Sonic Advance 3 - GBA

Speaking in two-dimensional terms, Sega's long-running Sonic series is technically old and outdated. But in spite of that, Sonic's 2D offerings continue to spawn on Game Boy Advance. And there's a very good reason - Sega and the Sonic franchise have a very loyal fanbase. Add to that the pleasures of nostalgic gameplay and renowned level design and you have yourself an extremely worthwhile platformer. This time, it's Sonic Advance 3.

In true blue hedgehog fashion, Advance 3 sees the return of Sonic and his buddies in a new adventure that sees them thwarting the evil plans of the infamous Doctor Robotnik (or Eggman if you live Stateside). On this particular occasion, Robotnik has used a form of Chaos Control in order to split Sonic's world into seven separate sections and seven new Robotnik empires.

It's not exactly original, but the storyline's unimportant when it comes to fast-paced platforming action. At a fundamental level, Sonic is just like it was back on MegaDrive. Sonic and his pals can sprint at super-animal speeds, and the game's vast and varied locales boast myriad loop-the-loops, corkscrews and vertical ramps.

That's really what Sonic is all about, but as with any sequel, there are a few tweaks and additions. There are now five characters up for the challenge, fresh signature moves, multiple level routes, new mini-games and a brand new co-operative mode in which two characters can combine their efforts to defeat Robotnik together. There's also the usual plethora of hidden extras littered about the game's seven worlds, but you'll just have to discover them for yourself.

Sonic Advance 3 is a predictable sequel, but it's every bit as enjoyable as the day it first appeared on our TV sets more than a decade ago. more