Releasing in 2013 as part of Sega’s 3D Classics line for the Nintendo 3DS, 3D Sonic The Hedgehog is a port of the classic 1991 platformer. Unlike other versions of the game, 3D Sonic The Hedgehog makes use of the Nintendo 3DS hardware to incorporate stereoscopic 3D visuals. Otherwise, 3D Sonic The Hedgehog is identical to prior versions of the game in terms of its gameplay. However, where 3D Sonic The Hedgehog differs from previous versions is in its inclusion of later-era Sonic abilities. Sonic can spin-dash like in Sonic The Hedgehog 2. And, as an added bonus, players can experience 3D Sonic The Hedgehog with a CRT filter to emulate playing the game on old tube televisions.
Outside these changes, 3D Sonic The Hedgehog is still the same classic game players remember from the Sega Genesis. One of Sega’s most important and groundbreaking titles, Sonic The Hedgehog is one of the few platformers to ever compete with Nintendo’s Super Mario franchise. In addition to being one of the first 16-bit platformers, Sonic The Hedgehog would end up being one of the best-selling games of the era. Moving a staggering 15 million units, the game would help Sonic become the face of the Sega corporation and position the Genesis in a neck-and-neck race for supremacy with the SNES during the 4th console generation.
The original Sonic The Hedgehog, along with its sequel Sonic The Hedgehog 2, are two of Sega’s most-ported games. There are no less than 10 standalone ports of Sonic The Hedgehog, along with the game’s appearance in several Sega Genesis and Sonic compilations throughout the years.
3D Sonic The Hedgehog Premise
At its foundation, Sonic The Hedgehog is a side-scrolling platformer. Players make their way through scrolling stages, traveling from left to right, and can jump on enemies to defeat them. What separates Sonic from other platformers, though, is its incredible sense of speed. Additionally, Sonic The Hedgehog‘s unique level designs incorporate atypical platform challenges that are vastly different from what players would encounter in a Super Mario Bros. game. These include twisting platforms, circular loops, and other inventive traversal paths that make use of Sonic’s incredible speed.
As Sonic makes his way through each level (which is further subdivided into two or three stages called “Acts”), he collects Rings. Collecting 50 Rings will result in Sonic earning an Extra Life, and finishing an Act with 100 Rings or more earns an extra Continue. If Sonic is hit by an enemy, he loses all his Rings. And, if Sonic is hit again with zero Rings in his possession, he loses a life. The game’s antagonist, Dr. Robotnik, awaits Sonic at the end of each stage in a robotic contraption as a boss enemy. Players must figure out a way to dodge his attacks and successfully land attacks of their own without losing Rings.
In Act 1 or Act 2 of each Zone, players can also enter the “Special Stage”. These bonus-style stages feature unique platforming challenges to complete, and doing so will reward Sonic with one of six Chaos Emeralds. Collecting all the Chaos Emeralds unlocks the true ending of the game while failing to find the Chaos Emeralds hidden within each Special Stage results in Dr. Robotnik taunting players in the game’s ending to try again.
3D Sonic The Hedgehog Main Characters
While the Sonic franchise would eventually expand to include a massive roster of main and side characters, Sonic The Hedgehog keeps things simple. The only characters to speak of are Sonic himself and the game’s antagonist, Dr. Robotnik. Sonic is working to protect the animal life of South Island while Dr. Robotnik continues his search for the Chaos Emeralds. Main characters in 3D Sonic The Hedgehog include:
- Sonic The Hedgehog: The “Blue Blur” and star of the Sonic franchise. Sonic is the protagonist and hero of every Sonic game and the star of 3D Sonic The Hedgehog. He uses his incredible speed and jumping ability to clear each of Robotnik’s Zones, rescuing animals and collecting the Chaos Emeralds along the way.
- Dr. Robotnik: Dr. Robotnik is Sonic The Hedgehog‘s antagonist and a mad scientist seeking ultimate power. His search for the Chaos Emeralds puts all life in danger, prompting Sonic to rise to the occasion and stop him at any cost. Robotnik is seeking the Chaos Emeralds to achieve ultimate power and create an unstoppable army of robots.
Games in the Sonic The Hedgehog Series
Since the first game’s release in 1991, the Sonic franchise has grown to become one of Sega’s most important properties. Across more than a dozen mainline games and plenty of spin-offs, the Sonic franchise is a cornerstone of Sega’s success. After Sega’s decision to leave the hardware business and focus solely on software development and publishing, Sonic games were freed from their Sega console exclusivity and are now multi-platform titles. The main games in the Sonic The Hedgehog series include:
- Sonic The Hedgehog (1991)
- Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (1992)
- Sonic CD (1993)
- Sonic The Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles (1994)
- Sonic 3D Blast (1996)
- Sonic Adventure (1998)
- Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)
- Sonic Advance (2001)
- Sonic Mega Collection (2003)
- Sonic Heroes (2003)
- Shadow The Hedgehog (2005)
- Sonic The Hedgehog (2006)
- Sonic Unleashed (2008)
- Sonic Colors (2010)
- Sonic Generations (2011)
- Sonic Lost World (2013)
- Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric and Shattered Crystal (2014)
- Sonic Mania (2017)
- Sonic Frontiers (2022)
- Sonic Superstars (2023)
- Sonic x Shadow Generations (2024)
3D Sonic The Hedgehog Cheats & Secrets
Each version of Sonic The Hedgehog throughout the years has its own set of hidden cheats for players to uncover. While the 3DS version of the title has fewer cheats than most other versions, there are still plenty of secrets and exploits for players to take advantage of. Interestingly, the 3DS version of the game is one of the only releases of Sonic The Hedgehog to include a Level Select option without the use of cheating.
Level Select
At the title screen, press Up, Down, Left, Right, Y, X to unlock all levels.
Alternatively, players can unlock Level Select without needing the cheat code after beating the game once.
Finding the ‘Special Zone’ Entrance
To unlock the entrance to the Special Zone, players just need to beat any level in Sonic The Hedgehog with 50 Rings.
Infinite Lives
Rather than needing a glitch to earn infinite lives, players can easily exploit an advantageous shortcut in the Green Hill Zone to earn 255 lives.
At the bottom of the map in Green Hill Zone — Act 3, players will find an Extra Life. Explore the level and collect 100 Rings to earn another Extra Life. Finally, collect a third Extra Life at the top of the loop in the map. If players intentionally die before completing the level, this process can be repeated as many times as needed, earning three lives in a short amount of time.
Green Hill Zone Bonus
Completing Green Hill Zone — Act 1 or Act 2 in 29 seconds or less rewards 50,000 bonus points.
3D Sonic The Hedgehog Cheat FAQs
What is the Chaos Emerald code for Sonic The Hedgehog?
The Chaos Emerald code simply requires beating the game and unlocking both the Level Select and Sound Test options under the “Special” menu. To unlock all Chaos Emeralds, play the following sounds in Sound Test Mode (in order): 04, 01, 02, 06. Note that this code works on Genesis but is not confirmed for 3DS.
Does 3D Sonic The Hedgehog have Level Select?
Yes, the 3DS version of Sonic The Hedgehog does have its own Level Select cheat. Note that this version of the game’s Level Select cheat is different from other versions.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Sonic the Hedgehog gameplay screenshot.