Sonic & Knuckles
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
+ 2 playable characters with different moves and routes, 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
+ 2 playable characters with different moves and routes, 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
