Introducing... -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ -_ ----------Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Competition Mode Guide ----------------Brought to you by Ste C (Stephen Child) -----------------------Email: twotiminwiseguy(at)hotmail.com ----------------------------------Version 1.7 --------------------------------------------Last updated: 23rd May 2005 -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles 'Tails' Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, Doctor Robotnik and all other names are copyrighted (c) by SEGA Enterprises 1994, 2005. All rights reserved. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Contents ======== 1. Version History 2. Disclaimer 3. Intro 4. Story 5. The Courses 6. Grand Prix 7. Match Race 8. Time Attack 9. Hints and Tips 10. Submitted Tips 11. Credits -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Version History =============== 23th May 2005 - A new section is added for anyone who sends me anything to do with the sections in the guide. It's called the 'Submitted Tips'. Also, Mike Cote sent me the fastest time possible for Azure Lake and how to get it - found in the Tips and Time Attack sections. 20th May 2004 - Incoming! A couple of neat tips from Perin that are found along the bottom of the Hints and Tips section. 4th May 2004 - Eventually have time to include a Tip from budding fan, Rob White. Now, a lot of people ignored my plea to make this guide a FINAL update so I changed the current version to 1.5 to avoid the hassle of annoying GameFAQs by submitting numerous final updates that were never supposed to be. I presume it's a sensible way of doing so, no? 22th Apr 2004 - Aahh, so THAT'S what the Arrow sign does... thanks to Noriman Johan for sending the item's function. 24th Feb 2004 - Phew! Time to make this my final update. The whole FAQ is now copyrighted for this year (I know I left it far too late! Look in the Disclaimers section). Happy gaming!! 24th Jun 2003 - Got bored. Changed the Credits section a little. Maybe I'll include some cheats and codes next time, eh? Only kidding! 14th May 2003 - Sorta improved grammar really, nothing else. 13th May 2003 - Found details of the Ring item under the Items section, thanks to George Martin whom I added in the Credits section. Thanks! 4th May 2003 - All done! Now to post. 3rd May 2003 - Everything done, except for the Credits. Nearly there folks! 2nd May 2003 - All of Time Attack and Items are now complete. 1st May 2003 - Well, part of Time Attack is typed up. Bound to improve guide layout also. 30th Apr 2003 - Wrote everything up til the Story section. I also finished planning through the entire guide and am ready to type up notes. I later wrote all til the Items section. 29th Apr 2003 - First day of FAQ. Planned most of the guide. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Disclaimer ========== Now I may not own the Sonic series or even SEGA corporation, but I do own this guide! Yep, this guide is Copyrighted 2005 and cannot be used for the public for legal reasons. You can however print this for personal use (i.e. home, friends), only if permission may or may not be granted. Use my email to contact me for any problems regarding to any section of the guide, or any mistakes and nothing else. As in, no spam or I will ignore your emails. NOTE: this guide is not only available for the SEGA Genesis, but also for other formats as well, including: - Sonic and Knuckles Collection (Genesis/PC) - Sonic Jam (Saturn) - Sonic Mega Collection (Gamecube) - Sonic Mega Collection Plus (PlayStation 2/X Box) Although Sonic and Knuckles (Genesis) looks very similar to Sonic 3 you CANNOT play Competition on the game. There are no cheats whatsoever to unlock it and you should have both copies to play the mode. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Intro ===== Hi, and welcome to the prestigious Sonic 3 (and Knuckles) walkthrough for the Competition Mode, exclusively for the SEGA Genesis (where I come from, this is known as the Mega Drive). Sounds irrevelent, eh? Well you won't find anything much revelent in this guide, except for the Competition itself. For other info like stages, bosses and secrets, visit the other walkthroughs for this great game. Anyways, let's begin the guide!! -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Story ===== Doubt that you are new to the story of Sonic and so on, but here's a special bonus to this guide to jog your memory. NOTE: All the Sonic games from 1 to 3 are rolled up into one fully detailed and explanatory "chain of events that made Sonic and friends a classic and worthwhile icon..." - Ste C Well actually, it started like this. The evil scientist, Dr Ivo Robotnik (aka "Eggman" to Sonic and pals) has hatched a plot to dominate the world by launching his giant 'Death Egg' to the skies into space. In order to do so, he must gather the Chaos Emeralds, seven precious gems to power up the Death Egg and conquer the earth. If you think that's a disaster, then think again! Robotnik also captured many creatures in the animal kingdom to 'roboticise' them into