Sonic 3D Blast (Game)

Sonic 3D Blast

GAME » on November 5, 1996

Genesis (Platform)PC (Platform)Saturn (Platform)Wii Shop (Platform)

An isometric spin-off of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, bringing the original's fast-paced platforming to a more 3D perspective.

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Overview

It's Sonic the Hedgehog, in 3D!

Sonic 3D Blast, known in Europe and the Japanese Saturn release as Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island, is an isometric platformer developed by Traveller's Tales (with assistance from Sonic Team (Company)) and published by Sega (Company) for the Sega Saturn and Sega Genesisin North America on November 1996, with a European release shortly after. It also received a Windows PC release in September 1997, and a Japanese release for the Saturn on October 14, 1999.

A spin-off of the Sonic the Hedgehog (Franchise) series of side-scrolling platformers, Sonic 3D Blast brings the series into 3D through a combination of pre-rendered 3D graphics and 3D movement in an isometric perspective. While most of the gameplay elements from mainline game in the series are retained, it features a new puzzle mechanic similar to the 1984 arcade game Flicky (Game), as players must collect birds (called Flickies) and drop them off at special large rings.

The game takes place in Flicky Island, which is inhabited by the titular "Flickies" (magical birds who can travel between dimensions through large gold rings). After Dr. Robotnik has imprisoned the Flickies as his badniks in an effort to search for the seven Chaos Emeralds, it's up to Sonic the Hedgehog (Character) to rescue his Flicky friends, search for the Chaos Emeralds, and put a stop to Robotnik's plans.

It is known for being the final game in the series to be released for the Genesis, and for showing a CGI full-motion video cutscene solely through the Genesis. The game is not to be confused with the Game Gear (Platform) game Sonic Blast (Game), despite their similar box art and release date, and is not the first isometric spin-off of the series (as the Game Gear game Sonic Labyrinth (Game) was released a year prior). Both Traveller's Tales and Sonic Team later collaborated with Sonic R (Game).

Like other games in the series, it was included in several compilations. The Genesis version also received a digital re-release for the Wii (Platform) (as a Virtual Console (Concept) title) in October-November 2007.

Gameplay

Playing as Sonic, the player must destroy Robotnik's robots or badniks in order to release the trapped Flickies. Then the player has to collect those Flickies in order to advance to the next zone by going through a large gold ring. The player has to collect five Flickies to advance. The game has seven zones each with three acts. Act 1 and 2 are regular levels which the player explores around the level, destroys enemies, and collects Flickies. The third act is a boss battle.

Their is four types of enemies each level and each of those enemies releases a different colored Flicky. Blue Flickies try to find Sonic and when they can't find him they fly around in circle. Pink Flickies are the same as blue ones, but fly around in a larger circle. Red Flickies fly from point A to point B and they don't try to find Sonic, they also jump at times, and they are difficult to catch. Green Filckies make no attempt to find Sonic and move around randomly. Once Sonic reaches and touches him they follow him around. If Sonic is attacked by an badnik he loses a Flicky and he must get him back.

Controlling Sonic and other gameplay features are much like other Sonic games. For the Genesis, the D-pad moves sonic around the area, the A button and C button make Sonic jump, and the B button makes Sonic roll into a ball and do a spin dash. And, like many other Sonic games, collecting rings prevents Sonic from dying when he is attacked by enemies.

Version Differences

The Genesis and Saturn versions of Sonic 3D Blast are identical aside from a few key differences:

Saturn version receives enhanced visuals.
Each of the two versions have a completely different soundtrack.
The special stages are different in the Saturn version, in both level design and visual style (the Saturn version's special stages have polygonal graphics).

Graphics Comparison

Spring Stadium on Genesis \|\| Spring Stadium on Saturn \|\| Diamond Dust Zone on Genesis \|\| Diamond Dust Zone on Saturn
Volcano Valley on Genesis \|\| Volcano Valley on Saturn \|\| A Special Stage in the Genesis Version \|\| A Special Stage in the Saturn Version

Zones

The game's levels consist of seven full zones, each comprising two regular acts and one boss act, and one final boss zone that is only accessible to the player if Sonic has collected all Chaos Emeralds. Interestingly, Sonic 3D Blast follows Sonic CD's convention of using alliterations for zone names.

