_________ .__ .___
/ _____/ ____ ____ |__| ____ _____ ____ __| _/
\_____ \ / _ \ / \| |/ ___\ \__ \ / \ / __ |
/ ( <_> ) | \ \ \___ / __ \| | \/ /_/ |
/_______ /\____/|___| /__|\___ > (____ /___| /\____ |
\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/
____ __. __ .__
| |/ _| ____ __ __ ____ | | _| | ____ ______
| < / \| | \_/ ___\| |/ / | _/ __ \ / ___/
| | \| | \ | /\ \___| <| |_\ ___/ \___ \
|____|__ \___| /____/ \___ >__|_ \____/\___ >____ >
\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/
Title of Game: Sonic & Knuckles
Name of System: Genesis/Mega Drive, PC, Saturn, GameCube, PlayStation 2, XBox
Type of Guide: FAQ/Walkthrough
Number of Version: Version 4.1
Last Revision Date: 16-08-08
Name of Writer: Tails333
Master Table of Contents
------------------------
1. Introduction
2. Version History
3. Characters
4. Lock-On Feature
5. Game Overview
6. Sonic & Knuckles
7. Sonic 3 & Knuckles
8. Hints and Tips
9. Codes and Secrets
10. Sound Test
11. Differences
12. Frequently Asked Questions
13. Credits
14. Contact Infomation
15. Copyright Information
TIP: If you want to find a section in the Table of Contents more quickly and
easily, press Ctrl + F simultaneously to bring up the 'Find' function menu.
Type or paste the name/number of the section into the menu. Click on 'Find
Next' to go to the section you've typed or pasted.
NOTE: This game was re-released on three compilations entitled Sonic & Knuckles
Collection, Sonic Jam and Sonic Mega Collection for PC, Saturn and GameCube,
respectively. The latter was ported to PlayStation 2 and XBox. This FAQ was
written using the original game, but it can be used with all versions of the
game.
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1. Introduction
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Thank you for choosing to read my Sonic & Knuckles FAQ. If you're read my FAQ
for Sonic The Hedgehog 3, you'll probably notice that I copied and pasted the
guide to create this FAQ. I decided to do this, since "Sonic 3 & Knuckles"
contains Sonic 3's levels.
As this FAQ/Walkthrough is around 318KB (thanks to all the information I have
written), I advise using the Master Table of Contents to find the game that you
are playing, so you can find its Table of Contents more quickly and easily.
I've written comprehensive Walkthroughs, Hints and Tips, Giant Ring Locations,
and much more. Beware of the spoilers, though.
This game was released only 6 months after the release of Sonic The Hedgehog 3.
Knuckles, the red echidna, can glide through the air, climb walls and show
off other unique moves. This game can be experienced from a totally
different angle with Knuckles. Since the storyline continues from Sonic 3,
the difficulty level is a little bit higher.
Play through the "Sonic 3 Complete version" by locking on "Sonic & Knuckles"
with "Sonic The Hedgehog 3." There are special events that must not be
missed, which are only shown through this method. Also, a save feature is
added to this game!
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles were originally supposed to be one
game, but time constraints and cartridge costs forced the developers to split
the game into two interlocking parts, releasing the former in the first half of
1994 and the latter 6 months later. If you lift up the flap on the top of the
Sonic & Knuckles cartridge and insert the Sonic 3 cartridge into it, you can
use the Lock-On Feature to create "Sonic 3 & Knuckles." Sonic designer Yuji
Naka confirmed that this game is what Sonic 3 was originally intended to be.
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2. Version History
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Version 1.0, 4th September 2004:
Completed Walkthrough.
Version 1.1, 30th October 2004:
Updated Table of Contents.
Version 1.2, 15th January 2005:
Added Credits Section and updated Copyright Information.
Version 1.3, 19th Februry 2005:
Updated Copyright Information.
Version 1.4, 25th February 2006:
Updated FAQ.
Version 1.5, 15th April 2006:
Updated FAQ.
Version 1.6, 22nd April 2006:
Updated FAQ/Walkthrough.
Version 1.7, 6th May 2006:
Updated Glitches section.
Version 1.8, 27th May 2006:
Began rewriting the Walkthroughs.
