<s>
is	O
a	O
1994	O
platform	O
game	O
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Sega	O
for	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
,	O
players	O
traverse	O
side-scrolling	O
levels	O
while	O
collecting	O
rings	O
and	O
defeating	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
control	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
,	O
who	O
attempt	O
to	O
retrieve	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
to	O
stop	O
the	O
evil	O
Doctor	O
Robotnik	O
from	O
relaunching	O
his	O
space	O
station	O
,	O
the	O
Death	O
Egg	O
,	O
after	O
it	O
crash-lands	O
on	O
a	O
mysterious	O
floating	O
island	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
introduces	O
Knuckles	O
the	O
Echidna	O
,	O
the	O
island	O
guardian	O
,	O
who	O
lays	O
traps	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
began	O
in	O
January	O
1993	O
by	O
Sega	O
Technical	O
Institute	O
in	O
California	O
,	O
shortly	O
after	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
initially	O
developed	O
as	O
an	O
isometric	B-Application
game	O
similar	O
to	O
what	O
would	O
eventually	O
become	O
Sonic	B-Application
3D	I-Application
Blast	I-Application
(	O
1996	O
)	O
,	O
but	O
became	O
a	O
conventional	O
2D	O
platform	O
game	O
due	O
to	O
time	O
constraints	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
simultaneously	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
;	O
they	O
were	O
planned	O
as	O
a	O
single	O
game	O
until	O
time	O
constraints	O
and	O
cartridge	B-Protocol
costs	O
forced	O
the	O
developers	O
to	O
split	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
cartridge	B-Protocol
can	O
be	O
attached	O
to	O
an	O
adapter	O
on	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
cartridge	B-Protocol
,	O
creating	O
a	O
combined	O
game	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
Europe	O
in	O
February	B-Application
1994	I-Application
,	O
and	O
in	O
Japan	O
in	O
May	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
sold	O
a	O
combined	O
four	O
million	O
copies	O
worldwide	O
,	O
placing	O
them	O
among	O
the	O
bestselling	B-Application
Genesis	I-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
have	O
been	O
rereleased	O
in	O
various	O
Sega	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
compilations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2D	O
side-scrolling	O
platformer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
players	O
can	O
control	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
Tails	O
,	O
or	O
both	O
simultaneously	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
former	O
choice	O
,	O
players	O
control	O
Sonic	B-Application
while	O
Tails	O
runs	O
along	O
beside	O
him	O
;	O
a	O
second	O
player	O
can	O
join	O
at	O
any	O
time	O
and	O
control	O
Tails	O
separately	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
adds	O
the	O
ability	O
for	O
Tails	O
to	O
fly	O
for	O
a	O
short	O
time	O
by	O
spinning	O
his	O
twin	O
tails	O
like	O
a	O
helicopter	O
rotor	O
;	O
when	O
he	O
tires	O
,	O
he	O
falls	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
Tails	O
can	O
also	O
swim	O
underwater	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
over	O
six	O
zones	O
,	O
each	O
divided	O
into	O
two	O
acts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Levels	O
are	O
populated	O
with	O
"	O
badniks	O
"	O
,	O
robots	O
created	O
by	O
the	O
villain	O
,	O
Dr.	O
Robotnik	O
;	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
can	O
defeat	O
them	O
by	O
jumping	O
on	O
them	O
or	O
using	O
the	O
"	O
spin	O
dash	O
"	O
attack	O
,	O
which	O
also	O
gives	O
the	O
character	O
a	O
speed	O
boost	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reaching	O
a	O
new	O
level	O
saves	B-General_Concept
the	O
game	O
to	O
one	O
of	O
six	O
save	O
slots	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
uses	O
rings	O
,	O
scattered	O
throughout	O
the	O
levels	O
,	O
as	O
a	O
health	O
system	O
;	O
when	O
the	O
player	O
is	O
attacked	O
without	O
rings	O
,	O
is	O
crushed	O
,	O
falls	O
off-screen	O
,	O
drowns	O
,	O
or	O
exceeds	O
the	O
act	O
's	O
ten-minute	O
limit	O
,	O
they	O
lose	O
a	O
life	O
and	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
most	O
recently	O
passed	O
checkpoint	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dying	O
with	O
zero	O
lives	O
gives	O
the	O
player	O
a	O
game	B-Application
over	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
contains	O
two	O
types	O
of	O
"	O
special	O
stages	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Removing	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
blue	O
spheres	O
gives	O
the	O
player	O
a	O
Chaos	O
Emerald	O
;	O
if	O
Sonic	B-Application
(	O
not	O
Tails	O
)	O
collects	O
all	O
seven	O
,	O
he	O
unlocks	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
become	O
Super	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
which	O
makes	O
him	O
invincible	O
to	O
most	O
obstacles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Failing	O
to	O
collect	O
the	O
seven	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
triggers	O
a	O
post-credits	O
scene	O
in	O
which	O
Robotnik	O
and	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
