Sonic Advance 3

Sonic Advance 3 Box Art Click for larger view

  • Release Date: Jun. 7, 2004
  • Price: $15.00
  • Publisher: THQ
  • Developer: Dimps Corporation
  • Platform(s): GBA
  • Genre: Action

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Pros Cons
Intense action [1] Repetitive gameplay [1]
Amazing visuals [1] Doesn't live up to expectations [1]
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Most Popular User Reviews

Sonic Advance 3 - GBA

Pros Cons
Amazing visuals Doesn't live up to expectations
Intense action Repetitive gameplay
Fixes a few issues that were in SAdv2, but adds new ones

In general, it's the same as my review for the second game, but the only difference is that this time, it's slowed down a bit so you can actually see where your going and your not as likely to run head first into enemies or pits. The method for getting the chaos emeralds is improved, but still tedious. Instead of having to get all of the chao in the level in one run without dying, you can leave and come back to the level as much as you want and never lose any Chao that you find. Why they didn't realize this flaw before from playtests of SAdv2, I have no clue, but the problem is that all the Chao are just as well hidden, maybe even more so, than the special rings were in SA2. They hide them in out of the way places you'd never go to unless you were actively looking around in every corner and under every rock, which they literally do for at least one chao found under a rock in Sunset Hill Zone. The Team Up mechanic that they add into the game changes the moves you can use depending on who is the main character and who is the secondary character. For the most part I only found these different moves useful for when I needed a fly character to go around and try to find Chao, not really useful in actual gameplay when your running around at full speed. It's the same general sonic levels just with an added gameplay mechanic that isn't used specifically for any one thing in the game. It just feels like it was sloppily put in there just as a gimmick to get people to buy the game. They also add what is basically the rating system used in Sonics main console 3D ventures into the 2D game by grading you either Bronze, Silver or Gold depending on the time it takes you to complete the zone which is something I've never liked with the series since Sonic Adventure 2. Finding Chao is not fun and while not as tedious, it's still just as annoying as having to find them in SA2. Same as with SA2, only blind diehard Sonic Fans need apply, everyone else will put this game down in annoyance within the first few days. This game is another example of how Sonic Team once again doesn't care for the experiences of it's general fans, only catering to blind diehards and the ignorant, or getting any new ones and only serves to dig the Hedgehog deeper into his grave.

Sonic Advance 3 - GBA

Pros Cons
Amazing visuals Doesn't live up to expectations
Intense action Repetitive gameplay
Fixes a few issues that were in SAdv2, but adds new ones

In general, it's the same as my review for the second game, but the only difference is that this time, it's slowed down a bit so you can actually see where your going and your not as likely to run head first into enemies or pits. The method for getting the chaos emeralds is improved, but still tedious. Instead of having to get all of the chao in the level in one run without dying, you can leave and come back to the level as much as you want and never lose any Chao that you find. Why they didn't realize this flaw before from playtests of SAdv2, I have no clue, but the problem is that all the Chao are just as well hidden, maybe even more so, than the special rings were in SA2. They hide them in out of the way places you'd never go to unless you were actively looking around in every corner and under every rock, which they literally do for at least one chao found under a rock in Sunset Hill Zone. The Team Up mechanic that they add into the game changes the moves you can use depending on who is the main character and who is the secondary character. For the most part I only found these different moves useful for when I needed a fly character to go around and try to find Chao, not really useful in actual gameplay when your running around at full speed. It's the same general sonic levels just with an added gameplay mechanic that isn't used specifically for any one thing in the game. It just feels like it was sloppily put in there just as a gimmick to get people to buy the game. They also add what is basically the rating system used in Sonics main console 3D ventures into the 2D game by grading you either Bronze, Silver or Gold depending on the time it takes you to complete the zone which is something I've never liked with the series since Sonic Adventure 2. Finding Chao is not fun and while not as tedious, it's still just as annoying as having to find them in SA2. Same as with SA2, only blind diehard Sonic Fans need apply, everyone else will put this game down in annoyance within the first few days. This game is another example of how Sonic Team once again doesn't care for the experiences of it's general fans, only catering to blind diehards and the ignorant, or getting any new ones and only serves to dig the Hedgehog deeper into his grave.

Sonic Advance 3 - GBA

Pros Cons
Amazing visuals Doesn't live up to expectations
Intense action Repetitive gameplay
Fixes a few issues that were in SAdv2, but adds new ones

