Sonic 3 was the first of the series to really put together a cohesive story. Not to mention, it has some great level design, great music, and overall I’d say it’s one of the best Sonic games ever!
For anyone kept up at night by life's great mysteries, Game Apologist has an informative video treatise making sense of the whole "How did Knuckles overpower Super Sonic" factor in the opening cutscene.
I’m aware Mushroom Hill definitely is NOT the best stage in S3&K, but it’s my absolutely favorite. I don’t know, the seasons, the music, theme, and art make it such a cozy zone. When I think of S3&K, I think of Ice Cap, Flying Battery, and this zone. Plus, there’s something about the level design in this one. There’s a lot of tricky areas that are difficult to get to (as Sonic) but if you get the right set up using your momentum, you can reach those areas. And often times those areas will have a big ring or some other goodie. That feeling of using your speed as not just a power, but a TOOL, is what I love about classic Sonic. And this stage has a lot of that
I think the leading theory of how knuckles can punch sonic out of his super form is this: Sonics only JUST gone super canonically only once or twice, and even then he’s only been able to fight tiny badniks and machines eggman tries to kill him with which he’s already dealt with in the past. He’s only just learning how super sonic works. Combine that with the fact knuckles pulled a surprise attack on him which he didn’t brace for impact for, and that seems like enough to knock him out of super sonic.
It's not possible for me to express how much I love this game. Ever since i first experienced it on Mega Collection in 2006, it's been one of my favorite games ever. I can replay all five classics billions of times and never get tired of them, but 3 will always have a special place in my heart.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles is obviously one of the best Classic Sonic games of them all no QUESTION. Ice Cap, Hydro City, Flying Battery, Sky Sanctuary, and Angel Island are my Top 5 favorite zones for sure. And the coolest thing at the time was when someone had the Sonic & Knuckles cartridge with the Lock-On technology and you can put in Sonic 2 or Sonic 3. Sonic Origins, while not bad in its own right, did a massive disservice to the music for a couple of the zones (which is pretty understandable why, but MAN). All in all, Sonic 3 & Knuckles will always be a great game.
All they had to do was use the version of the music from the prototype we have instead of digging out even earlier versions from their own archives. But of course Sega would use what they have on hand rather than sourcing from an online dump. It's understandable but disappointing. Ice Cap is a loss in my opinion, but Carnival Night and Launch Base are great in their original forms.
that stuff about the final boss made me think about how i really do love the true final boss because it just shows how desperate eggman is; with a giant robot trying to crush sonic and then trying to shoot sonic down; then just trying to get away as fast as possible before taking off into space; so many backup plans just desperately trying to get away
I always interpretted Knuckles being able to punch sonic out of his super form as being because of his connection with the master emerald, which we know has the ability to nullify the chaos emeralds' power.
This game is just outstanding! I think since Knuckles has lots of experience with the Master Emerald, and is able to harness its power in certain cases, that it makes sense for him to be able to knock the Chaos Emeralds out of Super Sonic. The Master Emerald can nullify the Chaos Emeralds as seen in Sonic Adventure 2, so I understand why he can do that. I love the story for this game, and how immersed you feel in it. It's one that keeps you invested, so you'll want to keep playing until you finish the adventure. The Classic Sonic games are so much fun, and I'll never stop playing them over and over. :)
Sonic 3 was a special game in my heart. As a kid, I remember how much time I played with Sonic 3. The story feels connecting and tells you what is going on Sonic 3's unforgettable music by MJ Replaying the game still feels satisfying The level design focusing on speed and exploration like searching for a giant ring or running to a mini boss Special stages Hyper sonic When I reached to doomsday zone as a kid, it was the biggest achievement I gotten for a video game. I sucked at defeating it as a kid but beating it fully for the first time got me super happy that I finally beat a video game with a 100%. Sonic 3 is currently in my top 3 favourite sonic game! And I will always not forget the best time I have had as a kid. The sonic 3 experience will never be forgotten for me...
You're partly right about why knuckles is after sonic. Eggman really told knuckles that sonic plans to use the chose emerald for evil instead of stealing the master emerald.
I’m pretty sure Knuckles is able to punch the Chaos Emeralds out of Super Sonic because the Master Emerald can neutralize the Chaos Emeralds and due to Knuckles being the guardian of the Master Emerald, he has a connection to the Master Emerald allowing him to neutralize the emeralds. This also can explain why Knuckles is so easy to take out on Hidden Palace as normal Sonic. Because Eggman is trying to take the Master Emerald, Knuckles can’t connect with the Master Emerald to beat Sonic. Same for Sonic Adventure. Because the Master Emerald is broken, Knuckles can’t connect with it to beat Sonic as easily. “Oh no.”
I still remember beating the Death Egg zone at the age of 7. And beating robotnik as he runs aaay. Then suddenly I see sonic in space and hear him whistle. Only to transform. I had no idea what was happening. I died so many times. The music was so good. Eventually I got a grip and started prioritizing the rings. And somehow beat it. What a memory.
S3&K will always be my favourite Sonic game moreover I loved the sense of achievement and progression when I first unlocked it on Sonic Mega Collection+ (after playing the other classic titles) then collecting the Super Emeralds as all three characters and seeing boss after boss getting annihilated by Tails' FLICKY ARMY OF DEATH! good memories. At some point you kinda just have to ignore the contrain opinions, accept the chaos of the Sonic franchise/fandom and just enjoy the games you love.
