History YMMV / Sonic3DFlickiesIsland

** Director Jon Burton revealed that the Sega Saturn port of the game uses the exact same code as the Genesis version, just with a well programmed C language compiler that perfectly emulates the Sega Genesis' 68000 assembly language. All of the other new graphical effects could simply be laid on top then, as they don't interact with/or effect gameplay.

* HilariousInHindsight: Sonic's [[http://vgboxart.com/view/76380/sonic-3d-flickies-island-directors-cut-eu-cover/ odd looking model]] on the European cover of the game is eerily similar looking to [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes Neo Metal Sonic]] due to the symmetry and the arrangement of Sonic's quills.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: In response to criticisms of the game's physics not embodying the usual feel of the prior ''Sonic'' games, the CEO of Traveler's Tales, Jon Burton, produced a modification of the game with numerous updates, including the addition of ''Super Sonic''.

* CommonKnowledge: The Japanese 2D illustrations for the game were (and still are) commonly thought to be done by Yuji Uekawa due to the designs sharing similarities with his modern 2D illustrations. However, it was revealed in 2020 that it is actually the work of former Sega artist Satoshi Okano, who also played a role in designing Sonic’s modern design alongside Uekawa.

* ThatOneBoss: Most of the later game bosses can be described as this, but Volcano Valley's is the worst. Having to cross thin pipes in an isometric perspective with a rather slippery control over your character with lava and a dragon following you makes this boss a life-stealer. This can be dealt with by attacking him quickly, but usually you'll end up getting hit and/or dying.

* AntiClimaxBoss: The TrueFinalBoss is, for some, easier than the Panic Puppet boss.

* GoodBadBug: In addition to the CheatCode activated level select, there's a second way to trigger it. As part of a kind of safety feature, the error handler for the game makes the game jump to a screen saying, "CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE FOUND THE SECRET LEVEL SELECT SCREEN!", proceeding onto the level select. With the Genesis being as fragile as it is, the easiest way to do this is to simply ''smack the console'', especially during the pre-rendered 3D animation at the start of the game.[[note]]Jon Burton [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9bkKw32dGw revealed]] that this error handler was a clever (and successful) way to pass Sega's quality assurance more easily.[[/note]]

** The Saturn version averts this for Volcano Valley, [[spoiler: where, with the right jumping, it's easy to connect successive hits on Robotnik and beat him in about 20 seconds]]. The honor for this one is Panic Puppet, whose attack patterns and specific hit areas make it harder than the true final boss.

* SoOkayItsAverage: The general consensus on the game is that it's not ''terrible'', but the slow gameplay, the flickies mechanic, the Genesis special stages and the [[LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading long long times on the Saturn version]] drag it down quite a bit.

** Sonic still moves about as fast as he does in the main 2D games, so the console can render all of this very quickly.

** Jon Burton's ''Director's Cut'' makes the Chaos Emerald situation even worse; you can only earn one ''per zone''. Which means you can't even unlock the newly added [[SuperMode Super Sonic]] until the endgame, although the extra challenges and replay value prevent it being redundant altogether.

* PolishedPort:
** The Saturn version substantially beefed up the graphics and palette with a variety of environmental effects, completely redesigned the Special Stages courtesy of in-house Sega of Japan developers, added analog control pad support, and provided a different CD-quality soundtrack composed by Richard Jacques. The major caveat, however, is that the load times are absolutely atrocious.
** The PC port retains many of the improvements of the Saturn version, along with managing to almost minimize the load times altogether. Additionally, there is even a basic save feature. The downside is that the Special Stages have been downgraded back into faux-3D sprite work, though are still upgraded over the original Genesis versions.

** The PC port retains many of the improvements of the Saturn version, along with managing to almost minimize the load times altogether. Additionally, there is even a basic save feature.

* BestBossEver: While the game isn't exactly well-loved, most can agree that the bosses are actually quite challenging and fun.

** As Burton would go on to share in his behind-the-scenes videos, the sheer level of SceneryPorn in the Genesis game up to and including ''a CGI FMV intro'' were all only possible through judicious application of programming magic, graphical shortcuts and compression trickery. As further seen with the enhanced Saturn port and the graphical might of ''[[VideoGame/SonicR Sonic R]]'', milking Sega consoles for all their potential was Burton's expertise.

* SugarWiki/GeniusProgramming: Director Jon Burton revealed that the Sega Saturn port of the game uses the exact same code as the Genesis version, just with a well programmed C language compiler that perfectly emulates the Sega Genesis' 68000 assembly language. All of the other new graphical effects could simply be laid on top then, as they don't interact with/or effect gameplay.
** As Jon would go on to share in his behind-the-scenes videos, the sheer level of SceneryPorn in the Genesis game up to and including ''a CGI FMV intro'' were all only possible through judicious application of programming magic, graphical shortcuts and compression trickery. As further seen with the enhanced Saturn port and the graphical might of ''[[VideoGame/SonicR Sonic R]]'', milking Sega consoles for all their potential was Jon's expertise.

** The Genesis version has a remarkable workaround for crashes: instead of simply halting the game when something would cause the game to crash (either the cartridge being jostled or the rare programming error), the game would "congratulate" the player for finding for finding the secret level select menu.

** Jon Burton's ''Director's Cut'' makes the Chaos Emerald situation even worse; you can only earn one '''per zone'''. Which means you can't even unlock the newly added [[SuperMode Super Sonic]] until the endgame, although the extra challenges and replay value prevent it being redundant altogether.

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: Particularly hardware-pushing for the Genesis. Let's count the ways:

* SugarWiki/GeniusProgramming: Director Jon Burton revealed that the Sega Saturn port of the game uses the exact same code as the Genesis version, just with a well programmed C language compiler that perfectly emulates the Sega Genesis' 68000 assembly language. All of the other new graphical effects could simply be laid on top then, as they dont interact with/or effect gameplay.

* GeniusProgramming: Director Jon Burton revealed that the Sega Saturn port of the game uses the exact same code as the Genesis version, just with a well programmed C language compiler that perfectly emulates the Sega Genesis' 68000 assembly language. All of the other new graphical effects could simply be laid on top then, as they dont interact with/or effect gameplay.

** A ''full FMV'' for the opening cutscene. According to Burton, not even the people from Sega knew it was possible. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IehwV2K60r8 This video]] documents the painstaking efforts taken to make it happen, and it's [[GeniusProgramming nothing short of ingenious]].

** A ''full FMV'' for the opening cutscene. According to Burton, not even the people from Sega knew it was possible.