Sonic 3D Blast (Sega Saturn, 1996)

I grew up playing the Genesis version of the game. I never even knew it came out for the Saturn. So when I saw it I had to get it. The game is similar to the original but the did update it and change a few things around. The first thing I noticed was the opening and the music was different. They also add more detail to the stages and changed the special stages to mirror that of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The attention to detail is great and the game play is still as fun as I remember the Genesis version. However the game is no where as good as the more conventional Sonic titles on the Genesis but it is a nice attempt at a different kind of game. The game is difficult like it's predecessors but for different reasons. The graphics were ahead of it's time and works better then some of the more modern 3d sonic games. Sonic feels a bit slow in this game but given that it was the first of the 3d environment Sonic games it works well. I feel that if Sonic was as fast as he was in the past games, you may have lost your lunch in this game. Since this is the Saturn game their are load times but I would say they are pretty fast and maybe faster then some modern systems and games. The last complaint about the game is that the controls are a little hard to use, I find myself having a hard time hitting targets. This is before Sonic had lock on abilities and I really wish he did in this game. I gave it a 4/5 because it was a nice attempt to keep Sonic from getting stale, and I do enjoy playing the game even though it can ware on you. It is definitely worth checking out, but if your only interesting in the classic style of Sonic gaming then you may want to look for a different title.

The idea to put Sonic into 3D form was great... but this game isn't.

The whole concept is to defeat enemies to collect flickys. Then put the required number of flickys into a floating ring at the end of the level to move on. Simple Enough.

The gameply is like a 2D overhead with a bad angle.

The game is fun, no doubt. But it doesn't hold up to it's previous games. The Sega Saturn is better than the Sega genesis version.

This is almost exactly like the game released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive. The Saturn version graphics are better as is the sound and the gameplay remains the same. Bonus levels are different and better.

This game does come as close to getting 3D right as any game can on a 32-bit console but it's still just a 32-bit game so don't expect awesome 3D graphics. 3D stuff aside, this game looks good, sounds good and has enough challenge in it to be interesting for more than one go-around.

If you have not already played this game then YES, get this game. It is hard to put down once you start. Like Tetris, or Pac Man or Q-Bert (or my new favorite DC Squares) - this game is pointless and addictive, just at a slightly slower pace. Capture five birds so that you can go through a ring that will take you to the next level - and repeat. The whole checkered grid is a giant pinball world.

I do not know if this is the version used for some of those Sonic Classics re-released for the Playstation 2 and GameCube systems but I doubt that it is as the programing involved for the Sega Saturn was somewhat complicated and very little known outside of Saturn game programmers of the late 90's. Those compilation disks are likely taken directly from the Genesis ROM's. If so, and likely it is, then this Sega Saturn version of Sonic 3D Blast is the only version of its kind ever released. It is the BEST version and it is unique.

This is one of my favorite games of all time. I own it for sega genesis and now for saturn. The game play is incredibly addictive. I've beat this more times than I can count. If you're a Sonic fan this is a must. If you're a casual action gamer then I highly recommend it.

Fun but strange when you playing with this game the first time! The gameplay is very different of the 2d episode on the Genesis.