Credits: The usual thanks:

• Radix, mikwuyma, DJGrenola, anyone I missed - for updating/upkeeping the site and all the cool stuff
• Nate - for sharing my love of Sonic, and capturing the video from VHS
• The Sonic Center crew - for coming up with some of the strategies that I've practiced over and over to get good enough to speedrun the game
• Everyone at SDA that bugged me to do runs all year. This is your reward for your patience!

Welcome to Sonic 3 and Knuckles, the way it should be. Fast, and with no mercy.

I've included the TSC records for comparison, but you'll find that most comparisons are quite unfair. The reasons are many and varied, and detailed below:

• Act 2s have a two-second wait time before you are allowed to move off the boss map (exception: Sandopolis 2). Some are even worse, and starting from act 2 puts you in an even better position (AI2, LR2 are good examples).
• Some levels have glitches which are not allowed by SDA rules (HC2 and MG2 are good examples).
• Some levels benefit from having a certain type of shield which is not seen anywhere in the level up to that point. To circumvent this, in individual level time attacks bonus stages are used to get shields. As an aesthetic move, I opted not to use the bonus stages in this run, as they detract from the real action in the levels.
• Some act 2s benefit from carrying a shield in from act 1. If it did I tried to use that, though Carnival Night 2 works better with a lightning shield than a fire.
• Lava Reef 2's record is obtained by skipping the boss fight entirely - two very difficult maneuvers in succession, something I wanted to stay away from at the end of a SS.
• Sky Sanctuary benefits from a death, saving 22 seconds of in-game time but losing a few seconds by SDA timing (as well as looking plain stupid).
• Mushroom Hill 1 is shorter on Sonic and Knuckles alone (the first 16 or so seconds are removed), so at TSC this is used for the best times.

I remember reading in the comments for a very popular run here that the runner had spent eight months preparing for his run. Now that sort of dedication is something I've never been renowned for, but when you consider all the time I've been doing individual levels over at TSC you could say I've been preparing for this speedrun for the past three years. While I didn't always have this goal in mind, my skills eventually improved to the point that I thought I could take this on. And let me tell you from experience, speedrunning is way harder than any individual level can be! It's the ultimate test of concentration.

You'll notice I start from a save file - one with eight lives, and all Chaos Emeralds and one Super Emerald obtained. This doesn't adversely affect the run in any way:
* Lives - don't matter as I don't lose any throughout the run. I probably should've thought ahead and knocked it down to three lives for consistency's sake, though.
* Emeralds - collecting that one Super Emerald disables the use of Super Sonic, therefore Sonic controls as if he had no Chaos Emeralds. The real advantage is in being able to play the Doomsday Zone as a sort of demonstration.

On to the levels:

• Angel Island 1 (0:57 - TSC record: 0:46)
  [0:34] ...what the hell?
  [0:56] I have to duck briefly so I'm not hit by the fire.

• Angel Island 2 (1:36 - TSC record: 1:24)
  [0:23] Bouncing off the bump in the ground gives just enough height to land on the crumbling platform.
  [0:50] Slick flame shield maneuvering.
  [1:05] Attempted to time a flame attack to every single bomb drop. It always seems more accurate when you're playing...
  [1:36] I'm falling... what?

• Hydrocity 1 (1:04 - TSC record: 0:55)
  [0:09] Taking full advantage of invincibility. :D
  [0:50] The boss can be hit in midair without any risk of the dangerous arms coming into play. It's actually possible to get all six hits this way!

• Hydrocity 2 (1:44 - TSC record: 0:55)
  [0:36] Note to self: duck, and THEN mash the jump buttons.
  [0:39] You can't land on this slide unless it's a flat surface. This enables you to jump through the slide in the manner shown here.
  [1:05] And again. What was supposed to happen here was I fall through the flat surface onto the top of the loop, but its not a total loss if that doesn't occur.
  [1:16] Left with a choice as Sonic comes up here. Make the wrong call and you're back at the bottom of the ramp. It's imperative this goes right.
  [1:40] Holding a jump button to maintain the height. However I don't risk the last hit, so I drop back down and guarantee it.