Version 1.9, 3rd June 2006:
Updated Giant Ring Locations section, rewrote the Game Overview section,
finished rewriting the Walkthroughs, and added the Lock-On Feature section.
Version 2.0, 17th June 2006:
Changed formatting and rewrote the Table of Contents. Updated Giant Ring
Locations section.
Version 2.1, 24th June 2006:
Updated Giant Ring Locations section. Updated Knuckles' S&K Walkthrough.
Version 2.2, 1st July 2006:
Updated Knuckles' S&K Walkthrough.
Version 2.3, 15th July 2006:
Updated Glitches section and added information regarding the Death Egg to Lava
Reef Zone.
Version 2.4, 19th August 2006:
Added a note under the Table of Contents.
Version 2.5, 26th August 2006:
Updated the Game Overview section.
Version 2.6, 2nd September 2006:
Changed the Credits section and updated S&K Walkthroughs.
Version 2.7, 9th September 2006:
Added info about controlling Tails.
Version 2.8, 16th September 2006:
Updated Glitches section.
Version 2.9, 23rd September 2006:
Fixed the necessary Hits to defeat Bosses.
Version 3.0, 30th September 2006:
Removed the Introduction sections from the S&K and S3&K Walkthroughs.
Version 3.1, 21st October 2006:
Updated Glitches section and FAQ.
Version 3.2, 13th January 2007:
Updated Knuckles' S&K Walkthrough.
Version 3.3, 28th April 2007:
Added more information about the infinite loop of slides in Sandopolis Zone.
Updated the Game Overview section.
Version 3.4, 5th May 2007:
Added more information about the Chaos/Super Emeralds.
Version 3.5, 12th May 2007:
Added more information about the Save Feature. Changed "Computer Monitors"
section to "Item Boxes" section.
Version 3.6, 19th May 2007:
Updated the 2-Player/Competition Mode section.
Version 3.7, 26th May 2007:
Merged the Game Overview sections.
Version 3.8, 3rd June 2007:
Updated the Game Overview section.
Version 3.9, 4th August 2007:
Added more information about the Save Feature.
Version 4.0, 8th March 2008:
Added the locations of two Giant Rings in Act 2 of Sandopolis Zone for Sonic
(thanks to Blitz256).
Version 4.1, 16th August 2008:
Fixed a mistake about the Save Feature.
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3. Characters
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Sonic the Hedgehog
------------------
Sonic is the main character in the game. After his showdown with Robotnik in
Launch Base Zone, the Death Egg crashlanded on top of Lava Reef Zone's volcano.
Sonic knows that many Emeralds, including the Master Emerald, are hidden
somewhere on the Floating Island. If Robotnik steals the Master Emerald, he'll
use it to give his Death Egg ship the ability to fly again. Can Sonic stop
Robotnik from stealing the Master Emerald and launching his Death Egg?
Miles "Tails" Prower
--------------------
Better known by his nickname Tails, Miles is a two-tailed fox. He can twirl
his trademark tails to fly for short periods and swim underwater. Tails was
Sonic's sidekick in the previous two Sonic games, but he doesn't make an
appearance in this game (unless you use Sonic & Knuckles' Lock-On Feature to
create "Sonic 3 & Knuckles"). Tails is skilled at piloting biplanes. This is
evidenced by Tails piloting Sonic's biplane, the Tornado, in Sonic 2's Sky
Chase Zone and Sonic 3's Angel Island Zone.
Knuckles the Echidna
--------------------
Knuckles is the guardian of the Master Emerald. Angel Island (AKA Floating
Island) is his place of residence. He is the only living descendent of an
ancient civilization. The echidna has been duped by Robotnik into thinking
that Sonic and Tails have come to the island to steal the Chaos Emeralds.
Since Knuckles knows every secret passageway on Floating Island, he will appear
throughout the game to interrupt your progress.
Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik
-------------------------
Also known by the more common nickname of Eggman, Robotnik is an evil scientist
with an IQ of 300. He has tricked Knuckles into thinking that Sonic and Tails
have come to the Floating Island to steal the Chaos Emeralds. While Knuckles
kept the two heroes busy in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Robotnik used Floating Island
as a base to build Launch Base Zone, his Death Egg ship's construction site.
