Together Retro: Sonic & Knuckles

[Ivo]

Gah, I still hate the blue sphere minigame. Nice music though.

Still better than Sonic 2's special stage. Although the Sega Saturn's rendition of that special stage in Sonic 3D Blast is really good... AND had a 3D sonic, knuckles and tails... which made me freak out as a kid.

I personally consider Sonic 2 special stages to be very good, better than the special stages in 3 and 1. I think they are the most appropriate for a Sonic game as well.

[MrPopo]

Gah, I still hate the blue sphere minigame. Nice music though.

Still better than Sonic 2's special stage. Although the Sega Saturn's rendition of that special stage in Sonic 3D Blast is really good... AND had a 3D sonic, knuckles and tails... which made me freak out as a kid.

I personally consider Sonic 2 special stages to be very good, better than the special stages in 3 and 1. I think they are the most appropriate for a Sonic game as well.

They're not terrible if you set it up so Tails isn't there. And even then I find the Sonic 3 stages more fun.

[BogusMeatFactory]

I personally consider Sonic 2 special stages to be very good, better than the special stages in 3 and 1. I think they are the most appropriate for a Sonic game as well.

Yeah I could not get into the Sonic 2 stages. I could get maybe the first 2 emeralds, and after that...NOPE! Again, Sonic 3D Blast did a better implementation of that style of special stage....on Sega Saturn that is....that is so weird to say!

[Gunstar Green]

Blue Sphere is kind of bland, but it's easily the least offensive of the classic game special stages.

I like the look of the Sonic 2 special stages but I always found them the most frustrating.

[dogman91]

Blue Sphere is awesome. Also, I could barely collect two or three chaos emeralds in Sonic 2, but all of them in Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

[Ivo]

Ah yes I guess that if you do play with AI Tails the stages are frustrating as Tails loses rings when hit.

Sonic 2 specials are more challenging than Blue sphere on Sonic 3 and probably also more challenging than Blue sphere on S&K (which are at least slightly harder than Sonic 3) but I like them more.

I also prefer accessing special stages by playing well enough to keep 50 rings at checkpoints, than hunting around and being able to miss them if you go on a different route.

[Sload Soap]

I dislike all the special stages to be honest. Sonic 1's are the worst by a way but I have no love for the stages in 2,3, or CD either. If there's one area that Mario is the clear winner it's with regards secret areas.

[ExedExes]

I like Sonic CD's special stages. No weird tricks, nice faux Mode 7, it's real simple.

I didn't get to play this game a lot this month, but at the close of this TR it was a fun thread to post in and read. I had no idea of the radical changes that Sonic 3 introduced, even moreso in S&K. I was able to point out what I disliked but yet also gain a deeper understanding as to why so many people like the later entries in the series. Isn't that what TR is all about?

[dogman91]

They're not that radically different at all. Maybe you all grew up with Sonic 2 or something and that in turn seems easier.

I think DKC1&2 are ridiculously easy games (possibly from growing up with them) for instance but other people claim they're 'hard and rage quit worthy.

[Gunstar Green]

I'm glad the month is over, this thread was bad for my blood pressure.

Just kidding, I enjoyed seeing some outside perspectives on a game I know inside out, upside down and around and it forced me to be a little more objective about something I couldn't be more biased towards.

Though the criticism did make me question and re-examine it ultimately hasn't changed my opinion that Sonic 3 & Knuckles is the apex of the series.