would always like someone to explain how they possibly like it. lol Worst music, colors, level layout (bumper hell), etc. And it gets destroyed by Casino Night and also Springyard Zone. I even prefer those springyard bonus levels in Game Gear Sonic 1!

I don't how to explain it, really, I just don't genuinely dislike any of the zones from the first 3 games. Carnival Night has nice speed sections, a shitload of hidden giant rings and item monitors, and the idea of suddenly flooding it and turning out the lights in act 2 keeps it interesting for me. There are things that annoy me, like the bumpers, but it's not enough to make me dismiss it as crap.

And while I totally agree with you on Spring Yard, Casino Night actually kinda bores me these days. It might have something to do with the fact that when I got Sonic 2 as a kid, it took me forever to finally be able to get past it, but I've grown tired of it (I still don't genuinely dislike it, though). I guess it doesn't help that Casino Street in Sonic 4 is the same exact thing with worse physics.

[FlackoWeasel]

I dont care how unfinished this is, it's still my biggest fav Sonic game combared to S2 and 1. I dont like S2 sprites and graphics that much. S3 music i like the most and every stage is awesome. My fav is Ice cap, Carnival, Flying battery and Sky Sanctuary

[16bitter]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to 16bitter again. You need to write my university essay's.

Writing a college paper: still more fun than 3D Blast.

[Rusty Venture]

http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv103/Push_Upstairs_photo/VW-OhSnap.gif

[knicksfan89]

I dont care how unfinished this is, it's still my biggest fav Sonic game combared to S2 and 1. I dont like S2 sprites and graphics that much. S3 music i like the most and every stage is awesome. My fav is Ice cap, Carnival, Flying battery and Sky Sanctuary

I am glad somebody agrees with me on this

[Orchid87]

Flying battery and Sky SanctuaryExcept, these are S&K levels

[Thenewguy]

I have to say that for me splitting Sonic 3 into 2 parts is one of the most awful decisions (from a gamer and artistic perspective) that Sega ever made, its sounds ridiculous talking about a sonic the hedgehog videogame like this, but I honestly think that Sonic 3 was going to be their 16-bit Sonic magnum opus.

Between the two of them I don't know, both have tradeoffs really, Sonic 3 is a little too short a game to have a save feature, and has an anti-climatic "ending". But Sonic and Knuckles suffers from missing a beginning, it throws you straight into these long and complicated levels straight from the start, the game feels like you're being put into a game at the half way point (which, in essence is exactly what it is doing), and due to the length and complexity of many of its stages it feels like progress is slow, the stages feel that they are more suited to a game with a save feature.

But still, I find that both parts of Sonic 3 kind of kill Sonic the Hedgehog 2 anyway, horrible, oversimplified and lazy game that it was.

[turntablist1210]

I have to disagree with the above poster, allthough i find the power-ups in sonic 3 fun, its Carnival Night zone that lets it down, really tedious, Sonic 2 and Casino Night was much much more fun,

Sonic 2 kills Sonic 3

and dont even get me started on lock-on technology, just another way for Sega to skank you out of your hard earned £££/$$$ (Depending which side of the pond you are)

(I say this having just bid on Sonic 3 on Ebay but dont tell anyone okay!!!)

[kool kitty89]

I know I said this before, but I still feel bad about the split of S3&K.
S&K alone is my favorite Sonic game ever, it has better stages than S3 and it has the proper ending. S3 really feels rushed (because it was rushed) and probably is the biggest wasted opportunity by Sega in it's 16 bit days. I mean yeah, the lock-on stuff works, but am I the only one who thinks that it's cheap and unfair? We could get a single game that is as good as S3 + S&K - the ultimate 16-bit platformer game! Instead we got an early example of episodic content.

Well, at least we got one good game in the end (S&K), that weirdly lacks stuff like Tails, competition mode and battery saves. Anyway S&K >>> Sonic 3 by far, feel free to discuss.
It's a fine game by itself, but awesome when complemented as the full game.

