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The best 2D Sonic game since S3&K

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 14
Date: June 28, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is by far the best Sonic GBA outing ever. Whereas SA1 felt too linear and cautious with the stage design, and SA2 concentrated almost entirely on an uneven mix of speed and exploration, SA3 feels a lot more like the old-school Sonic games on the Sega Genesis.

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!

Good? Maybe. Long? Very.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 16 / 18
Date: October 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Sonic Advance 3 is the long anticipated sequel of the already popuLar Sonic Advance series. Sonic Advance 2 was longer, funner and more challenging and Sonic Advance 3 takes the formula a little longer.

You select a partner to help you in this game, varying from partner to partner there is Speed, Fly and Power formations which are different to each set of partners. They all make the game harder, easier, funner or more challenging. ALso the character that you control, the char. you control varies between partners. It is quite fun to play with the different combos.

Ah yes, the game would be twice as more fun if you haven't played Sonic Advance 2 immensly like me and got a habit of using the R stunts; they're back but not compatible with every partner team.

If you love a game that takes a long time to beat and has replayability, this game is for you!

13 years in and he's still a blast to play...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: June 01, 2004
Author: Amazon User

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

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: May 04, 2004
Author: Amazon User

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.

I have actually played the game.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: March 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I will not reveal how I got ahold of the game. So I will not reply to anything of that matter.
The game is reminisent of Knuckles Chaotix for the 32X. While it holds simularities, it is indeed different. HOlding the R button will cause your main Character to Grab hold of the secondary character, and charge some energy. Upon releasing (depending on the Character) will cause the main character to be boosted high into the air, given a speed boost, or able to use the secondary characters main ability, such as being able to hold onto Tails as he flys.
The levels are sectioned off into a smaller level area, where the player must go to the act itself in order to enter the levels. I find this much more fun, and free roaming than the past Sonic Advances in the past. My favorite area, and acts, are the second you go to. It reminences of Green Hill Zone, with pallette, and even a remix of the original score.
One thing I appreciate, and is worth mentioning is that no longer can you hold in right the whole time and finish the level. In many occasions the game has the characters moving in all directions.
All in all, The game is faster, smoother, and most of all more fun. It is my favorite among the Advances.

Sonic Advance 3-a must-have for Sonic fans!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: December 26, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Excellent graphics and is very entertaining! Exciting gameplay and cool levels. Fun for everyone! This game has good music and you can partner up with different Sonic characters- like Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Cream, and Amy. Although some bosses are difficult to defeat, it is a very good game overall.

Pretty good

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: June 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

What's different this third time around for Sega's little blue ball of extremity? The hook in Sonic Advance 3 is that you can play as any two of the five heroes (Sonic, Tails, Amy, Knuckles, and Cream) at the same time with a friend controlling the second character on a second GBA. The catch is that in single-player mode, you can't switch to the secondary hero; they're mostly just there for backup and show, and to help you perform special combo moves unique to each duo. The way you progress through levels has also changed a bit as well. Rather than simply moving from act to act in a linear fashion, the game now features a "hub" world that connects each stage's three acts and boss level. Hub worlds also contain mini-games-if you can find them-that earn you bonuses like extra lives. But despite these changes, the basic Sonic 2D building blocks-the straightforward "go right and go right fast!" gameplay-are still the foundation, and the tendency toward repetition (it's all springboards, loops, and grind-rails in Sonictown) won't win any new fans for the franchise. Aside from some garish tunes in the Toy Kingdom, the game sounds and looks great, and the use of color and character animation is a step above even the already sharp-looking Sonic Advance 2, but the series is definitely losing momentum. The hedgehog species is heavy on attitude but has a hard time with evolution.

A 'Sonic Heroes' wannabe turning out to be good

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: February 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The focus of 'Sonic Heroes' was simple. Pick one of 4 teams and play around with them in lush greenery and owerwhelming bases. But the teams sometimes had characters that just disn't fit for each other. The Chaotix together again? I like that. Shadow The Hedgehog and Rouge The Bat along with a murderous robot? Don't mind if I don't! Enter: SONIC... ADVANCE... THAREEEEE!!! You can now SELECT the teams. But due to limite dcharacters ('Heroes' had 12 this has... 5...) there is a possibility the team options could get shallow. Well they are. But they are fun! 7 zones, 3 acts in each and a boss (The seventh zone had 3 bosses. Regular, final and extra). Quite good. A good thing about the teams: You get a different set of moves depenting what character you are playing with.

My favourite teams are:

1. Amy & Sonic
Lovely Couple

2. Sonic & Knuckles
Fighting Buddies

3. Tails & Amy
OK

4. Knuckles & Amy
OK

5. Knuckles & Tails
OK

6. Knuckles & Cream
OK

The graphics are great for a GBA title. Though not running as smoothly as the Genesis titles, the graphics are extraordinary for GBA. After the steaming pile of cack that was 'Spider-Man The Movie' (The 3D stages were a nightmare), Sonic Advance 3 uses the GBA's graphics to full effect. The shading might be a complete crap, the animation very fake and details even worse than Sonic The Hedgehog 1, but overall, it's great.

The sound itself would fetch the game 10/10 in any magazine. Even with the crappy voices, the sound is outstanding. Talking about voices, almost every voice in the game sucks like a super-powered 500 thousand feet tall vaccum. Sonic sounds like a teenager playing an arcade game aimed at 5-year-olds, Tails sounds like an idiot (Wait... he always does.), Knuckles sounds... actually good but he has no emotion in his voice. Pick up a copy of Sonic Adventure 2: BATTLE and see him go all emotional and lovestruck. Hee hee. Cream sucks. Amy rocks. Eggman rocks. Gemerl is a mute. That sums it up. The music is great. From CyberTrack's techno beats to Sunstet Hill's excellent Green Hill remix and Route 99's upbeat and light-hearted GameBoy madness, the music rocks. The other music and SFX all rock.

The plot is simple. Eggman creates a terrifying robot of doom and uses it to take it over the world, blahblahblah, Sonic and his pals must stop him... yada yada yada... oh! Get this: Knuckles DOESN'T get tricked. Congrats Knux. You have gotten a real, authenic brain! YAY. He also didn't get tricked in 'Heroes' or SA2:B but... meh. There is a major plot-twist right at the very end of the game. If you don't want to hear it, then don't read more. If you want to know then keep reading:

-SPOILER WARNING-
Gemerl, Eggman's latest robot of DOOM *echoes* gets all mad and turns on Eggman (Déja Vu?) and absorbs the power of The Chaos Emeralds (THAT happend with Metal Sonic in 'Heroes' by the way) and becomes Super Gemerl. He looks ugly. Then Sonic goes Super Sonic and teams up with... EGGMAN? Sonic and Eggman then defeat Gemerl and save... well nothing. They just defeated him. Then Gemerl goes good and befriends Cream (typical). Sonic Advance 3 has arguably the worst ending in Sonic history. No Sonic 3 & Knuckles may have an abysmal ending but SA3 is quite worse.
-END SPOILER (that took long)-

Best new feature: The team-up system (Not quite new but still great.)

Worst new feature: Chao Playground. The CP is just stupid. Rescue Chaos then go to CP and watch them move around it. WOW!

Graphics: 7/10
Sound: 9/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Lifespan: 7/10

Overall: 8/10

A must-have for all GBA owners. Over and out! See what I did? Over and OUT!!! Like the announcer in the Advance 3 game would say: OVEER AAAND OOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUT!!!
Hee hee.

Blew me away

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: May 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The title says it all. This game was addictive from the moment I put it in the system. With the new team based gameplay that was first featured in Sonic heroes, this game will have you stuck till the end. The story line is also one of the best I've ever seen from a 2d sonic port. This game is also very challenging, with some very complex boss battles. The new zone scheme is cool also, where you are able to play any of the zone's 3 acts in any way you wish, followed up by a boss battle. If you are looking for a truley great game to play, you can't go wrong with Sonic Advance 3.