• Marble Garden 1 (1:34 - TSC record: 1:18)
  [0:51] Yay for HUGE ramp jumps.

• Marble Garden 2 (2:33 - TSC record: 0:52)
  [1:19] Previous experience taught me to jump here instead of at the end of the spinning top's run, as it liked to turn around at the end. So I did that and still managed to lose my shield! Thankfully I was already going to get the fire shield ahead.
  [2:17] This boss can be completed with lightning, fire or no shield, but I find fire the easiest.

• Carnival Night 1 (0:53 - TSC record: 0:47)
  [0:06] Slowed down so that I'd catch the ramp instead of the usual madness that occurs there.
  [0:29] Using the slight ramp in the ground, I was able to reach the tube and get an easy shortcut.
  [0:41] Ducking keeps the spinning top within the confines of the screen, and tends to give better attack patterns. I was happy with this one.

• Carnival Night 2 (2:50 - TSC record: 2:25)
  [0:11] This part can be a bitch at times. Thankfully I got a good run here, only six seconds from encountering the bumpers to getting past.
  [1:16] I don't know why I rolled either. Put it down to the controller, I suppose.
  [1:25] This hit is intentional, saves me time later in being able to bypass the two ten-ring boxes in the pit.
  [2:05] Okay, what this jump was SUPPOSED to do was land on the other barber's pole and up to the top, hit a bumper and come back down. Instead, I missed, and screwed myself over even more by trying to get underneath it (which you can't do until you get to the bottom).

• Ice Cap 1 (1:58 - TSC record: 1:49)
  [0:43] Got the lightning shield without opening the ice. :)
  [0:46] Here's the first use of the screenwrap glitch. What's going on here is, the Ice Cap 1 map wraps vertically, so if I jump off the top of the screen, the game actually thinks I'm below the screen and scrolls down to catch up. In the meantime, sprites aren't loaded on the map, so I can travel through them (albeit blindly).
  [1:24] Go away, you silly ring! You've only been following me for 24 seconds!
  [1:55] Lightning shield proves its worth once again.

• Ice Cap 2 (1:07 - TSC record: 0:56)
  [0:29] The best path involves going up the ramp on top of the level and taking the high road. However, this is only a couple of seconds slower even if the other path is done well, and I don't do that path very well.
  [1:05] That was actually a really bad miss. To counteract it I just bounced on the boss for 6-7-8.

• Launch Base 1 (2:46 - TSC record: 2:34)
  [0:10] Picked up the flame shield and held jump to get all the way back up!
  [1:17] I probably could've got all the way across with the fire shield...
  [1:26] Missed this jump. As Knuckles I got it right, so go watch his run to see what should've happened (except with more fire shield action across the cylinder).

• Launch Base 2 (2:02 - TSC record: 1:39)
  [0:40] With a lightning shield, Sonic can take a far better path here. Oh well.
  [1:16] Ramp jump to clear the elevator entirely!
  [1:57] Showing no regard for my own safety, I get the last three hits in quick time.

• Mushroom Hill 1 (1:15 - TSC record: 0:48)
  [0:25] Creative use of the speed shoes to take them on a different route. :D

• Mushroom Hill 2 (1:38 - TSC record: 1:17)
  [0:25] DAMNIT! Stuck on the bottom path!
  [1:07] You have to admit that was pretty cool. Insta-shield FTW. This also lets me go up top and get the fire shield.

• Flying Battery 1 (2:07 - TSC record: 1:56)
  [0:40] A highly awesome move to make sure I got on the platform, and with the added side-effect of building momentum.
  [0:46] Have to get this just right to clear the fan. Unfortunately that was a miss.
  [1:04] And that, my friends, is what fire shields are for. Mass shortcutting.
  [1:34] Incredibly lucky crusher position enabled me to jump off just quickly enough to get on the spinning platform. :D
  [2:02] er, whoops.

• Flying Battery 2 (3:34 - TSC record: 3:03)
  [0:26] A quick jump and roll allows me to just get under the second platform.
  [1:18] Wow, that nearly backfired. Really badly.
  [1:55] See that garbled crap going across the screen at the far right? That's a CLOUD. Or, it will be once this fight's over.
  [2:55] Teehee. A wall you can run straight into!

