Sonic the Hedgehog 3 contains six zones, each divided up into two acts. At the end of each act you must fight against a boss.
Angel Island Zone
After Sonic arrives he is stopped by Knuckles who steals the seven Chaos Emeralds he is carrying. The zone is green and jungle-like to begin with, but halfway through act 1 it is set ablaze by Dr. Robotniks robots.
Act 1
- Special Stage rings
- Near the start of the zone, just after the first drop, turn left. Do a spin dash to break the rock blocking the entrance to a hidden room containing the special stage ring.
- After the zone is set on fire, go down the first drop and break the rock to the left. In the hidden room is a spring. The special stage ring is above the spring.
- Boss
- Sonic and/or Tails must do battle against one of the hovering flame drones which set the zone ablaze.
Act 2
- Special Stage rings
- After you go through the narrow shoot at the very start of the stage, just keep pressing right and you should break into the hidden room after you exit the shoot.
- When you get to the waterfall with the rocks that appear and disappear, fall down into the pool below. Do a spin dash up the right wall to find the hidden room where the special stage ring is.
- Boss
- At the waterfall Sonic and/or Tails fight Dr. Robotnik's own flame-wielding vehicle. After you cross the bridge it is burned by Dr. Robotnik. Robotnik's vehicle will fade in and out of the waterfall; when he is behind the waterfall he can not be hit but he also can not fire his fire ball's at you. This is easier if you have the flame shield as Dr. Robotnik's fireballs are unable to harm you with this shield.
Hydrocity Zone
This zone takes place in a hydroelectric dam. There are a lot of underwater sections to this zone.
Act 1
- Boss
- The boss is a machine capable of producing whirlpools.
Act 2
- Boss
- Dr. Robotnik uses a machine which is also capable of producing whirlpools. He also lays down depth charges in the water.
Marble Garden Zone
The marble ruins of an ancient civilization. This is the only zone without any water to drown Sonic or Tails, though tar pits can still drag the heroes down and kill them.
Act 1
- Boss
- The mini-boss uses a pair of drills to attack Sonic and Tails, both directly and by drilling into the rock above and raining debris on their heads (reminiscent of Dr. Robotnik's own vehicle in the Mystic Cave Zone of Sonic 2).
Act 2
- Boss
- Dr. Robotnik attempts to crush the pair under the collapsing ruins, and when Tails airlifts Sonic out of danger, charges at them directly with his drill.
Carnival Night Zone
This zone takes place in a carnival at night. It is similar to the Casino Night Zone from Sonic 2.
Items
| File:Sonic 3 - Barrel.PNG | Barrel | When Sonic/Tails stand on these you can make them bounce up and down by pressing up and down while standing on them.. |
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Balloon | Sonic/Tails can bounce off of these by jumping into them. When underwater they release air when burst. |
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Bouncer | Sonic/Tails bounce off these giving 10 points every time. |
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Wheel | Sonic/Tails can run around these when you jump on to them. |
Act 2
Halfway through this Act, Sonic must push a rotating cylinder down through a slot low enough for him to escape through. This is completed by pressing up and down on the D-Pad, without jumping.
- Boss
- Sonic and Tails face Dr. Robotnik, who this time drops a large sphere and uses it to create an electric storm that draws the pair towards its discharge.
Icecap Zone
The level contains vents that shoot out cold bursts that freeze and harm Sonic.
Act 1
Sonic is shot from a cannon and lands on a snowboard in the snowy mountains. The first 20 seconds of this act show Sonic snowboarding down the mountain, during which time you have no control over him except being able to jump. During this Sonic will collect 40 rings. Tails will not be able to collect these rings. The act takes place in the frozen cave Sonic lands in.
- Boss
- A snow machine that spins snow at Sonic or Tails tries to crush them.
Act 2
Act two takes place on the snow covered surface of the mountain.
- Boss
- Robotnik attacks in a machine that that has a spiked platform drop down and fires the freezing bursts in a pattern at Sonic.
Launch Base Zone
This is where Dr. Robotnik is building his Death egg.
Items
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Alarm | If you walk through these, you’ll set off an alarm, and a badnik will appear. |
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Flamethrower | These fire flame blasts out. |
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Transporter | These take you to a different part of the level. |
Act 1
- Special Stage rings
- At the very first rotating bridge drop down and go left. When you get to the wall jump up into a secret passage to find the special stage ring.
- Boss
- The mini-boss uses two flailing arms.
Act 2
- Special Stage rings
- At the start of the level drop down between the pipes, go right and jump into the water. Go through the secret path toward the left just above the red spring.
- Boss
- Dr. Robotnik uses three different weapons to stop Sonic and Tails: first, a static projectile launcher at the foot of the Death Egg. When that fails, Robotnik flees to the Death Egg and Sonic chases after, leaving Tails behind. After boarding, Dr. Robotnik employs a rocket armed with lasers to fight Sonic, and then finally resorts to a large pair of arms (possibly inspired by his powersuit at the end of Sonic 2) to grab Sonic in a ball and slam him into the floor (as well as the rather impressive ability to damage even Super Sonic, though taking Super Sonic to the final battle is rare).