Sonic entered Launch Base Zone and defeated Robotnik, causing the re-launched
Death Egg to plummet back to Floating Island and crash land on top of Lava Reef
Zone's volcano. Remembering that the Master Emerald is the source of Floating
Island's levitation powers, Robotnik decides to make a second attempt at
re-launching the Death Egg, this time by using the Emerald to fuel its engines.
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4. Lock-On Feature
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The Lock-On Feature makes Sonic & Knuckles a revolutionary kind of game. It
was and still is the only game to introduce this feature. It can Lock-On with
Sonic Genesis/Mega Drive cartridges (namely Sonic 1, Sonic 2, and Sonic 3) to
create new games! You can play Sonic & Knuckles by itself, but I recommend
exploiting the Lock-On feature to play these new games. If you're playing
Sonic & Knuckles Collection, you won't be able to play Knuckles in Sonic the
Hedgehog 2 or Blue Sphere, though.
Lock-On Sonic 3
---------------
If you have Sonic & Knuckles for the Genesis/Mega Drive, insert the cartridge
into the cartridge slot of your Genesis/Mega Drive. Lift up the flap on the
top of the Sonic & Knuckles cartridge and insert the Sonic 3 cartridge into it.
You've now Locked-On Sonic & Knuckles and Sonic 3 to create Sonic 3 & Knuckles.
If you have Sonic Mega Collection for the GameCube, PlayStation 2 or Xbox, play
Sonic & Knuckles and Sonic 3 20 times each. You don't have to play through the
games, just going to the Title Screen and quitting counts as playing them.
When you have played the above games 20 times each, you'll unlock Sonic 3 &
Knuckles.
Lock-On Sonic 2
---------------
If you have Sonic & Knuckles for the Genesis/Mega Drive, insert the cartridge
into the cartridge slot of your Genesis/Mega Drive. Lift up the flap on the
top of the Sonic & Knuckles cartridge and insert the Sonic 2 cartridge into it.
You've now Locked-On Sonic & Knuckles and Sonic 2 to create Knuckles the
Echidna in Sonic The Hedgehog 2.
If you have Sonic Mega Collection for the GameCube, PlayStation 2 or Xbox,
play Sonic 2 and Sonic Spinball 20 times each. You don't have to play
through the games, just going to the Title Screen and quitting counts as
playing them. When you have played the above games 20 times each, you'll
unlock Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic The Hedgehog 2.
Lock-On Sonic 1
---------------
If you have Sonic & Knuckles for the Genesis/Mega Drive, insert the cartridge
into the cartridge slot of your Genesis/Mega Drive. Lift up the flap on the
top of the Sonic & Knuckles cartridge and insert the Sonic The Hedgehog
cartridge into it. You've now Locked-On Sonic & Knuckles and Sonic 1 to create
Blue Sphere. Although you don't see the title of the game on the screen, it is
referred to as Blue Sphere in Sonic Mega Collection.
If you have Sonic Mega Collection for the GameCube, PlayStation 2 or Xbox,
play Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic 3D Blast 20 times each. You don't have to
play through the games, just going to the Title Screen and quitting counts as
playing them. When you have played the above games 20 times each, you'll
unlock Blue Sphere.
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5. Game Overview
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This section overviews everything you should know prior to starting Sonic &
Knuckles and Sonic 3 & Knuckles.
Table of Contents
-----------------
1. Game Controls
2. Save Feature
3. Game Screen
4. Item Boxes
5. Special Stage
6. Transformations
7. Bonus Stages
###############################################################################
1. Game Controls
###############################################################################
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sonic's Controls
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Name | Description
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Left/Right | Move Sonic left/right.
A Button | Make Sonic jump.
B Button | Make Sonic jump.
C Button | Make Sonic jump.
A/B/C (twice) | Make Sonic use Insta-Shield.
Down | Make Sonic duck.
Down (hold) + A/B/C | Make Sonic Spin Dash.
Up/Down | Make Sonic look up/down.
Start Button | Pause/resume the game.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Knuckles' Controls
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Name | Description
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Left/Right | Move Knuckles left/right.
A Button | Make Knuckles jump.
B Button | Make Knuckles jump.
C Button | Make Knuckles jump.