I was there in 1994 as a happy ass Sega Kid! I had just got my Genesis Christmas 93' with Sonic and I remember renting Sonic 3 Spring break 94' I really wanted to keep the game, I damn near cried when I had to return it- The game was sensory overload! Then later that year they had dropped Sonic & Knuckles with that nice ass box art... Those games seriously had a hold on my young life lol
So many songs I love not being on spotify like ice cap zone is the reason why I use UA-cam Music. You can listen to any song on youtube on youtube music. Also I'm not sponsored lol
8:55 Knuckles is the protector of the emeralds, that’s why he has the ability to knock the emeralds out of Super Sonic. That’s always been my headcanon at least…
I wasn't born in the 19s, I was actually born in 2009 and literally just a year and a half ago I had the opportunity to play this game and loved it, even with the modern game standards it made me feel good to play this game, I had already played the other classic games before, but this, this was a banger. And because of that I love sonic and I hope the franchise grows even bigger.
13:37 It costs nothing to power them, they use the Master Emerald as the power source.14:10 NOT The End, Knuckles' levels occur right after those events with Sonic! Also the true DLC is locking Sonic 2 on S&K to unlock DLC Knuckles in Sonic 2!
I played Sonic 3&Knuckles back in 94. I liked everything about it. Visual, music, gameplay feel even in-cartridge save states. But that sequence Hidden Palace, Knuckles showdown, Robotnik betrayal, Knuckles teaming up with you and Death Egg ascending was the most cool thing ever at my 11yo I still think it's the most cool thing ever. Sonic 3&Knuckles will be my favorite game ever ❤
I’m a bit older than you but I also have a fond memory of beating a Sonic game at age 7. Mine was Sonic 2, and crushing those double boss battles with zero rings seemed absolutely impossible until I did it. I remember feeling like I’d cured cancer or solved world hunger, and was puzzled by how utterly indifferent the adults were at my accomplishment. 😂 I was so feelin myself that day though, lol.
Sonic favourite depends on what you started with... Started with master system and a whole confusion after (it's called life) but for me, only sonic games I've actually completed? 3 and adventure (first one) edit: music for 1 & 2 was by a group/studio called 'starlight industry' but something happened and MJ came i (I'm from 1985, gamegear used the original master system sonic 1 & 2)...also first time I saw Knuckles on the game? Thought he was a female
Carnival night zone has the only point in game where you gotta press up and down at a singular point.... Also launch base and ice cap (along with death egg) are best music
0:50 I love that game. I thank my Based folks for allowing me to play the OG stuff back then before I forgot what it was now wondering where I have been all this time.
Sonic 3 is the game that I have played more than any other. It was my first sonic game and I treasure it just for that reason alone, not to mention the music and story. God I love this game.
Great video. I agree with just about everything you said. I finally played through Sonic 3 & Knuckles this past week even though I first got them both when they came out. I have always loved Sonic 1 and 2. If you want to get technical there is one thing that causes Super Sonic to lose his form in the original game. The boss of Launch Base Zone Act 2 does damage to Super Sonic if he picks him up with his hands. I hear this ability has changed to no longer happen in Sonic Origins.
I was a kid when Sonic 3 came out, bought it with my birthday money i stil remember the price £26, more like £50 nowadays, as an 8 year old thats an OUTLAY and i fucking loved it, it was next gen to me at the time, then i got to that FUCKING BARREL and it taught me game designers are sadistic bastards, So... I became one! The abused become the abusers lol
Big Arms could also deal damage to Super Sonic! xD But not Super Knuckles. That's OG canon! ;p I've also got a hot take for you. Sonic 3 is more fun to play through than S3&K or S&K.
As somebody who was alive during the 90s, it actually sort of tripped me out a little bit that you revealed you were born when shadow the hedgehog came out. That means you were a toddler when 06 was out. That game is old school to you. I’m actually a little impressed by the fact that you talked in a way that felt as if you were older than you actually are. Convincingly so. Like if we were to meet in person and talk about Sonic, I’m sure it would be obvious that I was a few years older than you. But we probably wouldn’t suspect as big of an age gap as it actually is. lol
This is my 2nd favorite 2D Sonic game. 2D: Top 3 Sonic Mania (1 Sonic 3&K (2 Sonic 2 (3 3D Top 3 Sonic Unleashed (1 Sonic Frontiers (2 Sonic Adventure 2 (3
To be fair, Sonic 3 and Knuckles *could* have been one cartridge. The original plan was to release the full experience on a giant 32-meg cartridge and promote it as the most epic 16-bit game ever (though DKC would also be released on a 32-meg cartridge in late 94). It probably would've cost a bit more, since expanded carts were a lot more expensive to produce. For comparison, Sonic 1 and 2 were both 4-meg carts and Ristar was a 16-meg cart. Naka even insisted on delaying the game's Japanese release so they could finish the entire game, but they eventually just pulled the trigger anyway when Japanese gamers started pirating US roms. Still though, delaying the game was to its benefit, since Sonic Team had way more time than they needed to complete the second-half, which is why Sonic 3 and Knuckles is unusually polished. If it wasn't for McDonalds, it probably would've been delayed to around summertime and released with slightly less content. They really went above and beyond by giving Knuckles his own extra tricky boss fights and putting him in Sonic 2. Splitting the game up did unfortunately afffect its legacy though. Critics and gamers just weren't as impressed as they should've been by the games individually. People were actually starting to say the Sonic games were becoming a bit played out; meanwhile Nintendo was putting out stuff like Super Metroid and DKC. Sonic 3 definitely would've blown more people away if it was released as one complete experience.
S3&K is really that game that feels like it shouldn't exist, but it exists anyways. It especially still amazes me how fans were eventually able to revive the cancelled multipack-idea while further polishing it. And the only issue I have with S3Complete in the end is that S&K is still No Save-only like 1 and 2.
Also the fact when i flying battery that fact THEY USED SONIC 2 CLIMB ONE OF THOSE FRAME ALSO THERE IS SONIC 3 PROTOTYEP THAT THE FLYING BATTERY IS incomplate also they still use sonic 2 sprite on the delvop of sonic 3 as the sprite has sonic 3 color ( sorry bad englidh cuase im indo)
I loved Marble Garden. Idk why it gets hate on. The music was a banger ESPECIALLY Act 2. And with Carnival Night in Origins is just a bug fest. They messed up the hitboxes.
