Qute possibly the best Sonic game of all time.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles is without a doubt my favourite Sonic game of all time, as well as most other fans as well. It manages to take everything that was so great about the last two games and improved on it in every way possible. This is easily the high point of the series and is something that no Sonic fan should ever miss.
Let’s start with the gameplay. To simply put it: it’s fantastic. The gameplay manages to retain the same classic formula that made the series so great in the first place, while still tweaking it enough to keep it fresh and original. First and foremost, the levels. They’re HUGE! In fact, just the first level alone is as big as most of the later levels in the game. They’re also extremely non-linear, along you to go through a level just about any way you want. You’ll be able to find endless amounts of enjoyment with this game whether you want to simply speed through the game, or explore every single nook and cranny within a level.
Items have been tweaked a bit as well, instead of the general barrier which protects you from one hit, there are Fire, Electric, and Water Shield. Fire protects against fire and allows you to boost forward in midair, Electric attracts Rings and allows you to jump twice, and Water protects you from drowning as well as well as lets you bounce straight down. Bosses are a lot more complex too. They start off simple, requiring you to simply attack it a couple of times, but they start getting more complex strategies later on. One such example is one where you’re being flown by Tails and you have to hit the boss while dodging its drill as it comes on screen.
The graphics are simply beautiful. The level designs are extremely lush, ranging from places such as the exotic wildlife of Angel Island, the beautiful ruins of Marble Garden, the fiery insides of Lava Reef and the futuristic feel of The Death Eggs. The character sprites look fantastic and are shaded in a way that almost makes them look 3D.
The sound is just great. The sound effects are general Sonic fare, so that doesn’t need much commenting on. The soundtrack is just fantastic. The music in this game has many different styles, such as fast and upbeat, to slow and mysterious. All of the tracks in the game suit their areas very well.
The reply value in this game is excellent. You can collect all of the Chaos/Super Emeralds to fight the final boss, improve on your best times and scores, or just explore the massive levels throughout the game.
Overall, this is an amazing game that can be recommended to just about anyone, especially if you enjoy Sonic or platformers.