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{{Short description|1994 video game}}
{{About|the Genesis game|the 2024 film|Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (film){{!}}''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' (film)}}
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{{Infobox video game
| title = Sonic the Hedgehog 3
| image = Sonic3-box-us-225.jpg
| caption = North American Genesis box art
| developer = [[Sega Technical Institute]]
| publisher = [[Sega]]
| producer = [[Yuji Naka]]
| director = [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]]
| designer = {{unbulleted list|Hirokazu Yasuhara|Hisayoshi Yoshida|[[Takashi Iizuka (game designer)|Takashi Iizuka]]}}
| artist = {{unbulleted list|Takashi Yuda|Satoshi Yokokawa}}
| programmer = {{unbulleted list|Yuji Naka|Hiroshi Nikaidoh|Masanobu Yamamoto}}
| series = ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]''
| platforms = [[Sega Genesis]], [[Windows]]
| composer = <!-- Do not add Michael Jackson; uncredited staff do not belong in the infobox. -->
{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|[[Brad Buxer]]}}|{{unbulleted list|[[Robert Green Brooks|Bobby Brooks]]|Darryl Ross|Geoff Grace|Doug Grigsby III|Cirocco Jones}}}}
{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Sega Sound Team}}|{{unbulleted list|Tokuhiko Uwabo|Sachio Ogawa|Yoshiaki Kashima|Masaru Setsumaru|Tatsuyuki Maeda|Tomonori Sawada|Masayuki Nagao|[[Jun Senoue]]}}}}<!-- Do not add Michael Jackson; uncredited staff do not belong in the infobox. -->
| released = '''Genesis'''{{vgrelease|NA|February 2, 1994|EU|February 24, 1994|JP|May 27, 1994}} '''Windows'''{{vgrelease|JP|February 14, 1997|NA|March 14, 1997|EU|March 20, 1997}}
| genre = [[Platform game|Platform]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'''''|ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ3|Sonikku za Hejjihoggu Surī|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1994 [[platform game]] developed by [[Sega Technical Institute]] and published by [[Sega]] for the [[Sega Genesis]]. Like previous ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]]'' games, players traverse [[side-scrolling]] levels while collecting [[Rings (Sonic the Hedgehog)|rings]] and defeating enemies. They control [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic]] and [[Tails (character)|Tails]], who attempt to retrieve the [[Chaos Emeralds]] to stop [[Doctor Robotnik]] from relaunching his space station, the Death Egg, after it crash-lands on a mysterious floating island. ''Sonic 3'' introduces [[Knuckles the Echidna]], the island guardian, who lays traps for Sonic and Tails.

Development began in January 1993 by [[Sega Technical Institute]] in California, shortly after the release of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''. It was initially developed as an [[Isometric video game graphics|isometric]] game similar to what would eventually become ''[[Sonic 3D Blast]]'' (1996), but became a conventional 2D platform game due to time constraints. ''Sonic 3'' was developed simultaneously with ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]''; they were planned as a single game until time constraints and cartridge costs forced the developers to split it. The ''Sonic 3'' cartridge can be attached to an adapter on the ''Sonic & Knuckles'' cartridge, creating a combined game, '''''Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles'''''. The pop musician [[Michael Jackson]] composed portions of the soundtrack but left the project and went uncredited; sources vary on how much of his work was retained, and many tracks were replaced in rereleases.

''Sonic 3'' was released in North America and Europe in February 1994, and in Japan in May. As with its predecessors, it was a critical and commercial success, with critics seeing it as an improvement over previous installments. ''Sonic 3'' and ''Sonic & Knuckles'' sold a combined four million copies worldwide, placing them among the [[bestselling Genesis games]]. They have been rereleased in various Sega and ''Sonic'' compilations.

==Gameplay==
[[File:Sonic3 Hydrocity.png|thumb|left|Sonic and Tails exploring the underwater portion of Hydrocity, the game's second zone]]
''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' is a [[2D computer graphics|2D]] [[side-scrolling video game|side-scrolling]] [[platform game|platformer]]. As with ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'', players can control Sonic, Tails, or both simultaneously. In the former choice, players control [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic]] while [[Tails (Sonic the Hedgehog)|Tails]] runs along beside him; a second player can join at any time and control Tails separately.<ref name="wii.ign.com" /> ''Sonic 3'' adds the ability for Tails to fly for a short time by spinning his twin tails like a [[helicopter rotor]].<ref name="wii.ign.com" /> Unlike Sonic, Tails can also swim underwater.<ref name="m89">''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 8–9.</ref>

''Sonic 3'' takes place over six [[level (video gaming)|zones]],<ref name="m1617">''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 16–17.</ref> each divided into two acts. Levels are populated with "badniks", robots created by the villain, [[Dr. Robotnik]]; Sonic and Tails can defeat them by jumping on them or using the "spin dash" attack, which also gives the character a speed boost.<ref name="m89" /> The levels include obstacles and other features such as [[vertical loop]]s, corkscrews, breakable walls, spikes, water that the player can drown in, and bottomless pits.<ref name="game">{{cite video game|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 3|developer=Sonic Team|publisher=Sega|date=February 2, 1994}}</ref> There is a [[miniboss]] fight with one of Robotnik's large, powerful robots at the end of the first act of each level and a [[boss (video gaming)|boss]] fight with Robotnik at the end of the second.<ref name="m45">''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 4–5.</ref> Reaching a new level [[Autosave|saves]] the game to one of six save slots.<ref name="m10">''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' (Genesis) instruction manual, p. 10.</ref>

As with previous ''Sonic'' games, ''Sonic 3'' uses golden [[Rings (Sonic the Hedgehog)|rings]], scattered throughout the levels, as a health system; when the player is attacked without rings, is crushed, falls off-screen, drowns, or exceeds the act's ten-minute limit, they lose a [[health (gaming)|life]] and return to the most recently passed [[checkpoint (video gaming)|checkpoint]]. Dying with zero lives gives the player a [[game over]]. The levels also include power-ups in television monitors that, when hit, grant the character an [[Life (video games)#Extra lives|extra life]], temporary invincibility to most hazards, a number of rings,<ref name="m1213">''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 12–13.</ref> a shield that allows them to breathe underwater, a shield that allows them to withstand fire from enemy projectiles, or a shield that attracts nearby rings.<ref name="palgn" />

''Sonic 3'' contains two types of [[bonus stage]]s. When the player collects at least 50 rings and passes a checkpoint, they can warp to the first type,<ref name=hidden>{{cite web|last1=Nelson|first1=Jared|title=A Guide to 'Sonic The Hedgehog' Version 2.0's Hidden Level-select, Debug Mode, and Many More Secrets|date=May 27, 2013|url=http://toucharcade.com/2013/05/27/a-guide-to-sonic-the-hedgehog-version-2-0s-hidden-level-select-debug-mode-and-many-more-secrets/|publisher=Touch Arcade|access-date=January 19, 2015}}</ref> which involves bouncing up a [[gumball machine]]-like corridor to earn power-ups by hitting a switch. Both sides of the corridor are lined with flippers, which disappear when the character bounces on them, and the switch drops when both flippers supporting it are removed. The corridor's floor contains a bounce pad, which also disappears after one use; falling afterwards causes the player to leave the stage with the most recent power-up collected.<ref name="m1415">''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 14–15.</ref>

[[File:Sonic 3 Special Stage.png|thumb|right|Tails in one of the special stages, in which the player can collect blue spheres to earn [[Chaos Emeralds]]]]

