Quick Info
Title: Sonic 3D Blast (U.S.), Sonic 3D Flickies' Island (Eu. + Jap.)
System Console: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, Sega Saturn, PC
Developer: Travellers' Tales
US Release Date: November, 1996
European Release Date: November, 1996
Japanese Release Date: October 14, 1999
Genre: Isometric Platformer
Characters: Sonic The Hedgehog, Dr. Robotnik/Eggman, The Flicky Birds, Appearances by Miles "Tails" Prower and Knuckles The Echidna
First Appearances: Flicky Island, First 3D Sonic Platformer





General Info
Intro


Except for Sonic Classics, this seems to be the final Sonic game for Genesis. Of course, that is not the case for Saturn. But at least Genesis is going out with a bang! Sonic 3D Blast is an amazing 3/4 overhead view game that had excellent play - but unfortunately it was MUCH easier than other Sonic games...The gameplay is a bit different this time around though. The Genesis and the Saturn versions are pretty much the same except that the Genesis graphics are less defined and the gravitational forces on Genesis are easier to deal with. The 32-bit version touted improved graphics, CD-quality music (from Sega of Europe's own musical genious, Richard Jaques), true 3D Special Stages, and environmental effects (rain, fog, snow) in certain Zones. The gameplay, however, was identical. Solid, but not spectacular, and certainly below hedgehog standards. In this game, Robotnik is kidnapping the Flickies and using them to find the Chaos Emeralds that are hidden in another dimension. You must rescue 5 Flickies before you can go on to the next part of any act.



Story
Sonic and his pals are off to visit the mysterious Flicky Island, home to many precious gems; as well as the even more mysterious Flicky birds. Dr. Robotnik, meanwhile, has discovered the location of the Chaos Emeralds on Flicky Island. He quickly set up a base and intruder defenses there, but first he needed Flickies to turn into robots. While he is pondering how to capture the elusive birds, he sees a bright flash in the distance. A Dimension Ring has appeared, and out of it fly a flock of Flickies. They perch on a tree, pick up some food, then fly back into the Dimension Ring. Then Robotnik realized the secret of the Flickies...they live in another dimension! With that, he set about creating the Dimension Ring Generator, which could capture Flickies in their home realm. Sonic arrived to discover Flicky Island in pandemonium, and it's up to him to get the Chaos Emeralds before Robotnik and save the Flickies.







Zone Menu
Flicky Island
Green Grove Zone - Acts 1, 2, 3
Rusty Ruin Zone - Acts 1, 2, 3
Spring Stadium Zone - Acts 1, 2, 3
Diamond Dust Zone - Acts 1, 2, 3
Volcano Valley Zone - Acts 1, 2, 3
Gene Gadget Zone - Acts 1, 2, 3
Panic Puppet Zone - Acts 1, 2, 3
Final Fight Zone
Special Stage







Codes and Tips
Level Select (Genesis)
At the title screen, quickly press B, A, Right, A, C, Up, Down, A (BARACUDA) in that order. If you entered the code correctly, you should get a level select menu when you press Start.


Level Skipping (Genesis)
Start a game through the level select. At any point in the game, you can pause then press A to skip to the next level. This also works in Special Stages - doing it will automatically end the stage and award you the Chaos Emerald.


Control Mode (Saturn)
At the title screen, start the game by pressing C+Start. Now, during the game, pausing at any time allows you do to the following by pressing the corresponding buttons:
A - Skip to the next level
B - Skip to the next zone
C - Skip to Panic Puppet Act 3
X - Receive an extra life
Y - Receive a free Medal
Z - Receive all 7 Chaos Emeralds.



Guide to Flicky catching
Basic control was identical to classic Sonic games...run, jump, and spin. Only now instead of running across 2D planes, Sonic was played on a 3D board from an isometric view...very much like Sonic Labyrinth, only with his speed (and ability to jump) intact. The object is to bust open Badniks, then grab the Flickies inside. Collect the six Flickies within each Act, then make it to the exit. Getting hit means losing your Rings and Flickies, and Flickies can be a pain to re-catch, as they each react differently after being hit:
Blue flickies - Fly around in circles at the area you got hit. They're the easiest to grab back.
Pink flickies - Zigzag, usually down a straight path.
Red flickies - Randomly hop all over the place.
Green flickies - Randomly roam around the board. They'll go all over the entire level, making them the most difficult to grab back.