Down | Make Knuckles duck.
Down (hold) + A/B/C | Make Knuckles Spin Dash.
Up/Down | Make Knuckles look up/down.
A/B/C (press twice) | Make Knuckles glide and climb walls.
Start Button | Pause/resume the game.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tails' Controls
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Name | Description
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Left/Right | Move Tails left/right.
A Button | Make Tails jump.
B Button | Make Tails jump.
C Button | Make Tails jump.
Down | Make Tails duck.
Down (hold) + A/B/C | Make Tails Spin Dash.
Up/Down | Make Tails look up/down.
A/B/C (press twice) | Make Tails fly in the air or swim underwater.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
###############################################################################
2. Save Feature
###############################################################################
Sonic 3 & Knuckles has a save feature that allows you to record game progress
in the 1-Player and 2-Player/Competition modes. In the former, you can use
eight different Save Files to record game progress. When you select 1-Player,
the Data Select screen will appear. To start a game, select a Save File from
one of the eight slots. The word "NEW" is initially marked on them.
Press Up or Down to select which character you want to control. You can choose
the following characters: Sonic & Tails, Sonic Alone, Tails Alone, and Knuckles
Alone. Once you have chosen a character, an image of the character will be
displayed on your Save File and you can only use that character to progress
through the zones. After you start a game or clear a zone, an image of the
zone you're currently progressing through will be shown on the Save File. In
addition to saving your zone progress, this game also saves your lives,
continues and emeralds (Save Files display this information). The Chaos
Emeralds initially surround your character, but they will be replaced with
Super Emeralds when you acquire them. If you want to delete a Save File,
select Robotnik and move the cursor to the Save File that you want to delete.
When you use Sonic & Knuckles' Lock-On feature to create Sonic 3 & Knuckles,
the Sonic 3 Save Files that you have stored will appear on the S3&K Data Select
screen. These Save Files retain your zone progress and emeralds. For example,
if I complete Sonic 3 with all 7 Chaos Emeralds, those Emeralds will be
retained in S3&K. In addition, since I have finished Launch Base Zone, I can
begin S3&K in Mushroom Hill Zone.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles automatically saves your progress after every zone. If
you're playing the game on your Mega Drive/Genesis, you can turn the console
off and continue at the start of the level where you left off. The game also
saves after finishing a Special Stage or accessing the Emerald Chamber. Since
no visual message indicates when the game is saving, it's best to complete a
level and start a new one to avoid corrupting your Save Files by accident.
When you start the new level, I advice waiting a few minutes first for the game
to finish saving before turning your Genesis/Mega Drive off. If you've
finished the last level, wait for the credits to end before turning the console
off. If you've finished a Special Stage, wait a few minutes before turning the
console off. If you've accessed the Emerald Chamber, exit it and wait a few
minutes before the turning the console off. Corruption deleted my Save Files
twice, so be careful.
If you're playing the game on your GameCube, you have to go to the game's menu
and select 'Save & Quit' to manually record your progress to your Memory Card.
If you're playing the game on your PlayStation 2 or Xbox, you have to go the
game's menu and select 'Save & Quit' or 'Save Game Data'. By Saving Game Data,
you can continue at the exact same area that you saved at, whereas if you Save
& Quit, you'll continue at the start of the level. If you don't select the
above options, your progress will be deleted when you turn off your
GC/PS2/XBOX, as Save Files won't be recorded to your Memory Card.
When you complete the game and select your Save File, the word "CLEAR" will be
marked on it. If you press Up/Down, you can cycle through images of the zones
and choose which level to start from. If you don't select a level, you'll see
a picture of a character on the screen, depending on which character you're
playing as. If you're Sonic Alone or Sonic & Tails, pictures of Regular Sonic,
Super Sonic and Hyper Sonic will be shown, when you have 0-6 Chaos Emeralds, 7
Chaos Emeralds and 7 Super Emeralds, respectively. If you're Knuckles,
pictures of Regular Knuckles, Super Knuckles and Hyper Knuckles will be
displayed, when the above actions are done. If you're Tails, pictures of
Regular Tails and Super Tails can be viewed, when you have 0-7 Chaos Emeralds
and 7 Super Emeralds, respectively. If you collect all 7 Chaos/Super Emeralds
and complete the game once again, a picture of Sonic, Tails and Knuckles will
be shown.
