Sonic 3D Blast
Encyclopedia
Sonic 3D is an isometric platform game
in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It was developed in the United Kingdom
by Traveller's Tales
and published by Sega
. The Japanese version was also Sega Saturn
exclusive. The Mega Drive version has been released on the Wii
's Virtual Console
service in late 2007 on the European and Japanese markets, and on November 19, 2007 for North America. The Mega Drive version is also available in Sonic Mega Collection
for GameCube, and Sonic Mega Collection Plus for PlayStation 2
and Xbox
. This game is also available as part of a collection called Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
for both the PlayStation 3
and the Xbox 360
.
Archie Comics
published a comic adaptation of the game for a 48-page special, published in January 1997. A loose adaptation of the game also appeared in issues #104-106 of Sonic the Comic
.
The North American title Sonic 3D Blast should not be confused with the game Sonic Blast
for the Sega Game Gear.
. He learned that they can travel anywhere using large rings, so he decided to exploit them by turning them into robots to help him search for the Chaos Emeralds. One day, Sonic visited Flickies' Island and saw what Robotnik had done to them. He decided to free the Flickies and stop Robotnik from finding the Emeralds.
viewpoint in a 2D
environment and uses pre-rendered 3D sprites, displaying pseudo-3D graphics. Sonic must collect Flickies (first featured in the 1984 Sega arcade game Flicky
) by finding and destroying Badniks located around the level, and bring them to a warp ring in order to advance in a zone. Sonic can use the Flickies he has rescued to reach items above springs to earn continues. If Sonic is hit, the Flickies and all of the rings he has collected thus far will scatter and Sonic will have to gather them up again. They will also individually scatter if they are hit separately to Sonic. Each zone consists of two regular acts and one boss act. There are 10 or 15 Flickies in each zone's regular acts, barring Panic Puppet's, while in each zone's third act the player faces Doctor Robotnik (Dr. Eggman in some regions) in one of his many machines.
(coincidentally, the Sol Emeralds are also emerald cut).
To warp to a bonus level where the player can try for a Chaos Emerald, either Knuckles or Tails must be located within the regular levels. When the player stands next to one of them, they will absorb all the rings he has collected. If Sonic has over fifty rings, or supplies them with fifty rings or more with multiple visits, they will take him to the special stage. Clearing the stage earns a Chaos Emerald or in the event that all emeralds have been gathered, an extra life. The Knuckles/Tails warp can only be used once each per act, but the player can give them extra rings to increase the bonus given at the end of the level.
Collecting all 7 of the Chaos Emeralds allows the player to reach the Final Fight Zone.
There are three different versions of the bonus levels.
version, Sonic 3D was also available for the Sega Saturn
to make up for the cancellation of Sonic X-treme
, which was intended to be Saturn's killer game
for the 1996
holiday season; the game was ported in seven weeks, during development of the Mega Drive version. It features FMVs
, higher quality graphics
(including a true 3D
Special Stage) and an entirely new, CD audio soundtrack composed by Richard Jacques
(who later produced the Sonic R
soundtrack). A European release followed in February 1997
.
In September 1997 a port of the Saturn version was released for PC in Europe and North America, with the videos and soundtrack intact, as well as the notable addition of a save game system
, but lacking some of the Saturn's effects (such as the fog
in Rusty Ruins) and with a less impressive special stage that mixed the 2D sprites
from the Mega Drive version with the basic 3D gameplay of the Saturn version. The Saturn version was eventually released in Japan
on October 14, 1999 , the same date as Sonic Adventure International.
Only one version of the Mega Drive game was released, with the title differing depending on whether it is played on a PAL
or NTSC
console. In PAL regions the title is Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island, and in NTSC regions the title is Sonic 3D Blast. When the Mega Drive version was re-released in the Sonic Mega Collection, the game is titled Sonic 3D Blast when played in all regions. Although the PC version's title differed between regions, its executable was titled "Sonic 3D Blast: Flickies' Island", a combination of both names.
The Japanese Saturn version has slightly improved load times compared to its PAL and NTSC-U counterparts although there are a few quirks such as the music of the first stage being delayed upon startup and some sound effects changed.
The game has also been released as part of the Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection/Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection
for Xbox 360
and PlayStation 3
, released in March 2009.
The game's most recent release has been on the PC as part of Sega's recent game releases on the Steam network as well as other digital distribution services.
filled in for development of the special stage in the Saturn version of the game.
, and Masaru Setsumaru, the latter two would later write music for Sonic Adventure
in 1998. Several incidental themes are reused from Sonic the Hedgehog 3
and Sonic & Knuckles
, e.g. the game over and continue themes (also present in the ROM but not accessible via the sound test is the theme from those games' gumball bonus stage). Certain tracks from the game were later remixed for Sonic Adventure
. In a Q & A session held at the Summer of Sonic convention in July 2011, Senoue mentioned he included those tracks as they were tracks he personally enjoyed that had been previously unheard in Japan, as the Mega Drive version was not released there.
