Editing Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (section)

==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 [[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>