Why is Sonic 3 (& Knuckles) your favourite sonic game?

[Ivo]

I also think the bonus levels of Sonic 2 belong more, and are better than those of Sonic 3. They are both good though.

Ivo.

[gennss]

I like the bonus stages from the first sonic best.

Sonic 3 & knuckles is only good becvause its huge, you can save, and it has knuckles.

Best sonic game is Sonic Adventure 2.

[RemyC]

The first Sonic will always be my favourite, because it was designed like an arcade game, where you need to challenge your own high score. The levels were designed in favour of this; they were focused more on careful platforming, and not running, jumping and hoping for the best.
The short length of the game, allows you to memorize the quickest routes, and the location of hidden items. So, you can refine your skills, and easily rack up an impressive highscore.
With number 3 the rings just become your god-like token, then strictly become your health, and serve no other purpose, other than becoming super sonic....but how hard is it to get 50 rings, when all you need to do is touch a bonus stage ring?

Best sonic game is Sonic Adventure 2.

Now THAT is something that truly needs clarification. That game is a few steps away from being broken, in my books.
Trampolines send you off in any which direction. Sonics homing attack will send him flying off in any which direction. What were supposed to be tactical platforming sequences rely on luck...the game is awful. I've even ran through walls a few times.

[gennss]

The first Sonic will always be my favourite, because it was designed like an arcade game, where you need to challenge your own high score. The levels were designed in favour of this; they were focused more on careful platforming, and not running, jumping and hoping for the best.
The short length of the game, allows you to memorize the quickest routes, and the location of hidden items. So, you can refine your skills, and easily rack up an impressive highscore.
With number 3 the rings just become your god-like token, then strictly become your health, and serve no other purpose, other than becoming super sonic....but how hard is it to get 50 rings, when all you need to do is touch a bonus stage ring?

Best sonic game is Sonic Adventure 2.

Now THAT is something that truly needs clarification. That game is a few steps away from being broken, in my books.
Trampolines send you off in any which direction. Sonics homing attack will send him flying off in any which direction. What were supposed to be tactical platforming sequences rely on luck...the game is awful. I've even ran through walls a few times.

Really? I never had much trouble timing them. Trampolines and Homing attacks depend on timing.

Tails levels sucked though.

[RemyC]

Really? I never had much trouble timing them. Trampolines and Homing attacks depend on timing.

I would jump out in a straight line, and hit the jump button again, then he would hit the trampoline and fly off in a random direction. Instead of hitting the trampoline that was lined up beside the one that killed me.
Or I would try to use sonics Homing attack to break open a ring box...but instead Sonic goes flying off the edge of the level.

[Xeogred]

Is it odd that I've pretty much always hated Sonic 3 (with the exception of the second zone), but have always loved S&K to death?

Regardless, Sonic CD will always get my vote for being my favorite Sonic game.

[Original_Name]

It all depends on what you're looking for in a Sonic game. I can completely sympathize with someone who goes to a platforming game for hyper-tuned platforming, as Sonic and Sonic 2 were fantastic for that. Sonic 3 & Knuckles is an epic, though - you really feel like you've set off on this massive adventure. I've always been more into adventure games than any other genre, primarily for story and exploration, and while it's not the best in the world, Sonic 3 & Knuckles is very impressive in its ability to tell a whole story without a single piece of dialogue. While some may think that Sonic 3 doesn't stand up on its own (I personally love it), when it's locked on with Sonic & Knuckles, it has one of the smoothest escalations of difficulty and challenge I've ever played. Add to it the phenomenal visuals and soundtrack, and you get a game that's actually quite immersive - Sky Sanctuary, for example, is one of my favorite levels ever, primarily because of its awesome ambiance.

Sonic 1 and 2 are platforming games, Sonic 3 & Knuckles is a platforming epic.

And Sonic CD is my second-favorite because I love exploring, and for a 2D platformer, Sonic CD has that in spades. It's all about how you look at things. Even if you don't like your platformers to be in such an epic, looser sense of direction, all of the games have really kickass levels.

[ZeroAX]

Is it odd that I've pretty much always hated Sonic 3 (with the exception of the second zone), but have always loved S&K to death?

nope that's exactly how i feel.

sonic 3 stages suck imo. the first one is pretty boring because it's unoriginal and UGLY. and i'm talking before it gets burned up. carnival zone has horrible music and those stupid up down platforms, the water stage sucks because it IS a water stage (i always hated them, with the exception of the one in sonic 2 cause you can actually avoid the water in that one, but in all the other 2d sonic games you have to get wet, in their water stages),

and the final and snow level are bland. i'm not talking about level design i'm talking about aesthetical stuff (graphics and setting).

and let's not forget the most disorienting stage that is the marble garden (i think that's what it's called) stage. or as i call it "where all my sonic 3 saves are at cause i can't be bothered to pass this stupid stage". it's so stupid. it's boring, it's bland, you don't know WHERE you are supposed to go, the bosses suck, you keep getting thrown back by springs, it's just horrible in my opinion.



but then comes sonic and knuckles. the holy grail of sonic mega drive games.