• Sandopolis 1 (2:42 - TSC record: 2:32)
  [0:42] High jumps like this are awesome. Have I mentioned that already?
  [1:13] Missed the jump at the first attempt, so I turned around and had another go.
  [1:49] Wow, that was close.
  [2:40] Intentional hit so I can nail the last hit easily.

• Sandopolis 2 (3:04 - TSC record: 3:04)
  [0:28] Skipped the entire slide section :D
  [1:10] Proof that Sandopolis 2 also wraps vertically. The rings go the wrong way to try and get to me!
  [1:43] Waited this long for the speed shoes to get maximum use from them.
  [2:57] Intentionally took a hit because insta-shield is way faster here.

• Lava Reef 1 (2:37 - TSC record: 2:01)
  [0:57] I'm going too fast for the game, if the glitched sprites are any indication. :)
  [1:30] Missed a couple of jumps, with the end result of losing my fire shield. About ten seconds lost overall due to lack of speed and increased stupidity.
  [2:18] However, I get the benefit of the Insta-Shield here. :)
  [2:37] Made sure to pull up the ten rings. There's also a flame shield on the map which I didn't know about - I probably should've got that instead.

• Lava Reef 2 (3:39 - TSC record: 1:49)
  [0:06] What a waste.
  [0:49] Insta-Shield delayed this hit so I got thrown up onto the higher platform. I'll take it.
  [2:35] What I'm trying to do during this boss is never touch left or right. I can do this by landing on the edge of platforms to change direction.
  [3:39] I had intended to include the capsule hit in that too... but it took me a while to realise that that doesn't work with the flame shield.

• Hidden Palace (0:31 - TSC record: 0:29)
  Straightforward fare.
  [0:31] 11 hits on the "boss"!

• Sky Sanctuary (1:29 - TSC record: 0:41)
  [0:56] After five attempts, finally! Success!

• Death Egg 1 (2:14 - TSC record: 2:08)
  [1:50] Courtesy of yoshifan, this strategy greatly speeds up the first fight. And I do mean greatly.

• Death Egg 2 (3:43 - TSC record: 3:27)
  [1:32] You're meant to use all three of those springs. So much for eliminating unnecessary risk, I suppose.
  [2:21] Spindashing at the spike cars in this way turns them around so that they score a hit on the boss.
  [3:43] Lucky this part isn't timed, heh.

• Doomsday (1:53 - TSC record: 1:44)
  Not my best effort, but it does what it was intended to do. It's really just a demonstration run.

This is the semi-good ending (seeing as how I started with all Chaos Emeralds). If anyone want to do a 100% run, be my guest.

Overall, I think the run was very good. A few critical mistakes but nothing run-killing.

You can contact me on either MSN or AIM:
MSN: mike89_mkscelite AT hotmail DOT com (this is also my primary email address)
AIM: mike89mkscelite

The usual thanks:

• Radix, mikwuyma, DJGrenola, anyone I missed - for updating/upkeeping the site and all the cool stuff
• Nate - for sharing my love of Sonic, and capturing the video from VHS
• The Sonic Center crew - for coming up with some of the strategies that I've practiced over and over to get good enough to speedrun the game
• Everyone at SDA that bugged me to do runs all year. This is your reward for your patience!

Welcome to Sonic 3 and Knuckles - hard mode. That's right, Knuckles has come to the party, and stormed through in 3/4 the time Sonic could.

As with Sonic, I've included the TSC records for comparison, but again you'll find that most comparisons are quite unfair, for the same reasons as with Sonic.

On to the levels:

• Angel Island 1 (0:50 - TSC record: 0:45)
  [0:05] I love this glide. Sometimes you catch the swings on the way through but I was quite lucky here.
  [0:13] and this one too. Landing straight on the spring FTW.

• Angel Island 2 (0:52 - TSC record: 0:38)
  [0:06] Have to turn left on this glide to ensure I don't catch that little bit I just snuck under.
  [0:27] That platform has a tendency to be in the worst of positions - I reset a lot of runs because of this. This time it was nice though. :D
  [0:44] If Knuckles tries to bounce on this boss endlessly without a fire shield, chances are he'll get hit and die. This is a risk that is definitely not worth taking.

