Sonic & Knuckles#Lock-on technology

{{See also|Sonic the Hedgehog 3#Gameplay|l1=Gameplay of Sonic the Hedgehog 3}}

File:Sonic & Knuckles gameplay 002.png

Since Sonic & Knuckles and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 were initially developed as one game, their gameplay is similar: both are 2D side-scrolling platformers with similar level design, graphics, and game mechanics. However, in Sonic & Knuckles, unlike in Sonic 3, the player chooses either Sonic or Knuckles at the title screen, Miles "Tails" Prower is not available to select, and the player cannot control two characters together. There is also no multiplayer mode or save feature.

The player character moves through six levels, each divided into two acts.Sonic & Knuckles (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 12–15. The first act of each level ends with a miniboss fight with one of Dr. Robotnik's robots,Sonic & Knuckles (Genesis) instruction manual, p. 9. while the second ends with a regular boss fight with Robotnik (or EggRobo in Knuckles' campaign).Sonic & Knuckles (Genesis) instruction manual, p. 15. Sonic and Knuckles traverse levels differently; Sonic can jump higher and has access to unique shield abilities, whereas Knuckles can glide and climb most walls. The levels also include cutscenes that differ based on the character selected, as Sonic and Knuckles are opponents for most of the game.

The game contains two types of bonus stages accessed by passing a checkpoint with at least 20 rings. The first type has Sonic or Knuckles orbit floating, glowing spheres, jetting off each one when a button is pressed, while a fence of light approaches from the bottom and will remove the player from the stage if touched. Collecting 50 rings in this stage earns the player a continue. The second type involves bouncing around a room with a slot machine in its center with the intention of winning extra lives and power-ups.Sonic & Knuckles (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 16–18.

Special Stages are entered by finding giant rings hidden in secret passageways: the player is placed in a 3D environment and must turn all of a number of blue spheres red by running through them, but must avoid all red spheres, including formerly blue ones. Yellow spheres bounce the player long distances, and white spheres with red stars on them make the player walk backward in the opposite direction. Completing a Special Stage earns the player a Chaos Emerald; collecting all seven Emeralds allows the player to turn into Super Sonic or Super Knuckles, more powerful versions of the characters.

{{redirect|Hyper Sonic|speed that exceeds five times the speed of sound|Hypersonic speed|other uses|Hypersonic (disambiguation)}}

{{redirect|Blue Sphere|the video game in the Star Ocean series|Star Ocean: Blue Sphere}}

{{redirect|Lock-on technology|other uses|Lock-on (disambiguation){{!}}Lock-on}}

Sonic & Knuckles features "lock-on technology" that allows players to open the hatch on the cartridge and insert a second cartridge. When Sonic 3 is inserted, the player can play through both games as one, Sonic 3 & Knuckles. This features several changes to the games, such as slightly altered level layouts,Sonic & Knuckles (Genesis) instruction manual, p. 22. the ability to play through Sonic 3 levels as Knuckles or Sonic & Knuckles levels as Tails, and the ability to save progress in Sonic & Knuckles levels.Sonic & Knuckles (Genesis) instruction manual, pp. 22–24. Additionally, combining the cartridges is the only way to collect "Super Emeralds", earned by accessing Special Stages in the Sonic & Knuckles levels after collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds from Sonic 3. When all Super Emeralds have been collected, Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails can transform into Hyper Sonic, Hyper Knuckles, and Super Tails,{{efn|Several years later, with the re-release of Sonic 3 & Knuckles in Sonic Origins, this transformation would be referred to as Hyper Tails, now having another version of Super Tails that is unlocked by collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds.|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} each with unique abilities.{{cite web|title=Sonic And Knuckles Collection Cheats|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/cheats/sonic-and-knuckles-collection|publisher=Game Revolution|access-date=January 26, 2015}}

Inserting Sonic 2 unlocks Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, wherein the player can play Sonic 2 using Knuckles' abilities. If the player attaches any other Genesis game released prior to Sonic & Knuckles, a screen with Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Robotnik stating "No Way!" is displayed.{{cite web|title=Sonic & Knuckles Cheats and Overview|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/cheats/sonic-and-knuckles|publisher=Game Revolution|access-date=January 27, 2015}} From here, the player can also access a minigame based on Sonic 3{{'s}} and Sonic & Knuckles{{'s}} Chaos Emerald Special Stages. The attached cartridge determines the Special Stage layout. If the player attaches the original Sonic the Hedgehog, they are able to access all of the possible variations of the special stages, each with a unique level number and corresponding password. This game is named Blue Sphere in Sonic Mega Collection and Blue Spheres in Sonic Origins.