The second type, triggered by entering giant rings found in secret passages, involves running around a [[3D computer graphics|3D]] map and passing through all of a number of blue spheres arranged in patterns. Passing through a blue sphere turns it red, and touching a red sphere causes the player to leave the stage, unless the player has just completed a cycle around an arrangement of blue spheres, in which case all of these spheres turn to harmless rings. Removing all of the blue spheres gives the player a [[Chaos Emerald]]; if Sonic (not Tails) collects all seven, he unlocks the ability to become [[Sonic the Hedgehog#Common features|Super Sonic]], which makes him invincible to most obstacles.<ref name="palgn" /><ref name="super">{{cite web|last1=Khan|first1=Jahanzeb|title=20 Years Ago: Sonic 3 & Knuckles|url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2014/04/11/20-years-ago-sonic-knuckles/80530/|publisher=Hardcore Gamer|access-date=January 4, 2015|date=April 2014}}</ref> Failing to collect the seven Chaos Emeralds triggers a [[post-credits scene]] in which Robotnik and [[Knuckles the Echidna|Knuckles]] taunt the player.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 3|developer=Sonic Team|publisher=Sega|platform=Genesis/Mega Drive|scene=Ending sequence|date=1994}}</ref>

''Sonic 3'' includes a competitive mode: two players, controlling Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles, race through one or all of five stages that do not appear in the main game. In these same stages, a single player can compete against the clock in [[time attack]]s.<ref name="m1819">''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 18–19.</ref>

===''Sonic 3 & Knuckles''===
{{Further|Sonic & Knuckles}}
''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' and ''Sonic & Knuckles'' were planned as a single game, but were released separately due to time constraints caused by a [[McDonald's]] promotion and [[ROM cartridge|cartridge]] size limitations.<ref name="GI: Two" /> The ''Sonic & Knuckles'' cartridge features a "lock-on" adapter that allows other Genesis cartridges to be attached. Connecting the ''Sonic 3'' cartridge creates a combined game, ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles''. The lock-on function is available in most re-releases.<ref name="hidden" />

''Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles'' allows the player to play ''Sonic 3'' levels as Knuckles or ''Sonic & Knuckles'' levels as Tails, or both Sonic and Tails.<ref name="addon">{{cite web|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/Sonic+the+Hedgehog+3+%26+Knuckles/news.asp?c=62112|publisher=[[Pocket Gamer]]|title=Coders behind official Sonic the Hedgehog remasters release Sonic 3 & Knuckles proof-of-concept|date=October 20, 2014|last=Russell|first=Danny|access-date=January 22, 2015}}</ref>  Other new features are the ability to collect Super Emeralds, unlocking new "Hyper" forms for Sonic and Knuckles and a "Super" form for Tails; improved save options; access to areas that Sonic or Tails could not previously access; altered boss forms; and an additional ending that shows Sonic returning the Master Emerald to Angel Island.<ref name="life">{{cite web|last1=Newton|first1=James|title=Sonic 3 & Knuckles lock-on|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/sonic_and_knuckles|website=Nintendo Life|access-date=January 19, 2015}}</ref>

==Plot==
After Sonic and Tails defeat Dr. Robotnik in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'', Robotnik's space station, the Death Egg, crash-lands on the floating Angel Island. The impact from the Death Egg's crash causes the island to fall into the ocean. There, Robotnik meets Knuckles the Echidna, the last member of an ancient echidna civilization that once inhabited the island. Knuckles is the guardian of the [[Master Emerald]], which grants the island its levitation power and has an equal power level of the 7 [[Chaos Emeralds]].<ref name="m4">''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' (Genesis) instruction manual, p. 4.</ref> Robotnik dupes Knuckles into believing Sonic is trying to steal the Master Emerald, and that the launch base  is Sonic's base, turning the two against each other while he repairs the Death Egg.<ref name="Official Play Guide">{{cite book|last1=Hill|first1=Simon|title=Sonic 3 Official Play Guide|date=1994|publisher=Titan|location=London|isbn=978-1-8528-6567-2}}</ref>

Sonic and Tails approach Angel Island in their [[biplane]], the Tornado. Sonic uses the Chaos Emeralds to transform into [[Sonic the Hedgehog#Super transformation|Super Sonic]], but Knuckles ambushes him and steals the emeralds.<ref name="m4" /> Sonic and Tails travel the island hindered by Knuckles and Robotnik.<ref name="Official Play Guide"/> At the Launch Base, where the Death Egg is under repair, Sonic and Tails fight Knuckles, but the Death Egg relaunches. On a platform attached to the Death Egg, they defeat Robotnik, causing the Death Egg to crash-land on Angel Island again. The story resumes in ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]''.<ref name="Official Play Guide"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Sonic & Knuckles (Mega Drive) instruction manual|date=1994|publisher=Sega|page=5|edition=PAL}}</ref><ref>{{cite video game|title=Sonic & Knuckles|platform=Genesis/Mega Drive|developer=Sonic Team|publisher=Sega|date=1994|scene=Main Menu}}</ref>

==Development==
Like ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'', ''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' was developed in California by [[Sega Technical Institute]] (STI).<ref name="STIRetro">{{cite magazine|last=Day|first=Ashley|year=2007|title=Company Profile: Sega Technical Institute|magazine=[[Retro Gamer]]|publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]|issue=36|pages=28–33}}</ref> After the completion of ''Sonic 2'', the producer, [[Yuji Naka]], refused to develop another ''Sonic'' game with the Americans.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Thorpe |first1=Nick |date=December 2017 |title=The Making of: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 |magazine=[[Retro Gamer]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |location=[[Bournemouth]] |pages=20–29 |issue=175 |issn=1742-3155}}</ref> STI split into two teams: one comprised Japanese developers, who worked on ''Sonic 3,'' and the other Americans, who worked on ''[[Sonic Spinball]]''.<ref name="gamestm">{{cite journal|title=Sonic 3 & Knuckles - Behind the Scenes|journal=[[GamesTM]]|issue=60|pages=140–144|url=http://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_3_%26_Knuckles_-_Behind_the_Scenes_(GamesTM_issue_60) |date=August 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Story of Sonic the Hedgehog |magazine=[[Retro Gamer]] |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] |issue=158 |year=2016 |first=Nick |last=Thorpe |pages=18–25}}</ref><ref name="den">{{cite web|last1=Horowitz|first1=Ken|title=Developer's Den: Sega Technical Institute|url=http://www.sega-16.com/2007/06/developers-den-sega-technical-institute/|website=Sega-16|access-date=March 15, 2018|date=June 11, 2007}}</ref> Naka and [[Hirokazu Yasuhara]] were the primary creators of the ''Sonic 3'' [[software design document|design document]] and project schedule.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sost.emulationzone.org/sonic_3/interview/rogerhector.htm|title=Roger Hector: Director of STI Interviews|date=October 2005|publisher=EmulationZone|quote=Once Naka & Yasuhara agreed on a general design approach, they drew up a schedule and started working|access-date=January 22, 2015}}</ref> Naka selected the majority of the team, while the STI director, Roger Hector, oversaw development and Pamela Kelly led the marketing.<ref name="gamestm" />{{sfn|Thorpe|2017|p=29}}