manical 'Badniks' that can only obey him and follow his commands to build his own wicked empire. During this madness, Robotnik will stop at nothing to find the Chaos emeralds and launch his Death Egg into the skies... But it's not all doom and gloom here! Your true, blue hero Sonic the Hedgehog heard about the sudden disappearence of his animal friends and setted out on a roller- coaster ride to fight the forces of Robotnik's tyranny. Before the Death Egg has even been constructed, Sonic eventually reached to the twisted doctor's hideout and foiled his first attempt to rule the world. Also, Sonic's friends were rescued and six of the seven Chaos emeralds were out of reach from the fallen doctor... Until Robotnik returns to finally launch the Death Egg! The fun has just begun! The sinister scientist's army of animal controlled Badniks have resurfaced once again to regain the Chaos emeralds that Robotnik needed for his evil empire. Meanwhile, Sonic later heard the news and set off immediately to stop Robotnik again. This time, he was accompanied by Miles "Tails" Prower, a cute fox kid with two tails. However, the adventure was more difficult than before as the dynamic duo must gather all seven Chaos emeralds to wipe out Robotnik once and for all (again!). With these gems, their powers combine and turned Sonic into 'Super' Sonic! This was too much for Robotnik and his patented Super Suit and he went down with the destroyed Death Egg... Another victory for Sonic and Tails! Or is it...? Moments after the Death Egg declines from space, it crash landed on the mysterious Floating Island, home of the great 'Master Emerald' - the vital source for the island's floating ability. Upon realising this, Robotnik decided to use the Master emerald to repair his Death Egg and finally take over the world. However, before he could even search the unknown land, he was stopped by Knuckles the Echidna, who earned his reputation as Guardian of the Master Emerald; and an easily- tricked mammal. Robotnik told him that Sonic and Tails are coming to the island to 'steal' not only the Chaos emeralds but the Master Emerald itself! Immediately, Knuckles trusted the manipulating Eggman and waited for our heroes' arrival, despite being fooled. Meanwhile... Robotnik had set out to repair his fallen Death Egg on a remote part of the island not known to Knuckles, hoping to get HIS hands on the Master Emerald... but how? And also, what are Sonic and Tails thinking about by the time they reach the Angel Island, only to get their Chaos emeralds taken from Knuckles himself? That's just the beginning of a new adventure in... Sonic 3 (and Knuckles!)!! -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ The Courses =========== Once Competition mode is selected on the title screen, three different modes of play are found: Grand Prix - challenge a friend and race through all five courses. The player who won the most races wins! Match race - up to two players can race through any of the five courses. Time attack - one player can select a character and gain the fastest time in any course. After deciding on your mode, you and/or a friend can choose their favourite character. Choose from who else but the Triple Threat themselves, Sonic, Tails or Knuckles! Each character have totally different strenghs and weaknesses which can affect the outcome of the race. Sonic - the fastest of the bunch and also has the highest jumping height. Possibly the best of the three and great for beginners and experts alike. Overall - **** Tails - not as fast as Sonic but he's the only character to fly around the course using his trademark tails. Use this as an advantage over your challenger! Overall - ***1/2 Knuckles - also not known for his speed and can't jump as high either. Plus, his ability to glide has mysteriously disappeared from the Competition. When playing as Knux, always rely on your tactics instead and you can get the best out of him. Overall - *** After selecting from one of the three, decide which environment you will race on. NOTE: this does not apply in Grand Prix mode. Skip this step and move on to the courses below. On ALL these modes, race through 6 laps to successfully finish each course. Azure Lake - a particularly easy course to learn the ropes. From the start are two loops followed by a ramp-like patch that might send you flying over a pit of that 'lake'. Ahead is a switch that brings up a spring between the two loops to trap your opponent. Two platfroms down leads back to the post - simple as that. Balloon Park - a 'Carnival Night'-themed course starting with a giant half-loop with a bumper on the end. Dive through a narrow moving gap before the loop and emerge through three awkward bumpers to clear the way. Jump on two huge balloons to bounce higher and will take you back to the beginning. One lap done! Chromo Gadget - introducing the dodgy platform! Step on it to descend to the next passage and move out of it to rise back to its original position. There you may drop down the hole near the bumper or use the bumper to fall down the hole from the other side. BEWARE! If you spin toward