Part 3

Explore Sonic Advance 3's complex partner system. Learn about character unlocks, Tag Team actions, Boost Mode, Mid-Air Tricks, and team formations to master every combination.

Sonic Advance 3's world has been shattered into 7 pieces! With the Master Emerald's help, Sonic and friends must reassemble it. Eggman has unleashed his Ultimate Fighting Robot, a formidable foe even stronger than Emerl from Sonic Battle. It's time to thwart Eggman's ultimate scheme through teamwork!

Character Moves Introduction:

The partner system in Sonic Advance 3 is intricate. You select a primary character and a partner. Initially, you can choose between Sonic and Tails, with more characters unlocked later. Knuckles is available after completing Zone 2 Act 3, Amy after Zone 4 Act 3, and Cream after Zone 6 Act 3, all requiring Sonic as the main character. Your partner significantly influences the main character's abilities. They enable Tag Team actions by pressing the R button, with each partner offering a unique assist. Furthermore, partners can grant or alter abilities, though this is less crucial for the partner themselves. Various non-attack-related effects can also occur. Each team has a "formation" – Speed (Sonic shoe), Power (Knuckles' fist), or Fly (Tails' tails) – indicating their general strengths, though this isn't always accurate. There are 20 distinct partner combinations. The Extra Zone, accessible after collecting all Chaos Emeralds and beating the Final Zone with Sonic, features a unique partner pairing detailed later.

Basic Moves all Characters can do:

• Run: Hold right or left to run in that direction, gaining speed with sustained pressure.
• Crouch: Press down while standing still to crouch, useful for dodging attacks. Holding crouch long enough changes the screen view to see below.
• Look Up: Press up while standing still to look up, eventually changing the screen view to see above.

Boost Mode and Mid Air Trick Moves:

Some teams can perform moves carried over from Sonic Advance 2. Any team with Sonic as the main character or partner can use Boost Mode. Sonic's Tag Action instantly activates Boost Mode, and only Tails retains his Boost Mode attack. Mid-Air Trick Moves are exclusive to the Sonic/Tails, Tails/Sonic, Amy/Cream, and Cream/Amy teams.

Boost Mode: Requires Sonic on the team. In Boost Mode, you travel at extreme speeds. You can enter Boost Mode by running (especially downhill) for a duration; more Rings accelerate this. Speed boosters can also trigger Boost Mode.

Mid Air Trick Moves: Performable by Sonic/Tails, Tails/Sonic, Amy/Cream, and Cream/Amy teams. These are special mid-air maneuvers using the R button and a directional button, usable in specific situations like jumping off springs while not in ball form. A trick cannot be immediately repeated, and pressing R alone performs a Tag Action.

• Jump Higher: Press up + R. Most effective at the peak of a jump, allowing access to higher areas.
• Sideways Propel: Press left or right + R. Propels the character sideways rapidly.
  • Sonic and Amy: Twirl rapidly, moving sideways quickly with slight height loss until hitting a wall or landing. Direction cannot be changed mid-move. Enemies can be attacked.
  • Tails: Spins his tails for a quick forward boost, then begins to fall. Travels less distance sideways than others, with slight control over landing. Enemies cannot be attacked.
  • Cream: Performs a slower spin than Sonic and Amy. Direction can be controlled mid-move, but enemies cannot be attacked.
• Downward Dash: Press down + R. The character stops mid-air and heads straight down.
  • Sonic: Bound. Enters a fast mid-air spin, heads straight down, then bounces up. Can be used to attack enemies.
  • Amy: Mid-Air Hammer Swirl. Similar to Sonic's Bound but with a slightly larger range.
  • Cream and Tails: Head straight down, with slight directional control. Cannot attack enemies.

Tag Actions:

To activate a Tag Action, press and hold the R button. Orange circles will appear, then...