It hurts how unfinished Sonic 3 is

[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]

[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.

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.