taunt	O
the	O
player	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
includes	O
a	O
competitive	O
mode	O
:	O
two	O
players	O
,	O
controlling	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
Tails	O
,	O
or	O
Knuckles	O
,	O
race	O
through	O
one	O
or	O
all	O
of	O
five	O
stages	O
that	O
do	O
not	O
appear	O
in	O
the	O
main	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
were	O
planned	O
as	O
single	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
were	O
released	O
separately	O
due	O
to	O
time	O
constraints	O
and	O
cartridge	B-Protocol
size	O
limitations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
cartridge	B-Protocol
features	O
a	O
"	O
lock-on	O
"	O
adapter	O
that	O
allows	O
other	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
cartridges	B-Protocol
to	O
be	O
attached	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Connecting	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
cartridge	B-Protocol
creates	O
a	O
combined	O
game	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
allows	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
play	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
levels	O
as	O
Knuckles	O
or	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
levels	O
as	O
Tails	O
,	O
or	O
both	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
new	O
features	O
are	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
collect	O
Super	O
Emeralds	O
,	O
unlocking	O
new	O
"	O
Hyper	O
"	O
forms	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
and	O
a	O
"	O
Super	O
"	O
form	O
for	O
Tails	O
;	O
improved	O
save	O
options	O
;	O
access	O
to	O
areas	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
or	O
Tails	O
could	O
not	O
previously	O
access	O
;	O
altered	O
boss	O
forms	O
;	O
and	O
an	O
additional	O
ending	O
that	O
shows	O
Sonic	B-Application
returning	O
the	O
Master	O
Emerald	O
to	O
Angel	B-Application
Island	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
defeat	O
Dr.	O
Robotnik	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Robotnik	O
's	O
space	O
station	O
,	O
the	O
Death	O
Egg	O
,	O
crash-lands	O
on	O
the	O
floating	O
Angel	B-Application
Island	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Robotnik	O
dupes	O
Knuckles	O
into	O
believing	O
Sonic	B-Application
is	O
trying	O
to	O
steal	O
the	O
Master	O
Emerald	O
,	O
turning	O
the	O
two	O
against	O
each	O
other	O
while	O
he	O
repairs	O
the	O
Death	O
Egg	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
approach	O
Angel	B-Application
Island	I-Application
in	O
their	O
biplane	O
,	O
the	O
Tornado	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
uses	O
the	O
Chaos	O
Emeralds	O
to	O
transform	O
into	O
Super	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
but	O
Knuckles	O
ambushes	O
him	O
and	O
steals	O
the	O
emeralds	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
travel	O
the	O
island	O
hindered	O
by	O
Knuckles	O
and	O
Robotnik	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
Launch	O
Base	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
Death	O
Egg	O
is	O
under	O
repair	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	O
Tails	O
fight	O
Knuckles	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
Death	O
Egg	O
relaunches	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
a	O
platform	O
attached	O
to	O
the	O
Death	O
Egg	O
,	O
they	O
defeat	O
Robotnik	O
,	O
causing	O
the	O
Death	O
Egg	O
to	O
crash-land	O
on	O
Angel	B-Application
Island	I-Application
again	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
resumes	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
in	O
California	O
by	O
Sega	O
Technical	O
Institute	O
(	O
STI	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
completion	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
STI	O
split	O
into	O
two	O
teams	O
:	O
one	O
comprised	O
Japanese	O
developers	O
,	O
who	O
worked	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
other	O
Americans	O
,	O
who	O
worked	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
Spinball	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yuji	O
Naka	O
and	O
Hirokazu	O
Yasuhara	O
were	O
the	O
primary	O
creators	O
of	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
design	O
document	O
and	O
project	O
schedule	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
began	O
in	O
January	O
1993	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
deadline	O
of	O
February	B-Application
1994	I-Application
,	O
when	O
Sega	O
and	O
McDonald	O
's	O
would	O
launch	O
a	O
major	O
promotional	O
campaign	O
in	O
America	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
created	O
a	O
prototype	O
with	O
isometric	B-Application
graphics	I-Application
with	O
the	O
working	O
title	O
Sonic	B-Application
3D	I-Application
;	O
the	O
original	O
special	O
stage	O
featured	O
a	O
polygonal	B-Algorithm
Sonic	B-Application
in	O
a	O
figure	O
eight-shaped	O
stage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
it	O
became	O
apparent	O
that	O
the	O
chip	O
would	O
not	O
be	O
finished	O
by	O
1994	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
restarted	O
as	O
a	O
more	O