Classic Sonic games are four games: 1, 2, 3 and CD. Mania? I prefer 1 anyway. But I will make few notes on Sonic 3 at this time the OG US/worldwide release. Version I used. I noticed something not long into playing it and that it was necessary to use Fusion and not Mednafen. The YM2612 emulation on Mednafen is soft and quiet with incorrect psg reproduction and levels as well as stereo separation and overall awesomeness, when compared to the sound reproduction in Fusion, which even has 'overdrive' to double own on the brightness and punch. Anyway the sound and bugs seem to vary quite a bit between emulators and ports even today. I can't speak for any other version specifically so if the problems I found have been ironed out I apologise. . Flash attack. I think I understand what was irking me about the flash attack. It's this: the flash attack extends your attacking range and gives 1 frame of invulnerability. But there is a trade off. That is the ability to adjust the rate of your descent after the initial jump button press has been released. Does this make sense? Because you are flashing instead of just still jumping, the game code has removed Sonic's ability for you to 'float' effectively creating an ark of attack that can be controlled to avoid and attack equally. This is used extensively in Super Mario Bros for instance and was a fundamental way that Sonic 1 and 2 was played. When it comes to religious Church of Sonic denominations, I am a fundamentalist protestant. I like it raw and clean and real. Not hand holding or dilly daddling. This is why Sonic 1 is the best Sonic game of them all. Spin dash. I'll continue. When the spin dash was introduced in Sonic 2, most likely at the behest of STI members, the point of maintaining momentum was more or less made redundant. The point of the gameplay at the point the speed dash was introduced was to come to a complete halt as soon as possible. Which is a bit tricky when he decelerates so slowly. This is needed because it's the only way to play without having memorised every inch of the game. This is me playing Sonic 2 and on... down-a (as quick as poss) then react with jumps maybe if something comes up. Then fall do the ground as fast as possible to hit down-a in like 1 frame again. I repeat this process throughout the entire game and Sonic 3 is no different apart from the issue with the flash attack and the loss of floating mechanic/descent speed control. So Sonic 2 onwards does not play as sonic 1, was I think intended to be used, as a blueprint for future games to expand and refine upon the possibilities of the level design and mechanic. But the spin dash deleted that level design philosophy right out the gate. The spin dash was the ultimate cheese it baby game addition to the core element of the gameplay that lends the concept such amazing reward for success. Levels and Bugs and 90's US Character Redesign. But the spin dash does fit the theme of being very over the top which is what Sonic is, which is a literal joke. It's to make Sega lighten up and get a bit more wacky. I like the 06 redesign but not the US 90's bo-leg with crayon style colouring and shading instead of clean vector design and now he's glaring, in the USA og box art and wrong promo designs which don't match the design on the intro screen. The neckerchief absolutely is embarrassing, and the writing, in 06. Anyway. since the spin dash, the games are spin, stop on something like the side of some spikes that were sticking up on the path you were bombing down, jump over it carefully. Spin again. Try and kill something before all it's dangerous parts start flailing around or shooting all over the screen. Do some awkward lengthy action just to move on a bit more like cranking a thing. Get launched into a 30 second sequence. I spend alot of time hammering spin to let go at the exact time to get past things. The scripted sequences demonstrate how fun these games could be with the console's ability to move backgrounds so fast and a physics engine that can create a platform, easily, in literally any angle and not fluff up the collisions. In the first game at least. Not in Sonic 3 & S3&K which is regularly stopping you on a fractional change in the ground angle. If you are spinning and hit a wall you will continue to spin ad infinitum. Then if you jump and hold right, you will not be able to move in the direction of the platform you were touching and land on it's surface. That is a bit crap. Had they been better designed levels that could be navigated at speed and without being stopped whether you like it or not to watch him slide down a zip line or snowboard down a hill or get stuck on two sets of alternately moving ropes underwater that you can't get off because he keeps reattaching and he drops too slow to get off the lower rope and to survive drowning depends on your patience playing the game travelling on it's conveyer belts or ability to avoid hazards like spinning tops or getting stuck to ropes or platforms that break his connection with the ground to animate him rotating and increase the difficulty for a visual effect. Conclusion. That's not control and what Sonic is about. I'm platforming through Sonic 3 just like as if it was Super Mario Brothers. Fine jump height and distance control, chaining fractional amounts of movement into a tiny spin to kill something but never going fast. If I am it's because it's a scripted sequence. Notice how Sonic 1 does not hand you speed. Sonic 1 levels are longer with fewer unpredictable traps and enemies and speed run courses that allow completion in under a minute if you perfected the level. He moves slowly but in a continuous movement and very places places break the flow, making you wait, without the option of traversing it quickly with skill. Sonic 2 onwards is not like that. you struggle through complicated levels that do not give you the chance to run fast and instead make you bob and weave your way through none stop hurty things keeping 50 rings to get a bonus round you could easily miss when it decides to block left screen movement. I hate to say it, but this game is quite a bit worse than Sonic 06. Even if you lock on part 2. It's like a scripted platform adventure when you sometimes watch him run along a course when you wait. I think Sonic 06 really did alot to make continuous movement gel with visual spectacle that keeps the pace moving all the way along, just like the first game. The second game didn't even need a sidekick. It needed epicness and levels ten times the size with long runs where you never lose control that showcase amazing scenery and magical worlds theming and artwork that are easy to get around in without the use of new ways to launch Sonic, there should be new ways Sonic can take advantage of his any directional, 100% unique to this series Yuji Naka created Sonic 1 engine.
