Nintendo Life

Sonic and Knuckles is awesome game, I still have the original cart for the Genesis, but I might get this as well for some odd reason, I'm sure it'll be a few months before they release it though, glad to see they released all the classic Sonics on the VC.

All the Sonic side scrollers for Genesis were awesome. This one is no different. I always liked the first Mushroom level because it was trying to rip off Mario.

I personally think you should be able to download the enhanced versions of the previous games as a seperate channel for free but only if you already downloaded Sonic & Knuckles and whichever previous game you want to play enhanced.

Wasn't this game on the 32x or cd or some stupid add-on for the mega drive? And Im not thinking of Sonic CD.

Hopefully they'll make something that will let you combine this and sonic 2/3 to play sonic 2/3 with knuckles instead of seperate releases.

Not really, Tony. But it is a little like it.

No it wasn't, Csh. It was for the regular Genesis; it just had a different shaped cartridge allowing you to put other cartridges on top.

nice i cant wait to have all the sonics on VC

I've never played this before. Does Knuckles handle differently as a playable character? Just curious....no matter what, though, I'm sure this is a great game!

knuckles is really similar, only difference is gliding, he cant jump quite as high and knuckles can climb on certain walls

hurrah!!

I didn't think this was possible but yayay ..«»..

Deadly game, I remember I bought this on its release. Id imagine Nintendo would sort it so we have access to the full sonic3 and knuckles experience. After all, once locked on, extra zones and bosses were opened up at the end as well, and we dont deserve to miss out on them!

I only have sonic 2 at the moment but i am sure the addition of knucles to sonic 2 would be good.. this game alone is awsome never mind the add ons it gives you.. totally worth 800 points..

what the star (before u click the link) for?

It means that it is either...
1. Has just been confirmed that it is coming to VC
2. Has just been released
In this case, it means number 1

yah its will compelte my set...!!

the best sonic ever

Not really, Pwnage.

@ BJ: I agree, Sonic 3 and Knuckles is the best!

where can you get sonic 3 and knucles?

This game needs to come out now!

this game is so tight, they better include lock-on tech

If I could only play one Sonic game for the rest of my life, I'd choose this one. Stunning!

thats the only sonic game i want...

So if this was released which sonic game would i need 3 or 2.. I have the second sonic game..

I wanted to download Sonic 3 for a while, but not until this game gets released. Wonder how they are going to handle that lock-on technology? All I know is I'm not charging 1600 Wii points on both games, that's fer damn sure.

I still think S&K will be sold at 800 points. And if you download S&K and already own one of the games that could lock on to it, you could download the locked-on version for free.

Or at a small charge, knowing Nintendo. If so, then hopefully, it would only be like 100-200 points.

Come on Nintendo, U know u guys have 2 include the lock-on feature somehow.
(please, 4 the sake of ALL Sonic fans!)

I have this on the Sonic Mega Collection, along with the add-on games, though you have to unlock them by beating Sonic & Knuckles and the game you want added on, and let me tell you, that is no easy task. Those games are Blinkin' hard! If you just want the lock-on games, don't go with the Mega Collection. Of course, Ninty will probably make you buy both games to get the lock-on game, if they don't make you pay for them idividually that is.

Ugh... You just know they're there gonna Street Fighter 2 this thing into the ground...

One can hold out hope, But this is SEGA!!! we are talking about...

At times I honesty think they're worse then Capcom...

And yet... WE'RE STILL BUYING THE DAMN THING!!

Ugh... Well... Must mean it's good... Right?...

@Surgical Precision

My favorite old-school Sonic game, actually, considering I didn't get to play the Lock-on games. Hardest one, too, in my opinion.

Sonic 3 & Knuckles aka Sonic 3 Complete is a MUCH more well... Complete affair...

I know S&K is good but if you can help it, Hold off until they release the whole game instead of just buying it in its two halfs...

They're likely gonna re-release Blue Spheres next followed by Sonic 2 with Knuckles before they bring the complete game out...

You know... To justify those who will buy the game in two halfs & drive those who didn't to the brink of insanity until they eventually crack & do buy the game in two halfs exactly one week before they release the whole one!!

@Surgical Precision

I already have the Mega Collection, so either way I'll save my money, even if they do make you unlock all of the games.

Oh... Well... Right then... What the HECK was I thinking... ?...

Anywhoo... Well that's an easy fix...

Simply play Sonic 3 & Sonic & Knuckles 50 times each to unlock Sonic 3 & Knuckles...

"How the hell is THAT easy!" You say?... Simple...

