Sonic 3 just shows that Sonic in 2D is a match for any other game.
New spiecal stages where you can collect rings and extra lifes and new shields like bubble shield lets you breathe underwater and fire shield releases a like spin attack in the air and protects him from fire and Magnetic Shield makes any rings in sight come to Sonic or Tails. Sonic 3 is also locked into Sonic and Knuckles you can play 14 zones put you need Sonic and Knuckles as well to do it . It is hard to rate the Sonic games on Genesis because all of them are ace Sonic the Hedgehog 1,2,3 and Sonic and Knuckles are special games and Sonic just is ace. Great game one of the best Sonic games around.