The 2-Player/Competition Mode's save process follows a simple format. The game
saves your Best Times in each zone. The character that you choose to achieve a
Best Time is also recorded. If you use Sonic & Knuckles' Lock-On feature to
create S3&K, the Best Times that you've obtained in S3 will be retained.
###############################################################################
3. Game Screen
###############################################################################
When you control your character, it is important to know the basics when you
are on the Game Screen.
Rings
-----
Rings give protection to your character. As long as you have at least 1 Ring,
you'll be safe from enemy hits or obstacles. You lose all your Rings, when
your character hits an obstacle or gets attacked by a Badnik/Mini-Boss/Boss.
If you have no Rings, you'll lose a life if an enemy hits you. When you collect
50 Rings in Special and Bonus Stages, you'll earn a Continue as your reward.
If you grab 100 or 200 Rings, you'll get an extra life for doing so.
Time
----
When your character starts each Act of every Zone, there will be a time limit of
10 minutes. If you spend more than 10 minutes in an Act, you'll get a Time Over
and you'll have to repeat the Act. If you go past Starposts during the Act,
you'll only need to repeat from the last Starpost you passed.
Score
-----
When you complete each Act of every Zone, your Score is totalled. The score is
made up of points gained by destroying Badniks (100) and defeating Bosses
(1000). It also consists of a Time Bonus (how much time you spent in one Act)
and a Ring Bonus (how many Rings you had upon completing an Act).
Lives
-----
When you start the game, you'll begin with 3 lives. If your character loses a
life, you'll have to repeat the Act from the last Starpost you passed. If you
have no Rings, you'll lose a life if an enemy hits you. If you crush yourself,
drown, fall into bottomless pits, or get a Time Over, you'll also lose a life.
If you lose all your lives, the game ends, unless you have earned Continues.
Continues
---------
When you collect 50 Rings in Special and Bonus Stages, you'll earn a Continue
as your reward. Continues are worth 3 lives each, so it's worth it to earn
them. When you lose all your lives, but have earned Continues, you'll have 10
seconds to press the Start Button on the Continue screen to have another chance
at completing the game.
Sign Posts
----------
When you destroy a Mini-Boss at the end of Act 1 of every Two-Act Zone, a Sign
Post will descend from above. If you hit the Sign Post multiple times before
it lands, you may uncover random Item Boxes.
Prison Eggs
-----------
When you defeat Robotnik/EggRobo at the end of every Two-Act Zone (with the
exception of Death Egg Zone), you'll come across a Prison Egg shortly
afterwards. Once you touch its plunger, you'll free the animals trapped
inside.
###############################################################################
4. Item Boxes
###############################################################################
As you go through the zones, you'll come across various Item Boxes. If your
character jumps on top of Item Boxes or Spin Dashes into them, you can grab
prizes. The pictures of Item Boxes indicate the prizes contained within them.
Super Ring
----------
Shows 1 Ring. Gives you 10 Rings.
1-Up
----
Shows your character's face. Gives you an extra life.
Invincibility
-------------
Shows 3 stars. Makes your character invincible for a short time. If you crush
yourself, drown, or fall into bottomless pits, you'll still lose a life.
Water Shield
------------
Shows 1 drop of water. Encloses your character in a bubble and allows you to
use the bubble to do a bounce jump. This ability can make you jump higher than
normal. The shield also prevents you from drowning and deflects projectiles.
If you get hit, you'll lose this shield.
Lightning Shield
----------------
Shows 1 lightning bolt. Absorbs all energy-based attacks and makes your
character draw rings towards him. When you're playing as Sonic, you can press
the A, B or C Button twice to double jump. The shield also deflects
projectiles. If you touch water or get hit, you'll lose this shield.
Flame Shield
------------
Shows flames. Absorbs all fire-based attacks and makes your character immune
to fire-related obstacles. Examples include flamethrowers, thrusters, lava,
etc. If you're playing as Sonic, you can press the A, B or C Button twice to
perform the Fireball Spin Dash. This ability allows you to blast across the
screen as a fireball. The shield also deflects projectiles. If you touch
water or get hit, you'll lose this shield.
