To commemorate the 19th birthday of Sonic, Insert-Disc talks about the greatest game in the series: Sonic 3 & Knuckles.
Today marks Sonic 3’s 30th anniversary, one of the Blue Blur’s most talked about entries among fans.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles is peak 2D Sonic for me. Probably my most played Genesis game.
No, not a divisive game. The visuals, levels, music, controls were all great. Having to buy Sonic & Knuckles wasn't an issue at all, just more awesome gaming made available to me at the time. I lived through that era, and I don't remember anyone complaining that they had to buy another cartridge just to get the complete game, if you enjoyed Sonic games on the Genesis, you were happy to get another one back then.
The only issue with Sonic 3 is that stupid freakin' horrible "BARREL OF DOOM!" all because Sonic Team didn't properly communicate to the player what to do.
This! This! THIS!!!
The only divisive thing about Sonic 3 was that freaking barrel.
I had 1 & 2, I played 3 at someone else's house. When I heard about S3 & Knuckles I assumed it was the same game with just Knuckles added in and thought it was stupid, until I found out a while later it was much more. I wonder how much more they could've put onto the game carts, I know there were cut levels in some of the games.
Sonic & Knuckles, released for the Sega Genesis, remains a classic that may require some assembly. Take a look back.
If you’re playing this without being locked in with Sonic 3 then you’re doing it wrong.
At the height of the popularity the series enjoyed, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 released in North America on February 2, 1994. Take a look back.
Very much agreed!
I've beaten that game more than any other in my childhood. Says a lot because if you knew how many times I've beaten MGS2 and MGS3, you'd be shocked.
Strong disagree. I much prefer the first 2 Sonic games, but the 3rd one I felt didn’t have the memorable and quality level design Sonic 1/2 had. It just looked more generic and like other platformers, instead of having that Sonic-look.
Also, I believe this had the ‘grab vines’ mechanic, so you were running through the level and made a jump, and suddenly you were hanging from some vine, which wasn’t the intention. So it quickly became a bit frustrating when that interrupted the flow, and I felt that new gameplay addition actually detracted from the game, instead of adding to it, and felt it was also unnecessary.
It’s not a bad game of course, but I just feel Sonic 1 and 2 were more ‘Sonic’, and Sonic 3 just had less of that ‘Sonic’ style.
It’s a close call for me. Sonic 3 is brilliant and still stands the test of time but Sonic 2 just edges for me but I can see why my colleagues lauds 3 as a great game.
It’s abort knowing the level.. the vine you were takling about was a minor thing. Sonic 3 did everything Way better: bonus levels, iso 3D, more levels, better Music , Coop and more.. Sonic 2 felt like 1,5 to me. Some levels felt too similar.
Sonic 3& Knuckles is the peak of sonic.. nothing comes close.. that last level though Dooms Day.. brilliant! On every front
Sonic 2& Knuckles was amazing, added some nice things to it. Don’t know if you got the chance to try it out
I would give sonic and knuckles a slight edge, but you are speaking facts right now.
Sonic 2 is still my favorite, but I remember staying up long nights playing Sonic 3 and Knuckles and getting every Chaos Emerald across both games.
... it just didn't feel enough like 'Sonic' anymore, but it was more a platformer starring Sonic.
Sonic 1, 2 and SonicCD have that real 'Sonic vibe': the level-design, the music, the animation. Sonic 3 just felt and played a bit too different.
Sonic 1 and 2 are my absolute favourites, and I've only played SonicCD at a friend's house on his MegaCD, but that game was absolutely awesome as well.
I really wish SonicCD will be re-released on XBLA and PSN.