• Hydrocity 1 (1:00 - TSC record: 0:55)
  [0:00] Unlike Tails, Knuckles can't glide from start, so he has to land on the left and glide across to the quicker path on the right.
  [0:42] Gliding stops any projectiles from hitting you in the same way a shield does. This is probably the only time you'll see it in action.

• Hydrocity 2 (1:52 - TSC record: 1:28)
  [0:14] No, I don't know why this happens either, seeing as how it doesn't with Sonic or Tails.
  [1:04] Instead of taking the normal path through the level, I now glide across the top of it. Once I reach the end of my glide you'll notice that I'm actually going backwards, but don't worry, there's a good reason.
  [1:12] The height I got from that jump, when combined with slamming into the shark, gets me up onto the wall! And it takes me...
  [1:22] ...straight to Knuckles' boss! Note that this doesn't work for Sonic or Tails because their boss areas are actually in completely different areas.

• Marble Garden 1 (1:21 - TSC record: 1:05)
  [0:19] And now, for my next trick... a super high jump that takes me through an unforseen hole in the roof!
  [0:23] And the jump out. This isn't as easy as it looks.
  [1:14] Whoops. That looked pretty stupid, didn't it?

• Marble Garden 2 (2:16 - TSC record: 0:56)
  [0:26] Using glide off enemies for a high bounce. This isn't used as much as I'd like, because quite frankly its use is limited.
  [0:40] This is meant to be a Tails-only path, but by taking a hit Knuckles can sneak through. In fact, you don't even need the hit, as shown here. :)
  [1:05] And now for my next trick, I'm going to go through a wall onto Sonic's path! ...any second now...
  [1:12] Got it! Third try is pretty good for this glitch as it seems to be about 1/4.
  [1:32] Just proving that you can't climb this wall. :(
  [1:51] Oh, I forgot to mention. With Knuckles, this boss is HARD. There's a reason he got his own one, I suppose. Taking an intentional hit allows me to get more hits in - ideally I want four, but three will do.
  [2:08] And, because I'm an idiot, I only got two hits here instead of the usual three, meaning I need two from the next pass. Tails and Knuckles make an awesome tag team here :)

• Carnival Night 1 (1:03 - TSC record: 0:58)
  [0:09] Ramps being stupid.
  [0:51] Same method as Sonic for giving better setups. This one wasn't so nice, but I'll take it.
  [1:03] Signpost madness. :)

• Carnival Night 2 (0:43 - TSC record: 0:38)
  [0:34] A jump here lands you right in between the two ring boxes, sending you straight through.
  [0:43] That's right, no boss for Knuckles!

• Ice Cap 1 (1:22 - TSC record: 1:18)
  [0:15] Knuckles can go through those blocks for some decent shortcuts. Here's the first.
  [0:39] And the second.
  [1:10] This boss is a pain, but as usual if you have a ring you're okay.

• Ice Cap 2 (1:19 - TSC record: 1:08)
  [0:27] This ramp likes to do that.
  [1:17] Nice save!

• Launch Base 1 (2:23 - TSC record: 2:21)
  [0:36] Instead of going the long way around here, I just climb up the wall. Gotta love being Knuckles. :)
  [1:16] Picture perfect glide through that gap.
  [1:20] That's what Sonic was meant to do. See how much faster it is?
  [2:03] This boss is nothing short of chaos. Just how I like it.

• Launch Base 2 (2:49 - TSC record: 1:27)
  [0:08] Using Knuckles' maneuverability, I can skip some things that you're supposed to do. Here you're meant to go all the way around, but a simple jump-glide puts paid to that.
  [0:30] Here's another one.
  [0:38] The one thing I normally do very differently. I pick up the water shield so I have an extra hit to play with at the boss. Unfortunately I managed to lose it before it would have come in handy.
  [0:48] I love this move. :D
  [0:58] Hey, look! There's meant to be water here!
  [1:34] I made a total meal of this. What's meant to happen is, I jump on the boss for six hits and all is well. Unfortunately, I'm an idiot and forgot about the losing a layer, so I landed too early and took a hit. It also took away my last ring. :(

• Mushroom Hill 1 (1:32 - TSC record: 1:05)
  [0:30] Who am I kidding, that was NEVER going to work.
  [1:11] Almost as if to prove my stupidity, I spindash while on the edge, making me face the wrong way. Of all the little mistakes in the run, this one is definitely the stupidest.