After the events of Sonic 3, Dr. Robotnik's orbital weapon, the Death Egg, crash-lands on Angel Island. Sonic travels to Angel Island to retrieve the Chaos Emeralds to defeat Robotnik, and once again comes into conflict with Knuckles, who believes Sonic is trying to steal the Emeralds for himself. In Hidden Palace Zone, Sonic fights and defeats Knuckles, only to discover Robotnik stealing the Master Emerald, the secret to the island's levitation powers. Knuckles attacks Robotnik, but Robotnik shocks him with electricity. Knuckles shows Sonic a portal that leads them to Sky Sanctuary, where the Death Egg is relaunching. Sonic infiltrates the Death Egg and defeats Robotnik as Super Sonic, retrieving the Master Emerald and returning it to Angel Island as it rises back into the sky.

In Knuckles' story, taking place after Sonic's, Knuckles is attacked by EggRobo, one of Robotnik's robots. He chases him to the damaged remains of Sky Sanctuary, where Mecha Sonic attacks Knuckles, but accidentally destroys EggRobo instead. Mecha Sonic uses the power of the Master Emerald to achieve a Super form similar to Sonic's and fights Knuckles until the latter eventually defeats the mecha. Sonic flies in piloting the biplane Tornado, and takes Knuckles and the Master Emerald back to Angel Island. If all the Chaos Emeralds are collected, Angel Island rises upwards, into the sky. However, if the player has not collected all the Chaos Emeralds, Angel Island plummets into the ocean.

{{See also|Sonic the Hedgehog 3#Development}}File:SegaGenesis-Sonic+Knuckles-lock-on-open.jpg features a "lock-on" adapter that allows it to be physically attached to other Genesis cartridges.]]

Sonic & Knuckles was developed in California by the Japanese members of Sega Technical Institute (STI).{{cite web|last1=Horowitz|first1=Ken|title=Developer's Den: Sega Technical Institute|url=http://www.sega-16.com/2007/06/developers-den-sega-technical-institute/|website=Sega-16|access-date=15 March 2018|date=June 11, 2007}}{{cite journal|title=Sonic 3 & Knuckles - Behind the Scenes|journal=GamesTM|issue=60|pages=140–144|url=http://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_3_%26_Knuckles_-_Behind_the_Scenes_(GamesTM_issue_60)}}{{cite magazine|last=Thorpe|first=Nick|year=2016|title=The Story of Sonic the Hedgehog|url=https://archive.org/stream/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_158#page/16/mode/2up|magazine=Retro Gamer|publisher=Imagine Publishing|issue=158|pages=18–25}} Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles were originally planned as a single game;{{cite web|title=Sonic & Knuckles Development overview|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2010/02/sonic_and_knuckles_virtual_console|website=NintendoLife|date=16 February 2010|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=29 January 2015}} according to designer Takashi Iizuka, the team "really wanted to hit a home run", with larger stages that took longer to develop. As ROM cartridges were too small to contain the game and Sega wanted it released in time for a promotional deal with McDonald's in the US,{{Cite web|date=2019-02-02|title=How McDonalds Couldn't Keep Up With The World's Fastest Hedgehog|url=https://www.sonicstadium.org/2019/02/how-mcdonalds-couldnt-keep-up-with-the-worlds-fastest-hedgehog/|access-date=2021-03-04|website=The Sonic Stadium|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|last=Gander|first=Matt|title=Twenty-five years ago, to this very month, Sonic 'Happy Meal' toys were available in the UK|url=https://www.gamesasylum.com/2020/02/14/twenty-five-years-ago-to-this-very-month-sonic-happy-meal-toys-were-available-in-the-uk/|access-date=2021-03-04|website=Games Asylum|date=14 February 2020 |language=en-US}} Sonic 3 was split in two,{{cite magazine |last1=Shea |first1=Brian |title=How Sonic 3 Became Two Separate Games |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/10/10/how-sonic-the-hedgehog-3-became-two-games-sonic-and-knuckles-lock-on-technology.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014015127/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/10/10/how-sonic-the-hedgehog-3-became-two-games-sonic-and-knuckles-lock-on-technology.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=October 14, 2016 |magazine=Game Informer |date=October 10, 2016}} with Sonic & Knuckles as the second part.{{cite web|url=http://xbox.gamespy.com/articles/654/654750p4.html|publisher=GameSpy|title=Sega's Yuji Naka Talks!|access-date=December 31, 2014}} As Mushroom Hill became the first stage of Sonic & Knuckles, the developers lowered its difficulty.{{Cite web |last=Thorpe |first=Nick |date=2024-01-13 |title=30 years later, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is still a stone-cold classic: 'We wanted to make the third game more epic than Sonic 2' |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/30-years-later-sonic-the-hedgehog-3-is-still-a-stone-cold-classic-we-wanted-to-make-the-third-game-more-epic-than-sonic-2/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Retro Gamer |language=en}}

