This game is interesting, as its one of many firsts for the Sonic series. Not only is it the very first 3D game for the series but it was also the first Sonic title that was developed by a Western Studio; Travelers Tales. This studio is famous now for the hit Lego series but they did A LOT during the Genesis/SNES era.
The original Toy Story got a Genesis/SNES game that used pre-rendered character models (like DKC on the SNES) and worked with hand drawn animation, using it for a really damn good Mickey Mouse platformer called Mickey Mana.
I never played their Toy Story 1 game but I LOVED Mickey Mania, underrated gem
. Fun Fact: Twisted Metal and God of War Creator David Jaffe was one of the head guys behind that game! 
So, while Sonic Team moved on to new projects/IP (Nights into Dreams, Ristar, Burning Rangers) after Sonic 3&K, Sega called them up saying “We love the technology you use for game development and we want you to make a 3D platformer in the Sonic series on the Genesis!” Remember how I said in the 3&K thread where Naka wanted Sonic 3 to be a 3D platformer? This idea came back here and Travelers Tales made it a top-down isometric platformer with Sonic’s goal being to save the little critiers that pop out of Robotnik’s badniks.
Every level’s goal is to save five creatures per section, with each level having 2-3 sections to clear. How can Sonic do this? Simple! He jumps, rolls and spindashes his way through robots to save the creatures and they follow him after being saved. They are useful, as you can use them to make a ‘trial’ that allows you to pick up object high above some red springs and can warp you to the next section of the level when you touch a special ring.
The issue……is that every time you get hit, you lose the little creatures and they fly all about, with you chasing after them AND the lost rings. Remember Yoshi’s Island where baby Mario cries when Yoshi gets hit? How about having to find that flying bubble with additional coins and stuff scattered around? Sounds fuuuun……
To be serious for a moment, I don’t mind this system as it’s a nice different take on the traditional Sonic gameplay style. Levels being mission focused give them meaning and with open levels to explore, it is fun to me honestly
!I have issue with how Sonic controls, as he is a bit stiff. Makes some of the harder platforming moments a bit tricky.
But overall, it controls well enough and I have fun running around in this game.
Like the Genesis games, Sonic has momentum going all over the place and trademark Sonic elements are here in full force:
Sonic is fast here and it leads to some fun levels.
Green Grove is the trademark Green Hill-like zone with a great theme in the Genesis version (Saturn/PC version here).
Rusty Ruin is a bit of a tricky stage with Sonic having the gimmick of turning into a spinning top that can smash through pillars:
Spring Stadium is the pinball level of the game, with springs being everywhere and with everything having this 3D craze going on, level design has more layers then before. So, getting to the top of the stage and hunting for the Flickies is a bit tricky.
Diamond Dust is the snow level of game with ice physics coming into the picture. The tricky controls become even more tricky here but.....this theme in the Genesis version pushes you through and makes this a really great stage to run through.
Volcano Valley is the lava level of the game with, well lava being all over the place! Using the fire shield can be very helpful here, as it allows you to walk over fire with little issue. I'm assuming the level design here was focused on you retaining you're shield as long as you can......
Gene Gadget and Puppet Panic Zones are more or less the the same; factory stages with you dealing with the hardest platforming in the game. What makes Puppet Panic Zone so interesting is that Act 1 and Act 2 function different compared every other level in the game. Act 1 has you freeing Flicky's from pillars in the stage (the story of the game literally states that Robotnik didn't get a chance to robotize them in time, so 'Gotta go fast!' *cough*) while Act 2 is a normal Sonic stage. You just run to the end and that's it; no more saving Flickies (as you saved the last few in Act 1).
The bosses with Robonik are very easy (outside of the Extra Final one), as due the 3D perspective, they make it very easy to get to the weak points and provide plenty of rings (about.....10-20 for each boss) to survive.