I think it made sense to split them up (and the Sonic 2 lock-on was neat), but they should have released an all-in-one version too. (even if it meant removing the lock-on to save cost)

Well, that, and the timing of when they actually split it and released Sonic 3 alone made less sense. Had it been ready for late fall of 1993 (or even just barely in time for Christmas), it definitely would have made sense to push, but in the less significant late winter/early spring market, it makes a lot less sense (rather like launching the Saturn in May :p ).

In that respect, one could certainly argue that a complete (24 MBit, non lock-on) Sonic 3 released in fall of 1994 could have been a far better business move. (as far as Knuckles in Sonic 2, perhaps they could just include that in one of the later multicarts, or a special edition of Sonic 2 with that mode included)


So, while I think there could have been a good reason to release Sonic 3 separately, and certainly think it made a good game by itself, the actual context of how it and S&K were released makes that a bit moot.






Sonic3 alone is still better than Sonic2. Only stinker stage in the game is Marble Garden, it just drags on, but Hydrocity and Launch Base are total jawusumness, only stage that compares in Sonic2 is Emerald Hill, all others except Mystic Cave suck (and Bonus stages, those I love). S&K is great, I love Flying Battery, Sandopolis, Sky Sanctuary and Death Egg.
I can already visualize the disagreement that will come:mrgreen:
I totally agree, though I also like Sonic 3 alone more than S&K alone (they're awesome together though).

Sonic 2 would have been a lot better with Sonic 3 style saves (or even passwords to keep things cheap -or release a CD version using the built-in B-SRAM). Of course, there are cheats to the same effect, but that's not the normal game, and not something everyone had access to back then. (and it's still not the same as saving your progress in the game)

Part of the problem with S&K alone is lack of saves, though it also feels a bit off in other ways. (that, and I don't really like Mushroom Hill Zone, so it gave a bad first impression, especially compared to Angel Island Zone)

[Aarzak]

The decision to split the games in two, although "necessary" according to Sonic Team (this is the prime example of SoJ never wanting to invest in anything bigger than 24 MEGA POWER carts) hurt sales for both games, as Sonic 3 came out during a lull period in early 1994, with S&K coming out just 9 months later. With the latter, the gaming media was already giving off the vibe that they were tiring of the Sonic formula, as opposed to the near-universal praise that they gave S3. Then DKC came out a month after S&K and single-handedly spanked both games' total sales.....if that S3&K cart hadn't fallen through, they should've released it that '94 holiday season to compete against DKC. Me thinks that Sega got too cocky off of the success of Sonic 2, and pulled off this stunt. That or the aforementioned "no carts bigger than 24 MEGA POWER" unofficial rule that SoJ had for Mega Drive games.

[zetastrike]

Carnival Night is the only blemish on S3. The one thing that bothers me the most about it is the complete drabness of the graphics. I think Casino Night is the best looking zone from the four genesis titles with its neon signs, brightly lit skyscrapers, lighted traffic on the streets, and multicolored stars. Carnival is so boring looking that I never even noticed that it had a background until recently. The music is also cringeworthy. The stage theme from the PC S&K collection is actually pretty good. That being said, that's the only zone I don't like from the game. S1, 2, and S&K all have more than one that I don't care for.

[Lan-Di]

I liked Sonic 3 better for a few reasons. The play system was changed slightly when they made S&K, they also removed the hip-hop theme from the mid-boss battles and took away that cool ending theme and also they remove super Sonic once you got the S&K portion of the game. I know why they did it.. but WHY? :p

[Tiddles]

You can keep Super Sonic throughout the second half if you want - just never touch one of the flashing giant rings, and the chaos emeralds won't be taken away. Alternatively, just get all the super emeralds in Mushroom Hill and you'll be without for less than a zone.

Here's an alternative viewpoint: It helps how unfinished Sonic 3 is.

Personally - and I realise this isn't going to be a common view point - I was fascinated by the unfinished parts; the fact you could see these blocked off routes (that would turn out to be Knuckles'), that debug mode listed additional zones, that bugs, along with level select and debug, let you begin to understand how the game hangs together, and explore those blocked paths, and wonder what the point was. I always seem to like games that were meant to be more than they ended up being precisely because of the idea you get that the game world isn't just a linear path drawn for you, but that there's more to it lurking in the background.

