Anyone Playing Sonic Advance 3?

[Nz17]

I am just fishing for opinions and anecdotes on Sonic Advance 3. Who has this game, and who's currently playing it? Are the differences between the first two games and this one good or bad? How's the storyline?

I've heard that the levels are much larger than the previous title, and that the "buddy system" is subdued at best, with the extra character only really there to perform the occasional helping move. Also, the Chaos Emeralds are supposed to be a pain to acquire this time around, unbelievably moreso than the last game, and the level design is reportedly more of the "Where the Hell did that spike come from?" sort.

Now being a Sonic fan I'm interested, but I'm apprehensive about this game. Though I appreciate the new approach to the level set (abandoning the usual forest, jungle, etc., for outlandish designs) and the partner system, it concerns me that Dimps (the developer of the last three Sonic Advance games) is getting more and more off the beaten path here. As odd as it sounds, I like a more realistic approach to the levels in a Sonic game, such as Green Hill Zone, Marble Zone, and others that "fit" within a world inhabited by Sonic and crew, rather than some insane Music Zone or Mexican Hatdance Zone. The deemphizing of Sonic to focus on a larger cast ala Sonic Heroes is also disconcerting to me; after all, don't we play Sonic games to play as Sonic?

[Querjek]

I played through the ROM a few weeks ago when it came out... I didn't really think it was that great, but it is an interesting idea for a Sonic game. If I were you, I'd try the ROM first and then decide whether to buy it or not.

[NintendoMan]

I would like to know how sonic 3 is as well. I saw it on sale at target for 24.99 so am thinking of picking it up. But would also like to get Sonic Advance 1 first though, or both, whatever I can find.

[Nz17]

I played through the ROM a few weeks ago when it came out... I didn't really think it was that great, but it is an interesting idea for a Sonic game. If I were you, I'd try the ROM first and then decide whether to buy it or not.

I played that ROM ages ago and anyone who did should note that the game was in alpha state at that point, so anything you saw will most likely not be the way it was in the final released game.

Besides, I think anyone who plays a ROM of a commercial game they don't own that is still in production and available at retail sales is morally obligated to get the game once it is released.

[Nz17]

I would like to know how sonic 3 is as well. I saw it on sale at target for 24.99 so am thinking of picking it up. But would also like to get Sonic Advance 1 first though, or both, whatever I can find.

I've been a Sonic fan since the beginning and even from my perspective I recommend you skip Sonic Advance. It's slow, I hate the sprites for the playable characters, the music is lame, and the stage design is poor. However, the true final stage is awesome, the stages are colorful and well-detailed, and playing as Amy is quite different, fun, and challenging, and besides, I am a completist. Thus, in the end, Sonic Advance (1) comes off as a slightly above mediocre game. In other words, good for Sonic fans, good for platforming fans in general (that don't like overly-speedy Sonic games), but not really great for either party.

[NintendoMan]

I would like to know how sonic 3 is as well. I saw it on sale at target for 24.99 so am thinking of picking it up. But would also like to get Sonic Advance 1 first though, or both, whatever I can find.

I've been a Sonic fan since the beginning and even from my perspective I recommend you skip Sonic Advance. It's slow, I hate the sprites for the playable characters, the music is lame, and the stage design is poor. However, the true final stage is awesome, the stages are colorful and well-detailed, and playing as Amy is quite different, fun, and challenging, and besides, I am a completist. Thus, in the end, Sonic Advance (1) comes off as a slightly above mediocre game. In other words, good for Sonic fans, good for platforming fans in general (that don't like overly-speedy Sonic games), but not really great for either party.

Yeah, I have heard mixed feeling, both good and bad alot, so realize that this game is not as good as it could be. Wouldn't it just be great if Sega made a "True" old school sonic for the gba. If anybody would do it it would be sega. I would never hold my breathe on Nintendo making a "true" 2-d mario again, a new one. But anyways, just being the sega fac I am, I think I will just wait and pick them up when they are on sale for cheap or something.
I went to go get Sonic Ad. 3 this weekend but ended up getting True Crime for the GC, and Metroid Fusion for GBA. But still will get Sonic Ad. 3 when I get some more cash.

[Nz17]

I admit it: I am a weak man, and I gave into my video game craving though my finances said I shouldn't. Just remember kids: seven days without a new video game makes one week.

So here we go with my "Sonic Advance 3" preliminary review.

