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Notes and Strategy (28)
Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Notes and Strategy (28)

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Act 2 walkthrough for Knuckles, including how to beat the Hand Machine mini-boss and navigate lava.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Act 2 walkthrough for Knuckles, including how to beat the Hand Machine mini-boss and navigate lava.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    When the pool of lava freezes over, go right and head across it.
  2. 2
    Press the switch and go through the opening.
  3. 3
    Head across the blue cylinder while avoiding the row of spikes.
  4. 4
    Dodge the Robotnik Boxes and head right to break open a few boulders (you can't take Sonic's route due to Knuckles' low jump).
  5. 5
    Go through the orange pipe and jump over the hidden spring.
  6. 6
    Break through the boulders and grab a Flame Shield on the platform nearby. You can bounce on the bottom right spring to have an easier time getting to it.
  7. 7
    Drop down the collapsing ledges and head past the exploding rocks.
  8. 8
    When the eastern platform moves left, jump right to continue onward.
  9. 9
    Head across the blue cylinder while avoiding the row of spikes, but beware of the overhead spikes.
  10. 10
    Bounce on the hidden spring to catapult Knuckles up to a Starpost (a type of checkpoint (an auto-save point you restart from on death)).
  11. 11
    Activate it and drop down.
  12. 12
    .
  13. 13
    Take out the 2 Toxiomisters (enemies) and use the spiked platforms to descend.
  14. 14
    Watch out for the flamethrower.
  15. 15
    Break through the boulders and go through the pipe.
  16. 16
    Climb carefully up the walls to avoid getting hit by the flamethrowers.
  17. 17
    When you reach a platform, press the switch nearby to reveal an opening.
  18. 18
    Grab the Flame Shield and activate the Starpost.
  19. 19
    Go past the Toxiomisters and spiked balls.
  20. 20
    Press the switch and head through the opening.
  21. 21
    Break through the boulders and go through the pipe.
  22. 22
    Head past the flamethrowers and spiked balls.
  23. 23
    When you reach some steps, climb up them and break through more boulders.
  24. 24
    Jump up the moving platforms and go right.
  25. 25
    Glide over the long row of spikes.
  26. 26
    .
  27. 27
    Break through the boulders and glide over to the right.
  28. 28
    Head past the flamethrowers and break through more boulders.
  29. 29
    Continue going right to finish the level.

Mini-Boss Strategy:

  1. The Mini-Boss is the Hand Machine, with two wheels that fire small projectiles.
  2. Run back and forth to dodge the projectiles.
  3. Each wheel takes 4 hits to destroy.
  4. If you concentrate on destroying one wheel, you can deal with the other one during the next attack sequence.
  5. When the wheels leave the screen, the Mini-Boss will make an appearance.
  6. The hand will copy your movements in an attempt to pound the ground and crush you.
  7. If you keep running back and forth, you should be able to dodge it.
  8. When it pounds the ground, hit it once.
Tips
  • You don't need to destroy the wheels, but their attacks can be a nuisance.
  • Grab the Flame Shield on the platform nearby in Act 2 for added protection.
  • Use the bottom right spring to make getting the Flame Shield easier.
  • Climb carefully up walls to avoid flamethrowers.
  • Glide over long rows of spikes.

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