Sonic 3 & Knuckles Version:
• Sonic 3 & Knuckles Par...
As the last zone of the first half of Sonic 3 & Knuckles, it is expected that it has the most different between that version of this zone and Sonic 3's standalone version.
It does, from beginning to end. The Infinite Lives trick still applies here, but it's impractical since Sonic 3 on its own doesn't save lives.
At the start of the S3&K version, after going up the first slope, there's a 10 Ring box you can break open. Sonic 3 has a field of spikes instead.
Right after that, there are Orbinauts right on the sides of the massive rotating barrels. In Sonic 3, they're ON the barrels! This is one difference that you just can't miss, because you will likely be thrown off by Sonic 3 version if you well-seasoned with the S3&K version if you ever plan to actually go through Sonic 3.
Some of the building in Act 1 are guarded by spikes above their entrances in Sonic 3. These don't exist in Sonic 3 & Knuckles.
In Sonic 3 there's one room that you have to enter to advance. It contains one of those breakable red switches along with a platform floating above spikes. Right outside of that are a pair of Eggman boxes that you need to stay away from. In Sonic 3 & Knuckles, this whole area is remodeled: The switch is outside, the Eggman boxes there are gone, and on the inside, there's instead a part of 10 Ring boxes that can cut yourself off from if you hit the red switch first.
In general, the Sonic 3 version of this zone is harder, since it's this game's final zone. Meanwhile, the Sonic 3 & Knuckles version is easier, with a lot more rings than usual.
--------------
There are more differences in the remaining boss battles. The first boss you can fight like normal, but if you're able to jump high enough, you can destroy Eggman's machine before he even gets to show up to pilot it.
Second, if you were Super Sonic when you destroyed that machine, you'll stay that way for your Egg Mobile ride until you run out of rings. I suggest not going Super for this if you have a bit under 100 Rings.
This is because the game's timer hasn't stopped during the ride. So if you were taking a really long time to get through Act 2 for some reason, it's still possible to die by a Time Over during your ride. In S3&K, the time stops when you beat the first boss, and resumes a bit before the 2nd boss appears, which also regrants Super Sonic in that game.
As for Tails following you. He can't once you start your ride. If you have a 2nd player, he can resummon Tails anytime he wants in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, but after the ride starts in Sonic 3, he's locked out for the rest of the game.
The second boss is just about the same as he is in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, but after you beat him, Eggman flies back up into the air to bring out his last machine, Big Arm.
Big Arm only exists in the Knuckles Mode of Sonic 3 & Knuckles. In Sonic 3, he's always the final boss. In S3&K, he swoops at you four times before preparing his ceiling drop. In this game, he only does it twice before then.
Another shocking difference is that this version of Big Arm can actually HURT SUPER SONIC with his grab! He will lose all of his rings, and if he can't get some of them back within one second, he changes back to normal. When Big Arm fights Knuckles in S3&K, he can't get hurt at all if he's Super/Hyper.
--------------
After beating the boss, the following outcome is different, as well. Instead of the Death Egg falling from the sky back into Angel Island, the Death Egg falls from the sky and explodes, completely destroying it from being used again.
Sonic's good ending has him victory pose, jump off the platform he's on, and return as Super Sonic with a finishing pose. That's the end.
The credits of this game are in lieu of the credits of Sonic 1 & Sonic 2: A blank black background with text.
Its song is pretty catchy, though. It's what would eventually become Micheal Jackson's "Stranger In Moscow".
The game at this point is now cleared, so you can play through this whole game again if you want, and start it out as Super Sonic at that. One more thing that Sonic 3 has that Sonic 3 & Knuckles lacks is that you can view the credits again after beating the game on the same data. Just highlight Sonic/Super Sonic and Start.
--------------
So that's it for this playthrough. To pick up on it, I may make a montage video to summarize all of the Sonic 3/Sonic 3 & Knuckles differences that I covered in this playlist plus more.
Stay tuned for that when it comes!
8 сен 2024