First, the sprites for characters are mostly the same from the previous two games, with several returning enemies in addition to our cast of heroes. However, almost everything else graphics-wise seems brand new. There are seven regular Zones in this game, with seven Acts each. Three of these Acts are like the typical Sonic Acts, with stretches of running intersperced with puzzles, odd interactive doo-dads, and tricky enemies. One of the Acts is a Boss Act, and let me tell you, this game finally made the bosses a challenge! Usually in a Sonic game all but the last bosses are push overs, but in this game Dimps wanted to make sure players used strategy and learned the bosses moves and patterns. One of the Acts is the Special Zone Act (more on this later). The two remaining Acts are Bonus Acts, lasting 60 seconds or less, in which a simple goal must be reached as quickly as possible, such as destroying all the enemies on the level or hitting switches on a roboticizer. Once completed, you receive a number of extra lives depending on how well you did. The Bonus Acts can only be played once per playing session so that you can't rack up an unreasonable number of lives too easily. ;)

Keeping players playing are the return of the rankings introduced in Sonic Adventure 2 and the ever-present Chaos Emerald hunt. Depending on how fast you finish a stage you are awarded either a gold, silver, or bronze Super Ring. What effect, if any, for collecting all Gold remains unknown to me at this point, but I wouldn't put it past Dimps to have included an extra when they are all acquired.

The Chaos Emeralds are acquired this time by finding Chao hidden throughout a Zone. There are ten Chao hidden within the main Acts of a Zone as well as the Zone Hub (which is newly introduced in this game). Once all ten Chao are found, you get a Special Key which will unlock the Special Spring in the Zone Hub to enter the Special Stage. I haven't gotten to the Special Stages yet, so I can't really comment on them.

The Zone Hub actually works rather well in this game, though I'd prefer the simpler approach of a simple Act Select per Zone. The levels themselves are actually quite large and sprawling; if anything, they are larger than those found in Sonic Advance 2.

So now the question on everyone's mind needs to be addressed: the Buddy System. How does this work? I can best describe it using the reference of Sonic The Hedgehog 2, because it plays more or less like that. Your selected Buddy (which can be changed from the Zone Hub) is merely there to collect extra rings and and destroy stray enemies around you, and use of his/her Extra Move isn't even necessary to complete the game. Even your main character's Extra Move (the move used by the R button + direction button when in the air) isn't actually required to finish the stages this outting. However, your Buddy can prove quite handy in reaching hard-to-get places, especially when searching for those dastardly Chao. Your Buddy's Extra Move is performed by "charging" it up by holding down the R button. Once charged you can use the move on the ground or in the air, both of which yield different results. During the moves pressing A, B, or R can execute the move further, such as Tails's flight or Knuckles's attack.

The special effects and little polishing touches are quite nice in Sonic Advance 3. You can really see the hard work put into this game during the bosses' explosions and the transition from Zone to Zone. The lives icon this time about is actually the symbols of your characters, such as the classic Knuckles logo and the Sonic face symbol (most recognizably from the Sonic Team ocean logo in Sonic Adventure), as well as new face logos for Amy, Tails, and Cream.

All-in-all I have to say that from the little I've played of it (around five hours) this seems to be the best Sonic game yet on the GameBoy Advance. Sometimes the interface and levels feel a little too cluttered and complex, but the controls are right-on. The music is pretty snazzy (including an awesome remix of Green Hill Zone for the BGM of Sunset Hill Zone, which is really more of an "older" GHZ itself), the graphics are an evolution of the previous titles, and the gameplay is traditional GBA Sonic though now leaning more into a Genesis-style Sonic with the team play mechanic. On the whole this one gets nine points out of ten.

[Querjek]

I played through the ROM a few weeks ago when it came out... I didn't really think it was that great, but it is an interesting idea for a Sonic game. If I were you, I'd try the ROM first and then decide whether to buy it or not.

I played that ROM ages ago and anyone who did should note that the game was in alpha state at that point, so anything you saw will most likely not be the way it was in the final released game.

Besides, I think anyone who plays a ROM of a commercial game they don't own that is still in production and available at retail sales is morally obligated to get the game once it is released.
Yes, I know that it was a very late beta... but I was able to tell what were glitches that would be removd later on. I had plans to buy this, but I'm really short on money (Mario Vs. Donkey Kong is a very good game ;)). I May buy it someday, though.