Development began in January 1993. The team initially used the [[Sega Virtua Processor]] chip, allowing for [[3D computer graphics|3D graphics]]. They created a prototype with [[Isometric video game graphics|isometric graphics]] with the working title ''Sonic 3D''. The original special stage featured a [[Polygon mesh|polygonal]] Sonic in a figure eight-shaped stage. When it became apparent that the chip would not be finished by 1994, ''Sonic 3'' was restarted as a more conventional 2D platform game.<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ASega_Magazine_JP_Issue_03_199701.pdf&page=11|title=ソニックチーム物語|magazine=Sega Magazine|issue=3|publisher=[[SB Creative|SoftBank Creative]]|date=January 1997|pages=9–13|lang=ja}} ([http://shmuplations.com/sonicteam/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217211118/http://shmuplations.com/sonicteam/|date=2019-12-17}}).</ref> The designer [[Takashi Iizuka (game designer)|Takashi Iizuka]] said the chip was an experiment to see if ''Sonic'' could work in 3D, and was abandoned due to its low polygon count.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Thorpe |first=Nick |date=2024-01-13 |title=30 years later, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is still a stone-cold classic: 'We wanted to make the third game more epic than Sonic 2' |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/30-years-later-sonic-the-hedgehog-3-is-still-a-stone-cold-classic-we-wanted-to-make-the-third-game-more-epic-than-sonic-2/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=[[Retro Gamer]] |language=en}}</ref> The isometric concept was eventually used for ''[[Sonic 3D Blast]]'' in 1996.<ref name="gamestm" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/levelup/a549866/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-retrospective-sega-mascots-finest-outing.html#~p27TPtEkmLdAKi|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 3 retrospective: Sega mascot's finest outing|last=Langshaw|first=Mark|date=February 8, 2014|website=Digital Spy|access-date=January 22, 2015}}</ref>

According to Naka, the team wanted a deeper story to expand the ''Sonic'' world, which greatly expanded the project size.<ref name="gametap" /> As ''Sonic'' was an action game with international appeal, they told the story visually, using in-game [[Cutscene|cutscenes]], instead of text.<ref name=":2" /> The levels are triple the size of those in ''Sonic 2''.<ref name="gametap">{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbu4TEE1_pE|title=Sonic the Hedgehog GameTap Retrospective Pt. 4/4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725182313/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbu4TEE1_pE|archive-date=July 25, 2015}}</ref> Additional bosses, different musical arrangements and graphics were used to distinguish act 1 and 2 of each stage.<ref name=":2" /> Many elements were conceived during the development of ''Sonic 2'' but deferred to ''Sonic 3''.<ref name="gamestm" /> 

''Sonic 3'' and ''Sonic & Knuckles'' were originally planned as a single game. However, the manufacturing costs of a 34-megabit cartridge<ref>''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'' (Genesis, EU) instruction manual, p. 4.</ref> with NVRAM would have been prohibitively expensive.<ref name="yujitalks" /> Due to the game's scope and Sega of America's commitment to launch a major [[McDonald's]] Happy Meal promotion in February 1994,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gander |first=Matt |date=February 14, 2020 |title=Twenty-five years ago, to this very month, Sonic 'Happy Meal' toys were available in the UK |url=https://www.gamesasylum.com/2020/02/14/twenty-five-years-ago-to-this-very-month-sonic-happy-meal-toys-were-available-in-the-uk/ |access-date=2021-03-04 |website=Games Asylum |language=en-US}}</ref> the team reluctantly split it in half,<ref name="gamestm" /><ref name="GI: Two" /> allowing more time to develop the second part and splitting the cost between two cartridges.<ref name="yujitalks">{{cite web|url=http://xbox.gamespy.com/articles/654/654750p4.html|publisher=[[GameSpy]]|title=Sega's Yuji Naka Talks!|access-date=December 31, 2014}}</ref> The ''Sonic & Knuckles'' cartridge's lock-on technology was created, named and implemented so ''Sonic 3'' could be experienced as intended.<ref name="GI: Two">{{cite magazine |last1=Shea |first1=Brian |title=How Sonic 3 Became Two Separate Games |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/10/10/how-sonic-the-hedgehog-3-became-two-games-sonic-and-knuckles-lock-on-technology.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014015127/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/10/10/how-sonic-the-hedgehog-3-became-two-games-sonic-and-knuckles-lock-on-technology.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=October 14, 2016 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |date=October 10, 2016}}</ref> Among other features, it allowed the developers to keep the paths designed for Knuckles in ''Sonic 3'', which were inaccessible on the standalone cartridge.<ref name=":2" />

''Sonic 3'' features the debut of Sonic's rival, Knuckles the Echidna. Many designs for the character were considered;<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonic's Creator - Yuji Naka|url=http://www.sega.com/features/allsonic/creator/naka04.html|publisher=[[Sega]]|access-date=February 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970605172353/http://www.sega.com/features/allsonic/creator/naka04.html|archive-date=June 5, 1997}}</ref> for the final design, Takashi Yuda chose the kind of animal, and Pamela Kelly chose the name.<ref name="GMU">{{cite web|last=Nguyen|first=Michelle|date=July 1, 2021|title=How Sonic & Knuckles came to be and the journey of creating it|url=https://www.abc4.com/gtu/how-sonic-knuckles-came-to-be-and-the-journey-of-creating-it|website=[[KTVX]]|publisher=Good Things Utah|access-date=June 7, 2022}}</ref>  Yuda envisioned him as a supporting character for Sonic, and felt he would make a good playable character.<ref name="gspyriders">{{cite web|last1=Theobald|first1=Phil|title=Sega Talks Sonic Riders Part Two|url=http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/sonic-riders/683757p1.html|website=[[GameSpy]]|publisher=[[IGN]]|access-date=February 26, 2018|date=January 27, 2006}}</ref> Whereas Sonic symbolizes speed, Knuckles symbolizes power,<ref name="gametap" /> and the emphasis of the character was to break walls.<ref name="Naka interview PPF">{{cite web|url=http://www2.sega.com/sonic/globalsonic/post_sonicteam.php?article=nakainterviewsonic |publisher=Sega.com |title=Sonic Central interview: Yuji Naka on Sonic's Past, Present, Future |access-date=July 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526174339/http://www2.sega.com/sonic/globalsonic/post_sonicteam.php?article=nakainterviewsonic |archive-date=May 26, 2010 }}</ref> His shoe coloration was inspired by the [[flag of Jamaica]].<ref name="gametap" /> The original name for the character was "Dreds", referring to his dreadlocks.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sonic Advance 2: Prima's Official Strategy Guide|publisher=[[Prima Games]]|date=March 11, 2003|last=Mylonas|first=Eric|isbn=0761540083|page=99}}</ref> The design was tested with [[focus group]]s of American children.<ref name=":0" /> Knuckles' climbing ability allowed the developers to introduce more vertical gameplay.<ref name=":2" />

Hector said ''Sonic 3'' had a troubled development. He recalled having to prevent the rest of Sega from bothering the team while simultaneously making sure the game would be finished in time. Additionally, Hector struggled to balance resources between ''Sonic 3'' and other projects, Naka was sometimes seen as a harsh leader, and American STI staff not on the ''Sonic 3'' team became jealous of the priority given to the game.<ref name="gamestm"/>