Sonic 3 feels like a funkier, friendlier, version of Sonic 2, that's why. But that's not all. It gets back some of the soul of the first game. Hydrocity feels directly related to Labyrinth Zone. This creates a sense of a universe that Sonic 2 never did. Sonic 2 always merely felt like "We'll be better than the first game". Sonic 3 is subtler, a more natural evolution from the first 2 games (and from Sonic CD). Sonic 3 is not unafraid to sometimes be more like Sonic 1 than Sonic 2. And Sonic 3 levels feel big but also non-repetitive. Sonic 3 is a true adventure whereas Sonic 2 is more like a sequence of unrelated levels.
As a kid when this came out, I had no idea about deadlines or "half a game" or any of that. I just saw it as "COOL! A NEW GAME!" And I think that probably was how almost all consumers saw it. I think games definitely skewed to a younger audience then and as a kid, you're just happy to get more of something you like. In this day of the internet, that's not really so, but with information traveling much slower and less wide then, I don't think most people knew any of the backstory of this game.
9:02 Incorrect. And one can't even say "it was true at the time", because obviously it was, this is only the second piece of media with Super Sonic(iirc). Not much opportunity for a shakeup yet. 10:02 And this is also the rare case of a JP-manual fail because usually they knock the western ones out of ther park(I mean, they were the canon versions of these plots until Origins yeeted them out, so it is to be expected), but the Sonic 3 manual just makes little sense. Knuckles wakes up from the Death Egg dropping on his island and wonders where the Chaos Emeralds are, which is...what? And then there is appearently a passed down legend of a monster hatching from an Egg and destroying the world like it was the cryptic chozo prophecies from Metroid Prime 1.(People have said it is likely meant to be Chaos from SA1, but like...how? Either that message should be lost to time or be a lot more concrete. Why would the mission of guarding the emerald and the threat of Chaos be passed down seperately and diffrently? That's either weird retconny sequel-writing or the theory is a mess.) 10:55 I really can't fault the english manual here because as I implied earlier, according to the fan translations, the JP-manual partially goes by some early discarded concept that each island has their own set of emeralds(Ya know, Knuckles wondering where they went). It's complete nonsense because it does not even correspond to the actual game(If Angel Island has its own emeralds, they are just never seen in Sonic 3), but it's not like the english manual is to blame for actually keeping some accuracy towards the original one for once. 23:03 Hey, it's the only Zone in the game that I would actually call kinda bad. Plattforming is a pain, the miniboss is the most boring and unengaging sh*t of all time and the boss is...alright, I guess.
8:54 I like to think Knuckles was able to punch the emeralds out of Sonic because Knuckles was charged unknowingly by the phantom ruby right behind him.
I can name one person who hates one of my favorite Sonic games IGN and that game is Sonic Adventure. Well IGN also says Sonic 06 is better then Sonic Adventure but just no Sonic 06 probably just has a better sound track and better main villain.
I always thought since Knuckles is the guardian of the master emerald he must have some knowledge about super forms and knows exactly how to take one out of it.
It's funny, the levels I like or dislike are completely different than yours, and but everyone seems to agree that Flying Battery is not a good level. 😆
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Actually sonic's first rival is metal sonic
Sonic 3 was the first of the series to really put together a cohesive story. Not to mention, it has some great level design, great music, and overall I’d say it’s one of the best Sonic games ever!
I think it's the second game because in my opinion, the first game that did it is Sonic CD.
Yeah cd set up the plot and the lore behind it
@@gustavoclares9703sonic cd had as much story as sonic 2, only you remember it better becasue it was animated
For anyone kept up at night by life's great mysteries, Game Apologist has an informative video treatise making sense of the whole "How did Knuckles overpower Super Sonic" factor in the opening cutscene.
Lol I'll just accept that as a joke
Gotta love how McDonald’s is the reason we have hyper sonic
I’m aware Mushroom Hill definitely is NOT the best stage in S3&K, but it’s my absolutely favorite. I don’t know, the seasons, the music, theme, and art make it such a cozy zone. When I think of S3&K, I think of Ice Cap, Flying Battery, and this zone. Plus, there’s something about the level design in this one. There’s a lot of tricky areas that are difficult to get to (as Sonic) but if you get the right set up using your momentum, you can reach those areas. And often times those areas will have a big ring or some other goodie. That feeling of using your speed as not just a power, but a TOOL, is what I love about classic Sonic. And this stage has a lot of that
I think the leading theory of how knuckles can punch sonic out of his super form is this:
Sonics only JUST gone super canonically only once or twice, and even then he’s only been able to fight tiny badniks and machines eggman tries to kill him with which he’s already dealt with in the past. He’s only just learning how super sonic works. Combine that with the fact knuckles pulled a surprise attack on him which he didn’t brace for impact for, and that seems like enough to knock him out of super sonic.
That, and the fact that Sonic was not carrying any rings, probably making the transformation more vulnerable
@@creeperclaseketer7272 the rings are a game mechanic
@@Him-hj4uxIt wouldn’t make sense for them to be only that
@@LaelGames7913 it would be too easy to stay as super sonic forever
@@Him-hj4uxFrontiers Final Horizon debunks that
It's not possible for me to express how much I love this game. Ever since i first experienced it on Mega Collection in 2006, it's been one of my favorite games ever. I can replay all five classics billions of times and never get tired of them, but 3 will always have a special place in my heart.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles is obviously one of the best Classic Sonic games of them all no QUESTION. Ice Cap, Hydro City, Flying Battery, Sky Sanctuary, and Angel Island are my Top 5 favorite zones for sure. And the coolest thing at the time was when someone had the Sonic & Knuckles cartridge with the Lock-On technology and you can put in Sonic 2 or Sonic 3. Sonic Origins, while not bad in its own right, did a massive disservice to the music for a couple of the zones (which is pretty understandable why, but MAN). All in all, Sonic 3 & Knuckles will always be a great game.
