It's double the fun in this frantic and awesome Sonic game
We've finally made it to the fourth Sonic game. Sonic & Knuckles was released for the Genesis in 1994. It was originally going to be in the game Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but it was just too big, so Sega made two separate games, and we're all the better for it. S&K is just more Sonic 3, but this time, you can play as Knuckles the Echidna. By the way, that's an obscure animal they picked. Does anyone know what an echidna is? Better yet, does any kid know what it is? I don't think so! Well, Knuckles is pretty cool anyways.
This game is somewhat disappointing at first. Unlike Sonic 3, you can't save your progress in S&K; you'll have to play the whole thing through just like the first two games. Also, it's only one player, and Tails is nowhere to be seen. There's no multiplayer at all in the game; I guess that's not what S&K is about. On the title screen you choose to play as either Sonic or Knuckles. The obvious choice is Knuckles, as he can glide, attack with his knuckles, and climb up walls. However, Sonic is faster and can jump higher than the echidna, and he was actually my preferred choice.
The game is slightly different depending on who you play as. If you play as Sonic, you'll start the game right away; if you play as Knuckles, you'll watch a little opening scene where Knuckles is relaxing in the grass when Robotnik comes along and blows up the area, making Knuckles mad and go after the mad doctor. Sonic and Knuckles are both going after Robotnik, but they're not working together at first. If you're playing as Sonic, Knuckles will show up a couple times to try and stop you; you'll even fight Knuckles at one time. Near the end of the game, they team up to stop Robotnik. Playing with two different characters gives the game some good replay value.
Like I said before, S&K is more of Sonic 3, and that's a very good thing. Level design here is excellent as usual. The zones are crafted well, with plenty of surprises, large sections of loops and ramps, and enemies who all react differently in smart ways. Mushroom Hill Zone has you zooming through a lush mushroom-filled forest, bouncing on giant shrooms and scaling large pulley machines. Flying Battery Zone has you exploring Robotnik's warship, filled with all kinds of traps and hazards. Sandopolis Zone really stands out to me, a desert-themed zone in which you can repel down large temples, climb up sandfalls, and unleash sand to help you make it to the top. All the zones in the game are marvelous and are very fun to play.
One neat thing S&K does is differentiate between its Act 1 and 2 of each zone. Act 2 is always very different from Act 1, accompanied by a variation of the musical theme from Act 1. Sandopolis Zone especially stands out here. In Act 1, you're running amuck outside, making your way to a giant temple which rises from the sand. Act 2 takes place in the temple, and you have to find big levers to pull in order to keep the lights on (which keeps ghosts away) and push switches that will cause moving walls to open (which will slowly close, so you have to hurry and get through). Awesome stuff! But all the zones really do this, which is simply wonderful.
Special stages can still be found hidden in levels, just like in Sonic 3. Get all the blue orbs and you get a chaos emerald; get all seven emeralds, and you become SUPER SONIC or SUPER KNUCKLES (he turns. . . pink?)! This gives the game more replay value because who doesn't want to play as Super Sonic or Super Knuckles? S&K also has all the same power-ups that are in Sonic 3, and they are always helpful in the game.
S&K does add a couple new stages which are accessed mysteriously and almost randomly, it seems. The Glowing Sphere stage has you moving around magnetic spheres, trying to get to the top while a force field creeps up from below. There's also a slot machine stage, which lets you first try to line up three faces to get a prize, then bounce around for rings. These stages are a nice change of pace from the game, and are certainly fun.
The bad guys are great for the most part. Each "badnik" (as they're called) does something unique. By far the most annoying of all the badniks in the game is Skorp, a scorpion-like robot in Sandopolis Zone which shoots its tail at you. The tail comes at you so fast that it's nearly impossible to dodge, and if you manage to jump at the baddie, you'll probably land on the spiky tail. There are also a few moments in the game when bad guys are placed right in your line of running, and you run smack into them! Was the bad guy really necessary in that spot?
Metal Sonic also makes his debut in this game. You'll have to fight him before you get to Robotnik, and I must say, he's a pretty awesome bad guy. It's always cool to have an evil version of the hero, and tha's what Metal Sonic is. He looks very robotish and evil.
Bosses are great in the game. You'll fight a mini-boss at the end of each act 1 and a main boss (Robotnik) at the end of each act 2. A couple of the bosses have you moving while fighting, which is tricky but also fun. None of the bosses are very difficult, and figuring out the pattern will be easy and quick. The mini-boss music is also really awesome!
Speaking of music, WOW! S&K has great music throughout! Of course, Sonic games don't disappoint when it comes to music, and this game is no exception. Each act has distinctive music, and it's all good, but I especially love the themes for Flying Battery Zone Act 1 and Sandopolis Zone Act 1.
Finally, I can't leave out S&K's most distinctive feature: its "lock-on technology." The cartridge for S&K looks a little different than typical Genesis games; it's top can be pulled back so you can put another cartridge into it. This allows you to lock-on with Sonic 2 and 3 for added features. By locking on with Sonic 3, you can play through Sonic 3 and S&K as it was intended, as one giant game, and you can save! By locking on with Sonic 2, you can play through that game as Knuckles, using all his signature moves. It's a really awesome feature, giving you "ultimate replays," as the game box puts it.
Final Verdict--4.5 Stars: Highly Recommended
Sonic & Knuckles is another Sonic game which you need to play. It's tons of fun, plus the lock-on technology gives you even more reason to get all the Sonic games. With excellent levels, awesome power-ups, two characters to play as, and grooving music, S&K is a joy to play. Sure, it doesn't have a save feature or multiplayer, but the most important part is there: a really fun game. I'm amazed at how well all of these games hold up today. They're still just as fun today as they were back then, and that's impressive.
Thanks for reading, and thank you to everyone for making this a great Sonic month.
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