Despite the split, the developers wanted the games to feel like a single experience. According to Roger Hector, vice president and general manager of STI, the lock-on technology was conceived between the releases of Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992).{{cite magazine|title=When Knuckles Met Sonic|magazine=GamePro|issue=66|publisher=IDG|date=January 1995|page=20}}

The team explained their situation to Sega's hardware division, which gave them the lock-on adapter. The team knew that players would likely use the adapter to insert games beside Sonic 3, so they implemented the Blue Sphere minigame for most games. They made Knuckles playable in Sonic 2 if that game was inserted because the team found his play style suited its levels. They considered including the same functionality for the original Sonic the Hedgehog, but the developers felt Knuckles' abilities did not work with its level design.

Sonic & Knuckles was released on October 18, 1994.{{cite web|url=http://vc.sega.jp/vc_sandk/|publisher=Sega.jp|title=ソニック＆ナックルズ セガ Wii(R) バーチャルコンソール公式サイト|language=ja|access-date=January 28, 2015}} It was released around the same time as Nintendo's Donkey Kong Country for the Genesis's competitor, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Industry figures called the coinciding releases a "battle" as both advertised "revolutionary" technological advances: lock-on technology for Sonic & Knuckles and 3D-rendered graphics for Donkey Kong.{{cite web |last1=Kronke |first1=David |title=It's Gonna Be a Video Jungle Out There: Video-game stars Donkey Kong and Sonic the Hedgehog will battle it out with new games backed by tech advances and mega-marketing. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-15-ca-50485-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 26, 2020 |date=October 15, 1994 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918185341/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-10-15/entertainment/ca-50485_1_video-game-technology |archive-date=2015-09-18}}

Sonic & Knuckles was backed by a $45 million marketing campaign; at the time, video games typically had a marketing budget of $5 million. Blockbuster Video and MTV co-sponsored a tournament in which children were allowed to play Sonic & Knuckles. The final tournament was held at Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, California, with a prize of $25,000 and the title "The World's Most Hardcore Gamer". Two finalists were also awarded a copy of every Sega product released for the next year.{{cite magazine|date=December 1994|title=The Sega Man of Alcatraz|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_65/page/n211/mode/2up|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|publisher=EGM Media, LLC|issue=65|pages=186–187}} MTV broadcast the tournament finale along with footage of the game as MTV's Rock the Rock.

{{See also|List of Sonic the Hedgehog compilations}}

Sonic & Knuckles has been released as part of numerous compilations of Sega games including Sonic Jam (1997) for the Sega Saturn;{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/games/sonic-jam/saturn-1784|website=IGN|title=Sonic Jam – Saturn|access-date=November 16, 2014}} Sonic & Knuckles Collection (1997) and Sonic & Garfield Pack (1999) for the PC,{{cite web|title=Sonic & Garfield Pack|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/sonic-and-garfield-pack/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|website=Metacritic|access-date=January 19, 2015}} Sonic Mega Collection (2002) for the GameCube;{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/12/sonic-mega-collection|website=IGN|title=Sonic Mega Collection|last=Mirabella|first=Fran|date=November 2, 2002|access-date=November 16, 2014}} Sonic Mega Collection Plus (2004) for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC;{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/04/sonic-mega-collection-plus|website=IGN|title=Sonic Mega Collection Plus|last=Goldstein|first=Hilary|date=November 3, 2004|access-date=November 16, 2014}} Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (2009) for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3;{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/02/12/sonics-ultimate-genesis-collection-review|website=IGN|title=Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection|last=Miller|first=Greg|access-date=November 16, 2014|date=February 12, 2009}} and Sonic Classic Collection (2010) for the Nintendo DS.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/03/06/sonic-classic-collection-review|title=Sonic Classic Collection Review|last=Harris|first=Craig|date=March 5, 2010|website=IGN|access-date=January 27, 2013}}

