Sonic Advance 3

Clearly responding to negative feedback to the previous SA games, Sega have taken the insane 'superspeed', tricks and character animations from SA2 and the intricate level design from Sonic & Knuckles. The game is much longer than SA1 and 2, featuring 7 zones and 3 acts to each zone, as well as 'hub' levels, where you can select to play the acts in any order you wish (and also play/unlock minigames). Glitches like grinding in SA2 have been fixed, and special stages are much easier to reach.

A new element introduced is the 'partnership' system, where you play with a partner, either a friend or AI, enabling you to perform new 'combos': for example, with a Sonic/Cream combo Sonic can breathe underwater and use Cream's homing attack, while with a Knuckles/Amy combo Knuckles attacks with Amy's hammer. 20 combinations are available, each with their own advantages, although it is possible to complete the game by just leaving your partner behind (albeit harder).

The acts themselves feel much like the Genesis Sonics (taking out the massive ebdless pits from SA2), and feature many classic Sonic signatures, like popping bubbles for air, slippery waterways and bouncy flagpoles (and cheap deaths:P). Badnik design has improved, with some enemies who 'do the unexpected', like a piggybank that drains you of your rings. Thankfully, Sega have abandoned the 'running' boss battles of SA2 and returned to the 'static' bosses, each of whom need some getting used to. An improved version of the Phi robot from Sonic Battle also features, and as you fight him throughout the game he gains more attacks and becomes harder to beat. The game is far from easy, and the final acts (and the final boss) are really quite difficult, hard to get past without losing a life or two.

Sound is excellent, featuring the usual cheery tones of the Sonic games with a few twists (ie Sunset hill, with the remix of the original 'Green Hill' theme from Sonic 1). A new addition is the voice acting from Sonic battle, so deaths are no longer signalled by the "bong!" but with a "whoa!". Which is sometimes annoying, especially on the harder stages, but Eggman/Robotnik's "You're going to pay for this!" makes up for this.

Overall Summary:
Graphics 5/5: colourful stages, great character animations
Sound 4/5: cheerful music, voice acting can get on nerves
Gameplay 5/5: most of the level and boss designs are perfectly executed and timed
Lastability 4/5: many charcters and combos to try, gotta find all the Chao!
Overall 5/5: a return to roots for Sonic Team, with all the problems that plagued SA2 smoothed out. Welcome back Sonic!


13 years in and he's still a blast to play...   June 1, 2004
The Homey (Philadelphia)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful

I think I speak for everyone is saying that Sonic is just plain better in 2-D. The speed and control was just meant for this medium. Since I'm awaiting for hopefully another sequel to the Sonic Adventure series, the GBA offers Sonic Advance 3. And a bit early too....I was excepting it out not until June 16th.

Anyway, I'm currently on Zone 3 of the game (I don't wanna ruin any of the names of the Zones of those who haven't played it yet) and the gameplay is beautiful. The nicely rendered backgrounds, the new duo mode allows you to mix-match different characters, and now you can play any Act you want to first. All these features should have a good replay value.

Strap on your running shoes and pick up another solid Sonic adventure!


Sonic has returned in an even cooler adventure   May 4, 2004
Jon Masters (Penang, Malaysia)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful

Sonic Advance 3 is incredibly amazing! The characters have voices now and the music quality is really good. But what really blows me away is how many diffrent combinations of moves there are. Depending on who you are and who you team up with, will affect what you can do. For example, If you team up with Sonic, he gives you greater speed, Amy will give you a hammer, Knuckles will make your attacks more powerful and so on. Sonic Advance 3 is by far the hardest Sonic Advance game for the GBA,espically the last stage Chaos Angel. But this doesn't stop the game from being fun at all. Sonic Advance 3 is a must have for your Game Boy Advance.


Bland   June 5, 2004
Person (Philadelphia, PA)
7 out of 15 found this review helpful

I can honestly say that this is the worst 2d sonic game that I have ever played. In fact, this is a good reason why Nintendo should not risk making a brand new 2d Mario game.

There are several fundamental problems with the stages themselves. First of all, the levels are boring. They are way too large for their own good and it is nearly impossible to memorize the stages even after playing through them over 10 times. Next, the game takes cheap shots at the player by positioning traps and enemies at certain points where the player will most likely be running at full speed. One possible reason for this may be the fact that the Sonic characters have become too powerful. By this I mean that they have ability to attack their enemies directly without rolling into them. This feature is not new to this game but is still kind of pointless. Sonic does not need to be drop kicking his enemies. Also, the stage structures aren't that good. They seem to focus on loops, hills and rails, while leaving out any real platforming elements as well as secret little areas to find, which baffles me. Worst of all, every zone has ten hidden Chao creatures, which must all be found in order to play the special stage. Finding these little bastards is tedious work, to say the least and is much more of a relief than a reward when actually accomplished. In the old sonic games, the special stages were among the most exciting elements of the game and you only needed to find ONE hidden entrance in order to play them instead of TEN hidden Chao. STUPID.

Sonic Advance 3 has also implemented this "partner" system. I use the term loosely because the "partner" will be off the screen within ten seconds just like Sonic used to ditch Tails way back in Sonic 2. However, depending in which partner you select, the primary character gains certain abilities and sometimes loses others. This turns out to be more irritating then anything. The character's abilities (which they already have too many of) should just be left alone so that each character can be played in their natural form. The partner system in this game is even more pointless and annoying as the one found in Mario Kart: Double Dash!

The game also includes a few mini-games including one where you have to defeat ten enemies in a minute and another where you have to press certain switches for points in a limited amount of time. They are mediocre and a far cry from the slot machine and bubblegum machine mini-games of old.

The only real good thing about this game is the graphics, which are pleasant to look at and way better than that of the old Genesis games. The sound isn't too shabby either.

As a huge fan of the classic Sonic games, I really tried to enjoy this one. But in the end, the bottom line is that the game is just not that fun to play. By the third zone, most players will probably be tired of playing and only continue on just for the sake of finishing it. Find all 70 Chao creatures is definitely not worthwhile. I honestly cannot recommend this game to anyone but the most hardcore of Sonic fans. To the average gamer however, this is not really even worth a rental. An extreme disappointment.