You mean hyDROcity
No lol
All they had to do was use the version of the music from the prototype we have instead of digging out even earlier versions from their own archives. But of course Sega would use what they have on hand rather than sourcing from an online dump. It's understandable but disappointing. Ice Cap is a loss in my opinion, but Carnival Night and Launch Base are great in their original forms.
that stuff about the final boss made me think about how i really do love the true final boss because it just shows how desperate eggman is; with a giant robot trying to crush sonic and then trying to shoot sonic down; then just trying to get away as fast as possible before taking off into space; so many backup plans just desperately trying to get away
I always interpretted Knuckles being able to punch sonic out of his super form as being because of his connection with the master emerald, which we know has the ability to nullify the chaos emeralds' power.
This game is just outstanding! I think since Knuckles has lots of experience with the Master Emerald, and is able to harness its power in certain cases, that it makes sense for him to be able to knock the Chaos Emeralds out of Super Sonic. The Master Emerald can nullify the Chaos Emeralds as seen in Sonic Adventure 2, so I understand why he can do that. I love the story for this game, and how immersed you feel in it. It's one that keeps you invested, so you'll want to keep playing until you finish the adventure. The Classic Sonic games are so much fun, and I'll never stop playing them over and over. :)
Sonic 3 & Knuckles have Michael Jackson music in it & introduced the best member of the trio; KNUCKLES!
Hello "Matthasnocuts" I love your contents! Keep up the good work!!👍👍
This game is my childhood its just so amazing it introduces knuckles and has an amazing story really just another game that was part of the golden age
Love the side story with knuckles if you want more with the different pathways too! Super mecha sonic is too awesome.
"Shoutout to the metroid fans you guys are cool"
That is the greatest compliment I've ever heard
My dad tripped over Sonic 3 and fell down the stairs. He died and it's a shame Sonic 3 killed my dad.
Lol
I don't know how to respond to that
Sonic 3 was a special game in my heart. As a kid, I remember how much time I played with Sonic 3.
The story feels connecting and tells you what is going on
Sonic 3's unforgettable music by MJ
Replaying the game still feels satisfying
The level design focusing on speed and exploration like searching for a giant ring or running to a mini boss
Special stages
Hyper sonic
When I reached to doomsday zone as a kid, it was the biggest achievement I gotten for a video game. I sucked at defeating it as a kid but beating it fully for the first time got me super happy that I finally beat a video game with a 100%.
Sonic 3 is currently in my top 3 favourite sonic game! And I will always not forget the best time I have had as a kid. The sonic 3 experience will never be forgotten for me...
Sonic 3 was one of the few games I played growing up. Still holds a special place in my heart.
You're partly right about why knuckles is after sonic. Eggman really told knuckles that sonic plans to use the chose emerald for evil instead of stealing the master emerald.
I’m pretty sure Knuckles is able to punch the Chaos Emeralds out of Super Sonic because the Master Emerald can neutralize the Chaos Emeralds and due to Knuckles being the guardian of the Master Emerald, he has a connection to the Master Emerald allowing him to neutralize the emeralds.
This also can explain why Knuckles is so easy to take out on Hidden Palace as normal Sonic. Because Eggman is trying to take the Master Emerald, Knuckles can’t connect with the Master Emerald to beat Sonic.
Same for Sonic Adventure. Because the Master Emerald is broken, Knuckles can’t connect with it to beat Sonic as easily. “Oh no.”
I still remember beating the Death Egg zone at the age of 7. And beating robotnik as he runs aaay. Then suddenly I see sonic in space and hear him whistle. Only to transform. I had no idea what was happening. I died so many times. The music was so good.
Eventually I got a grip and started prioritizing the rings. And somehow beat it. What a memory.
Day 121 of asking for a sonics schoolhouse video
S3&K will always be my favourite Sonic game moreover I loved the sense of achievement and progression when I first unlocked it on Sonic Mega Collection+ (after playing the other classic titles) then collecting the Super Emeralds as all three characters and seeing boss after boss getting annihilated by Tails' FLICKY ARMY OF DEATH! good memories.
At some point you kinda just have to ignore the contrain opinions, accept the chaos of the Sonic franchise/fandom and just enjoy the games you love.
I was there in 1994 as a happy ass Sega Kid! I had just got my Genesis Christmas 93' with Sonic and I remember renting Sonic 3 Spring break 94'
I really wanted to keep the game, I damn near cried when I had to return it-
The game was sensory overload! Then later that year they had dropped Sonic & Knuckles with that nice ass box art...
Those games seriously had a hold on my young life lol
So many songs I love not being on spotify like ice cap zone is the reason why I use UA-cam Music. You can listen to any song on youtube on youtube music. Also I'm not sponsored lol
Exactly. and Louder too
Hey guys, THE DOOM SLAYER here
Sonic 3 is awesomesauce
Doom slayer out
I thought you were gonna talk bout the barrel💀💀
The fact that a 16-bit game with no dialogue managed to have better storytelling then like the past 15 years of Sonic games is crazy to me
Blue sphere so annoying with terrets. Like i die because i lose control of my body fr and it’s so annoying in blue spheres.
not sure why many people did not like Marble Garden Zone..... it has such beautiful genesis music some of the best in the whole game!
8:55 Knuckles is the protector of the emeralds, that’s why he has the ability to knock the emeralds out of Super Sonic. That’s always been my headcanon at least…
I wasn't born in the 19s, I was actually born in 2009 and literally just a year and a half ago I had the opportunity to play this game and loved it, even with the modern game standards it made me feel good to play this game, I had already played the other classic games before, but this, this was a banger.
And because of that I love sonic and I hope the franchise grows even bigger.
Can we all appreciate when Sonic was just plain fun? Nothing else.
Are you tryna say the classic games weren't ambitious?
