Sega Mega Drive: Sonic and Knuckles

Year: 1994
Genre: Platformer
Players: 1
Our Rating: 9/10

Mini Review

Sonic and Knuckles was the end of an era for many as it was the last 2D outing for Sonic on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. Where to go though with a fourth installment of the game? Having already created three of the best platform games ever the team had a super human challenge to keep the series on course. The game plays in a very similar way to Sonic 3. The difference here being that you have the option of choosing everyone’s favorite echidna Knuckles. The character had the bonus of being able to glide as well as to climb vertical surfaces and added a distraction from the more traditional game.

It was an interesting take on the magic formula of the previous games in the series and makes it stand out as one of the greater retro games on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. Sonic and Knuckles had some nice extra features in the innovation of making it’s cartridge backwardly compatible. If you added earlier games such as Sonic 3 on top of the special extending cartridge you could play a combination of entirely new Sonic levels. You could also add any other Sega cartridge to play a variety of bonus stage levels. After long debate I’ve come to the conclusion that the game doesn’t quite top Sonic 3. This is purely a personal preference though; I certainly wouldn’t put up much of a fight with those that argue that it’s the best. All of the original 2D Sonic games are masterpieces in their own right and still sell in endless resurrected retro packages today. If you’ve never played this installment of the series you are in for a treat. It’s fast, fun and a sure winner for all ages.