Sonic 3D Blast for the Sega Saturn completely denies the fact that Sonic's transition into 3D was a failure.
Yes! Indeed, it was! 32-bit triumphs over 16-bit! Beginning with the opening cutscene, I knew that I was in for a ride. And, beginning with the first level, I was impressed at the terrific 3D visuals the game had to offer. But it wasn’t just the graphics that made this game impressive. Even though the whole isometric “3D” thing might seem awkward at first, once you play around for a few minutes, it becomes second nature. The levels are simple and straightforward, so becoming lost usually isn’t a problem. The enemies are easy if you’re just trying to reach the end of the stage, but if you hold a desire to collect fifty rings in order to travel to the Special Stage, well, that’s when issues become slightly more difficult.
Within almost every stage, your buddy, Tails the Fox, and your friendly rival, Knuckles the Echidna, are able to fly or glide you to a special area where you can capture a Chaos Emerald. However, they require at least fifty rings in order to transport you there. And if you succeed in your “50-ring mission”, be prepared for one of the best features Sonic 3D Blast has in store.
They’ll bring you to a colorful halfpipe where your objective is to collect a specified number of rings (for those of you who are veterans, this is reminiscent of the Special Stage in Sonic 2). But not only will you have to occupy yourself with grabbing rings, there are also “spike-balls” that litter many of the tracks. If you are holding the specified amount, a radiant Chaos Emerald will eventually greet you. It’s an overall exhilarating experience, and possibly one of the greatest Special Stages to ever hit a Sonic title.
But besides ring collecting and enemy attacking, in order to progress throughout much of the game, you’ll need to guide tiny birds, dubbed Flickies, to large rings located within most of the stages. And during your journey, you’ll experience many unique environments, each with there own enemies and special features.
Another well-accomplished feat found in Sonic 3D Blast is its BGM. Crisp percussion, orchestrated strings, and many other instruments make up its soundtrack. And what’s more is that it can be played in your Saturn just like any other audio CD, so to enjoy its tunes, you don’t need to play the actual game at all.
Good as this game might be, it does have its drawbacks. One of the most noticeable and unflattering features of Sonic 3D Blast is its load times. On average, it takes around thirty seconds to get from the end of a Special Stage to the place in a stage from where you left off from.
Another serious downturn is its replayability. Although the game does have stellar gameplay, visuals, and music, it lacks the ability to keep you coming back, partly due to its lengthy load times, but also because of nonexistent multiple game modes (the only one available is the Story Mode, along with a Sound Test screen and an a brief instruction screen). And the fact that progress can’t be saved also injures its replayability.
Many people believe that Sonic’s first fray into the three-dimensional world was a missed-opportunity. Have they played the 32-bit port? They should. Along with its numerous, helpful additions which were left out in the Genesis game, Sonic 3D Blast for the Sega Saturn completely denies the fact that Sonic’s transition into 3D was a failure. Play your next-gen Sonic titles today, but let’s not forget that one 3D game that blazed the path for them all.