What happened to it being on feb 15 HUH ANSWER ME MATT lol🤣🤣
13:37 It costs nothing to power them, they use the Master Emerald as the power source.14:10 NOT The End, Knuckles' levels occur right after those events with Sonic! Also the true DLC is locking Sonic 2 on S&K to unlock DLC Knuckles in Sonic 2!
Carnival night act 2 will always have a place in my heart for being the most annoying level in sonic history 😂😂😂
Excellent review! I hope one day you also review the Master System Sonic games too. SEGA is currently acting like they never existed.
I played Sonic 3&Knuckles back in 94. I liked everything about it. Visual, music, gameplay feel even in-cartridge save states.
But that sequence Hidden Palace, Knuckles showdown, Robotnik betrayal, Knuckles teaming up with you and Death Egg ascending was the most cool thing ever at my 11yo
I still think it's the most cool thing ever.
Sonic 3&Knuckles will be my favorite game ever ❤
I’m a bit older than you but I also have a fond memory of beating a Sonic game at age 7. Mine was Sonic 2, and crushing those double boss battles with zero rings seemed absolutely impossible until I did it. I remember feeling like I’d cured cancer or solved world hunger, and was puzzled by how utterly indifferent the adults were at my accomplishment. 😂 I was so feelin myself that day though, lol.
And I hate them too, I hate sonic haters so much, they aren't just funny!!! 0:07
Sonic 3 on the genesis was amazing, I got it as my first console and game from a garage sale for 20$
Sonic favourite depends on what you started with... Started with master system and a whole confusion after (it's called life) but for me, only sonic games I've actually completed? 3 and adventure (first one) edit: music for 1 & 2 was by a group/studio called 'starlight industry' but something happened and MJ came i (I'm from 1985, gamegear used the original master system sonic 1 & 2)...also first time I saw Knuckles on the game? Thought he was a female
Carnival night zone has the only point in game where you gotta press up and down at a singular point.... Also launch base and ice cap (along with death egg) are best music
I agree that Sandopolis Zone is THE WORST Sonic 3 level. I hate Sandopolis SO MUCH!!! And I also agree that Hydrocity is a good and W water level.
And that Icecap is the best Sonic 3 level. The music is amazing.
0:50 I love that game.
I thank my Based folks for allowing me to play the OG stuff back then before I forgot what it was now wondering where I have been all this time.
Sonic 3 is the game that I have played more than any other. It was my first sonic game and I treasure it just for that reason alone, not to mention the music and story. God I love this game.
Just finished my day with a girl and now he release a video about my fav 2d game what a good day
Best levels, special stages, powerups, music and story
SONIC 3 & KNUCKLES IS THE BEST GAME EVER MADE
CHANGE MY MIND.
Wait, am I like the only one who likes flying battery zone?
I don't like sonic 3 😔
Although it has some interesting ambition for a platformer of it's time
Not everyone can have good taste
Day 125 of asking for a sonics schoolhouse video
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While I prefer Sonic 2 because of it's faster gameplay, I still think this game is incredible.
9:38 uhh I don't think blaze counts as a rival for sonic
Everyone tell Mat that i want a sonic and the black knight review
Great video. I agree with just about everything you said. I finally played through Sonic 3 & Knuckles this past week even though I first got them both when they came out. I have always loved Sonic 1 and 2.
If you want to get technical there is one thing that causes Super Sonic to lose his form in the original game. The boss of Launch Base Zone Act 2 does damage to Super Sonic if he picks him up with his hands. I hear this ability has changed to no longer happen in Sonic Origins.
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Sonic 3 and knuckles is the best sonic game ever.
Without a doubt my favorite game of all time. Truly a masterpiece
SONIC 3 &&&&&& KNUCKLESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS BABY LESS GOOOOO!!!
Sonic 3 and knuckles is literally peak fiction
Sonic lost world is the most unforgettable game for me cuz its the best one
How can you say something so controversial yet so brave ?
9:01 Perfect Dark Gaia :Am I a joke To You!?
I was a kid when Sonic 3 came out, bought it with my birthday money i stil remember the price £26, more like £50 nowadays, as an 8 year old thats an OUTLAY and i fucking loved it, it was next gen to me at the time, then i got to that FUCKING BARREL and it taught me game designers are sadistic bastards, So... I became one! The abused become the abusers lol
I wish I was able to play this game man, it looks sick!
SEGA was the master of ad-ons in the 90's.
Master System Converter, SEGA CD, 32X, 3rd party ad-ons like the Game Genie.
Sonic 3K is genuinely amazing. Peak 2D Sonic Experience, only beaten by the fluidity of Mania.
(Also what the hell how are you 18 dude)
Big Arms could also deal damage to Super Sonic! xD But not Super Knuckles. That's OG canon! ;p
I've also got a hot take for you. Sonic 3 is more fun to play through than S3&K or S&K.
As somebody who was alive during the 90s, it actually sort of tripped me out a little bit that you revealed you were born when shadow the hedgehog came out. That means you were a toddler when 06 was out. That game is old school to you. I’m actually a little impressed by the fact that you talked in a way that felt as if you were older than you actually are. Convincingly so. Like if we were to meet in person and talk about Sonic, I’m sure it would be obvious that I was a few years older than you. But we probably wouldn’t suspect as big of an age gap as it actually is. lol
This is my 2nd favorite 2D Sonic game.
2D: Top 3
Sonic Mania (1
Sonic 3&K (2
Sonic 2 (3
3D Top 3
Sonic Unleashed (1
Sonic Frontiers (2
Sonic Adventure 2 (3
To be fair, Sonic 3 and Knuckles *could* have been one cartridge. The original plan was to release the full experience on a giant 32-meg cartridge and promote it as the most epic 16-bit game ever (though DKC would also be released on a 32-meg cartridge in late 94). It probably would've cost a bit more, since expanded carts were a lot more expensive to produce. For comparison, Sonic 1 and 2 were both 4-meg carts and Ristar was a 16-meg cart. Naka even insisted on delaying the game's Japanese release so they could finish the entire game, but they eventually just pulled the trigger anyway when Japanese gamers started pirating US roms.