All you have to do is select the game let it load past that blue screen (Before the game itself loads, Just wait for the sega logo if your not sure) and congratulations! You just "played the game" one time...

Repeat that process as many times as needed & you'll have the game unlocked probably within 10min!

Whoa, that easy? I'll be right back!

Edit: Even Easier! I only had to play Sonic 3 30 times and Sonic & Knuckles 10 times. I'm gonna try and unlock Sonic 2 & Knuckles now!

Edit again: Okay, I shouldn't have tried that before I consulted Gamefaq, because I played Sonic 2, Sonic & Knuckles, and Sonic 3D Blast until the Game log stopped recording, yet I got nothing. I'm trying Sonic 1 now, and I only stopped to go to the bathroom, then write this. Ya know, I had heard the cheat before, but the numbers were so inconsistent that I didn't believe it to be true, but now that I've seen it happen before my very eyes, I'm mystified. I can't wait to unlock more games!

Edit thrice: Well, I unlocked something - Blue Sphere. I don't know what it is, but I got it. I'm trying Spinball now.

Edit Perfect: Yeah, I really should've checked Gamefaq(I have it bookmarked for G-D sake!) first before I tried on my own, as I only had to play Sonic 2 20 times instead of my 50, Plus playing Spinball 20 times(16 in my case); I only needed to play 3D Blast 20 times, yet I played it 40 times, plus Sonic 1 20 times(14 for me); Those 40 extra plays of Sonic & Knuckles were absolutely unnecessary. In short, I unlocked all of the Lock-on games from Sonic & Knuckles - Blue Sphere, Knuckles in Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 & Knuckles. I simply got them the hard way.

Only one thing left to unlock - Ristar. I'm not going to, since it's far too much of a hassle, considering I could buy the Sega Genesis Collection and play it on that without any hassle, though I would prefer to play it with a Gamecube controller, since it has more of the feel of the Genesis Pad.

Nice!

Also the gfaq section about sonic gems collection is accurate as well... I don't know if you have that one or not but it's normal way of unlocking things would take you weeks to finnish...

Anywhoo... Enjoy Sonic 3 & Knuckles! Best of the old school Sonics without question IMO...

It was the first Sonic game on the Genesis to give you a hidden ending once you completed all 14 bonus stages...

This is a really great game, I still have the original cart. But since my Genesis (actually it's a Genesis 2 if you want to get technical) still works (and is hooked up to of all things a Commadore 64 monitor) I don't know if I'll download this when it comes out, but the audio cable for my Genesis is starting to go so I may get it.

On another note I love what happens when you put a non-Sonic game into the expansion slot! When the "NO WAY" screen comes up all that you have to do is press the A, B and C buttons at the same time and you'll get to instantly do one of the bonus stages as either Sonic or Knuckles!

@PHANTOM93

Yeah, those bonus stages were crazy addictive! Not to mention mad hard too. I used to spend hours just playing that! I hope you can play that when this one is available.

I've got an idea for when this is released. Maybe the Virtual Console could also release downloadable modules for Sonic 3 & Knuckles and Knuckles in Sonic 2. They could be free downloads if the right games are in your purchase history - for example, if you've purchased both Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, you could download the Sonic 3 & Knuckles module free of charge to simulate the lock-on mode.

I already have Mega Collection, so I won't need it anyway.

^ Yeah that's the only way I can see multicart getting onto the VC because VC emulation is done differently than PC emulation.

A very nice download but it's best to get the sonic mega collection as you get all the Mega Drive Sonic's, better value for money/points, don't have to wait months for it to arrive on VC and you get to play the great Sonic The Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles along with Knuckles in Sonic The Hedgehog 2.

BEST SONIC GAME BY FAR. This game is so good. The best part of this game is you get to be Knuckles. I remember when it was on the Sega. it was weird because you would insert the "Sonic Knuckles" game and then on top of the cartrige you could insert an earlier Sonic game on top of the sonic knuckles...great, great game!

I wonder how they'll solve the lock-on. I guess you can fix Sonic 3 & Knuckles with an update you can only access after byuing S&K. However, I wonder how they will make it with Blue Sphere and KiS2. I'd suggest making those optional free downloads too after purchasing S&K and S1/S2. Or, instead of making Blue Sphere and KiS2 own games they could add after Game Start the option link with lock-on. If you have S&K you can start the three lock-on games this way

I remember use Sonic 3 on this one.
It was great

Sonic CD and Sonic 3 and Knuckles (S&K + S3) are for me the best sonic games ever.

