Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles

Sorry for the long gap between reviews. Been really out of it recently for reasons I won't bore you with here.

From now on, I will be using the "fortune cookie" feature on The Backloggery. Today, the game that came up was Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (Genesis) (Actually it was Sonic 3, but it's kind of hard to review one without the other). Continuing with the previous formula:

Genre: Platformer
Developer: Sega
Platform: Genesis
Release: 1994
Rating: E

- Graphics -


16-bit graphics aren't usually talked about as "good", and Sonic 3&K's graphics are indeed on the more "standard" side... er, middle? While they were in no way bad, the Genesis has seen better. However, Sonic moves so fast it's kinda hard to pay attention to detailed graphics anyway, so it's not really too surprising. However, it is important to note the size of each level. With so much going on, the Genesis can only render so much at once at the rate Sonic can run!

Graphics: 6/10


- Story -

...What story? OH! The one in the player's manual that most people have probably never read! Anyone who bought the game used probably never even got the manual. If you're wondering what it says, I'll tell you the gist of it: It's the same as the first two Sonic games, with Sonic trying to rescue woodland creatures while stopping Dr. Robotnik from obtaining the 7 Chaos Emeralds. Knuckles, the guardian of Angel Island, has been tricked by Robotnik into thinking Sonic and Tails are the enemy, and frequently appears and presses various switches in order to try to hinder Sonic's progress. Knuckles is actually a playable character in a linked game, and has some very different levels from the other two.

Story: 3/10


- Gameplay -

Ah, here's the big one! Sonic games are all about gameplay (well, at least, the classic ones are), as was usual for the time period. Following the same formula as Sonic 1 & 2, we see the familiar Platformer genre once again take a unique twist when the speed element is added. Sonic's moveset from Sonic 2 is all present, with the addition of his shield reflector which is a brief shockwave that forms around him when A, B, or C is pressed in midair. Sonic's shield is replaced by other moves when he has a shield: Bubble shields allow him to bounce, Fire shields allow him to fly sideways a short distance, and Electric shields allow him a second jump. Tails can now fly, and can also carry Sonic while flying, although he can't fly as long while he's doing so. Knuckles will glide and can climb walls. These new movesets offer a lot of variation between the characters, and many places are only accessible by Tails or Knuckles!

Another noteworthy addition are the bonus stages, which offer players a chance to win shields, rings, and even 1-ups during the stage! Sonic 3 had only one stage, which looks like an odd gumball machine. S&K had one that rotated and had a slot machine in the middle (players could also get continues if they collected 25 or more rings while in the stage), and one that allowed players to try to get power-ups that involved jumping from point to point on an upwards-scrolling screen. If the cartridges are combined, all three levels are present, and the entrance ring of stars will shine a slightly different color for each one (white, yellow, and red). The star color-coding adds in a bit of strategy: If a player doesn't want to visit a certain type of stage, they can skip it if they know which colors to avoid.

Chaos Emerald levels now have the form of a spherical world, with various colored spheres in it. To obtain an emerald, players must turn all of the blue spheres to red, without touching a red sphere. There are also white spheres that act as bumpers, and S&K also included yellow spheres that act like springboards. These levels tend to be much easier than the levels in the prior games, due to the fact that players can rely mostly on memorization and reflexes, and less on luck.
[Note: The game "Blue Sphere" is actually an engine that randomizes levels such as this, and was originally played by hooking Sonic and Knuckles and Sonic 1 cartridges together, if I have been informed correctly- I never had either cartridge when I owned a Genesis]

Gameplay: 10/10


- Music -


While not quite as memorable as Marble Zone from Sonic 1, Sonic 3 and Knuckles still has a great soundtrack. The themes are very fitting to the levels, which is not something I've noticed is very common in Sonic games. I also enjoy how flowing some of the themes sound, such as Flying Battery Zone or Lava Reef Zone, and how many of the themes seem to often fit in with the motions of monsters and objects, such as Ice Cap, Launch Base, or Sandopolis Zones. A fitting soundtrack for the gameplay, as any soundtrack should be!

Music: 10/10

Total Score: 7/10

Also available on several collections on various systems, and as individual downloads for I believe all three of the current systems.