===Michael Jackson's involvement===
{{See also|Michael Jackson in video games}}
[[File:Michael Jackson, 1988 (46845017052).jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|According to the development staff, [[Michael Jackson]] composed portions of the ''Sonic 3'' soundtrack but went uncredited. His involvement was denied by senior Sega employees.]]
According to several sources involved in the development, Sega hired the pop musician [[Michael Jackson]] to compose music for ''Sonic 3'', but he left the project and went uncredited.<ref name="MJSonic3" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=McMahon |first=James |date=2019-05-12 |title=Michael Jackson probably wrote the music for Sonic the Hedgehog – so why is his name nowhere to be seen? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/michael-jackson-sonic-hedgehog-3-music-composed-sega-game-a8908246.html |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref> Fans speculated about similarities to Jackson's music, but his involvement was not known until Hector mentioned it in an interview in 2005.<ref name="MJSonic3" />

Jackson was a ''Sonic'' fan<ref name="untoldvol3">{{cite book|last1=Szczepaniak|first1=John|title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers: Volume 3|date=2018|publisher=S.M.G Szczepaniak|isbn=978-0992926083}}</ref>{{rp|292}} and had collaborated with Sega on the 1990 arcade game ''[[Moonwalker (video game)|Moonwalker]]''.<ref name="sega-16.com" /> Jackson's tour director, [[Brad Buxer]], assembled a team and worked for four weeks at [[Record One]] in Los Angeles in 1993.<ref name="MJSonic3" /><ref name="NLifeBuxer">{{cite web |last1=Hagues |first1=Alana |date=9 June 2022 |title=Brad Buxer Reconfirms Michael Jackson's Involvement With Sonic 3's Soundtrack |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/06/brad-buxer-reconfirms-michael-jacksons-involvement-with-sonic-3s-soundtrack |access-date=27 June 2022 |website=[[Nintendo Life]]}}</ref> They developed fully fledged tracks, with extensive [[Sampling (music)|samples]] of Jackson [[beatboxing]], to be adapted for the Genesis.<ref name="MJSonic3" /> Hector said the work had a recognizable Jackson sound.<ref name="MJSonic3" /> Naka said that the development team visited Jackson's home at [[Neverland Ranch]] during the development''.''<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Stewart |first=Marcus |date=June 23, 2022 |title=Yuji Naka Seemingly Confirms Michael Jackson's Involvement With Sonic 3's Soundtrack |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/06/23/yuji-naka-seemingly-confirms-michael-jacksons-involvement-with-sonic-3s-soundtrack |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623145615/https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/06/23/yuji-naka-seemingly-confirms-michael-jacksons-involvement-with-sonic-3s-soundtrack |url-status=live |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |access-date=2023-07-08 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Naoto Ohshima]], the co-creator of Sonic, said Jackson recorded an [[a cappella]] demo tape for ''Sonic 3''.<ref name="untoldvol3" />{{rp|301}}<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Ashcraft |first=Brian |date=February 22, 2018 |title=More Fuel For The Michael Jackson ''Sonic 3'' Conspiracy Theory |url=https://kotaku.com/more-fodder-for-the-michael-jackson-sonic-3-conspiracy-1823221932 |access-date=March 17, 2018 |work=[[Kotaku]]}}</ref> 

During the development, [[1993 child sexual abuse accusations against Michael Jackson|allegations of child sexual abuse]] against Jackson emerged. Buxer said the team received no instruction to halt work and sent the finished soundtrack to Sega in mid-1993.<ref name="MJSonic3" /> According to Hector and Ohshima, Jackson's involvement was terminated following the allegations.<ref name="MJSonic3" /><ref name="untoldvol3" />{{rp|301}}<ref name=":1" /> However, Buxer and two other members of Jackson's team, Doug Grigsby III and Cirocco Jones, said Jackson went uncredited because he was unhappy with how the Genesis, which was incapable of playing back high-quality audio, replicated his music.<ref name="MJSonic3" /> 

Jackson's music had already been implemented and had to be quickly reworked by [[Howard Drossin]],<ref name="gamestm" /> who had joined the project expecting to work with Jackson.<ref name="MJSonic3" /> Other tracks were composed by Sega sound team members, such as [[Jun Senoue]], who became a regular composer for the series.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Herman |first1=Tamar |title=Jun Senoue on Creating Music for 'Team Sonic Racing' and the Future of Video Gaming Music |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/gaming/8529526/jun-senoue-interview-sonic-the-hedgehog-video-games |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref> According to Buxer, Grigsby and Jones, their music remained in the game.<ref name="MJSonic3" /> Jones credited himself along with Jackson and Buxer for musical cues for "levels 2 & 3" of "''Sonic the Hedgehog''" on his website.<ref name="GameTrailers">{{cite web |date=October 4, 2013 |title=Episode 39: Sonic 3: Michael Jackson |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFgnUa1v8uA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/EFgnUa1v8uA |archive-date=2021-12-11 |access-date=January 22, 2015 |website=[[GameTrailers]] |publisher=}}{{cbignore}}</ref> An anonymous source involved in development also told ''[[GameTrailers]]'' that Jackson's contributions, such as the Carnival Night Zone theme, remained.<ref name="GameTrailers" /> In 2013, it was discovered that the music for IceCap Zone was derived from a previously unreleased 1982 song, "Hard Times", by Buxer's band the [[Jetzons]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/a-michael-jackson-sonic-the-hedgehog-conspiracy-runs-through-arizona-6620734|title=A Michael Jackson-Sonic the Hedgehog Conspiracy Runs Through Arizona|last=Moore|first=Dan|date=December 11, 2013|website=[[Phoenix New Times]]|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref> The ''Sonic 3'' credits music became the basis for Jackson's 1996 single "[[Stranger in Moscow]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hagues |first=Alana |date=2022-06-09 |title=Brad Buxer Reconfirms Michael Jackson's Involvement With Sonic 3's Soundtrack |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/06/brad-buxer-reconfirms-michael-jacksons-involvement-with-sonic-3s-soundtrack |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

Senior Sega staff, including Sega of America's president [[Tom Kalinske]], said that any involvement of Jackson was arranged without their knowledge, and that no formal agreements were made.<ref name="sega-16.com">{{cite web | url=http://www.sega-16.com/2009/05/sega-legends-michael-jackson-sonic-3/ | title=Sega Legends: Michael Jackson & Sonic 3 | last=Horowitz | first=Ken | publisher=Sega-16|date=May 19, 2009 |access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref><ref name="MJSonic3">{{cite news |last1=Van Luling |first1=Todd |date=January 25, 2016 |title=The Michael Jackson Video Game Conspiracy |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |url=http://testkitchen.huffingtonpost.com/michaeljacksonsonic/#2/ |access-date=21 December 2023}}</ref> In 2013, Hector said that any similarities to Jackson's music in ''Sonic 3'' were unintentional.<ref name="GameTrailers" /> The journalist Ken Horowitz raised questions about Jackson's alleged involvement, such as how an agreement between Sega and Jackson could have been kept secret from the media, why Sega's marketing never mentioned Jackson's involvement and why Jackson would reuse music originally composed for a video game.<ref name="sega-16.com" /> According to Buxer, Jackson only worked on one of the 41 tracks that his team composed.<ref name="NLifeBuxer" /> ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' reasoned that, if this were true, it was unlikely that any music composed by Jackson himself remained in the game.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Thorpe |first=Nick |date=2023 |title=30 years later, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is still a stone-cold classic: 'We wanted to make the third game more epic than Sonic 2' |journal=[[Retro Gamer]]}}</ref> 