Sonic Jam, in addition to featuring the original release, included some new "remix" options to modify the game:{{cite web|title=Sonic Jam overview – remix options|date=6 June 2004 |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/game/sonic-jam|publisher=Game Revolution|access-date=January 27, 2015}} "Normal" mode alters the layout of rings and hazards and "Easy" mode removes certain acts entirely from the game. The version in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection does not retain the lock-on feature included in other versions of the game, because of "tight development times".{{cite web|last1=Gillbert|first1=Henry|title=SONIC'S ULTIMATE GENESIS COLLECTION REVIEW|date=12 February 2009|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/sonics-ultimate-genesis-collection-review/|publisher=GamesRadar|access-date=January 27, 2015}}{{cite web|title=Sonic's Genesis Collection Not So Ultimate; Leaves Out Sonic 3 & Knuckles Lock-On|date=4 May 2012|url=http://www.gamezone.com/originals/sonic-39-s-genesis-collection-not-so-ultimate-leaves-out-sonic-3-knuckles-lock-on|publisher=GameZone|access-date=January 27, 2015}}

The game has been re-released through the Wii's Virtual Console and Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade.{{cite web|title=Sonic & Knuckles – Wii release|url=http://uk.ign.com/games/sonic-knuckles/wii-14352316|website=IGN|access-date=January 26, 2015}}{{cite web|title=Sonic & Knuckles (Xbox 360)|url=http://uk.ign.com/games/sonic-knuckles/xbox-360-14348808|website=IGN|access-date=January 26, 2015}} Both releases are programmed such that, if any of the "Lock-on" games are also downloaded on the same account, the "connected" versions of the game are also available. For example, if one downloads Sonic & Knuckles and Sonic 2, they have the option to play the corresponding Knuckles in Sonic 2 game. When the PC version was released via the Steam software, the games were released together as Sonic 3 & Knuckles as originally intended, with the player (even if playing as Tails) simply continuing at the beginning of Sonic & Knuckles after finishing Sonic 3.{{cite web|url=http://store.steampowered.com/sub/26498/|title=Sonic Hits Collection|publisher=Steam|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323112729/http://store.steampowered.com/sub/26498/|archive-date=23 March 2013|access-date=January 5, 2015}}

Sonic & Knuckles is included in the retro console Sega Genesis Flashback released in 2017 by AtGames, a compilation of 45 Genesis games that does not have Sonic 3.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/sega-genesis-flashback-review/|title=Sega's HD answer to the SNES Classic made my inner Sega kid cry|first=Scott|last=Stein|website=CNET}}

Sonic 3 & Knuckles was re-released for the first time since 2011 as part of the Sonic Origins compilation in 2022. All versions of the games included in Origins are remasters running on the Retro Engine, with Sonic 1, 2 and CD being new ports of existing remasters. This version of the title was developed by Simon Thomley of Headcannon, who previously worked on both Sonic Mania and the other titles included.{{cite tweet|last=Thomley|first=Simon|title=Though Sega is creating Sonic Origins internally, I'm grateful that they chose us to build the S3&K that they're integrating into the collection. We worked extremely hard in that time and are very proud of what were able to deliver to Sega. We hope you'll enjoy the final product!|date=April 20, 2022|user=HCStealth|number=1516778620466851843|accessdate=April 20, 2022}} The Origins version features the original "Blue Sphere" minigame as a bonus mode, as well as new iteration of the mode called "New Blue Spheres" which includes the additional sphere colors introduced in Sonic Mania.

{{Video game reviews

| Allgame = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114105743/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1705&tab=review|archive-date=November 14, 2014|last=Thompson|first=Jon|title=Sonic & Knuckles – Review|publisher=Allgame|access-date=June 5, 2013|url=http://allgame.com/game.php?id=1705&tab=review|url-status=dead}}

| CVG = 97%{{cite magazine |title=The Computer and Video Games Christmas Buyers Guide |magazine=Computer and Video Games |publisher=EMAP |location=United Kingdom |issue=170 (January 1996) |date=10 December 1995 |pages=8–9 |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_170_1996-01_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n7/mode/2up}}

| EGM = 9.25/10{{cite magazine|last1=Semrad|first1=Ed|last2=Carpenter|first2=Danyon|last3=Manuel|first3=Al|author4=Sushi-X|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_65/page/n35/mode/2up|title=Review Crew: Sonic & Knuckles|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=65|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=December 1994|page=34}}

| Fam = 30/40{{cite magazine|magazine=Famitsu|title=NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ソニック&ナックルズ|issue=309|page=37|date=November 11–18, 1994}}