conventional	O
2D	O
platform	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
isometric	B-Application
concept	O
was	O
eventually	O
used	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
3D	I-Application
Blast	I-Application
in	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Naka	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
felt	O
that	O
they	O
needed	O
a	O
deeper	O
story	O
to	O
expand	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
which	O
"	O
made	O
the	O
project	O
huge	O
"	O
;	O
the	O
levels	O
are	O
triple	O
the	O
size	O
of	O
those	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
elements	O
were	O
conceived	O
during	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
but	O
deferred	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
were	O
originally	O
planned	O
as	O
a	O
single	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
time	O
was	O
limited	O
and	O
the	O
manufacturing	O
costs	O
of	O
a	O
34-megabit	O
cartridge	B-Protocol
with	O
NVRAM	O
would	O
have	O
been	O
prohibitively	O
expensive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
scope	O
and	O
the	O
Sega	O
's	O
commitment	O
to	O
the	O
start	O
date	O
of	O
the	O
McDonald	O
's	O
Happy	O
Meal	O
promotion	O
and	O
corresponding	O
TV	O
ad	O
campaign	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
reluctantly	O
split	O
it	O
in	O
half	O
,	O
allowing	O
more	O
time	O
to	O
develop	O
the	O
second	O
part	O
and	O
splitting	O
the	O
cost	O
between	O
two	O
cartridges	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
cartridge	B-Protocol
's	O
lock-on	O
technology	O
was	O
created	O
,	O
named	O
and	O
implemented	O
so	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
could	O
be	O
experienced	O
as	O
intended	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
features	O
the	O
debut	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
rival	O
,	O
Knuckles	O
the	O
Echidna	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yuda	O
envisioned	O
him	O
as	O
a	O
supporting	O
character	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
and	O
felt	O
he	O
would	O
make	O
a	O
good	O
playable	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whereas	O
Sonic	B-Application
symbolizes	O
speed	O
,	O
Knuckles	O
symbolizes	O
power	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
emphasis	O
of	O
the	O
character	O
was	O
to	O
break	O
walls	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hector	O
said	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
had	O
a	O
troubled	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
Hector	O
struggled	O
to	O
balance	O
resources	O
between	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
other	O
projects	O
,	O
Naka	O
was	O
sometimes	O
seen	O
as	O
a	O
harsh	O
leader	O
,	O
and	O
STI	O
staff	O
not	O
on	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
team	O
became	O
jealous	O
of	O
the	O
priority	O
given	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2005	O
,	O
Hector	O
said	O
that	O
Sega	O
had	O
hired	O
the	O
American	O
pop	O
musician	O
Michael	O
Jackson	O
to	O
compose	O
music	O
for	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jackson	O
was	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
fan	O
and	O
had	O
collaborated	O
with	O
Sega	O
on	O
the	O
1990	O
arcade	O
game	O
Moonwalker	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
developed	O
fully	O
fledged	O
tracks	O
,	O
with	O
extensive	O
samples	O
of	O
Jackson	O
beatboxing	O
,	O
to	O
be	O
adapted	O
for	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Naoto	O
Ohshima	O
,	O
the	O
co-creator	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
,	O
said	O
Jackson	O
recorded	O
an	O
a	O
cappella	O
demo	O
tape	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
that	O
Sega	O
could	O
not	O
use	O
the	O
compositions	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
allegations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
said	O
Jackson	O
went	O
uncredited	O
because	O
he	O
was	O
unhappy	O
with	O
how	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
,	O
which	O
was	O
incapable	O
of	O
playing	O
back	O
high-quality	O
audio	O
,	O
replicated	O
his	O
music	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jones	O
credited	O
himself	O
along	O
with	O
Jackson	O
and	O
Buxer	O
for	O
musical	O
cues	O
for	O
"	O
levels	O
2	O
&	O
3	O
"	O
of	O
"	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
"	O
on	O
his	O
website	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
anonymous	O
source	O
involved	O
in	O
development	O
also	O
told	O
GameTrailers	O
that	O
Jackson	O
's	O
contributions	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Carnival	B-Application
Night	I-Application
Zone	I-Application
theme	O
,	O
remained	O
and	O
that	O
he	O
had	O
chosen	O
to	O
remain	O
uncredited	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Buxer	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
credits	O
music	O
became	O
the	O
basis	O
for	O
Jackson	O
's	O
1996	O
single	O
"	O
Stranger	O
in	O
Moscow	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2013	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
discovered	O
that	O
the	O
music	O
for	O