the bumper from the platform too soon and you'll get killed by the energy below the plat. Anyways, float up onto the step with a switch on - press it and it will operate a spring sticking out of the alcove - another useful trap. Either run round the half-circle and into the alcove or jump over and down the drop to finish a lap. Desert Palace - from the start, sprint across the half-loop and run through a huge loop after that steep slope. Sometimes, if you spin whilst going through this part of the course, you'll be sent backwards by a hidden spring of some kind. Just run to avoid that dodgy problem. Jump over a pit of sand and quickly bounce over to the switch before a platform of sand crumbles. This switch calls up a spring after the end of the giant loop - again useful for gaining the oposition in a race. Now race up the slope near the end and pass through the post. A bridge of sand will crumple to dust before the post when stepped on - also ideal to send your opponent way back from the winning player! Endless Mine - like Azure Lake, this is another easy runthrough of a course. Down the steps leads to a spring, taking you through a short tunnel. To proceed, jump on the yellow rocks to break through them and breeze down the slope. Use your speed to run up the wall and through what seems funnily enough looks like a wall, but in fact, takes you to a single loop and a post. Now go finish the race! -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Grand Prix ========== One or two players can pit their favourite characters through all five races in the Competition. The winner depends on the time taken to complete each course and mainly who won the most races. The stages are automatically selected in the sequence above, starting from Azure Lake and finishing at Endlesss Mine. Have fun!! -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Match Race ========== Basically, after choosing your player, you can then select one of the five races to play on. After completing that course, you may choose another course or, even better, invite a friend along to play! -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Time Attack =========== Pretty much like Match Race, except that you can only play as one human player. After completing a race, your new time will be saved into the game pack: up to three best times can be saved each stage. If a better time is earned, one of the poorer records will have to be erased to give space for the new time. Exclusive to this 'Competition' guide, here are some tips and tricks for each of the courses that will give you the BEST possible time! HINT: to start you off, be sure to collect items such as the red shoes whether you can. That ought to give you an impressive time than predicted on each stage. Azure Lake - rather than 'spin dashing' at the start of this course, just run up the first slope - you'll waste precious time whilst waiting to land beside the tree. - if you're lucky, you might miss a wedge of the course if you lightly run up that slope and onto the patch of land beside the 'lake'. - it's possible to get a quick time of about 8 seconds on each lap, depending on how you progress along throughout the race. - A new time-saving trick is found in the Tips section, but I'll tell you anyway. As you go round the first loop, after the starting line, hold down to spin through the second loop and you'll land right onto the path just over the button. This saves much time than doing a really strong spin at the start of the race (not too fast or you'll fly above the screen for approx. 4-5 seconds, thus wasting time!!). - A new trick from Perin! Jumping ON the ramps rather than running through them saves some time. - The total lap for the stage of 17''14 can be achieved by Mike Cote's tip in the Submitted Tips section. Baloon Park - like before, don't 'spin dash' right up the loop - instead, hold the forward button down and drop to the area below, hoping not to hit those bumpers. - jump onto the balloons and pray that you have gained or even beaten the proximate time of 10-11 seconds. Chrome Gadget - 'Spin dash' to that odd platform; it sure is quicker than sprinting across, and you won't get hurt... yet. - don't dash towards the bumper from the platform, otherwise you will rebound back and get killed by the energy from the ascending spot. - for the best possible time, I suggest that you run up and hit the spring that knocks you down to the hole behind you. - before floating on the pair of fans, jump as high as possible so you can reach the space without having to float up there and waste precious time. - if you're Sonic or Tails, you'll have an easier time reaching that small alcove by jumping or flying over the pit and drop down to gain one lap. - as Knuckles however, it's not as simple as it sounds, especially that you cannot glide in Competition. Avoid pressing the button and jump down to the pit and run up the wall and onto the alcove. - for this rather complex course you should get no less than 9 seconds for each given lap time. - according to Perin, Tails is best suited for this stage for he can time his jumps