Super Shoes
-----------
Shows 1 red shoe. Makes your character run twice as fast for a short time.
Watch out for Badniks and obstacles in case you bump into them.
Robotnik
--------
Shows Robotnik's face. Makes your character lose all your Rings or lose a
life! Avoid opening these Item Boxes at all costs.
###############################################################################
5. Special Stage
###############################################################################
Depending on whether Sonic & Knuckles or Sonic 3 & Knuckles is being played,
the gameplay in Special Stages will differ.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Sonic & Knuckles
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Special Stages are where you can collect Chaos Emeralds. Since there are
seven Chaos Emeralds in this game, you must play and complete 7 Special Stages.
There are at least 2 Giant Rings located in each Act of every Two-Act Zone, but
Death Egg Zone is the exception. If you jump through a Giant Ring, you'll be
transported to a Special Stage. Note that you can only use Giant Rings once,
as they disappear once you enter Special Stages.
When you enter a Special Stage, your objective is to grab all the blue spheres
to win a Chaos Emerald. If you collect 50 Rings, you'll earn a Continue. If
you collect all the Rings, you'll earn a Perfect (an extra life). It is not
necessary to earn Perfects in the Special Stages, as they are not required to
win Chaos Emeralds. Getting Perfects can be a new challenge for players that
have already beaten the game with all 7 Chaos Emeralds, so I advice beginners
to concentrate on collecting the Emeralds first, as it is hard to get a Perfect
on your first try, since it is an advantage to know the layout of the Special
Stages. After spending a few minutes in Special Stages, the music will speed
up and you'll start moving much faster, making your character more difficult to
control over time, so be careful.
Grabbing a yellow sphere catapults you 5 spheres ahead. Star spheres sent you
back in the opposite direction. It's best to dodge them, as they can cause you
to bump into a red sphere. Red spheres exit you out of the Special Stage, so
you avoid them at all costs. Blue spheres turn into red spheres when you pass
through them, so don't go back in the opposite direction. You can jump over
rows of red spheres, but it can be hard to pull off, so try only jumping over 1
row of red spheres in case you don't time your jumps correctly. To make Rings
appear, look for square formations of blue spheres, then grab the spheres along
the outer edge of the square. All of the blue spheres that make up the square
will turn into Rings.
If you fail to complete a Special Stage, the next time you start one, you'll
cycle through them in a sequence. For example, if you failed to complete
Special Stage 1, you'll play Special Stage 2 the next time you enter a Special
Stage. After Special Stage 7, the sequence will be repeated, so you'll have
another chance to beat uncompleted Special Stages. When you have collected
all 7 Chaos Emeralds, you'll no longer be able to access the Special Stage.
Your reward is the Super Forms of Sonic and Knuckles. However, I advice still
searching for the Giant Rings, as they will now give you 50 Rings when you
jump through them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Special Stages Chart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chronology | Taken From | Emerald
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Stage 1 | Sonic & Knuckles | Green
Special Stage 2 | Sonic & Knuckles | Orange
Special Stage 3 | Sonic & Knuckles | Purple
Special Stage 4 | Sonic & Knuckles | Blue
Special Stage 5 | Sonic & Knuckles | White
Special Stage 6 | Sonic & Knuckles | Red
Special Stage 7 | Sonic & Knuckles | Cyan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Special Stages are where you collect Chaos/Super Emeralds. Since there are
14 Emeralds in this game, you must play and complete 14 Special Stages. Chaos
and Super Emeralds are collected in the Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles Special
Stages, respectively. There are at least 2 Giant Rings located in each Act of
every Two-Act Zone, but Death Egg Zone is an exception. If you jump through a
Giant Ring, you'll be transported to a Special Stage. Note that you can only
use Giant Rings once, as they disappear once you enter Special Stages, unless
you complete the game and re-play the levels via your Save File's Level Select.
When you enter a Special Stage, your objective is to grab all the blue spheres
to win a Chaos/Super Emerald. If you collect 50 Rings, you'll earn a Continue.
