Sonic Advance 3 Game Boy Advance
  • Publisher: THQ
  • Release Date: Jun 7, 2004
Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
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  1. Nintendojo
    92
    The value of this cartridge will keep you playing and playing until your fingers rub raw.
  2. AceGamez
    90
    They've tweaked and improved the gameplay considerably, included two fantastic multiplayer games and wrapped it all up in a beautifully drawn and dynamic sounding environment.
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  3. IGN
    90
    The addition of two tag-team characters in Sonic Advance 3 definitely changes things up considerably, as do the much larger and more expansive level designs.
  4. GameZone
    90
    While the game still maintains the same traditional platformer level design and old-school Sonic action, the game is designed around teamwork this time around and this is handled superbly throughout the game.
  5. GameCube Advanced
    90
    With the well developed co-op, blazingly fast single player, and the underused but excellent multiplayer, and with an excellent soundtrack, Sonic Advance 3 expands in ever way over Sonic Advance 1 & 2.
  6. PGNx Media
    89
    Sonic Advance 3 doesn't revolutionize the franchise but the new multi-character system allows it to keep it from being redundant and allows for an enjoyable experience.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. Tokyochuchu
    3
    The first Sonic Advance was a great game that took advantage of all the traditional Sonic game elements and weaved them into an impressive handheld title. Sonic Advance 2 made some changes, focusing in on the speedier 'on rails' elements of the Sonic series. Whilst not as good as it's predecessor, part 2 was still fun, featuring a myriad of memorable bosses. Sonic Advance 3, however, just feels tired right from the off. The level design is uninspired, the sprites are too big and the new switch pushing gameplay is boring and unnecessary. I love Sonic but frankly speaking, this game did absolutely nothing for me.… Full Review »
  2. roymcgeeters
    9
    Sonic Advance 3 was the first Sonic game I ever got on the GBA, and it just might be the best one I ever got too. A perfect combonation of speed, platforming, and design, Sonic Advance 3 is the one game that you should have if you have a GBA. The story of this game is pointless. It's just an excuse to run around and beat up robots. Dr. Eggman has taken the master emerald and used it to break the world into 7 different parts, leaving Sonic and Tails seperated from everyone else. Now Sonic has to find his friends and stop Eggman once again. It's not important, but what I find cool is that Eggman to Emerl from Sonic Battle and turned him into Gemerl, an evil rovot who works for him. The game looks great from head to toe. colorful, dteailed enviorments and great looking sprites add to the games charm. Add nice music large levels, clever design and chao to look for, and you've got yourself a level. Unlike the other two installments in the Advance series, this one has the best balance of speed and platforming, so you never feel like you're only enjoying one part of the Sonic magic. A total of 7 world, 3 acts and a boss in each one makes for a decent lasting game. The biggest change is that you can choose a partner to help you out in the level, and for once the character isn't useless. In fact, it determines how you play. Depending on what different combonation of characters you play as determines your attacks, tag team move, jumping, speed and the ability to break certain walls it adds depth into the levels and with differemt characters, you can do different things to help you to get to Chao... and that's my only complaint. The chao. To get into a special stage you need to collect 10 chao in a world, then find a key hidden in one of the stages, then go back to the hub world, find the special stage spring and do the special stage to win. The chao are hidden in the most complicated of spots. You have to search EVERYWHERE if you want to find the chao. This is annoying, and I find myself replaying levels 17 times just to look for that last chao that I need, then going back into the same stage to find a key and then searching the hub world for the spring, and if I loose the special stage, I have to find another key! AAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHH!!! This take away from the fun of speed in the game, so now you'll just be slowly platforming. I don't want to hunt for chao in a sonic game, I just want to blast through as sonic. ughh..... another problem with this game is that when you turn off your syestem, any lives that you had before will automatically go back down to three, so if you had 10000000000 lives, and your battery dies, you'll go straight back to 3 lives. Also, only 9 lives are displayed at one time, so if you have 29 lives, you won't know because it only shows 9. Great... well the good thing is that these were the only bad thing I had to say about this game. The special stages are fun (but getting to them is a pain), the boss battles are extremely creative, as well for the regular levels. The character combo sytem is a nice touch and over all, this game is a must have for GBA users. I don't understand why you're still reading this when you could be playing Sonic Advance 3.… Full Review »
  3. ohaiKendyl
    8
    Even though it's nothing we haven't seen before, Sonic Advance 3 is still an undeniably gorgeous 2-D side-scroller that's fun to play. Pros: Excellent graphics, control, and sound; fantastic level design; variety of characters. Cons: Nothing new or innovative.… Full Review »
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