Together Retro: Sonic & Knuckles

[ZeroAX]

What can I say, I always loved this game/series because back when Mario was the one to copy, it told us that it's alright to walk left.


Also, tried to play this game on my PS3, but a 16-bit game on a 55 inch hdtv is a no-no :/.

[dogman91]

Also, tried to play this game on my PS3, but a 16-bit game on a 55 inch hdtv is a no-no :/.

Maybe using an XRGB unit with a real Genesis and a scanline filter applied will make that much better, minus the motion blur of LCDs.

[Gunstar Green]

What can I say, I always loved this game/series because back when Mario was the one to copy, it told us that it's alright to walk left.

That's how Metroid blew my mind when I originally played it. It sets you up at the beginning where you reach a dead end without the morph ball because you went right because you thought it's what you were supposed to do. Then you go back and HOLY SHIT THERE'S SOMETHING COOL TO THE LEFT OF THE SCREEN WHAT MADNESS IS THIS?!

[SpaceBooger]

I know I didn't like S&K, but I still like the 16bit Sonic series better than the 16bit Mario series, including All Stars. I just don't like the level designs in S&K. Too much maze, vines, seasaw type things, and timed events (sand level). I do think it was the easiest to beat, but it just wasn't as fun as the others.

[ZeroAX]

I started a full playthough of the game, but my Mega Drive froze in the marble garden zone (gee, even my console can't stand the worst zone in classic sonic history).

I'll try again before the month if over, but some initial thoughts:

-Angel Island Zone: DAMN this stage is ugly. Even before it gets burned, the shapes on the wall are all over the place, it looks like what you would do if you wanted to make it look like the game is in beta. And the music, while not bad, doesn't sound like first stage material. Then again probably Sega didn't want to go for another happy theme after Green Hill and Emerald Hill zones.

-Hydrocity Zone: The water level in Sonic, or further proof why S&K is the superior Sonic game just for NOT having a single drop of water in the entire game (driving little-pre speaking English-ZeroAX crazy, making him sure that there is a secret water level otherwise there wouldn't be a fucking bubble power up in the game). Seriously, the only zone that came near to getting water right in this series was the Aquatic Ruins Zone in Sonic 2. Kudos for the cool music though, and good level 2 boss fight.

[Key-Glyph]

Just piping in to defend Sonic 3 and Angel Island a little bit.

For me, Sonic 3 was an astoundingly beautiful game when it came out, and I still think it takes the cake compared to the other classic games. As I've been reading through everyone's comments I've been wondering how much of my love of the later Sonic aesthetic is due to my having adored the Sonic SatAM show and Archie comics growing up. Don't get me wrong -- I love Sonic 1 and Sonic 2 -- but I was never super keen on the "checkerboard mountainside" look. When things started looking less straight-up cartoony and more real and Knothole-esque, it really caught my attention and imagination.

I think Emerald Hill is the blandest starter zone by far. The music is good, but other than that it's practically a carbon-copy of Green Hill, and not in a way that does anything interesting. When Angel Island caught on fire, shit got real for baby Key. With the whole Sonic story being about saving the environment and its inhabitants from technological destruction, seeing the whole place go up was incredibly compelling.

I've also always loved the Angel Island tunes. Sonic 3 is not my favorite soundtrack of the classic games -- it's Sonic 2 by a landslide -- but I really do appreciate that each level's second act remixed the melody from the first. In the case of Angel Island, the driving rhythm of act 2 gives it a great sense of urgency. I think it really succeeds there.

And because other people have been listing these, my least favorite game of the classics is, in fact, Sonic and Knuckles, and I'd vote Mushroom Hill for worst starter zone and worst zone in general. Second place for me is Lava Reef.

To each their own, though! I've loved reading everyone's opinions, and realizing that a lot of things I took as givens were very, very not.

[dogman91]

-- but I really do appreciate that each level's second act remixed the melody from the first.

Totally. My new favorite track from Sonic 3 in this regard has to be Hydrocity Act 2. There's even entirely new sections from Act 1, but all in the same basic skeleton so they feel connected.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u1b9SIHwT8

My favorite music from Sonic 3 used to be Ice Cap until I replayed the game again recently for Together Retro. I didn't even pay attention to Hydrocity Act 2's music before then; I always only remembered the first Act's track.

and Angel Island is an awesome stage; screw the haters.

[Gunstar Green]

I always liked Hydrocity Zone and especially its music. It never mattered to me that it was a water level.

I kind of agree with Key on Angel Island. It's the first time in Sonic a jungle zone looked like a jungle and not the cover of a 90's Trapper Keeper. The robot torching it half way through was kind of shocking at the time and the first indication that this was going to be a different kind of Sonic experience. It also reminds us why Sonic is doing what he does, to protect the environment.

I grew up with the comics as well so maybe there's something to the theory.

[Key-Glyph]

-- but I really do appreciate that each level's second act remixed the melody from the first.

Totally. My new favorite track from Sonic 3 in this regard has to be Hydrocity Act 2.

Hydrocity is soooo funky!

Speaking of remixes, there's an old Overclocked Remix (from 2003! egad!) of Hydrocity mashed up with Metropolis called Bottled Metro that you might enjoy.

There's also a Marble Garden remix called Sonik Elektronik that may or may not be your style, but it seems relatedly funky. It's also considered a classic on the site, I think.

[Key-Glyph]

I kind of agree with Key on Angel Island. It's the first time in Sonic a jungle zone looked like a jungle and not the cover of a 90's Trapper Keeper.

That comment made me so happy because:

^ still in use in my household


EDIT: Eek, double post! Forgive me. I got too excited about the Trapper Keeper thing.