Still though, delaying the game was to its benefit, since Sonic Team had way more time than they needed to complete the second-half, which is why Sonic 3 and Knuckles is unusually polished. If it wasn't for McDonalds, it probably would've been delayed to around summertime and released with slightly less content. They really went above and beyond by giving Knuckles his own extra tricky boss fights and putting him in Sonic 2. Splitting the game up did unfortunately afffect its legacy though. Critics and gamers just weren't as impressed as they should've been by the games individually. People were actually starting to say the Sonic games were becoming a bit played out; meanwhile Nintendo was putting out stuff like Super Metroid and DKC. Sonic 3 definitely would've blown more people away if it was released as one complete experience.
S3&K is really that game that feels like it shouldn't exist, but it exists anyways. It especially still amazes me how fans were eventually able to revive the cancelled multipack-idea while further polishing it. And the only issue I have with S3Complete in the end is that S&K is still No Save-only like 1 and 2.
Listen bro I love and all but you have some MASSIVE skill issue with the classic sonic special stages, maybe minus mania but whatever
Also the fact when i flying battery that fact THEY USED SONIC 2 CLIMB ONE OF THOSE FRAME ALSO THERE IS SONIC 3 PROTOTYEP THAT THE FLYING BATTERY IS incomplate also they still use sonic 2 sprite on the delvop of sonic 3 as the sprite has sonic 3 color ( sorry bad englidh cuase im indo)
The game has been out for 30 years and it’s the best sonic game out there.
Also the best game on its launch platform.
Someone hasn't heard of DKC
I loved Marble Garden. Idk why it gets hate on. The music was a banger ESPECIALLY Act 2. And with Carnival Night in Origins is just a bug fest. They messed up the hitboxes.
Sonic 3 and K is the best sonic game
Classic Sonic games are four games: 1, 2, 3 and CD. Mania? I prefer 1 anyway. But I will make few notes on Sonic 3 at this time the OG US/worldwide release.
Version I used.
I noticed something not long into playing it and that it was necessary to use Fusion and not Mednafen. The YM2612 emulation on Mednafen is soft and quiet with incorrect psg reproduction and levels as well as stereo separation and overall awesomeness, when compared to the sound reproduction in Fusion, which even has 'overdrive' to double own on the brightness and punch.
Anyway the sound and bugs seem to vary quite a bit between emulators and ports even today. I can't speak for any other version specifically so if the problems I found have been ironed out I apologise.
.
Flash attack.
I think I understand what was irking me about the flash attack. It's this: the flash attack extends your attacking range and gives 1 frame of invulnerability. But there is a trade off. That is the ability to adjust the rate of your descent after the initial jump button press has been released. Does this make sense? Because you are flashing instead of just still jumping, the game code has removed Sonic's ability for you to 'float' effectively creating an ark of attack that can be controlled to avoid and attack equally. This is used extensively in Super Mario Bros for instance and was a fundamental way that Sonic 1 and 2 was played.
When it comes to religious Church of Sonic denominations, I am a fundamentalist protestant. I like it raw and clean and real. Not hand holding or dilly daddling. This is why Sonic 1 is the best Sonic game of them all.
Spin dash.
I'll continue. When the spin dash was introduced in Sonic 2, most likely at the behest of STI members, the point of maintaining momentum was more or less made redundant. The point of the gameplay at the point the speed dash was introduced was to come to a complete halt as soon as possible. Which is a bit tricky when he decelerates so slowly.
This is needed because it's the only way to play without having memorised every inch of the game. This is me playing Sonic 2 and on... down-a (as quick as poss) then react with jumps maybe if something comes up. Then fall do the ground as fast as possible to hit down-a in like 1 frame again. I repeat this process throughout the entire game and Sonic 3 is no different apart from the issue with the flash attack and the loss of floating mechanic/descent speed control.
So Sonic 2 onwards does not play as sonic 1, was I think intended to be used, as a blueprint for future games to expand and refine upon the possibilities of the level design and mechanic. But the spin dash deleted that level design philosophy right out the gate. The spin dash was the ultimate cheese it baby game addition to the core element of the gameplay that lends the concept such amazing reward for success.
Levels and Bugs and 90's US Character Redesign.
But the spin dash does fit the theme of being very over the top which is what Sonic is, which is a literal joke. It's to make Sega lighten up and get a bit more wacky. I like the 06 redesign but not the US 90's bo-leg with crayon style colouring and shading instead of clean vector design and now he's glaring, in the USA og box art and wrong promo designs which don't match the design on the intro screen. The neckerchief absolutely is embarrassing, and the writing, in 06.
Anyway. since the spin dash, the games are spin, stop on something like the side of some spikes that were sticking up on the path you were bombing down, jump over it carefully. Spin again. Try and kill something before all it's dangerous parts start flailing around or shooting all over the screen. Do some awkward lengthy action just to move on a bit more like cranking a thing. Get launched into a 30 second sequence. I spend alot of time hammering spin to let go at the exact time to get past things.
The scripted sequences demonstrate how fun these games could be with the console's ability to move backgrounds so fast and a physics engine that can create a platform, easily, in literally any angle and not fluff up the collisions. In the first game at least. Not in Sonic 3 & S3&K which is regularly stopping you on a fractional change in the ground angle. If you are spinning and hit a wall you will continue to spin ad infinitum. Then if you jump and hold right, you will not be able to move in the direction of the platform you were touching and land on it's surface. That is a bit crap.