Some ''Sonic 3'' tracks were replaced in the [[Windows]] port ''[[Sonic & Knuckles Collection]],''<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonic & Knuckles Collection|date=June 23, 2011 |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/sonic-knuckles-collection/|publisher=GamesRadar|access-date=January 19, 2015}}</ref> as well as the remaster included in the 2022 compilation ''[[Sonic Origins]]''.<ref name=":3" /> These tracks also appear in a ''Sonic 3'' prototype discovered in 2019, suggesting that they were written before being replaced by Jackson's music.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Purslow |first1=Matt |title=Sonic 3 Prototype With Lost Content Discovered |date=November 19, 2019 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/11/18/sonic-3-prototype-with-lost-content-discovered |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref> In 2019, ''[[VG247]]'' noted that ''Sonic 3'' had been rereleased less frequently since [[Death of Michael Jackson|Jackson's death in 2009]] and speculated that this was due to legal problems with [[Estate of Michael Jackson|his estate]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alex |first1=Donaldson |date=March 20, 2019 |title=I believe in Google's Stadia vision of the future, but the gaming preservationist in me is worried |url=https://www.vg247.com/2019/03/20/stadia-streaming-vision-future-video-game-preservation/ |access-date=April 10, 2019 |website=[[VG247]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Donaldson |first1=Alex |date=April 10, 2019 |title=Sonic 3 A.I.R. is the quality remaster that Sega probably won't release itself |url=https://www.vg247.com/2019/04/10/sonic-3-air-fan-remaster-sega/ |access-date=April 10, 2019 |website=[[VG247]]}}</ref>

==Release==
''Sonic 3'' was released in North America on February 2, 1994 ([[Groundhog Day]]),<ref>{{cite video | title = Sonic the Hedgehog 3 - "Hedgehog Day" Teaser | medium = YouTube | publisher = SegaScream |date = February 2, 2020 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvv1d68uDgk }}</ref> in Europe on February 24,<ref name="VB: S&K">{{cite web |last1=Minotti |first1=Mike |title=The RetroBeat: Sonic & Knuckles turned a problem into success 25 years ago |url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/10/18/the-retrobeat-sonic-knuckles-turned-a-problem-into-success-25-years-ago/ |website=[[VentureBeat]] |date=July 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521065625/https://venturebeat.com/2019/10/18/the-retrobeat-sonic-knuckles-turned-a-problem-into-success-25-years-ago/ |archive-date=May 21, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> and in Japan on May 27.<ref name="fam-rev" /> Sega spent $20 million marketing it in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 6, 1994|title=Games war goes supra-Sonic|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91024351/the-observer/|page=96|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|newspaper=[[The Observer]]|accessdate=December 23, 2021}}</ref> To promote the European release, the British band [[Right Said Fred]] adapted their song "[[Wonderman (Right Said Fred song)|Wonderman]]" to include references to Sonic.<ref>{{cite journal|date=February 1994|title=Sonic the Wonderman: I'm Too Sexy!|journal=Sega Magazine|language=de|publisher=EMAP|pages=94–95}}</ref> The song was used in ''Sonic 3'' advertisements and released as a single, which charted in the UK at number 55.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/right%20said%20fred/|title=1991 charts|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> A single-cartridge version of ''Sonic 3'' and ''Sonic & Knuckles'', ''Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Limited Edition'', was canceled.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Truth of Rumour (噂の真相) - Sonic the Hedgehog 3|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|issue=285|publisher=[[ASCII Corporation]]|date=June 3, 1994|page=93|lang=ja}}</ref> A [[ROM image]] of this version was leaked online in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/02/massive-sega-rom-leak-reveals-secrets-of-older-games/|title=Massive Sega ROM leak reveals secrets of older games|last1=Caron|first1=Frank|date=February 27, 2008|website=Ars Technica|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202013755/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/02/massive-sega-rom-leak-reveals-secrets-of-older-games/|archive-date=December 2, 2012|url-status=live|access-date=June 15, 2017}}</ref>

===Ports and rereleases===
''Sonic 3'' is included in the compilations ''[[Sonic Jam]]'' (1997) for the [[Sega Saturn]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/games/sonic-jam/saturn-1784|website=IGN|title=Sonic Jam – Saturn|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> ''[[Sonic & Knuckles Collection]]'' (1997) for [[Windows]],<ref>{{cite web |title=1997-03-18: Sega Entertainment brings three enhanced Sonic classics to the PC for the price of one |url=https://segaretro.org/Press%20release:%201997-03-18:%20Sega%20Entertainment%20brings%20three%20enhanced%20Sonic%20classics%20to%20the%20PC%20for%20the%20price%20of%20one |website=Sega Retro |access-date=24 November 2019 |date=1997 |archive-date=June 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612080714/https://segaretro.org/Press%20release:%201997-03-18:%20Sega%20Entertainment%20brings%20three%20enhanced%20Sonic%20classics%20to%20the%20PC%20for%20the%20price%20of%20one |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Sonic Mega Collection]]'' (2002) for the [[GameCube]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/12/sonic-mega-collection|website=IGN|title=Sonic Mega Collection|last=Mirabella|first=Fran|date=November 2, 2002|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> ''[[Sonic Mega Collection Plus]]'' (2004) for the [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], and Windows,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/04/sonic-mega-collection-plus|website=IGN|title=Sonic Mega Collection Plus|last=Goldstein|first=Hilary|date=November 3, 2004|access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> ''[[Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection]]'' (2009) for the [[Xbox 360]] and [[PlayStation 3]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/02/12/sonics-ultimate-genesis-collection-review|website=IGN|title=Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection|last=Miller|first=Greg|access-date=November 16, 2014|date=February 12, 2009}}</ref> and ''[[Sonic Classic Collection]]'' (2010) for the [[Nintendo DS]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/03/06/sonic-classic-collection-review|title=Sonic Classic Collection Review|last=Harris|first=Craig|date=March 5, 2010|website=IGN|access-date=January 27, 2013}}</ref> The ''Sonic Jam'' version introduces "remix" options:<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonic Jam – Saturn overview|url=http://uk.ign.com/games/sonic-jam/saturn-1784|access-date=January 19, 2015|website=IGN}}</ref> "Normal" mode alters the layout of rings and hazards, and "Easy" mode removes certain acts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonic Jam Review|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/sonic-jam|access-date=January 19, 2015|publisher=[[Game Revolution]]}}</ref>

''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' was released for the [[Wii]] [[Virtual Console]] in September 2007<ref>{{cite web|title=Wii Virtual Console – Sonic 3 release|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/818/818948p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913164338/http://wii.ign.com/articles/818/818948p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 13, 2007|access-date=January 22, 2015|website=IGN}}</ref> and [[Xbox Live Arcade]] on June 10, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|author=RubyEclipse|date=May 11, 2009|title=SEGA Announces 7 new titles for XBLA!|url=http://blogs.sega.com/usa/2009/05/11/sega-announces-7-new-titles-for-xbla/|access-date=May 30, 2009|publisher=Sega Blog|archive-date=May 20, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520184640/http://blogs.sega.com/usa/2009/05/11/sega-announces-7-new-titles-for-xbla/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Xbox version was developed by [[Backbone Entertainment]]<ref>{{cite web|author1=Sega|author1-link=Sega|author2=Backbone Entertainment|author2-link=Backbone Entertainment|date=June 10, 2009|title=Sonic The Hedgehog 3|url=http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Sonic-The-Hedgehog-3/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584109a3#|access-date=22 March 2018|website=[[Xbox Marketplace]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> and has enhanced graphics for [[High-definition television|high-definition]], online leaderboards, support for multiplayer via [[Split screen (computer graphics)|split screen]] and [[Xbox Live]], and a new [[Saved game|saving system]] that allows progress to be saved anywhere during play.<ref name="life" /> A PC version was released via [[Steam (service)|Steam]] in January 2011, as ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'' but later delisted as well as the other classic titles when ''Sonic Origins'' released.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sonic 3 and Knuckles on Steam|url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/71162/?snr=1_7_7_151_150_1|access-date=August 7, 2016|website=store.steampowered.com}}</ref>

