"Sonic the Hedgehog 3" is a 1994 platform game where players control Sonic and Tails as they navigate side-scrolling levels, collect rings, and battle enemies. Their goal is to retrieve the Chaos Emeralds and prevent Doctor Robotnik from relaunching his space station, the Death Egg. The game introduces Knuckles the Echidna, a new character who protects the island and hinders Sonic and Tails' progress.
1982: Release of "Hard Times" by the Jetzons
The song "Hard Times" by the Jetzons was released in 1982. This song would later be used as the basis for the IceCap Zone music in Sonic 3.
1990: Sega and Michael Jackson Collaborate on Moonwalker
Sega collaborated with Michael Jackson on the arcade game Moonwalker in 1990, marking an early instance of their working relationship.
January 1993: Development of Sonic 3 Begins
Sega began developing Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in January 1993. Initially envisioned as an isometric game, time constraints led the developers to shift to a more traditional 2D platforming style.
1993: Allegations Against Michael Jackson and Impact on Sonic 3 Soundtrack
Following allegations of child sexual abuse against Michael Jackson in 1993, his involvement with the Sonic 3 soundtrack ended. While there are conflicting accounts of the reasons behind this decision, it led to a significant portion of the soundtrack being reworked or replaced.
1993: Michael Jackson's Team Develops Music for Sonic 3
In 1993, Michael Jackson's team, led by Brad Buxer, worked on creating music for Sonic 3 at Record One in Los Angeles.
February 2, 1994: Sonic 3 Launches in North America
Sonic 3 was released in North America on February 2, 1994. Sega launched a massive marketing campaign for the game, reflecting its significance as a major release for the company.
February 1994: Sonic 3 Sales Success
Sonic 3 achieved commercial success, becoming the top-selling Sega Genesis game in February 1994 in the United States. The game was a major contributor to the franchise's popularity.
February 1994: Sonic 3 Launches to Critical and Commercial Success
Sonic 3 was launched in North America and Europe in February 1994, receiving positive reviews and selling well. Critics praised it as an improvement over earlier games in the series.
November 1994: Sonic 3 Critical Acclaim
In November 1994, Mega ranked Sonic 3 as the fifth-best Genesis game ever, solidifying its place as a classic within the gaming community.
1994: Sega Abandons Sega Virtua Processor for Sonic 3
Sega initially planned to use the Sega Virtua Processor chip for Sonic 3 to enable 3D graphics; however, due to the chip's limitations and the goal of releasing the game in 1994, they decided to abandon its use and focus on a 2D approach.
1994: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Released
In 1994, Sega released Sonic the Hedgehog 3, a platform game for the Sega Genesis. In this installment, players control Sonic and Tails as they work to retrieve the Chaos Emeralds and stop Dr. Robotnik from launching his Death Egg space station. The game introduces Knuckles the Echidna, a new character who serves as a guardian and obstacle for the protagonists.
1996: Release of Sonic 3D Blast
In 1996, Sega released Sonic 3D Blast, an isometric platformer that used some of the concepts initially explored during the early development of Sonic 3.
1996: Release of "Stranger in Moscow" by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson's single "Stranger in Moscow" was released in 1996. The song's musical basis originated from the credits music of Sonic 3.
1997: Sonic 3 Compilation Releases
In 1997, Sonic 3 was included in multiple compilations such as Sonic Jam for Sega Saturn, and Sonic & Knuckles Collection for Windows. These releases marked the game's expansion onto different platforms.
1997: Sonic & Knuckles Collection Features Modified Soundtrack
The 1997 Windows port "Sonic & Knuckles Collection" featured a modified soundtrack, with some tracks from the original Sonic 3 being replaced. This marked one of the first instances of the game's music being altered in subsequent releases.
1999: Sonic & Garfield Pack Release
Sonic 3 was bundled with other titles and released as Sonic & Garfield Pack for Windows in 1999, marking another compilation release.
2002: Sonic Mega Collection Release
The year 2002 saw the release of Sonic Mega Collection which included Sonic 3. The compilation was released for GameCube, bringing the game to a Nintendo platform.
2004: Sonic Mega Collection Plus Release
Expanding upon the previous collection, Sonic Mega Collection Plus, released in 2004, also featured Sonic 3 and was made available on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows.
2005: Confirmation of Michael Jackson's Involvement in Sonic 3 Soundtrack
In 2005, after years of speculation, composer Cirocco Jones confirmed Michael Jackson's involvement in composing music for the Sonic 3 soundtrack.
