Sonic & Knuckles (1994)On the surface Sonic & Knuckles looks exactly like Sonic the Hedgehog 3. It plays exactly the same, and even features the same power-ups. But do not be fooled, for Sonic & Knuckles is different from the other Sonic games.
For one thing, it allows gamers to play as Knuckles. He may not be as speedy as Sonic, but with the ability to climb up walls and float down to the ground, he is able to get into areas not even Sonic could enter. He adds an entirely new dynamic to this franchise, and is genuinely a lot of fun to explore with.
When it was released back in 1994, Sonic & Knuckles was a cartridge that could be hooked up to other Sonic games. If you were to connect Sonic the Hedgehog 2 or 3 you would be able to play them using Knuckles. Not only did this change the way you played the game, but also allowed you to search out some hidden areas. The more you played the older Sonic’s, the more evident it was to just how much forethought was put into these games.
Sonic 3D Blast (1996)Sonic & Knuckles should have been the conclusion of Sonic’s 16-bit odyssey. But no, Sega had to milk the franchise just one more time. Sonic 3D Blast is the first Sonic game developed by a company other than Sega. Using an entirely different camera angle, Traveller’s Tale found every possible way of making the final 16-bit Sonic as painful an experience as possible.
Your job in 3D Blast is to save all the trapped animals and lead them back to a safe “ring”. By doing this you will be able to advance to the next level, which happens to look almost exactly like the level you were just on. Each level is essentially the same thing, and not a second of it is fun in any way. In fact, this is by far the worst Sonic game ever made.
Not once does the game even attempt to look good. The opening cinema, for example, is so cluttered with chunky pixels that I found it almost impossible to make out what was even going on. The game itself doesn’t look that bad, but it’s a huge step back from the beautiful graphics in Sonic & Knuckles.
The Mega Collection does manage to pack in a few extra games, including a number of classic Genesis titles that really have nothing to do with Sonic (Ristar, for example). These games were appreciated, but it’s the one title they left out that leaves me with the worst taste in my mouth.
After all these years, why is Sonic CD, the absolute best Sonic game out there, still getting no respect? The U.S. version of this Sega CD game already suffered from a redone soundtrack, and this was the opportunity for Sega to right the wrong. But no, instead we get Sonic Spinball and Sonic 3D Blast. Hardly seems right.
Nothing has really changed with these games, they are all the same games you will remember playing a decade ago. The only real difference between then and now is the use of the analog control, which is a bigger improvement than I ever would have imagined.
The Sonic Mega Collection has the misfortune of being released right in the middle of the busy holiday season. Had it been released earlier this year, or perhaps early next year, it would not have to compete with games that use the newest technology, hottest features, and best graphics.
But hey, Sonic can stand on his own. He was able to turn Sega into an industry leader, and prove to the world that Nintendo isn’t all that tough. And if you don’t have any first hand experience with this, then this is the collection for you. There’s something for just about everybody in the Sonic Mega Collection.
B-
For gamers who have never owned Sonic 3 or Sonic & Knuckles, go buy this game immediately. It might not offer every 16-bit Sonic game, but what is offered is more than worthwhile. With 12 games in all, there is enough here to keep you busy for quite awhile, even if it does end up feeling like a cash cow.
Page 3 of 3
