Sonic and Knuckles was released on October 18, 1994. This is the game where Knuckles made his playable debut, unless you count the competition races in Sonic 3. In this game, the only characters that are playable are Sonic and Knuckles, alone. This game is also the only video game ever that has "lock-on" technology and can be combined with Sonic 3, Sonic 2, Sonic 1, or Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine games for a completely different game.

SONIC'S GAME

Sonic is trying to stop Robotnik, but Knuckles continues to make life difficult for him. However, when Sonic reaches the Hidden Palace Zone, he gets to fight Knuckles. When Sonic wins the fight, Robotnik appears and zaps Knuckles and then takes the Master Emerald. Knuckles realizes that he's been tricked and helps Sonic stop Robotnik for the rest of the game.

KNUCKLES' GAME

Knuckles is relaxing in Mushroom Hill, when suddenly a bomb goes off and then an Egg Robo flies on by. Knuckles, who can't run as fast as Sonic nor jump as high, can climb, glide, and smash through walls. Knuckles also goes through passages that Sonic couldn't in his game. Knuckles has to defeat Mecha Sonic in the Sky Sanctuary Zone to get the Master Emerald back and save the Floating Island.

ZONES

Mushroom Hill (Screenshots)
Flying Battery (Screenshots)
Sandopolis (Screenshots)
Lava Reef (Screenshots)
Hidden Palace (Screenshots)
Sky Sanctuary (Screenshots)

BADNIKS/ENEMIES

Straight from the Sonic and Knuckles (US version) game manual: Page 1 and Page 2

POWER-UPS

Super Ring: Worth 10 rings
Flame Shield: Protects from fire attacks and allows you one hit from a badnik without losing any rings
Lightning Shield: Attracts all nearby rings as well as protection from electric attacts and allows one hit from a badnik without losing any rings
Water Shield: Allows Knuckles or Sonic to breathe underwater, bounce like a ball, and protection from one hit from a badnik without losing any rings
Invincibility: For a short time, no badniks can hurt Knuckles or Sonic; but some things can still hurt them
Sneakers: Increase Knuckles or Sonic's speed for a short time
1-Up: Gives an extra life
Robotnik: Do not touch unless you want to lose all your rings or lose a life (if you didn't have any rings to begin with)

SPECIAL STAGE

This is where you obtain chaos emeralds. In every act there is at least one huge gold ring that will send you to this stage. Grab all the blue balls without hitting a red ball and you'll earn a chaos emerald. Orange balls will propel you forward a long distance, while you will just bounce off the white balls with a star. Hit a red ball and you'll leave the stage without a chaos emerald.

BONUS STAGE

This is where you go if you have at least 50 rings and find a starpost. In the bonus stages, you can gather more rings or get some power-ups. By finding a starpost, even if you don't have 50 rings, you'll start the act at the last starpost you activated if you die before completing the act.

The game cover and screenshots were provided by Green Gibbon & MoKat and are not to be used without permission.