| Game Information |
| Title: |
Sonic & Knuckles |
|
| Year Released: |
1994 |
| Version Reviews: |
USA |
| Genre: |
Platform |
| Max Players: |
1 |
| Game Difficulty: |
Easy
|
| Difficulty Options: |
No
|
| Introduction |
| Sonic & Knuckles is the sequel to Sonic The Hedgehog 3 in more ways than one. Alone, it follows the story where it left off from Sonic 3. But on top of that, because of its Lock-On Technology, which allows you to plus another cartridge in on the top of Sonic and Knuckles, it expands Sonic 3 to make both games one gigantic seamless 32-megabit game. Alone, the game is fantastic, if a bit gimmicky at some points. Combined with Sonic 3, it's a masterpiece of a game. |
| Gameplay |
| The game play is identical to Sonic 3 except for the fact that Tails is not playable in Sonic & Knuckles on its own. The levels are just as huge as Sonic 3. The three shields remain, as well as Sonic Insta-Shield. New to the game is the ability to control Knuckles, who can glide (in place of Sonic's Insta-Shield), and climb up walls. The Blue Sphere levels are once again hidden throughout the game, though they are very hard to find in some levels, and contain a new yellow orb which acts as a springboard. Collecting the 7 emeralds in this game turns you into Super Sonic or Super Knuckles. <br><br>
Where Sonic 3 had the one Gumball Machine bonus level to collect rings and shields, Sonic & Knuckles introduces two new areas. One is reminiscent of Sonic 1's rotating Emerald Stage and Sonic 2's Casino Nights Zone, where you try to get into the middle of the screen in order to get the slot machine going to collect rings in order to get lives and continues. The other bonus level has you starting at the bottom of the screen and using magnetic globes to propel yourself towards the top of the screen, touching small orbs as you go to reveal shields, rings, continues, or black balls. Getting to the top and out of the level adds no bonus except the fact you can collect more goodies than letting the force field chasing you touch you. <br><br>
There are lots of gimmicky items in the game, such as the slopes you run down in Lava Reef, where you change direction with some nifty animation, or the energy paths that take you for a ride in Death Egg Zone. The gimmicks are fun, and don't take away from the game at all. <br><br>
The game itself changes depending on which character you play as. Some portions of the levels can only be accessed by one character; either there is a wall blocking Sonic's path, or Knuckles cannot jump high enough to go where Sonic would go. It's a nice variation and adds a purpose to having two playable characters. The story for Knuckles ends after Hidden Palace Zone. For Sonic, the game continues for two additional zones, one of which features Metal Sonic from Sonic CD, as well as mid-bosses that were bosses in the past. If Sonic has all the Chaos Emerald, there is an additional level at the end called Doomsday Zone. <br><br>
When Locked on to Sonic 3, all three characters are selectable to play through the entire game. Playing as Knuckles allows you access to areas in Sonic 3 that were not accessible beforehand with Sonic or Tails. In addition, all three bonus levels are available throughout the whole game, and there are 14 Chaos Emeralds to collect. Collecting 7 Emeralds before the end of Launch Base Zone, will give your character Super status. At the start of Mushroom Hill Zone, the Emeralds will reside in the Master Emerald room and give you access to gain Super Emeralds. When going through a giant ring in one of the levels, you will be transported to this room where you can choose which Super Emerald you want to get by jumping on the Emerald that resides in the room. Getting all 7 Super Emeralds gives your character Hyper Status, which makes you faster than your Super status, and gives each character different special abilities. <br><br>
When you Lock Sonic 2 onto Sonic & Knuckles, it allows you to play Sonic 2 as Knuckles. There are a few monitors placed in place that Knuckles can only get to, but other than that nothing really changes. Some parts are a bit harder because Knuckles cannot jump very high and accelerates slowly. He also keeps his rings after a Special Stage, making it easier to collect Chaos Emeralds. <br><br>
Locking on Sonic 1 or Sonic Compilation brings up a "No Way" screen. Pressing A + B + C gives you access to over 134 MILLION (134,217,728 to be exact) Blue Sphere levels playable as any of the three characters. Getting "Perfect" by collecting all the rings skips you ahead 10 levels. <br><br>
Locking any other game will produce the same "No Way" screen and will play only 1 Blue Sphere level that repeats endlessly. |
| Graphics |
| The graphics are identical to Sonic 3 as far as quality goes (since it was originally one game instead of two). All three characters have some nifty new animations, and some of the level effects are outstanding. For more information, read about the graphics in my Sonic 3 review; no sense in repeating myself here! |
| Sound & Music |
| The sounds effects are carried over from Sonic 3 with some new ones added in. The music picks up where Sonic 3 left off. Outstanding stuff, though there are no rumours about Michael Jackson working on any of the music from this game, though all the music from Sonic & Knuckles is available in the Sound Test in Sonic 3. If you listen to the music from Act 1 of Flying Battery in Sonic & Knuckles and in Sonic 3 through the sound test, you'll find that it has a cool echoey effect in the sound test that wasn't carried over to Sonic & Knuckles. Once again, music you could listen to over and over again. |
| Controls |
| The controls are identical to Sonic 3. Each character responds instantaneously to your commands. It's easy to get Knuckles gliding where you want and to climb up and down walls. |
| Reply Value |
| The replay value is fantastic; the levels are incredibly big and vary depending on who you play as. Locking on with Sonic 3 adds replay value to both games. There is no Save Feature with Sonic & Knuckles alone, but there is when locked on with Sonic 3. Because of the lack of save feature in Sonic & Knuckles on its own, the replay value is not as high as it would be with a Save feature where you can pick the level you wish to play after beating the game, allowing you to go right to the level you wish to explore. There is a level select cheat, but it requires playing through part of Mushroom Hill Zone Act 1 first. A save feature would be easier, but because it uses the Sonic 3 save feature, it wasn't needed on its own. |
| Final Scores |
| Gameplay: |
10 |
| Graphics: |
10 |
| Sound: |
10 |
| Controls: |
10 |
| Replay Value: |
8 |
| Conclusion |
| Four 10's and an 8 on it's own, straight 10's with Sonic 3.<br><br>
Almost perfect on it's own, absolutely perfect with Sonic 3.If you are one to explore every nook and cranny, then you will spend a lot of time exploring this game, just as with Sonic 3. If you have Sonic 3, you need to get this game. And if you have this game, you need to get Sonic 3. Each does amazingly on their own, but do even better together. |
| Screenshots / Images |
Sorry, there are no more screenshots/images for this game.
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