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This zone introduces chemical goo. It is purple in software mode and pink in OpenGL mode, but the effect is the same, instant damage upon touch. The Water (blue) Shield, first seen in Greenflower Zone 2, will protect you from the goo, but there are no Water Shields in this zone. Go figure.

[edit] Act 1

Act 1 is very straightforward. However, there is a little path-choosing to take into account. After the little straight path with the flying Buzz (the enemy on that path) there is a fork in the road. The left path is much easier for Sonic, because of the near-total lack of chemical goo, but has few Rings, so I recommend that Tails and Knuckles players take the right path, unless you want to get the Special Stage Token in the tunnel below the small hole in the wall, which you can get through using Spin Dash. Entering the tunnel gives you a) no way back out of the hole, and b) a hard section with bobbing platforms that dip into chemical goo. Once you clear that, it is smooth sailing, plus you get a shortcut to the level end. Take the right path, and it is completely straightforward.

[edit] Act 2

This act takes place entirely inside a factory. The first room in the act introduces a 2-hit normal enemy (the Crawla Commander), has a secret (but clearly visible) ring bonus area, and multiple path choices. Going down the crusher conveyor belt is faster, but has a large risk of getting killed. The goo room is slower, and has a lower (but still high) death risk. Knuckles is the best character for the goo room, and Sonic is the best for the conveyor belt. Go either way, and you end up in the same place at the end. Run a bit more, and you have another path choice. Staying on the conveyor belt takes you under a massive crusher, which can just be spun under as it goes up. Taking the overpass leads you to a hallway riddled with death pits, Detons (the red orbs that chase you around and blow up when they hit something), and spikes. The crusher path is more aggravating but easier, and can net you (surprise) a Special Stage Token, behind what looks like chemical goo on a wall, but isn't. Like the first path-split, they go to the same place in the end. Bounce off the springs and follow the arrows into a room with a Crawla Commander, a elevator, and a big red switch. Kill the Commander (optional), hit the switch, and get up in whatever way is best. Run out onto the thin dam, and run off the wall on the side with the isolated goo pool. The little cave in the middle of the back wall contains the level exit.

[edit] Act 3

• Boss: Egg Slimer
• Hits to defeat: 8

This boss goes in circles around the inside of the little train car thing you are on. Don't fall of the train car, you will die if you fall off and do not get back on. Each time you hit the Egg Slimer, it gets faster and faster and spits out more and more chemical goo. After 6 hits, the Egg Slimer starts to bounce around, spitting out 6 or so goo globs a bounce. Hit 8 sends Eggman packing.