''Sonic 3'' was not included in the [[Sega Genesis Mini]] (2019), a [[dedicated console]] containing 40 Genesis games. [[AtGames]], which was briefly involved with the console's development, said the exclusion was due to licensing problems with the soundtrack.<ref name="Poly: Mini">{{cite web |last1=Grant |first1=Christopher |title=Sega Genesis Mini (aka Mega Drive Mini) announced |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/4/13/17237000/sega-mega-drive-mini-classic-edition |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=April 20, 2019 |date=April 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Good |first1=Owen S. |title=Sega Genesis Mini releases in September with 40 games, including Sonic the Hedgehog (update) |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=2019-03-30 |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/3/30/18288181/sega-genesis-mini-release-date-price-north-america-japan |access-date=2019-03-31 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In 2014, independent developers [[Christian Whitehead]] and [[Simon Thomley]] proposed a [[remaster]] of ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'' for [[iOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]], developed using Whitehead's [[Retro Engine]], to Sega, similar to their remasters of previous ''Sonic'' games. Despite fan enthusiasm, Sega did not develop the project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://toucharcade.com/2014/10/19/sonic-3-knuckles-ios-port/|title=Hey Sega! This 'Sonic 3 & Knuckles' iOS Port Needs to Happen|last=Nelson|first=Jared|date=October 19, 2014|website=[[TouchArcade]]|access-date=November 9, 2019}}</ref> Thomley speculated that this was due to legal problems regarding the music.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomley |first1=Simon |title=Regarding Sonic 3 |url=https://hcstealth.tumblr.com/post/110586472232/regarding-sonic-3 |publisher=[[Tumblr]] |access-date=April 30, 2020 |date=February 9, 2015}}</ref>

In 2022, ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'' was rereleased for the first time since 2011 as part of the compilation ''[[Sonic Origins]]''. The ''Origins'' version is a new remaster running on the [[Retro Engine]], developed by Simon Thomley of Headcannon, who previously worked on ''[[Sonic Mania]]'' and remastered versions of other Genesis ''Sonic'' games.<ref>{{cite tweet|last=Thomley|first=Simon|title=Though Sega is creating Sonic Origins internally, I'm grateful that they chose us to build the S3&K that they're integrating into the collection. We worked extremely hard in that time and are very proud of what were able to deliver to Sega. We hope you'll enjoy the final product!|date=April 20, 2022|user=HCStealth|number=1516778620466851843|accessdate=April 20, 2022}}</ref> ''Origins'' adds features including widescreen support and, in the expanded version, [[Amy Rose]] as a playable character.<ref name="Verge: Launch">{{cite web |last1=Parrish |first1=Ash |date=April 20, 2022 |title=Sonic Origins launches in June with remasters of four classic games |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/20/23033583/sonic-origins-sega-hedgehog-ps5-xbox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422051050/https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/20/23033583/sonic-origins-sega-hedgehog-ps5-xbox |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Shea |first=Brian |date=2023-03-23 |title=Sonic Origins Plus Adds Amy As Playable Character, Game Gear Games, And More This June |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/03/23/sonic-origins-plus-adds-amy-as-playable-character-game-gear-games-and-more-this-june |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323162108/https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/03/23/sonic-origins-plus-adds-amy-as-playable-character-game-gear-games-and-more-this-june |archive-date=2023-03-23 |access-date=2023-07-09 |magazine=Game Informer |language=en}}</ref> Since Sega was unable to use the original ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'' soundtrack, Senoue produced rearrangements of the [[MIDI]] music featured in ''Sonic & Knuckles Collection'' using the original Genesis sound chip.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |last1=Scullion |first1=Chris |title=Sonic 3 & Knuckles won't have its original soundtrack in Sonic Origins |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sonic-3-knuckles-wont-have-its-original-soundtrack-in-sonic-origins/ |website=[[Video Games Chronicle]] |access-date=June 9, 2022 |date=June 9, 2022}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| title = Contemporary reception
| CVG = 94% (''Sonic 3'')<ref name="CVGRev">{{cite journal |title=Review: ''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' |journal=[[Computer and Video Games]] |issue=148 |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=March 1994 |pages=34–36 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/8/8c/CVG_UK_148.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110015025/http://retrocdn.net/images/8/8c/CVG_UK_148.pdf |archive-date=2017-01-10 |url-status=live}}</ref> <br> 97% (''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'')<ref name="CVG170">{{cite magazine |title=The Computer and Video Games Christmas Buyers Guide |magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]] |publisher=[[EMAP]] |location=United Kingdom |issue=170 (January 1996) |date=10 December 1995 |pages=8–9 |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_170_1996-01_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n7/mode/2up}}</ref>
| EGM = 10/10, 10/10, 9/10, 9/10<ref name="EGM30">{{cite magazine |title=Review Crew: ''Sonic 3'' |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=56 |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=March 1994 |page=30 |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_56/page/n29/mode/2up}}</ref>
| Fam = 8/10, 7/10, 8/10, 6/10<ref name="fam-rev">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Famitsu|Weekly Famitsu]]|title=New Game Cross Review|date=June 3, 1994|publisher=[[ASCII Corporation]]|language=Japanese|issue=285|p=39|last1=Noda|first1=Minoru
|last2=Uchisawa
|first2=Goro
|last3=Nagano
|first3=Isabella
|author4=Taco X}}</ref>
| Gen4 = 93%<ref name="G4Rev">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[:fr:Gen4|Génération 4]]|issn=1624-1088|title=Sonic 3 J'en ai rêvé...|author=Lionel Vilner|pages=88–90|date=March 1994|issue=64|language=fr}}</ref>
| Hyper = 90%<ref name="hyper">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Hyper (magazine)|Hyper]]|title=Review: Sonic 3|last=Humphreys|first=Andrew|date=March 1994|url=http://sost.emulationzone.org/sonic_3/scans/index.htm|pages=26–29}}</ref>
| MMS = 94%<ref name="mean">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Mean Machines Sega]]|publisher=EMAP|url=http://www.outofprintarchive.com/articles/reviews/MegaDrive/Sonic3-MMS17-6.html|title=Sonic 3: Golden Boy Is Back!|date=March 1994|issue=17|pages=44–49}}</ref>
| rev1=''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev1Score = A+<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Strauss|first=Bob|url=http://ew.com/article/1994/02/11/sonic-cd-sonic-chaos-sonic-spinball-sonic-3/|title=Sonic CD; Sonic Chaos; Sonic Spinball; Sonic 3 reviews|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|issue=209|publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]]|date=February 11, 1994|access-date=2018-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021220053/http://ew.com/article/1994/02/11/sonic-cd-sonic-chaos-sonic-spinball-sonic-3/|archive-date=2017-10-21|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[MegaTech]]''
| rev2Score = 93%<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Game Index |magazine=[[MegaTech]] |date=31 May 1995 |issue=42 (June 1995) |pages=30–1 |url=https://archive.org/details/megatech-42/page/n29/mode/2up}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Sega Saturn Magazine|Sega Magazine]]''
| rev3Score = 95%<ref name="sm">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine|Sega Magazine]]|publisher=EMAP|pages=87–88|issue=2|date=February 1994|title=Sonic 3}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Sega Power]]''
| rev4Score = 90%<ref name="power">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Sega Power]]|publisher=[[Future plc]]|date=March 1994|pages=28–30|title=Sonic 3: Megadrive Review|url=http://sost.emulationzone.org/sonic_3/scans/index.htm}}</ref>
}}
In the United States, ''Sonic 3'' was the top-selling Sega Genesis game in [[1994 in video games|February 1994]].<ref name="EGMApr1994">{{cite magazine|date=April 1994|title=EGM Hot Top Tens|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/e/ed/EGM_US_057.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707184224/https://retrocdn.net/images/e/ed/EGM_US_057.pdf |archive-date=2018-07-07 |url-status=live|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|pages=52}}</ref> It became one of the [[List of best-selling Sega Genesis video games|best-selling Genesis games]],<ref name="magicboxus">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml|title=US Platinum Videogame Chart|date=December 27, 2007|publisher=The Magic Box|access-date=August 3, 2008|archive-date=October 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009200207/http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> selling at least 1.02 million copies in the United States,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml|title=US Platinum Videogame Chart|access-date=December 31, 2014|publisher=The Magic Box|archive-date=October 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009200207/http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> with ''Sonic 3'' and ''Sonic & Knuckles'' selling a combined {{nowrap|4 million}} cartridges worldwide.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbu4TEE1_pE|title=Sonic the Hedgehog GameTap Retrospective Pt. 4/4|time=1:39|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725182313/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbu4TEE1_pE|archive-date=July 25, 2015|url-status=live|publisher=[[GameTap]]|medium=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

