Double Take: Sonic 3 & Knuckles

[Melf]

Sonic is undoubtedly the one character who is synonymous with the Genesis. He was born there, and his four games were responsible for making Sega the powerhouse it was during thr 16-bit era. His final true Genesis outing (no, Sonic 3D Blast doesn't count!) was Sonic & Knuckles, which boasted some cool lock-on powers that added more gameplay to each of the previous games. Of all of them, perhaps its interaction with Sonic 3 is most memorable, or at least it is to staff writer Vince Thornburg. In the latest installment (http://www.sega-16.com/2008/04/double-take-sonic-3-knuckles/) of Double Take, Vince reminds us just how awesome it was to link up the two cartridges and behold all the hedgehog goodness contained therein. Check it out!

[Genesis Knight]

Holy crap! I got quoted!

Well, I was going to say this was a really great article, but now I'll sound biased... I'm also impressed that you apparently played through S3&K on no-save. That takes some dedication.

[VinnyT]

Or having no job, but dedication sounds better.

Thanks though. Honestly, that quote inspired me to write that whole thing. Pretty much I only did it originally just to put the quote at the end.

[Kollision]

In 1994 I had to take a break from my gaming addiction because I moved to another town for College, so I never got to play Sonic & Knuckles.
Reading this article made me understand a little bit more of the fascination this games has - I've never been such a Sonic fan, but I recognize the rush you get when you 're deep into the Sonic games.

I lost count of how many times I've been outbid and lost a Sonic & Knuckles cart on eBay. Maybe next time, in a lucky corner, I'll finally get it........

[Joe Redifer]

Uh oh, typo!


While Sonic Spinball tried to hold us over, we wanted out real Sonic game!

Anyway, I always thought that Sonic 1 and 2 looked better/smoother/more colorful than both Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles. The latter two were just... ugly.

[DaronMalakian17]

I just <3 SEGA...

[JDB]

From 1994 to 1998, my Mega Drive 2 was a S3&K machine

[sonicwatcher6969]

Sonic 3 & Knuckles is just hands down one of the best games on the system. Every now and again I just like to go through the whole thing, takes me about 2 hours-ish.

[The Jackal]

I lost count of how many times I've been outbid and lost a Sonic & Knuckles cart on eBay. Maybe next time, in a lucky corner, I'll finally get it........

Sonic and Knuckles isn't that hard to get and it goes for a decent price. I own both the US and UK version so that must prove something...

[megabomberman]

Sonic 3 and knuckles is a strange one, It is absolutely amazing no questions, but sonic and knuckles is just so vastly superior than 3 that I find myself rushing through those first 6 zones. Then the quality goes through the roof with sonic and knuckles.

But is the undoubtedly superior per minute quality of sonic and knuckles better than the sheer volume of s3&k?? I would say no, pipped only by the save option, the combination of special stages and the inclusion of the extra little treat when the two are combined.

By the way good work vinny this title deserved a special slot on sega-16

[VinnyT]

Thanks for that!

Anyway, I just noticed the featured is titled "Double Back" instead of "Double Take".

[Zebbe]

I saw that too... Thought it was a reference to the lockout feature, but then I saw "& Knuckles" is missing.

I liked the feature, although I don't really share the same memories of the game. The only Sonic game I got at release was Sonic 3D IIRC, but I won't write a Double Take on that game ^^.

[TmEE]

Great read !!!! S3&K is the best 2D Sonic ever. I often play it no-save (as the saves get lost in my modded pirate cart anyway after some time) and I love every single hour.

[Ro Nova]

I've been playing Sonic 3 and Knuckles a lot lately and I'd put it on my list of greatest games of all time! They certainly don't make 'em like they used to.

[Melf]

Anyway, I just noticed the featured is titled "Double Back" instead of "Double Take".

Um, no it isn't! You're blind I tell you, blind!


I admit it; I went and fixed it.

[VinnyT]

It's alright. You're doing WAY too much by your self, so it's understandable.

[Seingalt]

I recently bought Sonic & Knuckles on eBay but didn’t play it yet. Now I’m wondering whether I should start out directly with Sonic 3 & Knuckles or play first through Sonic & Knuckles?

[Genesis Knight]

Sonic 3 and Knuckles, of course. That's the full game. You're jumping in halfway if you play S&K on its lonesome.

[Mr Smith]

Bugger me, what an awesome read.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles in indeed an epic and I don't think anybody can deny that. Large chunks of Sonic 3 I hate and reckon the stand-alone game to be average, however, when the two games are combined something magic can be found (even in the hatefully tosh Marble Garden Zone). What a fantastic read, really bought back some nostalgia.

[Collision Cat]

I played Sonic 3 & Knuckles a lot on Sonic Mega Collection at a depressing time of my life, so sadly I can't play it now. It's got bad feelings attached. :(

[VinnyT]

I had no intentions of brining back bad memories. I apologize.