IceCap	B-Application
Zone	I-Application
was	O
derived	O
from	O
a	O
previously	O
unreleased	O
1982	O
song	O
,	O
"	O
Hard	O
Times	O
"	O
,	O
by	O
Buxer	O
's	O
band	O
the	O
Jetzons	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2019	O
,	O
GameRevolution	O
noted	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
had	O
been	O
rereleased	O
less	O
frequently	O
since	O
Jackson	O
's	O
death	O
in	O
2009	O
and	O
speculated	O
that	O
this	O
was	O
due	O
to	O
legal	O
problems	O
with	O
his	O
estate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2013	O
,	O
Hector	O
said	O
that	O
any	O
similarities	O
to	O
Jackson	O
's	O
music	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
were	O
unintentional	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
tracks	O
were	O
replaced	O
in	O
the	O
1997	O
Windows	O
port	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
Collection	I-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
remaster	O
included	O
in	O
the	O
2022	O
compilation	O
Sonic	B-Device
Origins	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
tracks	O
also	O
appear	O
in	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
prototype	O
discovered	O
in	O
2019	O
,	O
suggesting	O
that	O
they	O
were	O
originally	O
written	O
for	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
before	O
being	O
replaced	O
by	O
Jackson	O
's	O
music	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
expressed	O
surprise	O
that	O
Sega	O
did	O
not	O
use	O
Jackson	O
's	O
music	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Device
Origins	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
on	O
February	O
2	O
,	O
1994	O
(	O
Groundhog	O
Day	O
)	O
,	O
in	O
Europe	O
on	O
February	O
24	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
May	O
27	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
promote	O
the	O
European	O
release	O
,	O
the	O
British	O
band	O
Right	O
Said	O
Fred	O
adapted	O
their	O
song	O
"	O
Wonderman	O
"	O
to	O
include	O
references	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
song	O
was	O
used	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
advertisements	O
and	O
released	O
as	O
a	O
single	O
,	O
which	O
charted	O
in	O
the	O
UK	O
at	O
number	O
55	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
single-cartridge	O
version	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
3	I-Application
Limited	O
Edition	O
,	O
was	O
canceled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
ROM	B-General_Concept
image	I-General_Concept
of	O
this	O
version	O
was	O
leaked	O
online	O
in	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
is	O
included	O
in	O
the	O
compilations	O
Sonic	B-Application
Jam	I-Application
(	O
1997	O
)	O
for	O
the	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
Collection	I-Application
(	O
1997	O
)	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	O
Garfield	O
Pack	O
(	O
1999	O
)	O
for	O
Windows	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Device
Mega	I-Device
Collection	I-Device
(	O
2002	O
)	O
for	O
the	O
GameCube	B-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Device
Mega	I-Device
Collection	I-Device
Plus	I-Device
(	O
2004	O
)	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Windows	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	I-Application
Ultimate	I-Application
Genesis	I-Application
Collection	I-Application
(	O
2009	O
)	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Sonic	B-Device
Classic	I-Device
Collection	I-Device
(	O
2010	O
)	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sonic	B-Application
Jam	I-Application
version	O
introduces	O
"	O
remix	O
"	O
options	O
:	O
"	O
Normal	O
"	O
mode	O
alters	O
the	O
layout	O
of	O
rings	O
and	O
hazards	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Easy	O
"	O
mode	O
removes	O
certain	O
acts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
in	O
September	O
2007	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
on	O
June	O
10	O
,	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Backbone	O
Entertainment	O
and	O
has	O
enhanced	O
graphics	O
for	O
high-definition	B-Device
,	O
online	O
leaderboards	O
,	O
support	O
for	O
multiplayer	O
via	O
split	O
screen	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Application
Live	I-Application
,	O
and	O
a	O
new	O
saving	O
system	O
that	O
allows	O
progress	O
to	O
be	O
saved	O
anywhere	O
during	O
play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
PC	O
version	O
was	O
released	O
via	O
Steam	B-Application
in	O
January	O
2011	O
,	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
not	O
included	O
in	O
the	O
Sega	B-Application
Genesis	I-Application
Mini	I-Application
(	O
2019	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
dedicated	B-Device
console	I-Device
containing	O
40	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2014	O
,	O
independent	O
developers	O
Christian	O
Whitehead	O
and	O
Simon	B-Application
Thomley	I-Application
proposed	O
a	O
remaster	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
for	O
iOS	B-Application
and	O
Android	B-Application
,	O
developed	O
using	O
Whitehead	O
's	O
Retro	B-Application
Engine	I-Application
,	O
to	O
