Sonic & Knuckles (MD, 1994)
Graphics-9.5 Sound-9 Control-9 Challenge-7.5
Level Design-8.5 Frustration-8 Fun-8.5 Originality-6
Overall Score-8.5
+
3 playable characters with different moves and routes (Sonic, Tails - flies (and swims?), Knuckles - climbs walls and punches through certain walls and blocks)
interesting and varied level design
very fast paced overall
slightly better bosses than in previous games (except for Knuckles and the second to last boss)
excellent presentation
save feature, good balance between exploration and regular platforming, good use of colour (though rarely close to the system's limit)
-
A bit short
needs the prequel to be experienced fully (has no save feature and no Tails)
same bonus games as the prequel and some reused graphics
rehashes some Sonic 1/2 bosses and gameplay elements (blockpushing, liftriding - not much fun)
some trial & error (cheap hits, you can't look up or down (quickly) which leads to some leaps of faith)
mostly simple bosses, less destructible walls than in the other MD games, Knuckles' game is shorter
Level Design-8.5 Frustration-8 Fun-8.5 Originality-6
Overall Score-8.5
+
3 playable characters with different moves and routes (Sonic, Tails - flies (and swims?), Knuckles - climbs walls and punches through certain walls and blocks)
interesting and varied level design
very fast paced overall
slightly better bosses than in previous games (except for Knuckles and the second to last boss)
excellent presentation
save feature, good balance between exploration and regular platforming, good use of colour (though rarely close to the system's limit)
-
A bit short
needs the prequel to be experienced fully (has no save feature and no Tails)
same bonus games as the prequel and some reused graphics
rehashes some Sonic 1/2 bosses and gameplay elements (blockpushing, liftriding - not much fun)
some trial & error (cheap hits, you can't look up or down (quickly) which leads to some leaps of faith)
mostly simple bosses, less destructible walls than in the other MD games, Knuckles' game is shorter
