Easily the most well crafted Sonic game. SEGA hit a perfect balance between the speed of Sonic 2 and the exploration of Sonic CD with much better layouts than both. It was massive for its time and it still amazes me how much was packed into it.
3 playable characters experience the same zones in totally different ways with pathways only they can access, while also serving as different difficulties (Knuckles = Hard Mode). Everything is connected - each level is huge and branching with their own boss fights, transitioning smoothly into the next. Special stages are entered by finding hidden giant rings and are actually fun and worthwhile now, granting access to two super forms and an extra final fight as Sonic.
I particularly love how Sonic 3 tells two stories without any words, using only the character animations and changes in your surroundings. I also think the visual aesthetic and sound peaked here - wonderful parallax backgrounds and the more detailed threatening robot designs are so badass.
In all aspects the other classics just aren't in the same league. This is a masterpiece of 2D platforming and I credit it for really igniting my interest in video games as a child. It's depressing to think that since they perfected this formula 30 years ago, only one game used it again (Mania).
3 playable characters experience the same zones in totally different ways with pathways only they can access, while also serving as different difficulties (Knuckles = Hard Mode). Everything is connected - each level is huge and branching with their own boss fights, transitioning smoothly into the next. Special stages are entered by finding hidden giant rings and are actually fun and worthwhile now, granting access to two super forms and an extra final fight as Sonic.
I particularly love how Sonic 3 tells two stories without any words, using only the character animations and changes in your surroundings. I also think the visual aesthetic and sound peaked here - wonderful parallax backgrounds and the more detailed threatening robot designs are so badass.
In all aspects the other classics just aren't in the same league. This is a masterpiece of 2D platforming and I credit it for really igniting my interest in video games as a child. It's depressing to think that since they perfected this formula 30 years ago, only one game used it again (Mania).