Sega	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
their	O
remasters	O
of	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
has	O
been	O
re-released	O
for	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
since	O
2011	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Device
Origins	I-Device
compilation	O
in	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Origins	O
version	O
is	O
a	O
new	O
remaster	O
running	O
on	O
the	O
Retro	B-Application
Engine	I-Application
,	O
and	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Simon	B-Application
Thomley	I-Application
of	O
Headcannon	B-Application
,	O
who	O
previously	O
worked	O
on	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
and	O
remastered	O
versions	O
of	O
other	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
Sega	O
was	O
unable	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
original	O
soundtrack	O
,	O
Senoue	O
was	O
brought	O
on	O
to	O
produce	O
rearrangements	O
of	O
the	O
MIDI	O
music	O
featured	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
Collection	I-Application
using	O
the	O
original	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
sound	O
chip	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
the	O
top-selling	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
game	O
in	O
February	B-Application
1994	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
became	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best-selling	B-Application
Genesis	I-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
selling	O
at	O
least	O
1.02	O
million	O
copies	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
selling	O
a	O
combined	O
cartridges	B-Protocol
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
its	O
predecessors	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Critics	O
generally	O
felt	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
the	O
best	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
so	O
far	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Andrew	O
Humphreys	O
of	O
Hyper	O
,	O
who	O
declared	O
himself	O
not	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
fan	O
,	O
said	O
it	O
was	O
"	O
undoubtedly	O
"	O
the	O
best	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
acclaimed	O
but	O
obscure	O
Sonic	B-Application
CD	O
,	O
though	O
he	O
said	O
he	O
preferred	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
special	O
stages	O
by	O
a	O
small	O
margin	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
Magazine	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
stated	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
has	O
better	O
special	O
stages	O
and	O
was	O
not	O
only	O
superior	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
as	O
a	O
whole	O
but	O
would	O
be	O
"	O
a	O
serious	O
contender	O
for	O
the	O
Best	O
Platform	O
Game	O
Ever	O
award	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
also	O
compared	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
favorably	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
1	O
,	O
2	O
,	O
and	O
CD	O
and	O
awarded	O
it	O
their	O
"	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Month	O
"	O
award	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lionel	O
Vilner	O
of	O
Génération	O
4	O
believed	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
offered	O
more	O
challenge	O
than	O
its	O
predecessors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Take	O
that	O
old	O
Sonic	B-Application
magic	O
,	O
add	O
fun	O
new	O
variations	O
,	O
and	O
you	O
have	O
another	O
spectacular	O
game.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
critics	O
felt	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
had	O
innovated	O
too	O
little	O
from	O
previous	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mean	O
Machines	O
agreed	O
,	O
describing	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
"	O
a	O
rollercoaster	O
ride	O
from	O
start	O
to	O
finish	O
"	O
and	O
listing	O
Carnival	O
Night	O
as	O
their	O
favorite	O
level	O
,	O
which	O
they	O
described	O
as	O
"	O
probably	O
the	O
most	O
slickly	O
programmed	O
portion	O
of	O
game	O
in	O
Megadrive	B-Operating_System
history	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Humphreys	O
described	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
as	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
beautiful	O
games	O
around	O
"	O
and	O
full	O
of	O
"	O
flashy	O
new	O
visual	O
tricks	O
"	O
,	O
highlighting	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
ascension	O
up	O
pipes	O
and	O
spiraling	O
pathways	O
as	O
particularly	O
inventive	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
Magazine	O
exclaimed	O
that	O
its	O
graphics	O
were	O
"	O
brilliant	O
"	O
even	O
for	O
a	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
,	O
while	O
Provo	O
praised	O
the	O
"	O
elaborate	O
"	O
backgrounds	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Unknown	O
Gamer	O
described	O
the	O
settings	O
as	O
having	O
"	O
gorgeous	O
background	O
detail	O
and	O
lots	O
of	O
visual	O
treats	O
"	O
and	O
was	O
impressed	O
by	O
the	O
new	O
obstacles	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