It's not as if that'd motivate sales or reviews or placate Sonic 2 players who expected more than six zones, or the sense of raw speed some of its early zones fostered, or the (frankly unfair) difficulty of a zone like Metropolis. But there's probably a few people out there like me who appreciated Sonic 3 for what it wasn't as much as what it was.

[Bramsworth]

I agree with above, I always found it exciting to think there was hidden paths and more than what you could normally see that wasn't normally accessible. Made it more fun, I especially always liked going to Marble Garden Zone since it has a lot of those paths that were pretty high up that you couldn't get by.

I get a feeling if everyone here didn't know that S3 and S&K were originally one game split into two, no one would be calling it incomplete.

[Growl]

I like Sonic on the xbox 360 more, the graphics are too hot.

[Smii]

^ Heh.

I'm of the opinion that it doesn't matter how unfinished Sonic 3 is, because S&K exists. They're not meant to be played independently of each other. I was a bit disappointed with Sonic 3 at first, but that was a mere few months in the mid-90s. As others have said, pretty much every Sonic game since then has been far more disappointing.

Besides, without Sonic 3 on its own there would be no Doilus stage, and the world would be a much sadder place.

[kool kitty89]

The decision to split the games in two, although "necessary" according to Sonic Team (this is the prime example of SoJ never wanting to invest in anything bigger than 24 MEGA POWER carts) hurt sales for both games, as Sonic 3 came out during a lull period in early 1994, with S&K coming out just 9 months later. With the latter, the gaming media was already giving off the vibe that they were tiring of the Sonic formula, as opposed to the near-universal praise that they gave S3. Then DKC came out a month after S&K and single-handedly spanked both games' total sales.....if that S3&K cart hadn't fallen through, they should've released it that '94 holiday season to compete against DKC. Me thinks that Sega got too cocky off of the success of Sonic 2, and pulled off this stunt. That or the aforementioned "no carts bigger than 24 MEGA POWER" unofficial rule that SoJ had for Mega Drive games.
I thought it was confirmed that S3&K could have been done within 24M (a ton of redundant sprite and tile data -and sound samples- between the 2 games that could be removed) and that the planned (but unreleased) merged game would have been 24M.

Of course, Sega themselves published several 32M games, but none developed by SoJ. (and all after 1994, I think)

If it was just the size issue, there would have been no delay from the release of S3 and knuckles anyway. (and a single 4M game should have been less than 2/3 the combined price of S3&K bought separately -due to added manufacturing costs, separate distribution, separate advertising, etc)

[metro2005]

The music on sonic 3 is awesome but i think the levels are too long and get boring after a while. Sonic 2 hits the level-lenght sweet spot in my opinion.
Sonic 3 also has levels which i don't like (carnival night zone and launch base zone :? ) whereas sonic 2 has no levels i dislike and sonic 1 only has one level i don't like (marble zone)
So out of the three i think sonic 3 is the least fun to play. S&K begins great but i never even finished it because of the same problem that sonic 3 has : too long levels, it gets boring.


Am I the only person here that thought that Hydrocity Zone was absolutely full of kickass?

Hydrocity is a kickass level. Great parallax scrolling and bloody awesome music.

[hipposticks]

I cannot beat the final boss in S&K, and I'm lucky if I can get even 2 emeralds. I also don't like about half the levels. I do fine at Sonic 3. Overall I prefer S3, and I don't think it's too short. I appreciate the S&K lock-on but acknowledge I suck at it.

Also, I love Hydrocity Zone, and Marble Garden Zone too.

[Kogen]

People still having a hard time just pressing two carts together?

[Mr Smith]

Also, I love Hydrocity Zone, and Marble Garden Zone too.
:o How is that possible? If you claim to like Carnival Night as well, I think you should submit yourself to medical science to be studied.

[QuickSciFi]

I just noticed the poll option. It's like Sophie's choice over here.