or even fly from the pillar to that alcove after the fan. Desert Palace - for the third time (gasp), do not attempt to dash down the ramp-like land, otherwise you'll be sent flying and wasting valuable time. - You may spin round the loop and jump once it's been done (did I mention the odd reverse thing near the end of the loop? Keep that in mind). - Try not to hit the button and carry on til you reach the goal. - Using these tips. this should give you an impressive 10 seconds each lap. - as before in Azure Lake, Perin says that you can just jump ON the ramps and over dips to save a little time than running through them. Sonic is the best character for this level. Endless Mine - seeing as this is almost easier than Azure Lake this is straightforward. The only hazard is to not dash up that wall with the tiny gap leading to the post. Run up and you'll reach there in no time. - it's possible to get 10-11 seconds for each lap. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Items ===== Items in Competition can have a great or worse effect of the outcome of a race. Fortunately, some can even help you win the overall contest just by passing through them. There are a total of 7 items in all and are always found in circling pairs. Note that most of these have a temporate effect and appear after the first lap of every race. Red Shoes - ah yes, Sonic's special trademark sneakers, ideal for super-sonic velocities. Touch these and you'll temporarily run twice the speed. Grey shoes - they may look a little like Sonic's red shoes but they in fact have the opposite effect. Instead of speeding up, you'll slow down! Ring - it took me a while to figure out what it does until I was given an email about it. It says that as long as you have it with you, you will be protected from damage such as bombs. This comes incredibly handy against tactical folk. If you don't have the Red Shoes, use this - it will save you from losing 1 lap from bomb damage. Spring - seems pointless having a spring in a middle of a course, but it's a good way to lose your opponent in Desert Palace or Azure Lake. One of these drops down when touched and can only be bounced on once. Banana - handy by two ways. 1) trodding on this makes you slip at super-speed - great for long way courses or 2) making your opponent hit a wall and unable to move for a couple of seconds. Shame you can't control yourself in this state! Bomb - once this is dropped, it travels backwards through out the whole course until it touches any player, including the person that found it before. They have a real devastating effect on the race, as when hit, you'll be sent back to the post minus 1 lap. Arrow sign - I also had trouble to figure out what this one does, until Noriman Johan told me that "when both you and your friend has an item, they will be switched around". Thanks a buzz, Johan!! Now to summarise this - the item can ONLY be used when playing against a partner. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Hints and Tips ============== Now, follow the wise words of wisdom. Ahem! Now that you know pretty much everything about the courses, here are some more tips on how your skills can be improved. 1. Master the Art of the Flying Kitsune For Tails, try to use his flying manoeuvre in any open area as possible. This mainly applies to Azure Lake and Desert Palace; any other courses aren't as easy, except for Chrome Gadget, another good place to fly. 2. Speed is the Essence Use springs as often as you can, only if you haven't got the red shoes item that is. It's a good idea to pick this up as many oportunies as you can. Try finding the item somewhere visible on your opponent's screen - it's a steal! 3. Stuck? No Problem! If you somehow get yourself stuck in a particular part of a course, don't hesitate to get back into the race. In other words, don't give up: you'll never know, maybe the second player may get caught in the same trap! After that, you will know what to look out for next time. 4. Take a Detour Even though some very effective tips are shown, you should also try to use your skills as well. Now don't get me wrong on this. I'm not saying your techniques are bad or one-off, but they can be improved when you try out your moves and follow some examples shown. Don't use the same old tricks over again - be versatile and think of a different idea, maybe even more effective than the last! And don't forget, my ideas can be as good as yours. 5. Look Before you Leap When you see a bad object laid on the floor by your opponent racer take a look on his'/hers' screen. Take note of that and avoid it by jumping when approached; dealing with bombs however, this is not as easy! Also, concentrate on both screens and you'll know what to watch out for, inluding items and other traps. