Paleo Tarpits

Paleo Tarpits is the third level in Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice. Devoid of civilization, this is a virtually prehistoric island with the earthly remnants of mighty dinosaurs and tar pits. Due to Dr. Eggman, the island's environment was messed up by the by-products from the doctor's mining operations on Ragna Rock, creating fire and ice elements. This pollution was brought to an end by Team Sonic.

Overview
Paleo Tarpits is an untouched prehistoric land with a purplish red sky. It is overgrown with large trees, sharp bushes and other primordial plants. It also consist of mud ravines with green swamps, barren outbacks, and countless black tarpits. The landscape is as well littered with dinosaur bones.

The first two adventure levels include the lush areas. The dirt paths are covered in grass, and spearhead pits, dinosaur eggs, and unknown flora like trees and sharp-leaved bushes appear along them. A purplish red haze fills the air, glowing insects fly around, and there are bridges and roads made of dinosaur spines and ribs. In the background is also a primeval jungle set in a swamp with strange flowers growing there.

The last two adventure levels include the more desolate areas. The paths go through a open cave with dinosaur skeletons and black tar on every surface, grass tot and mushroom. This tar drops down from the ceiling and bubbles on the paths. Like before, there are eggs, spearhead pits and bridges/roads made of dinosaur bones along the paths. Outside is a desolate outback with dead trees, tar pits and mountains.

Story
Believing D-Fekt was connected to the fissures which were destroying the world's environment, Team Sonic pursued D-Fekt to Paleo Tarpits where they sealed a fissure D-Fekt was trying to protect before defeating the robot's newest form. However, this raised one question: why was D-Fekt trying so hard to keep the fissures open?

Resuming their pursuit, Sonic was taken to another Bot Racing event by Dr. Eggman. When they returned though, Sonic's friends forced Eggman to drop Sonic off prematurely. Immediately after, Team Sonic had to leave Paleo Tarpits for other islands who needed their fissures sealed; as it turned out, by closing up fissures in one place, Team Sonic was forcing them to erupt in other places.

Gameplay
Like in other areas, the adventure levels in Paleo Tarpits are divided into two parts (the foreground and background) that run parallel to each other, which can be traveled between with the Bounce Pad. Other than the Bounce Pads, standard gimmicks here include Boost Pads, Enerbeam Swings, and disappearing platforms. There are also constantly-moving block platforms and cannons for firing the playable character, the latter of which can be adjusted with the Circle Pad and fired with. Some cannons will also move in accordance to the one the player uses. Most noticeable though, are the Water Spouts and blocks of ice/water that can be turned solid or intangible by touching them while using Fire/Ice Mode.

Hazardous obstacles in the adventure levels include stationary rollers with spikes, moving and non-moving spiked blocks (some of which form traps), and spiked surfaces. Touching such obstacles will damage the player and return the characters to an earlier position. The adventure levels also have collectibles scattered about which unlock extra content if collected, breakable obstacles that give extra Rings, and Challenge Room entrances.

Like other levels in the game, Paleo Tarpits' adventure levels have several character-specific gimmicks for the playable characters. These include dash blocks for Sonic, laser blocks and Laser Reflects for Tails, pillars for Amy, Burrow spots for Knuckles, and Boomerang Switches for Sticks. In addition, Seaside Island features three bonus levels, each with different gameplay mechanics

Primeval Jungle
Primeval Jungle is Paleo Tarpits' first adventure level, which takes place in the jungle. It becomes available after unlocking Paleo Tarpits.

At the beginning, go right until the characters enter the background and go left from there. Upon reentering the foreground, go right to arrive at a split in the path right after a Bounce Pad. Going left here leads to a loop past Primordial Wilderness. If the player takes the upward or the right path instead, keep following the rightward paths until the characters enter the background. Along the way, there will be small looping detours. Go left from here to reach the fissure.

Jungle Labyrinth
Jungle Labyrinth is Paleo Tarpits' second adventure level, which takes place in the jungle. It becomes available after clearing Primeval Jungle.

First, start out by going right on the path. After the first cannon, the player can either go left to reach a looped path, or take the right path to proceed onward. Continuing down the latter path will take the player into the background, where they must go right again to reenter the background. Go again rightward from there to get sent up to a split in the path on a bridge by a Bounce Pad. Going left here leads to a loop past Sinkhole while going right here will eventually lead the player back into the background where the fissure is.

Sticky Situation
In this level, the player encounters the local boss, Sticky Situation, a blob of tar brought to life by D-Fekt. It becomes available after clearing Jungle Labyrinth. For this boss battle, the player controls Sonic and Tails.

In battle, Sticky Situation first attacks with tar balls, chomps and tentacles. Hit D-Fekt when he gets in range. After three hits, the player must stay in the air with Tails while Sticky Situation raises the tar levels. Land three more hits from here to beat Sticky Situation.

Trivia

 * "Paleo" means "prehistoric", "ancient" or "primitive", which fits the theme for this level.