• Mushroom Hill 2 (1:21 - TSC record: 1:08)
  [0:35] How many times is that that I've nearly lost my fire shield in the last 20 seconds?
  [0:45] A nice jump here lets me grab the left hook and go up the top.

• Flying Battery 1 (2:13 - TSC record: 1:53)
  [0:19] Psh, who needs platforms?
  [0:40] This glide needs plenty of precision. If I miss, it's down to the bottom for me.
  [0:57] From playing for a while, I determined that the platforms would move down at 59 seconds. That's why I was able to take the first one easily, but stopped cautiously at the second.
  [1:15] You get here, and the bombs are set up perfectly. That's the best feeling on this level.
  [1:25] Then, you miss a jump, and the bombs are set up as badly as possible. That's the worst feeling on this level.
  [1:44] I nearly nailed the capsule, too!

• Flying Battery 2 (3:44 - TSC record: 3:26)
  [0:02] This is the price I pay for not being ready.
  [0:15] And it happened again! At least I was in a position to escape quickly this time.
  [1:09] Stopped here so I could see what the crushers were doing before I stupidly killed myself or something.
  [1:55] Upthorn was able to skip this section in a TAS. I wish it were possible in real time, it would be ever so useful!
  [2:36] Watch as the garbled crap in the background turns into... a cloud!
  [2:56] We're right at the edge of space!
  [3:44] And watch Robotnik turn into garbled crap. The Robotnik glitch here I still don't understand.

• Sandopolis 1 (2:05 - TSC record: 2:03)
  A blistering run, my new PR!
  [2:05] Damn, I wanted those rings. :(

• Sandopolis 2 (3:19 - TSC record: 3:04)
  [0:26] The method of skipping this section I used with Sonic doesn't work with Knuckles because he doesn't jump high enough. This is the alternative solution.
  [1:15] As you'll see, Knuckles doesn't need the sand at all. :)
  [2:44] Knuckles is meant to go over to the right and solve a puzzle to get to the boss. However, puzzle solving has no place in this speedrun, especially when it takes as long as that one does. So I skip it and go onto Sonic's path instead using a spindash. Takes me two attempts to land.
  [3:05] The thing you'll notice quickly is that it moves a lot faster. The idea is just to land hits ASAP.

• Lava Reef 1 (1:53 - TSC record: 1:33)
  [0:48] I have to spindash to get that cloud off me.
  [1:15] Yeah, I know, it was hilariously bad.
  [1:53] Got 3-3 on the hand boss, which always helps.

• Lava Reef 2 (1:42 - TSC record: 1:25)
  [0:20] Stopped for the fire shield this time. It's absolutely critical I hold this for most of the level.
  [0:51] Hit the switch from below and behind!
  [1:28] After all the hard work to keep it, I forget to glide and lose it. Lame.

• Hidden Palace (0:09 - TSC record: 0:08)
  Less said about this, the better.

• Sky Sanctuary (1:07 - TSC record: 0:59)
  [0:15] So, I'm supposed to hit him 2 times here. Not lose my rings. That was just stupid.
  [0:21] I don't know how I got away with that. I could have used this sort of luck in the next phase...
  [0:38] DAMNIT, HE DIVED AT ME. That's a total waste of time. Probably four or five seconds down here. The rest went pretty well perfectly.

This is the bad ending (seeing as how I got no emeralds...). If anyone want to do a 100% run, be my guest.

Overall, I think the run was very good. Launch Base 2 and Mushroom Hill 1 are there for comic relief, I suppose.

You can contact me on either MSN or AIM:

MSN: mike89_mkscelite AT hotmail DOT com (this is also my primary email address)
AIM: mike89mkscelite