In general, it's the same as my review for the second game, but the only difference is that this time, it's slowed down a bit so you can actually see where your going and your not as likely to run head first into enemies or pits. The method for getting the chaos emeralds is improved, but still tedious. Instead of having to get all of the chao in the level in one run without dying, you can leave and come back to the level as much as you want and never lose any Chao that you find. Why they didn't realize this flaw before from playtests of SAdv2, I have no clue, but the problem is that all the Chao are just as well hidden, maybe even more so, than the special rings were in SA2. They hide them in out of the way places you'd never go to unless you were actively looking around in every corner and under every rock, which they literally do for at least one chao found under a rock in Sunset Hill Zone. The Team Up mechanic that they add into the game changes the moves you can use depending on who is the main character and who is the secondary character. For the most part I only found these different moves useful for when I needed a fly character to go around and try to find Chao, not really useful in actual gameplay when your running around at full speed. It's the same general sonic levels just with an added gameplay mechanic that isn't used specifically for any one thing in the game. It just feels like it was sloppily put in there just as a gimmick to get people to buy the game. They also add what is basically the rating system used in Sonics main console 3D ventures into the 2D game by grading you either Bronze, Silver or Gold depending on the time it takes you to complete the zone which is something I've never liked with the series since Sonic Adventure 2. Finding Chao is not fun and while not as tedious, it's still just as annoying as having to find them in SA2. Same as with SA2, only blind diehard Sonic Fans need apply, everyone else will put this game down in annoyance within the first few days. This game is another example of how Sonic Team once again doesn't care for the experiences of it's general fans, only catering to blind diehards and the ignorant, or getting any new ones and only serves to dig the Hedgehog deeper into his grave.

Sonic Advance 3 - GBA

Pros Cons
Amazing visuals Doesn't live up to expectations
Intense action Repetitive gameplay
Fixes a few issues that were in SAdv2, but adds new ones

In general, it's the same as my review for the second game, but the only difference is that this time, it's slowed down a bit so you can actually see where your going and your not as likely to run head first into enemies or pits. The method for getting the chaos emeralds is improved, but still tedious. Instead of having to get all of the chao in the level in one run without dying, you can leave and come back to the level as much as you want and never lose any Chao that you find. Why they didn't realize this flaw before from playtests of SAdv2, I have no clue, but the problem is that all the Chao are just as well hidden, maybe even more so, than the special rings were in SA2. They hide them in out of the way places you'd never go to unless you were actively looking around in every corner and under every rock, which they literally do for at least one chao found under a rock in Sunset Hill Zone. The Team Up mechanic that they add into the game changes the moves you can use depending on who is the main character and who is the secondary character. For the most part I only found these different moves useful for when I needed a fly character to go around and try to find Chao, not really useful in actual gameplay when your running around at full speed. It's the same general sonic levels just with an added gameplay mechanic that isn't used specifically for any one thing in the game. It just feels like it was sloppily put in there just as a gimmick to get people to buy the game. They also add what is basically the rating system used in Sonics main console 3D ventures into the 2D game by grading you either Bronze, Silver or Gold depending on the time it takes you to complete the zone which is something I've never liked with the series since Sonic Adventure 2. Finding Chao is not fun and while not as tedious, it's still just as annoying as having to find them in SA2. Same as with SA2, only blind diehard Sonic Fans need apply, everyone else will put this game down in annoyance within the first few days. This game is another example of how Sonic Team once again doesn't care for the experiences of it's general fans, only catering to blind diehards and the ignorant, or getting any new ones and only serves to dig the Hedgehog deeper into his grave.

Sonic Advance 3 - GBA

Pros Cons
Amazing visuals Doesn't live up to expectations
Intense action Repetitive gameplay
Fixes a few issues that were in SAdv2, but adds new ones

In general, it's the same as my review for the second game, but the only difference is that this time, it's slowed down a bit so you can actually see where your going and your not as likely to run head first into enemies or pits. The method for getting the chaos emeralds is improved, but still tedious. Instead of having to get all of the chao in the level in one run without dying, you can leave and come back to the level as much as you want and never lose any Chao that you find. Why they didn't realize this flaw before from playtests of SAdv2, I have no clue, but the problem is that all the Chao are just as well hidden, maybe even more so, than the special rings were in SA2. They hide them in out of the way places you'd never go to unless you were actively looking around in every corner and under every rock, which they literally do for at least one chao found under a rock in Sunset Hill Zone. The Team Up mechanic that they add into the game changes the moves you can use depending on who is the main character and who is the secondary character. For the most part I only found these different moves useful for when I needed a fly character to go around and try to find Chao, not really useful in actual gameplay when your running around at full speed. It's the same general sonic levels just with an added gameplay mechanic that isn't used specifically for any one thing in the game. It just feels like it was sloppily put in there just as a gimmick to get people to buy the game. They also add what is basically the rating system used in Sonics main console 3D ventures into the 2D game by grading you either Bronze, Silver or Gold depending on the time it takes you to complete the zone which is something I've never liked with the series since Sonic Adventure 2. Finding Chao is not fun and while not as tedious, it's still just as annoying as having to find them in SA2. Same as with SA2, only blind diehard Sonic Fans need apply, everyone else will put this game down in annoyance within the first few days. This game is another example of how Sonic Team once again doesn't care for the experiences of it's general fans, only catering to blind diehards and the ignorant, or getting any new ones and only serves to dig the Hedgehog deeper into his grave.

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Sonic Advance 3 Recent Articles

  • Jun. 17, 2004 Review: Sonic Advance 3

    The latest Sonic game lets you team up with another character and another player, but the series is starting to lose steam.