Together Retro: Sonic & Knuckles

[dogman91]

I have to say I never got stuck in a vine even once in my playthroughs.

Maybe Sonic Colors will be more to people's liking here; at least, what they expect out of Sonic (speed and occasionally pressing the A button here and there).

[ExedExes]

So I played this again yesterday as Knuckles. He's way better as a character, but I still can't get past the first zone. That wall climb comes in handy. Now to try to unlock Sonic 2 + Knuckles so I can use him there.

[samsonlonghair]

So I played this again yesterday as Knuckles. He's way better as a character, but I still can't get past the first zone. That wall climb comes in handy. Now to try to unlock Sonic 2 + Knuckles so I can use him there.

Knuckles is my favorite too.

[SpaceBooger]

I played through the Sonic Complete Hack (patched to the S&K cart on my Retron) it allowed me to play Sonic 3 & Knuckles straight through with S3's final boss.
I have to agree with the others that this game irritated me more than any of the other games. I have beaten Sonic 2, CD, Generations, and even Adventure and none of the other games did I ever feel as if I was lost, other than Sonic Adventure's hub world.

I know some are making fun of the "go right as fast as you can until you die or jump" but that is what I like about Sonic. If you want to run through it you can and if you want to explore and treat it like other platformers you can do that as well. Sonic 3 & Knuckles felt like I was trapped in mazes, there was no escape and no desire to go back... I was thankful when I found the end. This is the reason I did not beat it with all the emeralds, nor do I plan on going back to do so.

I am happy I played through this, it makes me appreciate the dual nature, speed or explore, of the other 16bit Sonic games.

[Xeogred]

I loaded up S&K on my Shield last night to see if maybe it was just the Sonic 3 levels I hated. Nope. I hated the first S&K level as well. Trying to run and weird vines pulling you like a rubberband. Ugh. I just can't enjoy these games.

An obstacle? Darn!

[noiseredux]

Lol, S&K seems to fit the definition of "love it or hate it" huh?

[samsonlonghair]

I never would have guess S&K was so divisive.

[Gunstar Green]

Lol, S&K seems to fit the definition of "love it or hate it" huh?

This is the only time I've ever seen this being the case.

Usually it's at least love it or like it, and to be fair I think that is the case for a lot of people here as well with only a few expressing complete disdain.

Personally the complaints of "maze like" levels and obstacles are puzzling to me because you can largely still blitz to the right and complete the levels without much difficulty if you feel like it.

There's a greater exploration element in the game sure, but it's one that's mostly voluntary. Provided you're not playing Sonic & Knuckles on its own you can always use the save feature to cheese the special stages later if you don't want to search for secret areas.

Before this thread I thought it was generally accepted that Sonic 3 & Knuckles was the easiest of the classic games so I'm shocked to see so many people struggling with it.

[Key-Glyph]

I just read this whole thread. Mind blown!

I echo Sir Samson's sentiments above: I never would have thought such varied and volatile opinions could exist on this title. Or that so many people's opinions could be so wrong different from my own!

[MrPopo]

Personally the complaints of "maze like" levels and obstacles are puzzling to me because you can largely still blitz to the right and complete the levels without much difficulty if you feel like it.

Yeah, the levels tend to have branching paths but the paths all end up in the same places anyway. The level designs are actually quite clever in that regard; the only dead ends I can think of a quick jogs off the path to get a bunch of goodies or a large ring.