Like its predecessors, ''Sonic 3'' received critical acclaim. Critics generally felt ''Sonic 3'' was the best game in the series so far. Andrew Humphreys of ''[[Hyper (magazine)|Hyper]]'', who declared himself not a ''Sonic'' fan, said it was "undoubtedly" the best of the series, including the acclaimed but obscure ''Sonic CD'', though he said he preferred ''Sonic 2''{{'s}} special stages by a small margin.<ref name="hyper"/> ''[[Sega Saturn Magazine|Sega Magazine]]'', however, stated that ''Sonic 3'' has better special stages and was not only superior to ''Sonic 2'' as a whole but would be "a serious contender for the Best Platform Game Ever award".<ref name="sm"/> ''[[Sega Power]]'' wrote that despite their skepticism, they found it "excellent" and easily "the most explorable and playable" in the series.<ref name="power"/> ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' also compared ''Sonic 3'' favorably to ''Sonic 1'', ''2'', and ''CD'' and awarded it their "Game of the Month" award.<ref name="EGM30"/> They later ranked it number 1 in The EGM Hot 50, indicating that it received the highest average score of any game they had reviewed in the past year.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The EGM Hot 50 |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=69 |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=April 1995 |pages=44–48}}</ref> Lionel Vilner of ''[[:fr:Gen4|Génération 4]]'' believed ''Sonic 3'' offered more challenge than its predecessors.<ref name="G4Rev"/> The Unknown Gamer of ''[[GamePro]]'' proclaimed that it "proves that you can teach an old hedgehog new and exciting tricks. Take that old ''Sonic'' magic, add fun new variations, and you have another spectacular game."<ref name="GameProGEN">{{cite magazine |author=The Unknown Gamer |title=ProReview: ''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' |magazine=[[GamePro]]|volume=6 |issue=3 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |date=March 1994 |pages=42–44 |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_056_March_1994/page/n43/mode/2up|accessdate=August 8, 2025}}</ref>

Some critics felt that ''Sonic 3'' had innovated too little from previous ''Sonic'' games. Humphreys of ''Hyper'' saw only "a few new features"<ref name="hyper"/> while ''Sega Power'' thought it was "not all that different"<ref name="power"/> and Nintendo Life writer Damien McFerran said that "there's not a lot of new elements here to be brutally frank".<ref name="nlife"/> While Deniz Ahmet of ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' agreed that the game was "more of the same", he was placated by the new and imaginative ideas.<ref name="CVGRev"/> However, ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' enjoyed the new power-ups.<ref name="EGM30"/> Many aspects of the level design were praised; ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' and ''Sega Power'' enjoyed the expansive stages, secret areas, much less linear level design, and difficulty.<ref name="EGM30"/><ref name="power"/> ''[[Mean Machines]]'' agreed, describing the game as "a rollercoaster ride from start to finish" and listing Carnival Night as their favorite level, which they described as "probably the most slickly programmed portion of game in Megadrive history".<ref name="mean"/> Humphreys and ''Mean Machines'' felt that the game was too short, but they and ''Sega Magazine'' felt that its two-player mode and the Emerald collecting would significantly extend the [[replay value]].<ref name="hyper"/><ref name="mean"/><ref name="sm"/> ''Sega Magazine'' enjoyed having the ability to play as Knuckles in the two-player mode.<ref name="sm"/> The Unknown Gamer felt that while the two-player mode was less fun than the main game, it was much improved over ''Sonic 2'' due to the change of format from split-screen to full-screen.<ref name="GameProGEN"/>

The visuals were very well received. Humphreys described ''Sonic 3'' as "one of the most beautiful games around" and full of "flashy new visual tricks", highlighting Sonic's ascension up pipes and spiraling pathways as particularly inventive.<ref name="hyper"/> ''Sega Magazine'' exclaimed that its graphics were "brilliant" even for a ''Sonic'' game,<ref name="sm"/> while Provo praised the "elaborate" backgrounds.<ref name="gspot_s3"/> ''Mean Machines'' thought similarly, giving special praise to the camera's quick scrolling, the diversity of the level themes, and the "chunkier, more detailed" overall aesthetic.<ref name="mean"/> Rik Skews of ''Computer and Video Games'' stated that "the graphics were stunning, attention to detail is breathtaking". Ahmet of the same publication also noted that the graphics were more detailed than those of previous installments.<ref name="CVGRev"/> The Unknown Gamer described the settings as having "gorgeous background detail and lots of visual treats" and was impressed by the new obstacles that Sonic can traverse at top speeds.<ref name="GameProGEN"/>

The sound effects and music were also well received, though somewhat less so than the visuals. ''Sega Magazine'' described them as "brilliant" and "far superior" to ''Sonic 2''{{'s}}.<ref name="sm"/> ''Mean Machines'' stated that every level had "great tunes" and sound effects and particularly praised the ending music.<ref name="mean"/> However, Humphreys described the sound as "Sonicky ... with the emphasis on the 'icky'"; he also found it strikingly similar to the first two ''Sonic'' games' soundtracks.<ref name="hyper"/> The Unknown Gamer also heard musical similarity to previous installments, and described the individual tracks as "catchy... until you've heard it a hundred times."<ref name="GameProGEN"/>

Following the release of ''Sonic & Knuckles'', the ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'' version of the game was critically acclaimed. ''Computer and Video Games'' rated this version of the game 97% and said, while "you need to buy both ''Sonic 3'' and ''Sonic and Knuckles'' to fully enjoy" it, ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'' "is the best platform experience ever" and "what video games were invented for."<ref name="CVG170"/>