Had they been better designed levels that could be navigated at speed and without being stopped whether you like it or not to watch him slide down a zip line or snowboard down a hill or get stuck on two sets of alternately moving ropes underwater that you can't get off because he keeps reattaching and he drops too slow to get off the lower rope and to survive drowning depends on your patience playing the game travelling on it's conveyer belts or ability to avoid hazards like spinning tops or getting stuck to ropes or platforms that break his connection with the ground to animate him rotating and increase the difficulty for a visual effect.
Conclusion.
That's not control and what Sonic is about. I'm platforming through Sonic 3 just like as if it was Super Mario Brothers. Fine jump height and distance control, chaining fractional amounts of movement into a tiny spin to kill something but never going fast. If I am it's because it's a scripted sequence.
Notice how Sonic 1 does not hand you speed. Sonic 1 levels are longer with fewer unpredictable traps and enemies and speed run courses that allow completion in under a minute if you perfected the level. He moves slowly but in a continuous movement and very places places break the flow, making you wait, without the option of traversing it quickly with skill.
Sonic 2 onwards is not like that. you struggle through complicated levels that do not give you the chance to run fast and instead make you bob and weave your way through none stop hurty things keeping 50 rings to get a bonus round you could easily miss when it decides to block left screen movement.
I hate to say it, but this game is quite a bit worse than Sonic 06. Even if you lock on part 2. It's like a scripted platform adventure when you sometimes watch him run along a course when you wait.
I think Sonic 06 really did alot to make continuous movement gel with visual spectacle that keeps the pace moving all the way along, just like the first game. The second game didn't even need a sidekick. It needed epicness and levels ten times the size with long runs where you never lose control that showcase amazing scenery and magical worlds theming and artwork that are easy to get around in without the use of new ways to launch Sonic, there should be new ways Sonic can take advantage of his any directional, 100% unique to this series Yuji Naka created Sonic 1 engine.
Sonic 3 feels like a funkier, friendlier, version of Sonic 2, that's why. But that's not all. It gets back some of the soul of the first game. Hydrocity feels directly related to Labyrinth Zone. This creates a sense of a universe that Sonic 2 never did. Sonic 2 always merely felt like "We'll be better than the first game". Sonic 3 is subtler, a more natural evolution from the first 2 games (and from Sonic CD). Sonic 3 is not unafraid to sometimes be more like Sonic 1 than Sonic 2. And Sonic 3 levels feel big but also non-repetitive. Sonic 3 is a true adventure whereas Sonic 2 is more like a sequence of unrelated levels.
As a kid when this came out, I had no idea about deadlines or "half a game" or any of that. I just saw it as "COOL! A NEW GAME!" And I think that probably was how almost all consumers saw it. I think games definitely skewed to a younger audience then and as a kid, you're just happy to get more of something you like. In this day of the internet, that's not really so, but with information traveling much slower and less wide then, I don't think most people knew any of the backstory of this game.
I was alive back then... Yep Sonic 3 & knuckles. Was rare with it's features, I remember having a Save feature alone was note worthy on home consoles
9:02 Incorrect. And one can't even say "it was true at the time", because obviously it was, this is only the second piece of media with Super Sonic(iirc). Not much opportunity for a shakeup yet.
10:02 And this is also the rare case of a JP-manual fail because usually they knock the western ones out of ther park(I mean, they were the canon versions of these plots until Origins yeeted them out, so it is to be expected), but the Sonic 3 manual just makes little sense. Knuckles wakes up from the Death Egg dropping on his island and wonders where the Chaos Emeralds are, which is...what? And then there is appearently a passed down legend of a monster hatching from an Egg and destroying the world like it was the cryptic chozo prophecies from Metroid Prime 1.(People have said it is likely meant to be Chaos from SA1, but like...how? Either that message should be lost to time or be a lot more concrete. Why would the mission of guarding the emerald and the threat of Chaos be passed down seperately and diffrently? That's either weird retconny sequel-writing or the theory is a mess.)
10:55 I really can't fault the english manual here because as I implied earlier, according to the fan translations, the JP-manual partially goes by some early discarded concept that each island has their own set of emeralds(Ya know, Knuckles wondering where they went). It's complete nonsense because it does not even correspond to the actual game(If Angel Island has its own emeralds, they are just never seen in Sonic 3), but it's not like the english manual is to blame for actually keeping some accuracy towards the original one for once.
23:03 Hey, it's the only Zone in the game that I would actually call kinda bad. Plattforming is a pain, the miniboss is the most boring and unengaging sh*t of all time and the boss is...alright, I guess.
8:54 I like to think Knuckles was able to punch the emeralds out of Sonic because Knuckles was charged unknowingly by the phantom ruby right behind him.
YOU'RE BORN IN 2005?!?! YOU'RE A YEAR OLDER THAN ME!!! THAT'S.... INSANE!!! 🤯
I can name one person who hates one of my favorite Sonic games IGN and that game is Sonic Adventure. Well IGN also says Sonic 06 is better then Sonic Adventure but just no Sonic 06 probably just has a better sound track and better main villain.
This is my favorite Sonic game.
The port I prefer is A.I.R
HEE HEE, HEE HEE HEE
The only Sonic game that truly deserves to be called a masterpiece, is Sonic 3 & Knuckles!
MATT IM OLDER THAN YOU?!?!
I always thought since Knuckles is the guardian of the master emerald he must have some knowledge about super forms and knows exactly how to take one out of it.
13:49 uh maybe in sonic games they don't. You can't tell me every single gaming franchise has mid final bosses. Stop the cap dude.
Sonic 3 truly stands with Banjo as being eternally modern
It's funny, the levels I like or dislike are completely different than yours, and but everyone seems to agree that Flying Battery is not a good level. 😆
Jesus loves you no matter if you don’t Love Him back, Jesus bless you all!❤😊
I was born the same year as Matt apparently, as it is the same year as Sonic Rush and Shadow the Hedgehog.
small correction: perfect dark gaia could damage super sonic by knocking rings out of him