Probably this one it will be released as a wiiware to feature the lock-on games

@MrPingGuy
i had that same thought as well a WiiWare remake with ehanced diffenition graphich's added features ect plus it will emulate the lockon feature with the same ehancements as well .

If i did not already have the Sonic Mega Collection then i would be getting the Sonic Genesis Games including this one but i have the SMC so i won't be getting it but at least it is a game you should indeed get even if you only get them through the VC.

Sonic and Knuckles is a great game but it's a little boring when you don't combine it with Sonic 3. Still a good game to get.

Can not belive that this game is not on the VC yet. I have this game on the mega collection for the Gamecube. It just seems this game should be out already. What is taking them so long?

Even if you have SMC, I would definitely urge you all to consider a VC release of S3K. The version on SMC is very buggy (I compared it to my Genesis counterpart), especially in Launch Base and Hydrocity Zone. If we got a VC release, perhaps those bugs that weren't in the original version could be eliminated.

With Sonic 2 for the Master System now released in North America, Sonic and Knuckles should be the next sonic game to look for. Monday? Maybe?!

@soniczelda dude

Nope, we just get more Master System Sonics.

Shame for those that don't have this already then. Just buy the Mega Collection already guys if anyone's that desperate. I'm sure everyone on here has a Wii so go and buy the GC version of the comp. At least Sonic Chaos is a pretty decent Sonic game to get next by the looks of things

I remember playing this game it brings back many memories i was only a child at the time but i never finished the game i died at the final boss and i was a bit disappointed.now im hoping to finish this game off once and for all

This is a very fun Sonic game. I especially enjoy the fact that you can play as Knuckles. 5 stars, for sure.

this game dosent seem very fun with out sonic 3 but it still a decent sonic classic and even without sonic 3 it kicks sonic cd down the moutain =)

Epic game, they should somehow do the hookup with Sonic 2 and 3, without costing extra points of course

i like, really want this game. it would be awesome if it finally came out

it will be funny if nintendo says if you want sonic classics get sonic mega collection , sonic gems collection and even sonic sonic adventure dx witch has all sonic game gear games but very hard to unlock thank you sisncerly nintendo that will be kinda stupid

I wont be getting this one because I have SMCP on the PS2 but it is not as good as Sonic 3 & knuckles I give this one a 4 out of 5

I wonder how the lock-on thing will work, if they do it at all.

Sonic & Knuckles is one of the best games I've ever played. I still remember when I got it for Christmas. <3

Amazing game and better than Sonic 3.

Me playing the first stage of the Sonic & Knuckles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVfGC9YLpTs

^Agreed. This is far better than Sonic 3, which I didn't find to be that special.

Sonic 3 is special out of the Gen. Sonic games because it had a save function. This one isn't special because it's not much fun, not even Act 1, and I usually actually like Act 1 in Sonic games

I loved Sonic 3 and still find this one to be better.

For me it goes: Sonic 1<Sonic 2<Sonic 3<Sonic & Knuckles<Sonic CD.

I agree with you. I love Sonic 3 but S&K had a better layout and difficulty. What's taking so long for this to come out? Are they literally releasing every SMS/GG Sonic game before this one?

I'm still dying for this game... As soon as it comes out, it's a must-buy, especially since I never owned a cartridge version of it.

Cool game but I never beat it because I could never finish the Death Egg Zone.

This game is spectacular! I have a very good feeling we're gonna get this as our 300th VC game.

That would be terrible. The 300th game should be something you can't get your hands on very easily, and I have Sonic & Knuckles on four different collections. It should be EarthBound, that's obvious. There was a lot of speculation that SMRPG wasn't coming out in North America, and then it did. I just hope that it's going to be the same case with EarthBound.

EarthBound is highly doubtful. SSB64 is much more probable.
But to see more than one "special" titles on the 300th VC Game uhh... "Day" would make up for some of the lackluster weeks we've been enduring.

If S3&K gets released soon, I'll be so happy. I've never EVER owned it and for that reason alone, it's a must-buy for me.

The Sonic Mega Collection is an economic solution to your dilemma.

And EarthBound isn't "highly" doubtful. The only reason you think that is because of that stupid rumor. Nintendo didn't announce anything, did they? They waited 250 VC titles to release SMRPG, and that was highly sought after. So, why wouldn't they wait 50 more games to release EarthBound? Sounds like destiny knocking.

Though, on the other hand, Nintendo has mastered the art of disappointment. So, I suppose it's likely that Super Smash Bros. could be released. Who knows? Oh that's right, Nintendo knows.

@shinnok #72
Good point.