===Retrospective reviews===
{{Video game reviews
| title = Retrospective reception
| GR = 89% (Genesis/Wii)<ref name="gr_s3">{{cite web|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 3 for Genesis|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/genesis/586472-sonic-the-hedgehog-3/index.html|publisher=[[GameRankings]]|access-date=February 7, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209011338/http://www.gamerankings.com/genesis/586472-sonic-the-hedgehog-3/index.html|archive-date=December 9, 2019}}</ref>
| MC = 79/100 (X360)<ref name="mc x360">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-the-hedgehog-3/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360|website=[[Metacritic]]|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 3 for Xbox 360 Reviews|access-date=January 2, 2015}}</ref>
| EuroG = 8/10 (X360)<ref name="euro">{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/sega-vintage-collection-review|website=[[Eurogamer]]|last=Whitehead|first=Dan|date=June 17, 2009|title=SEGA Vintage Collection|access-date=January 2, 2015}}</ref>
| GSpot = 8/10 (Wii)<ref name="gspot_s3">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review/1900-6178641/|website=[[GameSpot]]|last=Provo|first=Frank|date=September 12, 2007|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Review|access-date=December 31, 2014}}</ref>
| IGN = 9/10 (Wii)<ref name="wii.ign.com">{{cite web|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/819/819286p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915162856/http://wii.ign.com/articles/819/819286p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2007|website=[[IGN]]|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Review|date=September 11, 2007|last=Thomas|first=Lucas M.|access-date=December 31, 2014}}</ref><br>8/10 (X360)<ref name="xboxlive.ign.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/11/sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615033331/http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/993/993940p1.html|url-status=live|archive-date=June 15, 2009|website=[[IGN]]|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Review|date=June 11, 2007|last=Brudvig|first=Erik|access-date=March 29, 2023}}</ref>
| NLife = 8/10 (Wii)<ref name="nlife">{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2007/09/sonic_the_hedgehog_3_virtual_console|website=[[Nintendo Life]]|date=September 6, 2007|last=McFerran|first=Damien|access-date=January 2, 2015|title=Sonic the Hedgehog 3}}</ref>
| PALGN = 7/10 (X360)<ref name="palgn">{{cite web|url=http://palgn.com.au/xbox-360/14764/xbla-sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review/|website=PALGN|last=Ghiggino|date=June 28, 2009|access-date=January 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011205829/http://palgn.com.au/xbox-360/14764/xbla-sonic-the-hedgehog-3-review/|archive-date=October 11, 2011|title=XBLA: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Review}}</ref>
}}

At the review aggregator [[GameRankings]], ''Sonic 3'' holds a score of 89%, based on five reviews published in the 2000s.<ref name="gr_s3"/> The Xbox 360 version has a score of 79% at [[Metacritic]].<ref name="mc x360"/> Lucas M. Thomas of ''[[IGN]]'' wrote that ''Sonic 3'' "completed the trilogy as the best of them all".<ref name="wii.ign.com"/> Dan Whitehead of ''[[Eurogamer]],'' however, considered ''Sonic & Knuckles'' superior.<ref name="euro"/>

Frank Provo of ''[[GameSpot]]'' wrote that the most significant addition was its save system.<ref name="gspot_s3"/> He also enjoyed the new power-ups.<ref name="gspot_s3"/> Whitehead said that the large stages would keep players sufficiently engrossed.<ref name="euro"/> Thomas and Provo enjoyed the use of wordless cutscenes to create a coherent story and thematically connect the zones.<ref name="wii.ign.com" /><ref name="gspot_s3" /> McFerran, however, felt that the visuals had been downgraded, particularly Sonic's "dumpier" sprite and "the infamous 'dotty' textures".<ref name="nlife" /> Thomas thought the music was "impressive", but not quite on par with ''Sonic 2''{{'s}}.<ref name="wii.ign.com" />

Some critics, such as Adam Ghiggino of ''PALGN'', felt ''Sonic 3'' had been insufficiently upgraded for re-releases.<ref name="palgn"/> Whitehead of ''Eurogamer'' wished online co-op had been implemented.<ref name="euro"/> Provo of ''GameSpot'' and Thomas of ''IGN'' wished that Sega had re-released ''Sonic 3'' and ''Sonic & Knuckles'' together as ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'' instead.<ref name="wii.ign.com"/><ref name="gspot_s3"/> ''[[Mega (magazine)|Mega]]'' ranked it the fifth-best Genesis game in November 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Mega Drive Top 50 |magazine=[[Mega (magazine)|Mega]] |issue=26 |pages=74–5 |publisher=[[Maverick Magazines]] |date=November 1994 |url=https://archive.org/details/mega26_202004/page/n73/mode/2up}}</ref> In 2014, ''[[GamesRadar]]'' ranked ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'' as the seventh-best Genesis game.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/best-sega-genesis-games-all-time/ |publisher=GamesRadar |title=Best Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games of all time |author=GamesRadar Staff |date=August 14, 2014 |access-date=January 5, 2015}}</ref> In 2013, Jeremy Parish of ''[[Eurogamer|US Gamer]]'' ranked it eighth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-best-genesis-and-sega-cd-games |website=[[Eurogamer]] |title=The 10 Best Genesis/Mega Drive and Top 5 Sega CD Games |last=Parish |first=Jeremy |date=October 29, 2013 |access-date=January 5, 2014}}</ref>

==Legacy==
''Sonic 3'' was the first appearance of [[Knuckles the Echidna]], who featured prominently in later ''Sonic'' games. ''[[Sonic the Comic]]'' (UK) and the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie comics)|Archie ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' comic]] (US) published adaptations of ''Sonic 3''.<ref name=hell>{{cite web|last1=Narcisse|first1=Evan|title=These Are the Guys Who Make Sonic's Life Hell in His Comic Book Series|date=August 7, 2013 |url=http://kotaku.com/these-guys-make-sonic-s-life-hell-in-his-comic-book-ser-1055822508|publisher=[[Kotaku]]|access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> For ''Sonic''{{'s}} 20th anniversary, Sega released ''[[Sonic Generations]]'', which remakes elements of various ''Sonic'' games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonic Generations for 3DS|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-generations/critic-reviews/?platform=3ds|website=Metacritic|access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> The [[Nintendo 3DS]] version features a remake of the final boss and a rearranged version of the "Game Over" theme.<ref name="seven">{{cite news|last1=Lee|first1=Patrick|title=Bark beats bite: 7 video game boss themes better than the actual boss fights|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/bark-beats-bite-7-video-game-boss-themes-better-ac-207862|newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> The ''Sonic 3'' Hydrocity level appears in ''[[Sonic Mania]]'' (2017), and the Angel Island level appears in ''Sonic Mania Plus'' (2018).{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} Elements of the 2022 film ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (film)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' were based on ''Sonic 3''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Purslow |first1=Matt |title=Sonic the Hedgehog Movies Won't Follow The Games In Order |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-the-hedgehog-movies-not-in-game-order |access-date=April 4, 2022 |work=[[IGN]] |date=March 29, 2022 |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404091921/https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-the-hedgehog-movies-not-in-game-order |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{URL |https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/pv1S5uT1dRA9cymMCgFl7GiG1FVKkgIT |Official Virtual Console website }}
* {{MobyGames |id=/sonic-the-hedgehog-3 }}

{{Sonic the Hedgehog}}
{{Sonic Team}}
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