September 2007: Sonic 3 Wii Virtual Console Release
In September 2007, Sonic 3 was released on the Wii Virtual Console, making it available to a new generation of players.
2008: Leak of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Limited Edition ROM
A ROM image of the canceled "Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Limited Edition," which would have combined Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles on a single cartridge, was leaked online in 2008. This provided fans with a glimpse of a version of the game that was never officially released.
June 10, 2009: Sonic 3 Xbox Live Arcade Release
Sonic 3 was released on Xbox Live Arcade on June 10, 2009, developed by Backbone Entertainment. This version boasted enhanced HD graphics, online leaderboards, split-screen and Xbox Live multiplayer, and an improved saving system.
2009: Speculation Arises Regarding Rerelease Frequency and Legal Issues
Following Michael Jackson's death in 2009, the frequency of Sonic 3 rereleases decreased. This led to speculation that legal issues surrounding Jackson's estate and the rights to the music might be a contributing factor.
2009: Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection Release
Sonic 3 was included in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection in 2009, further solidifying its presence in Sonic compilation history. The collection was released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
2010: Sonic Classic Collection Release
Sonic 3 continued its journey through compilations with the release of Sonic Classic Collection in 2010 for Nintendo DS.
January 2011: Sonic 3 PC Release
January 2011 saw the release of Sonic 3 on PC via Steam, initially as "Sonic 3 & Knuckles". However, this version was later delisted.
2013: Sega Denies Knowledge of Formal Agreement with Michael Jackson
In 2013, senior Sega personnel, including Sega of America's president, stated they were unaware of any formal agreement regarding Michael Jackson's involvement in Sonic 3. This further fueled the controversy surrounding Jackson's contributions to the game's music.
2013: Discovery of the Origin of IceCap Zone Music
In 2013, it came to light that the music used for the IceCap Zone in Sonic 3 originated from a previously unreleased song titled "Hard Times" by the Jetzons, a band featuring Brad Buxer, who was involved in the game's music production.
2013: US Gamer Ranking
In 2013, Jeremy Parish of US Gamer placed Sonic 3 & Knuckles at number eight on their ranking of the best Genesis games.
2014: Sonic 3 & Knuckles Remaster Proposal
In 2014, developers Christian Whitehead and Simon Thomley pitched a remaster of Sonic 3 & Knuckles to Sega. The proposal involved using Whitehead's Retro Engine for iOS and Android platforms. Despite fan enthusiasm, Sega did not greenlight the project, potentially due to legal complexities surrounding the game's music.
2014: GamesRadar Ranking
Sonic 3 & Knuckles secured the seventh spot on GamesRadar's list of the best Genesis games in 2014.
2017: Sonic 3 Elements in Sonic Generations and Sonic Mania
Elements of Sonic 3 continued to be celebrated and reimagined in later Sonic games. For Sonic's 20th anniversary in 2017, Sonic Generations featured a remake of the final boss "Big Arms" and a rearranged "Game Over" theme from Sonic 3. The same year, Sonic Mania included remixed versions of the Angel Island and Hydrocity levels.
2019: Sonic 3 Exclusion from Sega Genesis Mini
Sonic 3 was notably absent from the Sega Genesis Mini released in 2019. This exclusion was attributed to licensing issues related to the game's soundtrack.
2019: Discovery of Early Sonic 3 Prototype and Soundtrack Comparisons
The discovery of a Sonic 3 prototype in 2019 provided insight into the game's development. Notably, the prototype's soundtrack featured different tracks compared to the final release, further supporting the claims that Michael Jackson's music was replaced.
2022: Sonic 3 & Knuckles Re-release in Sonic Origins
After 2011, Sonic 3 & Knuckles saw its first re-release in 2022 as part of the Sonic Origins compilation. Developed by Simon Thomley of Headcannon using the Retro Engine, this remaster featured widescreen support and included Amy Rose as a playable character in the expanded version. Due to ongoing licensing issues, the original soundtrack was replaced with rearrangements of the MIDI music from Sonic & Knuckles Collection using the original Genesis sound chip.
2022: Sonic Origins Includes Remastered Version with Soundtrack Alterations
The 2022 compilation "Sonic Origins" featured a remastered version of Sonic 3 with further alterations to the soundtrack. These changes sparked discussion among fans and fueled speculation about the reasons behind the continued modifications to the game's music.