IceCap Zone

IceCap Zone
Fifth Zone, Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Number of Acts: 2
Sub-boss: Big Icedus
Boss: Freezer Mobile
Underwater areas: Act 2

For the Sonic Adventure level, see Ice Cap.

Icecap Zone is the fifth zone in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

It contains an outer "snow" level and an inner "cave" level, and uses a background-changing effect to switch between those.

The zone is theorized to have been based off of Sonic 2's Hidden Palace Zone, as the bridges and glowing orbs underground resemble those of Hidden Palace.

Instruction Manual Description

Things will get pretty chilly as Sonic and Tails slide their way through this arctic wasteland. Be sure to smash open blocks of ice to reveal power-ups and hidden passageways.

Sonic Team Commentary (from Sonic Jam Strategy Guide)

While developing, we went snowboarding a lot at a nearby resort. People kept getting injured though… (laugh) Originally, this stage was planned to begin after zone 8 (Flying Battery Zone). Sonic was going to break down the door from the airship and make a snowboard out of it on the way down. The other characters can fly, so they wouldn't appear in that event. (Naka)

Glitches

• Sonic and/or Tails can walk over the top of the screen in act 2.
• If playing as Knuckles, entering and returning from the bonus stage at the last checkpoint in act 1 will play act 2 music.
• Tails can break the ice cages, unlike most other objects. If it happens, when Sonic stands on one of them, the game allows Sonic to levitate. Jumping makes you fall down, but the glitch is still there, and combined with a slope, it allows you to walk through walls and fall through level boundaries (and even return).

Badniks

• Penguinator — Blue penguin with holes in its chest.
• Star Pointer — A black, icy orb-wielding... orb.