The Saturn and PC versions' soundtrack was composed by Richard Jacques
, and is stored as Red Book
audio. This soundtrack features the song "You're My Hero" performed by Debbie Morris, which is played during the end credits.
In addition, an unused track in the Mega Drive version of the game has been remixed as boss music in Sonic the Hedgehog 4
.
The Saturn version in particular received better reception than the Mega Drive version due to superior graphics and music, offering a solution to the control problems via the 3D Control Pad, and for restricting getting an emerald from the special stage to one per act, changing the special stages to play more like Sonic the Hedgehog 2
' s special stages, and for making the special stages far more difficult. Gamespot praised its graphics, soundtrack and challenging boss fights. Unfortunately, the Saturn version has also been criticized for lacking a save feature, which many people saw as an enormous oversight, and for its lengthy loading times.
The PC version of 3D Blast was poorly received due to having worse controls, an inferior special stage, and for lacking some of the Saturn version's graphical effects. It was praised, however, for including a save feature.
Screw Attack called Sonic 3D Blast "a 2-D overhead with a bad angle" and named it the 5th worst Sonic Game.
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It was developed in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by Traveller's Tales
Traveller's Tales
Traveller's Tales is an English software house founded in 1989 and fully established in 1990 and based in Knutsford, Cheshire.It is part of the TT Games group—after the merger of publisher Giant Interactive and the developer Traveller's Tales—along with TT Games Publishing...
and published by Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
. The Japanese version was also Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
exclusive. The Mega Drive version has been released on the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
's Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
service in late 2007 on the European and Japanese markets, and on November 19, 2007 for North America. The Mega Drive version is also available in Sonic Mega Collection
Sonic Mega Collection
is a video game compilation for the Nintendo GameCube.The compilation contains twelve to fourteen games depending on the region, all originally released on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis console...
for GameCube, and Sonic Mega Collection Plus for PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
. This game is also available as part of a collection called Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, known as the Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection in PAL regions, is a compilation of video games developed by Backbone Entertainment for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles...
for both the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
.
Archie Comics
Archie Comics
Archie Comics is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck, New York, known for its many series featuring the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle and Jughead Jones. The characters were created by...
published a comic adaptation of the game for a 48-page special, published in January 1997. A loose adaptation of the game also appeared in issues #104-106 of Sonic the Comic
Sonic the Comic
Sonic the Comic, known to its many readers as STC, was a UK children's comic published fortnightly by Fleetway Editions between 1993 and 2002...
.
The North American title Sonic 3D Blast should not be confused with the game Sonic Blast
Sonic Blast
Sonic Blast is a video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series developed by Aspect and published by Sega for the Sega Game Gear. It is known as G Sonic in Japan. It was released in December 1996 for both North American and European markets...
for the Sega Game Gear.
Story
Doctor Robotnik discovered that some strange birds, called Flickies, live on an island in an alternate dimensionParallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
. He learned that they can travel anywhere using large rings, so he decided to exploit them by turning them into robots to help him search for the Chaos Emeralds. One day, Sonic visited Flickies' Island and saw what Robotnik had done to them. He decided to free the Flickies and stop Robotnik from finding the Emeralds.
Gameplay
The game is played from an isometricIsometric projection
Isometric projection is a method for visually representing three-dimensional objects in two dimensions in technical and engineering drawings...
viewpoint in a 2D
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
environment and uses pre-rendered 3D sprites, displaying pseudo-3D graphics. Sonic must collect Flickies (first featured in the 1984 Sega arcade game Flicky
Flicky
Flicky is an arcade game made by Sega. First released in arcades in 1984, Flicky was also released at the time for the SG-1000, and then ported to the MSX and Japanese computers Sharp X1, Fujitsu FM-7 and NEC PC-8801. It was later ported to the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis in 1991...
) by finding and destroying Badniks located around the level, and bring them to a warp ring in order to advance in a zone. Sonic can use the Flickies he has rescued to reach items above springs to earn continues. If Sonic is hit, the Flickies and all of the rings he has collected thus far will scatter and Sonic will have to gather them up again. They will also individually scatter if they are hit separately to Sonic. Each zone consists of two regular acts and one boss act. There are 10 or 15 Flickies in each zone's regular acts, barring Panic Puppet's, while in each zone's third act the player faces Doctor Robotnik (Dr. Eggman in some regions) in one of his many machines.
Flicky Types
The Flickies Sonic rescues in each level come in four different colors. Each color has its own personality.- Blue Flickies make a conscious effort to find Sonic. If they cannot find him, they fly around in a tight circle, making them easy to locate.