Green Grove Zone

This tropical zone is typical of the first zone in a Sonic game. Waterfalls, bridges and loop-de-loops adorn Sonic's journey as he speeds across the checkered floor in search of flickies. In the boss fight, Robotnik tries to drop a spiked ball on Sonic from his hovercraft and can be hit when he descends to collect it.

Rusty Ruin Zone

An ancient ruins zone in the vein of Marble Zone from the original Sonic and Marble Garden Zone from Sonic 3. Certain tiles put Sonic into a special twirling state that allows him to smash through certain otherwise unbreakable obstacles. The boss fight requires Sonic to jump onto the claws of a large statue in order to reach Robotnik who resides in its head.

Spring Stadium Zone

Spring Stadium Zone plays yet another Sonic cliché rather straight, fulfilling the role of the mandatory pinball level. Sonic ricochets off bumpers, pops balloons and shoots off flippers as he makes his way to the end of the zone, where Robotnik chases him with a hovercraft equipped with spiked claws.

Diamond Dust Zone

An ice level reminiscent of Ice Cap Zone in Sonic 3. Strategically placed turrets threaten to turn Sonic into solid ice, while strong currents of melting snow carries the struggling hedgehog into spiky traps. The boss features Robotnik attempting to freeze Sonic with ice shooters, occasionally lowering his craft to drop a snowman bomb.

Volcano Valley Zone

In sharp contrast to the preceding level, Volcano Valley Zone has Sonic navigating a lava level reminiscent of Lava Reef Zone in Sonic andamp;amp;amp; Knuckles. Destructible rocks reveal hidden passages in this volcanic maze where Sonic must jump over broad pools of magma and avoid many a fire-spewing trap. The fire shield (red) is particularly useful in this zone. In the boss arena, Sonic must outrun a tongue of flame as he aims hits at a very stationary Robotnik.

Gene Gadget Zone

A largely mechanical level filled with industrial fans and dangerous electric traps. The lightning shield (blue) is particularly useful to avoid getting Sonic electrocuted. The boss involves our hero dodging mines on a large treadmill as Robotnik fires missiles at him from his hovercraft.

Panic Puppet Zone

Another industrial themed level, Panic Puppet Zone is special in that Sonic frees flickies from special containers rather than from Badniks. The boss for this zone, and the final boss if Sonic does not have all the Chaos Emeralds, requires Sonic to advance through several tiers of battle mechanics.

Final Fight Zone

The last boss of Sonic 3D Blast is a deadly machine, naturally crafted in the likeness of its master, which chases Sonic through a series of puzzles that loops until the hedgehog is able to land enough hits on the contraption.

Trivia

Wii Virtual Console version

The Genesis/Megadrive version Sonic 3D Blast was eventually made available for purchase and download through Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console service. However, the game was criticized in reviews, one reason being that the game can't be played using the control stick, even if you use a Classic Controller to play it. Using the control stick doesn't do anything; only the directional pad would work. (It is unknown whether the fault lies with the Virtual Console platform itself rather than the people who ported Sonic 3D Blast to it.)

Music & Audio

The music in the game was composed by Jun Senoue (Person), Masaru Setsumaru (Person), Seirou Okamoto, and Tatsuyuki Maeda (Person). They all crated the Genesis version's music, while the Saturn/PC version was composed by Richard Jacques (Person). The Mega Drive/Genesis version's soundtrack was somewhat latter used in other Jun Senoue projects; the music in Sonic Adventure (Game) had some elements of the soundtrack. The game over and continue themes were reused from Sonic 3 and Sonic andamp;amp;amp; Knuckles.

Debug Tap

Soon after the release of the Genesis Sonic 3D Blast, a technique was discovered to get to a debug mode, the technique was to tap the side of the Sega Genesis with some slight power with your finger, has in flicking it, soon after the screen would make a screech and then turn blue, after 2 seconds a menu would pop up allowing the player to select any level in the game with has many lives has the player wanted - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp1uTXPNlzE

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