The ending credits vary depending on how many Chaos Emeralds you collected throughout the game:
- If you collected all 7 Emeralds, then dolphins are seen following Sonic and Tails' plane. At the end, Sonic and Tails stand beside the Sonic 3 title.
- If you didn't collect them all, birds follow the plane (but no dolphins). At the end Robotnik and Knuckles will be happily juggling the Emeralds you missed over the words "TRY AGAIN."