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The game is enjoyable and despite some issue with the controls, I enjoyed my time revisiting this one
! Travelers Tales is a great developer and between this and Sonic R, they did right on the series part. Them and the team behind Sonic 2 did a great job with Sonic
.Which is a LOT more then I can say for some western developers tackling the series. When I get to Sonic Chronicles.....oh boy, going to have fun ripping that game a new one
. Sanzaru did a solid job with Shattered Crystal, considering it was there very first Sonic title and they got only a year or so to make it. Fire & Ice is promising due to it apparently fixing key issues from Shattered Crystal, but I will get to that latter on).
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My above point relates to this next fact, as Travelers Tales was commissioned into making a Saturn port of 3D Blast in a short time as a back-up for Sonic Xtreme being scrapped.
So, one must ask "How do you take a Genesis game, and make it look better on a stronger console? We don't have enough time to remake the game......" But, they DID do a lot to make the Saturn version better then the Genesis version
!Controls: The Saturn got an analog controller version thanks to Nights into Dreams being made, so, that was supported for this version of 3D Blast. It makes the controls a bit better, leading to platforming being a bit more responsive.
Visuals: This is the most interesting one (next to the special stages), as the colors are more detailed and a bit more realistic if that makes sense.
As one could see, added texture was given to stages and in some cases, special effects were added in some stages like Rusty Ruin Zone:
So, visually, the looks a bit better
.Special Stages: I didn't touch on this, as the Saturn version has some of the best special stages in Sonic history. Its more or less a updated take on the Sonic 2 half-pipe but....Sonic is in 3D for the FIRST TIME?!?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np76lPXKfCo
Sega of Japan produced these special stages to make the Saturn version different from the Genesis and PC versions, and they rock! Sonic controls well, the visuals and music are great here and its just nice seeing Sonic in full 3D. When this came out (1996), it was the very first time many people saw the Blue Blur moving in 3D on consoles at the time; it was some sight to behold and it got people hyped for the possibilities of the Saturn for Sonic.
We got Sonic the Fighters prior to this and that looked great! But its nice seeing Sonic run around in 3D though
. The Genesis Special Stages? Oh, they looked like this:
I mean....its impressive for the Genesis and stuff, but nothing compared to the Saturn version. So, that makes it the best version hands down, right?
Interesting enough, the PC version got a unique special stage too! Rlan pointed this out and here is footage of that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF5uKs8mz8I
Thank you for sharing man!
Music:
Well, this is the element that will make you chose one version over the other, as just like Sonic CD, 3D Blast has different soundtracks based on which version you play.
The Genesis version was composed by Jun Senoue (known for his latter work on the Adventure and 3D titles) while the Saturn/PC version was composed by Richard Jacques, know for his future work on Sonic R and latter down the line, the All Stars Racing series.
Saturn/PC Soundtrack:
Green Grove Act 1
Rusty Ruins Act 1
Spring Stadium Act 1
Diamond Dust Act 1
Gene Gadget Act 1
Volcano Valley Act 1
Puppet Panic Act 1
Puppet Panic Act 2
Genesis Soundtrack:
Green Grove Act 1
Rusty Ruins Act 1
Spring Stadium Act 1
Diamond Dust Act 1
Gene Gadget Act 1
Volcano Valley Act 1
Puppet Panic Act 1
Puppet Panic Act 2
The main difference between the two is that the Genesis version is rooted in the Genesis era being focused on catchy themes and melodies while the Saturn version is present to build up atmosphere and establish the tone for each stage. Both are great for different reasons but like the CD soundtrack, some prefer one over the other. I love both and I like tracks in both OST's (Rusty Ruins Act 1 rocks in both versions for example!)
Conclusion:
Both are great versions of a fun game, so....give both a look! The Saturn/PC version so far less common compared to the Genesis version but still, its nice to have options.
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I liked playing this game and while it isn't up there with the other Classic Era platformers, its still a good action adventure for the blue hedgehog
. Will be back latter with a thread that will get you itching for some spinball .