1) REALLY REALLY cool zone themes. the forest is an actual large forest instead of an island, with the giant mushrooms whose sound effect i always love, the robotnik air ship, with a kickass stage music, and one of the funniest looking bosses in all of sonic,

an Egyptian stage (ok kind of meh here but the cool end zone boss makes up for it) and finally my all time favourite sonic stage, the giant volcano, with excelent soundtrack (with a different song for each act), a really cool end zone boss, and some really good tight platforming.

sky sanctuary is pretty original, and quite a relaxing affair after the volcano stage, and some cameos from sonic 1 and 2 bosses . death egg actually is the only stage i don't really like. my head hurts by the time i get to it, and it doesn't help with it's turn you upside down transporters.


2) epic bosses. they are huge compared to the previous games, and one of the greated end bosses of all time (4 forms and a special stage with another 2 forms)

3) great stage music (almost a given for a sonic mega drive game but sonic 3 proved otherwise)

4) different paths, and different ending depending on who you play as.

[Pulsar_t]

And Sonic CD is my second-favorite because I love exploring, and for a 2D platformer, Sonic CD has that in spades. It's all about how you look at things. Even if you don't like your platformers to be in such an epic, looser sense of direction, all of the games have really kickass levels.

Finally someone agrees with me regarding the epicness of S3&K! As for Sonic CD I didn't like it very much because of the "iffy" collision detection and level design. I realise it's different to the MD Sonics but it just didn't click with me.

[Gamerforlife]

Is it odd that I've pretty much always hated Sonic 3 (with the exception of the second zone), but have always loved S&K to death?

nope that's exactly how i feel.

sonic 3 stages suck imo. the first one is pretty boring because it's unoriginal and UGLY. and i'm talking before it gets burned up. carnival zone has horrible music and those stupid up down platforms, the water stage sucks because it IS a water stage (i always hated them, with the exception of the one in sonic 2 cause you can actually avoid the water in that one, but in all the other 2d sonic games you have to get wet, in their water stages),

and the final and snow level are bland. i'm not talking about level design i'm talking about aesthetical stuff (graphics and setting).

and let's not forget the most disorienting stage that is the marble garden (i think that's what it's called) stage. or as i call it "where all my sonic 3 saves are at cause i can't be bothered to pass this stupid stage". it's so stupid. it's boring, it's bland, you don't know WHERE you are supposed to go, the bosses suck, you keep getting thrown back by springs, it's just horrible in my opinion.



but then comes sonic and knuckles. the holy grail of sonic mega drive games.

1) REALLY REALLY cool zone themes. the forest is an actual large forest instead of an island, with the giant mushrooms whose sound effect i always love, the robotnik air ship, with a kickass stage music, and one of the funniest looking bosses in all of sonic,

an Egyptian stage (ok kind of meh here but the cool end zone boss makes up for it) and finally my all time favourite sonic stage, the giant volcano, with excelent soundtrack (with a different song for each act), a really cool end zone boss, and some really good tight platforming.

sky sanctuary is pretty original, and quite a relaxing affair after the volcano stage, and some cameos from sonic 1 and 2 bosses . death egg actually is the only stage i don't really like. my head hurts by the time i get to it, and it doesn't help with it's turn you upside down transporters.


2) epic bosses. they are huge compared to the previous games, and one of the greated end bosses of all time (4 forms and a special stage with another 2 forms)

3) great stage music (almost a given for a sonic mega drive game but sonic 3 proved otherwise)

4) different paths, and different ending depending on who you play as.

I pretty much agree with this whole post. I also have to say, even though I'm not big on exploration in Sonic games(which is why I don't like Sonic CD), the forest chapter has enough of it to satisfy you for the whole game. I love that it's actually possible to get ALL of the the chaos gems and go Super Sonic before even facing the first boss. The airship chapter fits in perfectly after that. As it's more focused and linear and has more actual speed, giving you a break from all that exploring in the previous chapter.

I also have to say that Sonic CD and Sonic 2 had GOD AWFUL bonus stages. I really like the bonus stages in Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles. It was like the first time Sega actually nailed it. The final bosses in Sonic & Knuckles are among my all time faves from any game. The bonus level at the end with Super Sonic taking on Robotnick was so awesome that Sega tried and failed to recapture that epicness at the end of both Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2. I love the kick ass tribute to it from the Project Chaos album, which you can listen to here: