Sonic Advance 3
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| Sonic Advance 3 | |
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| Developer(s) | Dimps Sonic Team (supervising) |
| Publisher(s) | THQ Sega |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy Advance |
| Release date | USA June 7, 2004 JPN June 10, 2004 PAL June 24, 2004 |
| Genre(s) | Platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: E (Everyone) PEGI: 3+ |
| Media | 128-Megabit cartridge |
Sonic Advance 3 (ソニックアドバンス3 Sonikku Adobansu Surī?) is a platform game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, developed by Dimps and published by THQ for the Game Boy Advance. It was first released in North America on June 7, 2004, later in Japan on June 10, 2004 and then in Europe on June 24, 2004. The game uses elements from Sonic Advance and Sonic Advance 2, as well as allowing the player to choose an additional partner, who augments the player's actions. The Chao Garden mode from the previous Advance games has been removed due to memory limitations[citation needed], and the Chao Garden in this game serves to help the player view the Chaos Emeralds and chao they have collected.
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[edit] Storyline
Doctor Eggman tears the Earth apart using Chaos Control, and Sonic is separated from Knuckles, Amy, and Cream and is stranded with Tails. The two begin to search for their friends and the source of the trouble (which is the separation of the Chaos Emeralds). But like always, Eggman is making everything from doomsday devices to kooky contraptions and is trying to vanquish Sonic once and for all.
[edit] Gameplay
The basic gameplay combines both the gentler platforming of the original Sonic Advance, and the speed-orientated gameplay of Sonic Advance 2, to provide an experience close to the original games.[citation needed] This time however, Sonic Advance 3 introduces a new game feature called "Tag Action". Tag Action is similar to Sonic the Hedgehog 2: the player picks two characters and controls one while the other will just follow along controlled by the computer (or player two in multiplayer mode) Additionally, in a feature first seen in Knuckles' Chaotix the character can pick up the teammate by holding R, and then release them for to use special abilities. With the addition of Tag Action, the player teams up two playable characters. The different combinations lets the player use different abilities. Some teams have their own name:
- Unbreakable Bond: Sonic & Tails
- Fighting Buddies: Sonic & Knuckles
- Lovely Couple: Sonic & Amy
- Team Jubilee: Amy and Cream
Any other team will show OK.
Some abilities are exclusive to certain teams. For example, Sonic needs to be paired with Tails and Cream needs to be paired with Amy in order to pull off some of the trick maneuvers introduced in Sonic Advance 2.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Playable Characters
The game features a partner system, meaning the effects of one character will be affected by who he/she is partnered with. For example, if Sonic is paired with Amy, Sonic can attack with a hammer, but has a jump instead of a Spin Attack. In contrast, if Amy has Sonic as her partner, she is able to use the spin attack.
- Sonic the Hedgehog is playable from the start. Can perform a spin slash in mid-air. His Tag Action is to give the main character a speed boost.
- Miles "Tails" Prower is playable from the start. Can use his tails to fly for a short while. His Tag Action is to lift the character up.
- Knuckles the Echidna can be unlocked by completing Sunset Hill (Zone 2)Act 3 with Sonic as team leader. He can glide across distances and climb on walls. Characters he partners with have more powerful attacks. His Tag Action sees him throw the player, breaking some objects other characters normally can't. His other Tag Action is to glide with the main character.
- Amy Rose can be unlocked by completing Toy Kingdom (Zone 4),Act with Sonic as team leader. Her abilities focus around her Piko Hammer. Her Tag Action has her whacking down her hammer, launching the player high into the air.
- Cream the Rabbit can be unlocked by completing Cyber Track (Zone 6),Act 3 with Sonic as team leader. She can launch a homing attack with her chao, Cheese. She also has flying abilities, although she tires quicker than Tails. Her Tag Action gives the player a personalized Chao that he/she can attack with for a short while.
[edit] Enemies
- Dr. Eggman is not playable except in multiplayer mode for 2P in the "Nonaggression" stage. He found Emerl's parts and turned them into Gemerl.
- Gemerl is the antagonist. He is not playable. Created from the parts of Emerl from Sonic Battle, Gemerl is Dr. Eggman's henchman for the most part of the game until he betrays him in the final battle and is later reprogrammed by Tails to be friends with Cream and her mom, in an allusion to Sonic Battle. He appears at the end of certain acts in the game, fighting in a style based on Mecha Sonic.[citation needed]
[edit] Voice cast
This is the very last game to use the original Sonic voice actors before they were changed to the Sonic X cast. It also contains the last voice acting done by Deem Bristow before he passed away.
[edit] Reception
| Reviews | |
|---|---|
| Publication | Score |
| 1UP.com | B[1] |
| Game Informer | 6.75 of 10[2] |
| GamePro | 3.5 of 5[2] |
| GameSpot | 8.4 of 10[3] |
| GameSpy | 3 of 5[4] |
| IGN | 9 of 10[5] |
| Nintendo Power | 3.9 of 5[2] |
| Play Magazine | B+ |
| X-Play | 4 of 5[6] |
| Compilations of multiple reviews | |
| Compiler | Score |
| Metacritic | 79 of 100[7] |
| Game Rankings | 80%[2] |
| MobyRank | 77 of 100[8] |
Overall, Sonic Advance 3 received positive feedback from most outlets, receiving a 9/10 from GameZone[9] and an 8/10 from Gaming Target.[10]
Sonic Advance 3 has sold over 1.5 million copies since its release.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ Sonic Advance 3 Game Boy Advance Review Index, Sonic Advance 3 Reviews. 1UP.com (2004-05-27). Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ a b c d Sonic Advance 3 Reviews. Game Rankings. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Sonic Advance 3 for Game Boy Advance Review - Game Boy Advance Sonic Advance 3 Review. Gamespot.com (2004-06-23). Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ GameSpy: Sonic Advance 3 Review. Gamespy.com (2004-06-14). Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ IGN: Sonic Advance 3 Review. IGN.com (2004-05-27). Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ G4 - X-Play - Reviews. X-Play. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Sonic Advance 3 (gba: 2004): Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Sonic Advance 3 for Game Boy Advance - MobyGames. MobyGames. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Sonic Advance 3 Review - Game Boy Advance. GameZone (2004-06-13). Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Sonic Advance 3 GBA Review @ Gaming Target. Gaming Target (2004-08-11). Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ THQ Investor Relations News Release. THQ. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
[edit] External links
- Official Site (Japanese)
- Sonic Advance 3 at Nintendo.com
- Sonic Advance 3 at MobyGames
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