- Pink Flickies act largely like blue ones, but fly around in bigger circles if unable to find Sonic. In the Volcano Valley Zone in the Mega Drive version, the pink Flickies are replaced with bright orange, flaming Flickies, presumably due to color palette limitations.
- Red Flickies constantly move between two close points, not making any effort to find Sonic. Their movement range is small, but they jump very high and can thus be hard to catch.
- Green Flickies wander randomly with no interest in finding Sonic, they even sometimes appear to try to avoid Sonic.
Chaos Emeralds
The Chaos Emeralds seen in the Mega Drive version are emerald cut instead of the usual brilliant cutBrilliant (diamond cut)
A brilliant is a diamond or other gemstone, cut in a particular form with numerous facets so as to have exceptional brilliance. The shape resembles that of a cone and provides maximized light return through the top of the diamond....
(coincidentally, the Sol Emeralds are also emerald cut).
To warp to a bonus level where the player can try for a Chaos Emerald, either Knuckles or Tails must be located within the regular levels. When the player stands next to one of them, they will absorb all the rings he has collected. If Sonic has over fifty rings, or supplies them with fifty rings or more with multiple visits, they will take him to the special stage. Clearing the stage earns a Chaos Emerald or in the event that all emeralds have been gathered, an extra life. The Knuckles/Tails warp can only be used once each per act, but the player can give them extra rings to increase the bonus given at the end of the level.
Collecting all 7 of the Chaos Emeralds allows the player to reach the Final Fight Zone.
There are three different versions of the bonus levels.
- Sega Saturn: Sonic must run down a three dimensional half-pipe covered in rings and bombs and must collect enough rings to progress to the end of each stage.
- PC version: Sonic must run down a half-pipe similar to those in Sonic 2 and the Sega Saturn version.
- Sega Mega Drive: Sonic must run down a bridge, collecting rings and avoiding bombs.
Release history and versions
In addition to the original Sega Mega DriveSega Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
version, Sonic 3D was also available for the Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
to make up for the cancellation of Sonic X-treme
Sonic X-treme
Sonic X-treme is a canceled platform video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Early version were considered for several systems until ending up as being developed by Sega for the Sega Saturn, with the intended release being around Christmas of 1996. However, after getting stuck in development...
, which was intended to be Saturn's killer game
Killer application
A killer application , in the jargon of marketing teams, has been used to refer to any computer program that is so necessary or desirable that it proves the core value of some larger technology, such as computer hardware, gaming console, software, or an operating system...
for the 1996
1996 in video gaming
-Notable releases:*January 29 — Duke Nukem 3D, successor to the simple side-scrolling originals, and a genre-redefining title for first person shooters....
holiday season; the game was ported in seven weeks, during development of the Mega Drive version. It features FMVs
Full motion video
Full motion video based games are video games that rely upon pre-recorded TV-quality movie or animation rather than sprites, vectors, or 3D models to display action in the game. In the early 1990s a diverse set of games utilized this format...
, higher quality graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
(including a true 3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
Special Stage) and an entirely new, CD audio soundtrack composed by Richard Jacques
Richard Jacques
Richard Jacques is a British music composer. He is best known for his video game music, most notably for numerous video games created by Sega.-Early life:...
(who later produced the Sonic R
Sonic R
Sonic R is a racing game developed by Traveller's Tales and Sonic Team for the Sega Saturn and PC, the latter version being ported to the GameCube and the PlayStation 2 in Sonic Gems Collection. It features characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog series...
soundtrack). A European release followed in February 1997
1997 in video gaming
-Events:*October 4 — Gunpei Yokoi dies after a double car accident.*November – Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association launched.*3rd annual E3...
.
In September 1997 a port of the Saturn version was released for PC in Europe and North America, with the videos and soundtrack intact, as well as the notable addition of a save game system
Saved game
A saved game is a piece of digitally stored information about the progress of a player in a video game. This saved game can be reloaded later, so the player can continue where he or she had stopped...
, but lacking some of the Saturn's effects (such as the fog
Fog
Fog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
in Rusty Ruins) and with a less impressive special stage that mixed the 2D sprites
Sprite (computer graphics)
In computer graphics, a sprite is a two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene...
from the Mega Drive version with the basic 3D gameplay of the Saturn version. The Saturn version was eventually released in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on October 14, 1999 , the same date as Sonic Adventure International.