| GI = 9/10{{cite magazine |title=Sonic & Knuckles |magazine=Game Informer |date=November 1994 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/legacyreviews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214131120/https://www.gameinformer.com/legacyreviews|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 14, 2018}}

| IGN = 9/10{{cite web|last=Thomas|first=Lucas M.|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/107/1070917p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226171104/http://wii.ign.com/articles/107/1070917p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 26, 2010|title=Sonic & Knuckles Review|website=IGN|date=February 22, 2010|access-date=November 17, 2014}}

| NGen = {{Rating|4|5}}

| NLife = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web|last=Newton|first=James|title=Review |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2010/02/sonic_and_knuckles_virtual_console |website=NintendoLife |access-date=December 7, 2014|date=February 16, 2010}}

| rev1 = Sega Magazine

| rev1Score = 92%{{cite web|title=Sonic & Knuckles overview|url=http://info.sonicretro.org/images/f/fe/SegaMagazine1994_2.jpg|publisher=Sega Magazine|access-date=6 February 2015|date=October 1994}}

| rev2 = Sega Power

| rev2Score = 90%

| award1Pub = VideoGames

| award1 = Best Genesis Game (runner-up){{cite magazine |title=VideoGames Best of '94 |magazine=VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine |date=February 1995 |issue=74 (March 1995) |pages=44–7 |url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_74_March_1995/page/n45/mode/2up}}

}}

The Genesis version sold at least 1.24 million copies in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml|title=US Platinum Videogame Chart|work=The Magic Box|access-date=2015-11-11|archive-date=2021-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009200207/http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml|url-status=dead}} Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles sold a combined {{nowrap|4 million}} cartridges worldwide.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-ij_RcEzcI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/f-ij_RcEzcI| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Sonic the Hedgehog GameTap Retrospective (Alternative Compilation Upload)|time=12:40 (Sonic 1), 14:39 (Sonic 2), 18:40 (Sonic 3/Sonic & Knuckles)|medium=YouTube|publisher=GameTap|date=2009}}{{cbignore}}{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbu4TEE1_pE|title=Sonic the Hedgehog GameTap Retrospective Pt. 4/4|time=1:39|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725182313/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbu4TEE1_pE|archive-date=July 25, 2015|url-status=live|publisher=GameTap|medium=YouTube}}

Critics praised Sonic & Knuckles, despite its similarity to its predecessor. The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly named it their "Game of the Month". They lauded the lock-on technology and remarked that despite that being "more of the same, it still is an exceptional game". GamePro commented that the ability to play as Knuckles makes it essentially two games on a single cartridge, the game is more challenging than Sonic 3, and the ability to hook the cartridge up to Sonic 2 and 3 makes those games "worth playing again". They gave it a perfect 5.0 out of 5 in all four categories (graphics, sound, control, and funfactor).{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_064_November_1994/page/n73/mode/2up|author=Andromeda|title=ProReview: Sonic & Knuckles|magazine=GamePro|issue=64 |publisher=IDG|date=November 1994 |pages=72–73}} Next Generation remarked, "Basically, this is the same Sonic game that Sega has sold for the last three years, just wrapped up better and with a prettier ribbon."{{cite magazine|date=January 1995|title=Finals|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-001/page/n105/mode/2up|magazine=Next Generation|publisher=Imagine Media|issue=1|page=101}}

Critics praised the lock-on technology the game offered. Lucas Thomas of IGN said it was "a great game on its own", but the lock-on feature completely revamped the overall experience. Dan Whitehead of Eurogamer preferred Sonic & Knuckles to Sonic 3,{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/sega-vintage-collection-review|website=Eurogamer|last=Whitehead|first=Dan|date=June 17, 2009|title=SEGA Vintage Collection|access-date=January 2, 2015}} stating that he could not fully appreciate its predecessor without its "companion piece".{{cite web|last1=Whitehead|first1=Dan|title=Virtual Console roundup|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/R_vcroundup_070907_wii|website=Eurogamer|date=7 September 2007|access-date=February 5, 2015}} Sega Power{{'s}} review praised the game's harder difficulty in comparison to its predecessor and the new expansion of levels, admitting that the expansion would not have been possible had Sonic 3 been a single game.{{cite web|title=Sonic & Knuckles review|url=http://info.sonicretro.org/images/9/9e/Snk_SegaPower_November1994_03.jpg|publisher=Sega Power|access-date=6 February 2015|date=November 1994}} Sega Magazine{{'s}} review similarly praised the lock-on technology and the new innovation the unique cartridge offered, adding that Sonic & Knuckles{{'}} hidden stages and bosses would strongly add to the replay value of the combined game.

