3RRSG SonicKnuckles

Here it is. What some Sonic fans believe to be the last great Sonic
game. The last true 2D Sonic (barring handheld incarnations) and the
final chapter of the Death Egg saga that started back in Sonic 2. A true
masterpiece when all is considered. Here we have the debut (and final
appearance) of the Genesis lock-on technology. A true gem that is well
worth playing again and again. Well then, where was Sonic when we
last left him?

The events of Sonic & Knuckles take place mere moments after Sonic
3. The Death Egg has crashed to Earth, Sonic has been plummeted into
a nearby forest on Angel Island, and Knuckles is just trying to figure
things out after he was tricked by Eggman (Dr. Robotnik) last time
around. From here, our two heroes know that Eggman is still out there,
and it's time to put a stop to him once and for all. Knuckles keeps
running into sinister eggbots shaped after their creator. Their journey
will take them to many exotic and bizarre places. And finally to
Eggman himself. As you can see this is classic Sonic fare and the fact
that the stories from Sonic 2, 3, Sonic & Knuckles, happen one right
after another is just too cool. Also the story is filled with such emotion
even without words. We can feel the desperation of Knuckles as he
tries to protect the master emeralds that keep the floating angel
island above water. Players are able to clearly tell what is going on
without any fancy 5 hour cut scenes. True genius.

The gameplay is just as good as it was in Sonic 3. Sonic plays the
same, with his running, rolling, and jumping. The new comer here is
that now Knuckles has his own single player mode (you select your
character at the title screen). Knuckles can glide and climb up walls
and do all the other stuff Sonic can do. He just can't jump as high. The
bonus level of the 3D maze has returned from Sonic 3, as have the
Chaos Emeralds. In all actuality, the game feels like sonic 3: Part 2. All
of the key Sonic elements have returned: lamp posts, hidden giant
rings, ring boxes, shields, and air bubbles. Sonic fans will not feel lost
in this one. They'll feel right at home, which is a very good thing.

But then comes in the lock on technology. Plug Sonic 2 or 3 on top of
Sonic & Knuckles to get the full game. Plugging 2 in let's you get to
play as Knuckles in Sonic 2. But plugging 3 in let's you not only get to
be Knuckles in Sonic 3, but also you get to take advantage of the save
files from Sonic 3. Two words. Level select. It's cool to play through
Sonic 2 with Knuckles, but the real joy here is Sonic 3 and Sonic &
Knuckles all in one adventure. Once you beat the last level in Sonic 3 it
goes right into the first level of Sonic & Knuckles. Wonderful stuff.
Plugging in other games will result in getting a "no way" screen.
However, there was some way you could play random bonus maze
stages if you wanted to.

The graphics look just as good as they did in Sonic 3, and then some.
The level design is very detailed. Just look at the mushroom forest
zone. Enemies are taken from Sonic 3, and we also get some new
badnicks to smash. Overall, this is the beautiful stuff that 2D dreams
are made of. Bright and colorful, crisp and detailed, all going by at
amazing speeds that only this blue hedgehog can do. In my mind, these
are some of the best visuals ever to be put in video game. Screw your
high performance new age consoles with their (still) blocky 3D.

Let's talk zones. The levels in Sonic & Knuckles are great. It starts off
with the standard green forest kind of level, goes into the more
industrial flying battery zone, then we have an Egyptian level, and then
the lava reef zone. Then it's off to the forbidden palace and sky
sanctuary zones. Knuckles' last level is the sky sanctuary zone. It is
here that a certain metal robot will return in truly upgraded fashion.
Tails takes it a step further to the Death Egg, and if Sonic gets all
seven emeralds and super emeralds (when locking on you collect
normal emeralds in 3 and super versions in Sonic &Knuckles ) there's
zone 14, which is a marvelous space battle with Eggman. As you can
see, not a bad selection, especially when combined with Sonic 3. All
the zones are huge and have different paths you can go in them. The
special stages are hidden throughout, and by now you should know the
drill so get running!

Sonic games and good music tend to go hand in hand (especially if
we're talking about the older Sonic games). This one is no exception.
The stand out tracks here include the flying battery zone, and the
hidden palace zone. There's no bad music in the game at all. While it
doesn't reach the same emotional highs as the starlight zone, or the
hydrocity zone (best Sonic music ever in act 2), it is classic Sonic fare
through and through. Add all the classic jingles, the bouncy sound
effects, and you have got yourself a very nice score in the sound
department.

On its own, the replay value is high enough. You could try and get all
the chaos emeralds from the special stages to go to the real final level
(which kicks so much ass it's incredible) and you could do it with both
sonic or knuckles. But when hooked up to Sonic 3 and with level
select, you could just play your favorite level anytime you wanted.
Why? Because Sonic is fun. Plain and simple. Also with Sonic 3
connected you can go as Tails, or Sonic and Tails. Then you have to
get all the emeralds with Tails too. Man great stuff. Lock on technology
rocks.

So here's the final rundown on which of the main 4 Sonic Genesis
games is the best. On its own, 2 is the best because it has the most
levels on it's own. Then Sonic 3 slightly beating out Sonic & Knuckles
because Sonic 3 had ice cap and hydrocity, and then Sonic 1. But with
lock-on, Sonic 3 is the best Sonic game, even topping the great Sonic
2. Just do yourself a favor and buy all of them.

Sonic has been running and jumping on TV screens for over ten years
now. And he keeps on running. Why? Because his games have been
great. Has he maintained this level of greatness lately? That's up for
you to decide. I personally find the original 2D games to be leaps and
bounds more fun then the 3D ones. You could get Sonic & Knuckles on
the Gamecube in the Mega Collection (and soon to be on X-Box), or
even the PC ports. But for me, nothing beats getting out the old
Genesis, plugging Sonic & Knuckles in, and popping Sonic 3 on top.
Run back to a time when video games became more then just a hobby,
they became a lifestyle. This is one of my all time favorite games ever.
Thanks Sonic.

Review by: Orochi Sonic

[Please note that the above scores reflect playing Sonic & Knuckles
while connected to Sonic 3 to fully get the full game]