This one is taking too much time to be released and i really want it.
I hope it's because of the locked-on games.

@Shinnok: I don't mean it's highly doubtful that it'll appear on the VC at all. I'm saying SSB64 is a much bigger possibility as is Majora's Mask. And FTR, I have SMC on Xbox, but I'd get this game again just to play it on the Wii any day especially since I don't really play Xbox...

@MrPinguy: Tell me about it.

This game combined with Sonic is the best Sega game ever. I have the first three Sonic games downloaded this and 3D Blast will satisfy my Sonic hunger I've had lately. (Mind you I have never beaten 3D Blast.) I hate spinball so I'll pass on that.

@WyvernKnight64
"This game combined with Sonic is the best Sega game ever."

Do you have such passion with Blue Spheres, or you did a mistake and you wanted to say Sonic 3? XD

I'm suprised that this game hasn't come out yet. We're short 1 Sonic game.

I meant to say Sonic 3 XD. I do however enjoy the Blue Sphere game. It has his its own special charm that keeps me starting new games in Sonic 3 to play them.

XBLA's Sonic & Knuckles will Feature the lock-on games.
Nintendo please let Sega do the same thing on Wii >_>

Nintendo is taking WAY too long to release this on the VC.

ah, the fun half of sonic 3 & knuckles

no no no not the fun half >: (
it's the other half of the fun, don't say bad things about Sonic 3

If you can't apreciate the awesomeness of S3&K in complete , i feel pity for your ignorance !

I'm sick of waiting

This has to come on VC!

And I'm surprised that nobody is commenting on here that quick =(

Hurry up Sega & Nintendo!! Please put this on the Wii Shop!!

Why the hell aren't they still putting this on Wii Shop?!?
I want Sonic & Knuckles dammit!!!

And yes!!! Please support the Lock-on Feature!!! Stop taking so long Sega & Nintendo!!!

Oh yeah, I also forgot, This just kinda reminds me of like the N64 game Majora's Mask (Which is on the Virtual Console). Because of the Front Cover with a Sega Megadrive/Genesis Icon. You know like the Expansion Pack that Majora's Mask requires? Yeah that. That should need a Feature on the Wii as well. To get Much better Graphics, Additional On-Screen Character's, And something. idk.

this looks excellent for a genesis game. the mushroom hill zone reminds me of mario.

@93: Yeah your right.

If any of you want to know when it releases, go to the page down here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Virtual_Console_Games

Country's Available:

Japan
North America
PAL region
South Korea

By the way, South Korea doesn't have that many VC games. Only 40.

Maybe I can try and hope we'll see this on Labor Day given the stuff SEGA has been doing to commemorate the Genesis anniversary as of late. I can dream. This would be one of the many love letters SEGA could write to us Wii owners.

@96: I hope your right...

>_>

If this comes out in September I'll be very happy! if it does Support the Lock-on Feature!

Percentages of what Lock-on games that are the best:

Blue Sphere - 99%
Knuckles in Sonic 2 - 98%
Sonic 3 & Knuckles - 100%

Sega sucks. There I said it... must... keep... waiting O.o

I'm still dying to play this.

It should really be this month! September! Or maybe October!

What if they took long to put this on the Wii with the Lock-on Feature?

:_:

Great. Now XBLA has this.

Don't worry guys, it will come to the Virtual Console sometime.

Maybe the game had a one-month exclusivity with XBLA..so maybe next monday may come?

Too bad I already have this on Mega Collection, which some of people should get, unless you hate the Gamecube controller.

Good news to everyone who wants this game. It supports the lock-on feature!

Since it supports lock-on, it proves that Sega is supporting the Virtual Console. Hopefully, we'll see it in 2009.

But knowing how big Sega supports the Virtual Console, we'll have to wait for the game until Sega gets done releasing Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap, Shinobi for the SMS and VCA, Golden Axe for the VCA, and R-Type for the SMS before we can get our hands on Sonic & Knuckles.

So a 2009 release in NA is questionable.

This just adds to why NOA is beginning to lose more Wii Shop supporters in USA.

@105: Sooner or later, perhaps. Maybe on Christmas.

How come Sega takes so long to release these Sonic games anyway?

@112: Have no idea why. :/

I'm glad the VC version of Sonic & Knuckles has it's lock-on and save feature intact for Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

It seems very nice that I can just press the minus button on the remote to toggle the lock-on games in the middle of the game. The best part is that it's also functional when running it from the SD card.

I noticed that they fixed the annoying high pitch spin sound and other sound inaccuracies that was from VC Sonic 3 in Sonic 3 and Knuckles.