Yet, another "Advancement" on the Sonic Advance series (by Laura)

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: April 13, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Sonic Advance 3 is a cool game. It does seem to be improved in some areas where Sonic Advance 2 wasn't, but there are pluses and minuses to this game as well. This time, I will start by listing the positive:

1. Cool music and voices. That's right, this Advance game has voices! You have to love how the announcer guy says the title, the pairing, and "congratulations" at the end. There are also voices to all of the characters in the game. It's cool, but nothing big. You aren't going to be hearing them voice sentences, just simple single words. As for the music, it's really cool. I love the Sunset Hill music, as well as Toy Kingdom, and many other of the catchy tunes.

2. The characters from Sonic Advance 2 come back for an encore, but in a whole new style! This time rather than controlling one character by his or herself, you get a partner. You use this partner to enhance your own abilities, and perform two basic team moves (one arial, and one ground) basic team move. This is way too complex to go into detail for this review, but believe me, it's cool! You only get to play as Sonic and Tails at first, but you can bump into other characters with Sonic to play as them. You bump into a new character once every other area after the boss. Also, there are some comical pairings like Sonic and Amy (the "Lovely Couple"). You should see Sonic's face! He's like "What did I ever do to deserve this?" with this most bummed look! Plus when Amy is his partner, she has hearts all around her, runs differently, and gives him a constant adoring look. It's cute and funny.

3. The levels are lovely. Either way, you will enjoy at least one of the levels graphic. Absolutely lovely.

4. The Special stages are fun. You are basically riding on top of a plane your partner is driving, and you are trying to collect enough rings to get the chaos emerald. You may maneuver your character left and right on the top, and when you move one direction far enough, the plane will move with you. Oh, and these stages are in 3D.

5. Omochao joins the series. You just pick him up for hints. This is good because he keeps you from being clueless in the game. He has no voice though.

Well that's the good about the game. The following I list are the flaws:

1. No Tiny chao garden. This is a first for the series, and it is actually rather disappointing.

2. Not much variety in the team moves, and maybe not enough characters. Unlike Sonic Heroes, another game that is team oriented, you can only use two team moves that require charging with the R button. Your team mate's biggest influence is the alterations on your own characters moves. Also, there are only 5 characters you can create teams with (unless you count a temporary one at the end. I would say more, but then it would become a spoiler). You can't make very many team combinations with just 5 characters.

3. Amy is sliding back into her old ways, and some combinations just stink! Whenever you team up with Amy, you should be admonished that you lose your normal jumping ability, and instead you get a jump that Amy had back in Sonic Advance. Which is not a good jump, so look out below. Otherwise, she is a good teammate. Also, the following team combinations stink, or have something that may be undesirable to you: Knuckles and Sonic (You lose Knuckles' ability to glide and climb. Instead you get a strange headbutt move), Cream and Sonic (Cheese loses his tracking ability), Tails and Knuckles (Just a warning that Tails loses his normal flight and swimming abilities. He gains gliding and breaststroke abilities, climbing not included)

4. Just a little thing Id like to mention, Tails can fly you underwater. That looks funny, as he shouldn't be able to move his tails like that at all underwater. I think it is a design flaw.

5. The special stages are hard to get into. First you have to find all of the chao, then you have to beat the final boss, then you have to find a key in one of the levels and survive while getting it out, then you have to find the special spring that will take you to the stage (which is not in the level). Oh, and the last Special stage is miserably hard like always. Good luck...

6. The characters could have been more expressive. I was hoping to see the feelings of what every couple thought of each other (you know, like Sonic and Amy). Sonic and Knuckles are "Fighting Buddies", Sonic and Tails have "An Unbreakable bond", and Amy and Cream become "Team Jubilee", but that is where it ends. Every other combo is just "OK". What does that mean, neutral? Anyway, I was hoping for more feedback from the characters.

That's about it. Before I close this review, here are some of the best team combinations you should try to make the game easier and more enjoyable: Knuckles and Tails, Cream and Knuckles, Knuckles and Amy (I have no clue, why Amy adds the extra moves), Tails and Amy, and Sonic and Amy (maybe that's not the best team, but you'll get a laugh out of it). One more thing, you have to beat the final boss, with the all of the chaos emeralds, while controlling Sonic, to get to the extra boss and see the extra ending. I recommend pairing up with Cream and borrowing her chao for the final boss. You will get a different teammate for the extra boss, but I am not telling you who... Want a cool adventure? Purchase this for your gameboy advance!

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