can	O
traverse	O
at	O
top	O
speeds	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
Magazine	O
described	O
them	O
as	O
"	O
brilliant	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
far	O
superior	O
"	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Humphreys	O
described	O
the	O
sound	O
as	O
"	O
Sonicky	O
...	O
with	O
the	O
emphasis	O
on	O
the	O
'	O
icky	O
 '	O
"	O
;	O
he	O
also	O
found	O
it	O
strikingly	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
first	O
two	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
 '	O
soundtracks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
critically	O
acclaimed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Computer	O
and	O
Video	O
Games	O
rated	O
this	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
97%	O
and	O
said	O
,	O
while	O
"	O
you	O
need	O
to	O
buy	O
both	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
and	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
to	O
fully	O
enjoy	O
"	O
it	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
"	O
is	O
the	O
best	O
platform	O
experience	O
ever	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
what	O
video	O
games	O
were	O
invented	O
for.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Retrospectively	O
,	O
it	O
holds	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
89%	O
at	O
review	B-Application
aggregator	I-Application
GameRankings	O
based	O
on	O
five	O
reviews	O
published	O
online	O
in	O
the	O
2000s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviews	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
release	O
have	O
been	O
slightly	O
less	O
positive	O
;	O
it	O
has	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
79%	O
at	O
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lucas	O
M	O
.	O
Thomas	O
of	O
IGN	O
stated	O
that	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
"	O
completed	O
the	O
trilogy	O
as	O
the	O
best	O
of	O
them	O
all	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dan	O
Whitehead	O
of	O
Eurogamer	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
considered	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
superior	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
McFerran	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
visuals	O
had	O
been	O
downgraded	O
,	O
particularly	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
"	O
dumpier	O
"	O
sprite	O
and	O
"	O
the	O
infamous	O
'	O
dotty	O
 '	O
textures	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Thomas	O
thought	O
the	O
music	O
was	O
"	O
impressive	O
"	O
,	O
but	O
not	O
quite	O
on	O
par	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
critics	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Adam	O
Ghiggino	O
of	O
PALGN	O
,	O
felt	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
had	O
been	O
insufficiently	O
upgraded	O
for	O
re-releases	O
;	O
Whitehead	O
of	O
Eurogamer	O
wished	O
online	O
co-op	O
had	O
been	O
implemented	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Provo	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
and	O
Thomas	O
of	O
IGN	O
wished	O
Sega	O
had	O
re-released	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Sonic	B-Application
&	I-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
together	O
as	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
instead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mega	O
ranked	O
it	O
the	O
fifth	O
best	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
game	O
ever	O
in	O
November	O
1994	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2014	O
,	O
GamesRadar	O
ranked	O
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
&	B-Application
Knuckles	I-Application
as	O
the	O
seventh	O
best	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
game	O
;	O
in	O
2013	O
,	O
Jeremy	O
Parish	O
of	O
US	O
Gamer	O
ranked	O
it	O
eighth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
3	I-Application
was	O
the	O
first	O
appearance	O
of	O
Knuckles	O
the	O
Echidna	O
,	O
who	O
featured	O
prominently	O
in	O
later	O
Sonic	B-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
the	O
Comic	O
(	O
UK	O
)	O
and	O
the	O
Archie	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
comic	O
(	O
US	O
)	O
published	O
adaptations	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
Sonic	B-Application
20th	O
anniversary	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
Sonic	B-Application
Generations	I-Application
,	O
a	O
game	O
that	O
remade	O
aspects	O
of	O
various	O
past	O
games	O
from	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
3DS	I-Operating_System
version	O
features	O
a	O
remake	O
of	O
the	O
final	O
boss	O
,	O
"	O
Big	O
Arms	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
re-arranged	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Game	B-Application
Over	I-Application
"	O
theme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Angel	B-Application
Island	I-Application
and	O
Hydrocity	B-Application
levels	O
were	O
included	O
in	O
remixed	O
form	O
in	O
Sonic	B-Application
Mania	I-Application
(	O
2017	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