Only one version of the Mega Drive game was released, with the title differing depending on whether it is played on a PAL
PAL
PAL, short for Phase Alternating Line, is an analogue television colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in many countries. Other common analogue television systems are NTSC and SECAM. This page primarily discusses the PAL colour encoding system...
or NTSC
NTSC
NTSC, named for the National Television System Committee, is the analog television system that is used in most of North America, most of South America , Burma, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and some Pacific island nations and territories .Most countries using the NTSC standard, as...
console. In PAL regions the title is Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island, and in NTSC regions the title is Sonic 3D Blast. When the Mega Drive version was re-released in the Sonic Mega Collection, the game is titled Sonic 3D Blast when played in all regions. Although the PC version's title differed between regions, its executable was titled "Sonic 3D Blast: Flickies' Island", a combination of both names.
The Japanese Saturn version has slightly improved load times compared to its PAL and NTSC-U counterparts although there are a few quirks such as the music of the first stage being delayed upon startup and some sound effects changed.
The game has also been released as part of the Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection/Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, known as the Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection in PAL regions, is a compilation of video games developed by Backbone Entertainment for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles...
for Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, released in March 2009.
The game's most recent release has been on the PC as part of Sega's recent game releases on the Steam network as well as other digital distribution services.
Development
Sonic TeamSonic Team
is a Japanese computer and video game developer established in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan in 1990, originally known as Sega AM8. The Japan-based division is also known as G.E. Department Global Entertainment. The studio has collaborated with several in-house Japanese studios as well as other American-based...
filled in for development of the special stage in the Saturn version of the game.
Music
The soundtrack for the Mega Drive version was composed by Tatsuyuki Maeda, Seirou Okamoto, Jun SenoueJun Senoue
is a video game composer and musician from Wave Master, well known for some of his contributions in many Sonic the Hedgehog games. He is also the guitarist for the band Crush 40, which also contributes to many Sonic the Hedgehog games.-Biography:...
, and Masaru Setsumaru, the latter two would later write music for Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure
is a 1999 platform video game developed by Sonic Team and released on December 23, 1998, in Japan by Sega for the Dreamcast. One of its development titles was Sonic RPG...
in 1998. Several incidental themes are reused from Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a 1994 platform video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. It was developed in the United States by members of Sonic Team working at Sega Technical Institute, and was published by Sega, debuting worldwide in the first half of 1994...
and Sonic & Knuckles
Sonic & Knuckles
Sonic & Knuckles is a 1994 platform video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. It was developed in the United States at Sega Technical Institute by members of Sonic Team, and was published by Sega worldwide on October 18, 1994.As well as working as a standalone...
, e.g. the game over and continue themes (also present in the ROM but not accessible via the sound test is the theme from those games' gumball bonus stage). Certain tracks from the game were later remixed for Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure
is a 1999 platform video game developed by Sonic Team and released on December 23, 1998, in Japan by Sega for the Dreamcast. One of its development titles was Sonic RPG...
. In a Q & A session held at the Summer of Sonic convention in July 2011, Senoue mentioned he included those tracks as they were tracks he personally enjoyed that had been previously unheard in Japan, as the Mega Drive version was not released there.
The Saturn and PC versions' soundtrack was composed by Richard Jacques
Richard Jacques
Richard Jacques is a British music composer. He is best known for his video game music, most notably for numerous video games created by Sega.-Early life:...
, and is stored as Red Book
Red Book (audio CD standard)
Red Book is the standard for audio CDs . It is named after one of the Rainbow Books, a series of books that contain the technical specifications for all CD and CD-ROM formats.The first edition of the Red Book was released in 1980 by Philips and Sony; it was adopted by the Digital Audio Disc...
audio. This soundtrack features the song "You're My Hero" performed by Debbie Morris, which is played during the end credits.
In addition, an unused track in the Mega Drive version of the game has been remixed as boss music in Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Sonic the Hedgehog 4
is an episodic platform video game and a sequel in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The game was developed by Dimps alongside members of Sonic Team and is intended to be inspired by and similar to the original Sonic the Hedgehog titles on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.Episode I was released in October...
.
Reception
Sonic 3D has gained mixed responses from critics and fans since its release.The Saturn version in particular received better reception than the Mega Drive version due to superior graphics and music, offering a solution to the control problems via the 3D Control Pad, and for restricting getting an emerald from the special stage to one per act, changing the special stages to play more like Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a 16-bit 1992 platform video game that was developed by Sonic Team members working at the Sega Technical Institute, and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis console. It was released in Japan on November 21, 1992 and in North America and Europe on November 24, 1992...
The PC version of 3D Blast was poorly received due to having worse controls, an inferior special stage, and for lacking some of the Saturn version's graphical effects. It was praised, however, for including a save feature.
Screw Attack called Sonic 3D Blast "a 2-D overhead with a bad angle" and named it the 5th worst Sonic Game.
External links
- Sonic 3D review at GamespotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
- Sonic 3D Blast screenshots at SonicScene.net