Reviewing the Virtual Console release, Nintendo Life writer James Newton praised its support for the old lock-on feature of the original release, claiming that the game does not truly shine without having purchased Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and 3 to activate this feature. Thomas praised the game for "impressive visuals that pushed the Genesis to its limits" and for the value added in the content unlocked with the lock-on technology.

For the series' twentieth anniversary in 2011, Sega released Sonic Generations, a game that remade aspects of various past games from the franchise.{{cite web|last1=Nunneley|first1=Stephany|title=Sonic Generations – Green Hill, Chemical Plant, and Sky Sanctuary remakes|url=http://www.vg247.com/2011/09/15/sonic-generations-video-shows-green-hill-chemical-plant-and-sky-sanctuary/|website=VG247|date=15 September 2011|access-date=January 27, 2015}} A remake of the Sky Sanctuary stage was made for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC versions of the game,{{cite web|title=Sonic Generations Sky Sanctuary|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/qcm8oy/sonic-generations-nycc-11--sky-sanctuary-modern-walkthrough|publisher=GameTrailers|access-date=January 27, 2015}} while the Mushroom Hill level was remade for the Nintendo 3DS version of the game.{{cite web|title=Sonic Generations – Mushroom Hill Special Stage Clip|url=http://uk.ign.com/videos/2011/11/22/sonic-generations-mushroom-hill-special-stage-clip|website=IGN|date=22 November 2011 |access-date=January 27, 2015}} Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing features a track inspired by the Death Egg as downloadable content along with the Metal Sonic character. The sequel, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, featured the same race course, and an additional new one inspired by the Sky Sanctuary stage.{{cite web|last1=Schilling|first1=Chris|title=Rev up For Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/04/30/rev-up-for-sonic-all-stars-racing-transformed|website=IGN|date=30 April 2012|access-date=January 27, 2015}} Re-imagined versions of the Flying Battery and Lava Reef stages, along with the Blue Sphere bonus game, appear in the 2017 game Sonic Mania.{{cite web|last1=Good|first1=Owen|title=Sonic Mania's latest trailer puts Knuckles back in Flying Battery Zone|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/5/14/15637534/sonic-mania-trailer-flying-battery-zone-knuckles|website=Polygon|date=14 May 2017|access-date=30 May 2017}} Sonic the Hedgehog 2 draws inspiration from Sonic & Knuckles, though it is not a direct adaptation.{{cite news |last1=Purslow |first1=Matt |title=Sonic the Hedgehog Movies Won't Follow The Games In Order |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-the-hedgehog-movies-not-in-game-order |access-date=April 4, 2022 |work=IGN |date=March 29, 2022 |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404091921/https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-the-hedgehog-movies-not-in-game-order |url-status=live }}

In 2022, 30 years after the release of the game, Paramount announced the release of the film Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in December 2024, as well as the release of Knuckles on Paramount+ in April of that year; the creative team behind the live-action franchise confirmed this was meant to be an homage to the Sonic the Hedgehog 3/Sonic & Knuckles double-feature.{{Cite web |title=The Creative Forces Behind 'Knuckles' Give Us the Scoop on the Paramount+ Series|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/04/the-creative-forces-behind-knuckles-give-us-the-scoop-on-the-paramount-series/ |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=www.animationmagazine.net|date=April 24, 2024 }}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

Works cited

• {{cite book|last1=Pinney|first1=Joe|title=Sonic & Knuckles: Official Game Book|date=1994|publisher=Brady Pub.|location=Indianapolis, IN|isbn=978-1-5668-6218-9}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101122210600/https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/Xu7_0hHuZFpUR07NKL82-pZ6fnFjM-Wx Official Virtual Console website]

{{Sonic the Hedgehog|state=expanded}}

{{Sonic Team}}

{{Portal bar|Video games|1990s}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sonic and Knuckles}}

Category:1994 video games

Category:Sega Genesis games

Category:Sega Technical Institute games

Category:Side-scrolling platformers

Category:Single-player video games

Category:Sonic Team games

Category:Sonic the Hedgehog video games

Category:Video game expansion packs

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Video games produced by Yuji Naka

Category:Video games scored by Howard Drossin

Category:Video games scored by Tatsuyuki Maeda

Category:Video games scored by Jun Senoue

Category:Video games set on fictional islands

Category:Virtual Console games

Category:Windows games

Category:Xbox 360 Live Arcade games