Summary
To manySonicfans, Feburary 2 isn’t the day that the groundhog comes out of his burrow and predicts whether six more weeks of winter will be necessary or not, but “Hedgehog Day” - the day that marks the release ofSonic the Hedgehog 3. This particular release date sticks out with players due to the fact that the game it deals with is one of the most popular out of the entire franchise. While there could be an argument that nostalgia has to do with whySonic the Hedgehog 3is so beloved, the now 30-year-old game deserves it for many reasons.
WhileSonic 3is ironically not the thirdSonicgame, but the fourth, it serves as the beginning for everything that comes after it. It may not have invented the formula thatthe originalSonic the Hedgehogstarted with, butSonic 3refines itself aroundSonic 2’s improvements and gives a solid experience that is emblematic of everything good about 2DSonic. Even when the blue blur made the jump to 3D,Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s influence remained in many ways.
How Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Still Defines Everything the Series Offers 30 Years Later
Sonic the Hedgehog 3is a unique game in terms of the series at large, as well as gaming as a whole. Originally meant to feature 14full length Classic Sonic Zones, time constraints as well as cartridge limitations ledSonic 3to be split into two. This led to the famous lock-on cartridge ofSonic & Knucklesthat not only delivered the remainder of the zones as another game in its own right, but it also allowed Knuckles to be playable inSonic 3andSonic 2by locking onto those specific titles.
This was a pivotal moment in history for the series. It served as an example of Sonic Team’s innovative qualities, which would remain as theSonic the Hedgehogseries constantly evolvedas the years went by. While each change the series went through would meet a mixed reception with fans and critics alike at times, Sonic and his friends have always been constantly on the move and trying something new. The earliest example of this drive to do things differently isSonic 3 & Knuckles.
Despite originally being sold seperately, 30 years later, the most accessible version ofSonic 3on the market puts it andSonic & Knucklespermanently together in theSonic Originscompilation title. This is due toSega delisting the original singularSonic the Hedgehogversionsonce the newer compilation was released.
One of the other big adjustments thatSonic 3 & Knucklesintroduced was a story element that, once introduced, would be an important facet to many games afterward. While instruction manuals would feature some snippets of backstory and explanation of the events found in the game, most would become outdated later on in the franchise’s lifetime, withSonic 3’s on-screen story being a deep, longstanding start to the lore of Sonic’s world. Its importance is clear throughSonic AdventureandSonic Frontiersreferencing what it established, and its story being adapted to film for theSonic the Hedgehog 2movie.
The importance of an interesting story in aSonicgame wasn’t the only way thatSonic 3 & Knucklesleft a mark on the series, as almost every 2D game afterward follows what it established, with some pieces even leaving the 2D realm and making it into 3D games. Games such asSonic ManiaandSonic Superstarstake important notes from whatSonic 3&Kdid to deliver the same side-scrolling platforming experience that the third Genesis game refined into what remains to be one of themost fun and iconicSonicgamesfor many fans to this day.
