Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Between battling the new types of Badniks and trying to outsmart Knuckles, Sonic and Tails have their work cut out for them once they arrive on the Floating Island and search for Dr. Robotnik.

--From the Genesis Sonic The Hedgehog 3 instruction manual.

Overview:
The third in the "original trilogy" of Sonic The Hedgehog games, this one certainly delivers, and it remains a favorite to this very day. The graphics have been improved from the previous game in a few ways, Sonic sporting a brand new look as well as many other new enemies that just look great. Every stage is designed well. The music is just as great, fitting to the series, and enhances the gaming experience. From the original Power Shoe speedup music to the new stage tunes, it just rocks in general. Most important to any Sonic game, the speed is still there, even heightened a few notches. Bottom line, if you love Sonic and haven't even played this title, it's a must!

Directions:
Everything that you love about Sonic is still there, along with a couple of additions. The object of the game remains: to reach the end of the level as fast as you can to advance. In order to effectively clear a level, you'll need to collect rings which will serve as a lifeline of sorts.

Just like the previous game, after the end of the two acts you are greeted to a fight with Dr. Robotnik and it's up to you to defeat him to move on. If you take the time to strategize his attack patterns, then you'll have an easier time.

Power-ups are scattered about in the levels in the form of computer monitors which you have to jump on to activate. While some monitors just give you rings, others have the infamous Power Shoe that grants you super speed for a limited time, or the Stars that grant you temporary invincibility. There are also ones that were new at the time, each one working as a defense shield, good for one hit. The Flame grants you a fire shield that you can also use in a fireball technique to zoom across, the Bubble which lets you breath underwater and gives the ability of a bounce jump, or the Lightning that causes you to attract nearby rings.

If you're spent on the single player adventure, you can go to a two player game where you and another player can compete head to head in different fields. You can choose from three characters: Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. The first to accomplish the set number of laps wins.