Sonic Advance 3

Game Overview
Sonic Advance 3 came out in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance, developed by Dimps and published by Sega. It was part of that steady stream of portable Sonic games that kept the series alive between console releases, and it felt right at home on the GBA with its bright colors and fast action.

You control Sonic and a partner character, switching between them on the fly to use their unique abilities; Tails can carry you over gaps, Knuckles breaks barriers, and Cream's Chao helps fetch distant items. The main goal is to hunt down Chaos Emeralds by completing special stages, which requires careful platforming and quick reflexes. Levels are designed with multiple pathways and plenty of hidden areas, encouraging replayability to find everything. The game moves fast and can get pretty tough, especially in later zones, but nailing a perfect run through a complicated section feels incredibly satisfying. It's a solid, energetic platformer that makes good use of the hardware.