*DISCLAIMER: When will these end? So...I played this on a console. I know it says PC at the top but don't be fooled: this is the only page I could find on GameSpot that specifically mentions "Sonic 3" and "Sonic & Knuckles." Since I played them combined in a remaster collection, I felt it would be more fitting to judge them both together. Just know that it was actually played on a console and not a PC.*
Pros:
- With the combination of two games, it's by far the beefiest 2D "Sonic" game yet.
- Some nice little refinements to the formula, and the overall gameplay loop remains fun.
- Levels are pretty lively, and for many, there will be a good balance between speed and exploration.
- Special Stages are incredibly memorable.
- Visuals remain as strong as ever, for the time and for now.
- It's "Sonic" tradition but the music is great.
- I really like the little story transition "cutscenes" if you will. They add a bit of charm to a game with a very simple plot.
Cons:
- It still feels a bit too much like the other games. I don't see it as a major evolution of the formula, just another version of it.
- The level design feels too long and winding for me. Some levels felt like they'd never end.
- More than before, I found myself going through a lot of sections where I was running at top speed, only for the game to screw me over by crushing me in the smallest possible space.
Consensus: While I know my opinion is bound to be very popular, "Sonic 3 & Knuckles" is not even my favorite 2D "Sonic" game, let alone my favorite overall in the series. It's certainly a solid game, and the amount of scope and ambition in it is incredible, but when you play it back-to-back-to-back with the other two games, you kinda see that it didn't bring much to the table that wasn't done in previous games. At this point, though, my opinion means very little, because it has been and will continue to be widely recognized as the best in the series. To that I say, enjoy.
Final rating: 7 out of 10 "Good"