[The Sports Guy]

Play it in this order:

Sonic 3
S and K
Sonic 3 and K

Then, download the sweet rom hack and play Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog. You can fly over all of marble zone!

[Champion51]

I've been a huge fan on Sonic since 1991. I got my Genesis a year earlier, the one that came with Altered Beast. My only wish is that one day, Sega will come up with a Sonic that still incorporates the fun of the side-scrolling adventure. With all the cut scenes in most modern Sonic games, it just doesn't have that same feel as the ones on Genesis. Also, I bought the Sonic collection plus for Xbox and, to my extreme disappointment, there isn't a version of Sonic CD. Anyways, great article and thank god there is a site dedicated to the glory days of video games. Sega does what Nintendon't!

[matteus]

All the crap voice acting is the thing that puts me off most modern sonic games....subtitles yes, poor voice acting no :)

[Mel]

I absolutely adore sonic & knuckles, its the first step in making me a sega fanboy. ... oh and i'm back ^.-

[Melf]

MEEEEEEEELLLLLL!!!!

Where ya been buddy? It's great to have you back!

[David J.]

Funny this article was posted on the 9th of April, when I graduated Tech School, and I wanted to play this soooooooo badly during tech school.

[Mel]

MEEEEEEEELLLLLL!!!!

Where ya been buddy? It's great to have you back!

^.^ Missed ya guys too, some RL problems, but everything is good now. Time to give my genny some luv. <3

I'm canceling (or trying to) my other appointments tonight after work(fix computers and whatever) to get some S&K time in.

[paulojr_mam]

Best Sonic game ever... so far... and don't seem this is gonna change anytime soon.

And I still prefer Sonic 3 over S&K. Don't know why some people rage against Sonic 3.

[gio]

I just <3 SEGA...

You mean you ♡ SEGA ?

[cowboyscowboys]

Can't believe I missed out on Sonic 3 and Knuckles as a kid (only playing the 1at level of each game). Easily for me one of the greatest games ever created with no hint of nostalgia burring my view.

[sheath]

I only rented Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles back in the day, after playing through them both I just didn't want them for anywhere near full retail. To this day, when I want a Sonic fix I'll pick up Sonic 1, 2 or CD long before plugging in either of these games. It's odd too, because I can see why they are superior, but for some reason that superiority just causes me to lose interest.

[gio]

I know some people who say that Sonic 3 is the beginning of the downfall of Sonic, because we can save.

[Da_Shocker]

I loved this game so much. I thought Sega was going to give us the Mario All-Star treatment on Sonic Jam. Sigh but they didn't.

[EricShaun]

Enjoyed the review thanks

[NostalgicMachine]

I vividly remember Sonic 3 and S&K being released, and boy was it amazing. Two of my favorite games on the console...COMBINED?!

Yes plz.

[Cornholio857]

I vividly remember Sonic 3 and S&K being released, and boy was it amazing. Two of my favorite games on the console...COMBINED?!

Yes plz.

Sega intended to release Sonic 3 Limited Edition which was both games combined. It was later cancelled.



Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Limited Edition, referred to as Sonic 3 + in notes for Sonic Mars, was going to be a compilation of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles for the Sega Genesis. This would be similar to what happens when locking the two games together with Sonic & Knuckles Lock-On Technology. It would essentially be Sonic 3 & Knuckles but it would have been contained in a single cartridge and thus probably would have had a cheaper price. It is unknown whether it would have had a port allowing for Lock-On Technology so compatibility with other cartridges is also unknown. If that port were not included then playing as Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 or playing the extended Sonic 3 special stage called Blue Sphere would not have been possible. Ultimately, the game was canceled.

Two gaming magazines, SEGA Magazin and Famitsu, refer to the game. Sega Magazin mentions that the game would be released in addition to the standard Sonic 3 game. Famitsu mentions that the game would be 24 Megabits. The game was also mentioned in an issue of Mean Machines Sega.

Two prototypes of this game were released by drx on February 23, 2008. The earliest can be found here and the later build can be found here. Judging from the prototypes the game was meant to include an extended version of the Sonic & Knuckles ending theme with music from Sonic 3 mixed in. It also may have used Sonic 3 boss music exclusively.

http://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_3_Limited_Edition

[Saturn Fan]

I only rented Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles back in the day, after playing through them both I just didn't want them for anywhere near full retail. To this day, when I want a Sonic fix I'll pick up Sonic 1, 2 or CD long before plugging in either of these games. It's odd too, because I can see why they are superior, but for some reason that superiority just causes me to lose interest.


Same here although its because i was already in love with the earlier 1, 2, and CD. I recognized Sonic 3 and Knuckles were cool but i'd rather play the first three most of the time instead.

I suppose in a way i kinda dismissed those titles as more of the same.