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Submitted Tips ============== This new section lists all the tips that were sent to me by people who discovered quicker ways in finishing the courses in the fastest time possible - or anything else to do with the other sections in the guide. ============= Mike Cote gave me this trick to save wads of time in Azure Lake. According to him, it's possible to beat the time in 17''14. Here's how: "My original record, that on my original Genesis cart, was 0'17''14. To get such a fast time, I suggest the following tips, - During the preliminary countdown, lightly tap forward to be as close as possible to the checkflag. Saving precious milliseconds is key when competing against your own record. - Use Sonic. - Start the race with a spindash, but not maxed out. Two or three laps should do it. - Right after the second loop, tap the jump button to hop over the ramp, but under the elevated ground. Hop again after this is jump the ramp at the end. - Starting from the second lap, use this trick to gain extra speed on the first high loop. Start the loop by hlding forward until you reach the top-middle part. Quickly let go of the forward button and hit jump, launching you into the bottom-right of the loop. If you get the angle right, you will get a speed boost." He actually sent me proof of the quickest time through email, although it reads 19''93 next to Azure Lake, it's still a very impressive time: "The enclosed png is my best record on Azure Lake using an emulator." Unfortunately, I wasn't able to put the image up somehow. ============= Here's a tip I got from Rob White, a fan of this fab game: "Hey man, just thought I'd let you know a cool tip on Sonic 3's competition. At the Azure Lake level, as you go round the loop hold down to put Sonic into a spin. He'll go through the loop faster than normal and improve your time." I've tested this trick a while after I recieved this email, and it works too!! Apparently, it works best with just any character other than Sonic, but on one condition; as long as you DON'T spin dash through the first loop right after the starting point, you'll manage to pull this one off with no problem. Thanks, Rob! Yet new time-saving tips were given to me by Perin just recently. Here's what he found out on these three zones: -_-_ Azure Lake -_-_ "Azure Lake can be finished very quickly. Whenever there's an upward ramp (right after the loops [befire the water/oil/whatever pit], and right before you end a lap), jumping the ramp instead of running up the ramp cuts a lot time (I usually have a time of about 25 seconds -- usually Knuckles -- when I do this for time attack)." Like he said, this tip is best done with Knuckles to beat Perin's time of 25 seconds. -_-_ Desert Palace -_-_ "Jumping dips and ramps (obviously, this includes jumping the sand pit) can also bring Desert Palace time down really low too. My best is 33 seconds, and Sonic is the best player at this. There are a bunch of places that are best jumped over instead of ran through." Hmm, this explains Sonic's speed. Tails is the second fastest so he's okay to use as well. Be brave when using Knuckles though... -_-_ Chrome Gadget -_-_ "Also, Tails is really good at Chrome Gadget. I'm not sure, but I always whoop my sisters' butts when I play them and they stupidly choose Sonic for Chrome Gadget. =P" He does have a point! When I played Sonic on this stage, he usually took a teeny bit longer to time his high jumps from the platform to that small alcove after the fan. This is due to Sonic's inconsistency of his jumps (as he is super fast) so Tails is by far the best character to use on this stage. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Credits ======= Now in which situation would I be without anyone to thank for in the making of this guide? SEGA and Sonic - for creating the blue madness of Sonic for well Team over a decade, despite some of its ups and downs along the way. GameFAQS.com - for providing the BEST video game database on the internet and for probable posting of my guide. Ryan (RHarrison) - who first lured me back to Sonic since after all Harrison these years! I recently turned back to the craze after playing Sonic Adventure 2: Battle! Check it out. Sonic fans - who've supported this true, blue craze since worldwide the early Nineties - you're reading at one of them. If it wasn't for us, the fans, the madness would never have started... Sonic 3 Genesis - the 'Competition' mode provided plenty of ideas for making this guide, for which is why there is an FAQ put up in this section. George Martin - he helped me explain what the ring item is for in the races. I got the info from email, thanks again George! Noriman Johan - another individual fan told me the use of the arrow symbol for the races. Sorry it took so long to update this! Rob White - our third budding fan gave me a great time- saving tip for Azure Lake. It can be found on both Tips and Time Attack sections, thanks!! Perin - two time-saving tricks was what I've been given by this fan; Azure Lake and Chrome Gadget. Thanks! They're in the new Submitted Tips section. Mike Cote - a lot of time in Azure Lake has been saved when he gave me a screenshot of the completed stage in 17''14. The trick can be done in the Submitted Tips section. Thanks! -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ End of guide. I hope you enjoyed it!! -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_