Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (360)

Of course, we might as well have dug out the old Mega Drive if the XBLA emulation wasn't good, but luckily it is. We did encounter one glitch, which caused Sonic to go completely mental and teleport across the screen, but other than that, it was all good. It's a shame to see the old save system and menus gone, replaced with the very bland alternative that Sega are using for all their XBLA ports. It's not as if they needed to add a save feature after each level, as the original had this anyway.

The Sonic series (well, the early games) were known for their clever level design and ability to utilise the hedgehog's speed to its best, and Sonic 3 is no exception, although it does substitute level flow for intricate traps at times. While the levels fit into the same categories as before - a grass level, ice level, casino level - they all feel different enough from what's come before, with the music also playing a part in the feel of the game, as well as the bosses you'll encounter after each stage. Bosses still all basically revolve around jumping and hitting Dr. Eggman (or is it still Robotnik at this point?), but the cleverness of his contraptions and the projectiles you have to evade make each an interesting encounter. A smaller boss caps off the first act of each zone, so there's a fair bit more fighting to do here, but Sonic is now aided by power-ups. New to the series, these give you a particular ability, like a higher jump or launching attack, with elemental protection to accompany it. There's even a shield for breathing under water, which is useful in this game as almost every zone has a submerged section.

Sonic 3 also has in our eyes the best 'Chaos Emerald' gathering mini-game in the series. While the first was a twisting maze and the second was a narrow tube, the third is a sphere that Sonic walks around. He's completely 'on-rails', so there’s no way of stopping him, the idea being to turn him left and right and collect the blue orbs while avoiding the red ones. Collecting the orbs in the right manner (encircling red ones, turning them into rings) can earn you a perfect score. You only get one shot, too, so quick reactions are necessary as the speed and difficulty ramp up the longer you take.

So why was Sonic 3 always the ugly duckling of the earlier games? It could possibly be the length. Bear in mind Sonic 3 was released after Super Mario World, a game which boasted over 90 levels, some of which were hidden away, leading to a much longer experience. Sonic 3, however, had only six zones to explore, and once you've completed the main game, there's very little to come back to, apart from perhaps a quick blast while you have nothing better to do, or in the Xbox's case, waiting for something to download. Sonic 3 also doesn't have a proper ending, since it was really only half of the game it should have been (the other half was released separately as Sonic & Knuckles). Finally, Sonic 3's multiplayer modes are not as robust as those in Sonic 2; five short circuits are all you're treated to, specially designed for split screen races and time trials, but it feels like it was developed separately from the rest of the game as the characters handle differently.

While we've already mentioned the occasional glitch that can happen, the main problem with this XBLA version is, not surprisingly, the d-pad. It makes controlling Sonic far too cumbersome and often it feels like there's a delay in the button press and reaction on screen, something which is deadly in a speedy platform game like this. It's a common complaint, but if we make ourselves heard, maybe Microsoft will do something about it and release a better controller. Or is that just wishful thinking?

For 400 Microsoft points, Sonic 3 is not just a pleasant trip down memory lane, but a welcome return to a series that has gone awry. In retrospect, it may not be the best in the series, but compared to recent outings it can almost be called a classic. Also, don't forget the imminent arrival of Sonic & Knuckles brings with it the connectivity ability to play as Knuckles in Sonic 3, which makes this very worthwhile.

Rating: 8 / 10

Words by Adam Gulliver