Up-up-down-down-up-up....DAMMIT!

[Da_Shocker]

That had to be one of the hardest codes EVER for a game. I remember the first one for Sonic 1 was easy as hell. Then eventually I remembered the one for Sonic 2. Then Sonic 3 came and wow it seemed like it took a good 5 minutes on average to get that sucker to work. Every now and then I could get it within a minute but those were rare instances. Did this code with S&K+3? I know S&K had some sort of weird level select code that u did i game right?

[Devil N]

I never did get that code to work in Sonic 3, even on the slower PAL version.

The easiest way to get level select in Sonic 3 is to just lock it onto Sonic & Knuckles. In the combined game, you have to start a new game, then in Angel Island act 1 hang on one of those swinging ropes and press left-left-left-right-right-right-up-up-up. You'll hear a chime, then pause the game and press A, the game resets and a hidden third "Sound Test" option is added to the main menu, which is actually a level select.

[Obviously]

I don't think I ever managed to successfully put in the code either.

[fatboy]

I don't think I ever managed to successfully put in the code either.

Same here. I always had to use the S&K+3 way of doing it. My sister, however could usually input the code.

[Silanda]

Do-able but a pain in the ass. I've always found it easier to do on real hardware than on emulators though.

[TidalTempest]

I remember this code being a real pain back in the day, and the continuous drone of "SEGA" as I kept reseting the machine to input the code.

The funny thing is, I fired up this game the other day with no intention of putting in the code, but as "SEGA" sounded I spontaneously entered the code and got it first go!

[Icedus]

Yeah, this was always a pain in the ass. I think I got it to work a grand total of... three times? When I was younger.

The technical explanation has to do with the framerate or something to that effect. Outside of that, it was brought up as a possibility that it was purposely difficult in order to prevent too many people from looking into the level select due to then-unused levels being present in the level list and sound test.

[Smii]

It's not that difficult, just requires timing. It used to annoy me (See also SFII Capcom logo cheat :P) but I find it a lot easier these days. Plus I can always get it first time on a Nomad for some reason

To be quite honest though, Sonic 3 doesn't require a cheat at all - it's the shortest easiest Sonic game ever invented. If you cheat at Sonic games too much, you'll end up banished forever to Sonic Hell:

[villahed94]

i´ve never been able to do so in emu´s, but waiting for my CIB Sonic 3 to test it in real hardware.

[Flygon]

The technical explanation has to do with the framerate or something to that effect.

The game lags a lot (And is actually incapable of accepting input during the lags frames) because of the fact that it's too busy decompressing stuff.

[Cornholio857]

When I get pissed and can't do the Sonic 3 Level Select code. I just do the Sonic 2 swap method. Works every time.

[Forgotten Sin]

Wow, my sig inspired a thread? I must say I'm quite honored.

Yeah, this is one of those codes that really annoyed me as a kid. I could get it done, but mostly through trial and error.

Though TBH it's useless considering you can select levels after beating the game

[Tiddles]

The best way to do it is not to rely on just "up up down down up up up up", but to enter that quickly and keep spamming extra "up"s after the end. This was explained scientifically in a Sonic Retro topic: the response lag is worst at the end of the sequence so one of the "up" inputs is most likely to be ignored, but as long as the four needed get through along the way it'll work. Holding the controller sideways, if you're using one, and using one thumb from each hand might also help with speedier input. I used to do both these things and get the code working quite regularly, although I didn't know what the science of it was at the time, and I had a PAL MD so it was a bit easier to do than at 60Hz.

I wouldn't say the level select is completely useless, either - without the sort of horrible disasters you could inflict on the game by using debug mode and exploiting bugs in the way the level select resumes from a starpost, I never would've had half the interest in the game as a youngster that I did. Admittedly, though, it's not as much fun these days wondering what all those inaccessible pathways are for, since Sonic & Knuckles answered that.

Also, since your sig is the S3&K version of the intro screen, trying that code on it is likely to leave you frustrated every time.

[Mr Smith]

To be quite honest though, Sonic 3 doesn't require a cheat at all - it's the shortest easiest Sonic game ever invented.

This is so true it's unbelievable. It is quicker and easier to complete Sonic 3 than it is type in that bloody code, although I can see the advantage of spending 9 hours trying to type in that code if it means not playing Hydrocity - Carnival Night. Sonic 3 sucks.

[Vyse of Arcadia]

This is so true it's unbelievable. It is quicker and easier to complete Sonic 3 than it is type in that bloody code, although I can see the advantage of spending 9 hours trying to type in that code if it means not playing Hydrocity - Carnival Night. Sonic 3 sucks.

Say what you will about Carnival Night, but Hydrocity and Marble Garden were awesome.