If you collect all the Rings, you'll earn a Perfect (an extra life). It is not
necessary to earn Perfects in the Special Stages, as they are not required to
win Chaos/Super Emeralds. Getting Perfects can be a new challenge for players
that have already beaten the game with all 7 Chaos/Super Emeralds, so I advice
beginners to concentrate on collecting the Emeralds first, as it is hard to get
a Perfect on your first try, since it is an advantage to know the layout of the
Special Stages. After spending a few minutes in Special Stages, the music will
speed up and you'll start moving much faster, making your character more
difficult to control over time, so be careful.
Grabbing a yellow sphere catapults you 5 spheres ahead. Star spheres sent you
back in the opposite direction. It's best to dodge them, as they can cause you
to bump into a red sphere. Red spheres exit you out of the Special Stage, so
you avoid them at all costs. Blue spheres turn into red spheres when you pass
through them, so don't go back in the opposite direction. You can jump over
rows of red spheres, but it can be hard to pull off, so try only jumping over 1
row of red spheres in case you don't time your jumps correctly. To make Rings
appear, look for square formations of blue spheres, then grab the spheres along
the outer edge of the square. All of the blue spheres that make up the square
will turn into Rings.
If you fail to complete a Special Stage, the next time you start one, you'll
cycle through them in a sequence. For example, if you failed to complete
Special Stage 1, you'll play Special Stage 2 the next time you enter a Special
Stage. After Special Stage 7, the sequence will be repeated, so you'll have
another chance to beat uncompleted Special Stages. When you have collected
all 7 Chaos Emeralds, your reward is the Super Forms of Sonic and Knuckles.
If you collect all 7 Chaos Emeralds in the Sonic 3 Special Stages prior to
Mushroom Hill Zone, you can jump through the zone's first Giant Ring to access
the Emerald Chamber of Hidden Palace Zone. Once you arrive there, the Chaos
Emeralds will be taken from you and transformed into grey Super Emeralds. This
causes the other Giant Rings in the Sonic & Knuckles levels to become shiny,
allowing you to jump through these Giant Rings to access the Emerald Chamber.
If you step on the grey Super Emeralds, you can play new Special Stages (taken
from Sonic & Knuckles) to acquire all 7 Super Emeralds.
If you haven't collected all 7 Chaos Emeralds prior to Mushroom Hill Zone but
have obtained some Chaos Emeralds, you can jump through the first Giant Ring in
the zone to access the Emerald Chamber, as that Giant Ring is always shiny,
regardless of whether you collected all 7 Chaos Emeralds in Special Stages.
When your Chaos Emeralds are transformed into grey Super Emeralds, you'll have
an opportunity to acquire one Super Emerald. However, you won't be able to
access the Emerald Chamber again until you complete the game, as the non-shiny
Giant Rings can only be used to play the Sonic 3 Special Stages. When you have
completed the game, you can use your Save File's Level Select to re-play
Mushroom Hill Zone and jump through the zone's first Giant Ring to teleport to
the Emerald Chamber. If you want to acquire all 7 Super Emeralds, you must
collect the remaining Chaos Emeralds and transform them into grey Super Emeralds
via accessing the Emerald Chamber.
When you complete the Sonic & Knuckles Special Stages, the grey Super Emeralds
will be transformed into coloured Emeralds. The Super Emeralds are laid out
from the far left to the far right in this order: Red, Blue, Orange, Green,
Purple, White, and finally, Cyan. Once you have collected all 7 Super Emeralds,
the Master Emerald will cast a light over the Super Emeralds and it will become
shiny. Your reward is the second transformations of Sonic and Knuckles as well
as the only transformation of Tails. You can't access the Special Stage from
this point. However, I advice still searching for the Giant Rings, as they
will now give you 50 Rings when you jump through them.
The respective colours of Chaos Emeralds in the Sonic 3 Special Stages
correspond with their Super Emerald counterparts in the Sonic & Knuckles
Special Stages. For example, if a blue Chaos Emerald is transformed into a
grey Super Emerald, that Emerald will be transformed into a blue Super Emerald.
The yellow Chaos Emerald is the exception. When it transforms into a coloured
Super Emerald, it becomes orange. Check the chart below for more information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Special Stages Chart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chronology | Taken From | Emerald
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Stage 1 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Green
Special Stage 2 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Yellow
Special Stage 3 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Purple
Special Stage 4 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Blue
Special Stage 5 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | White
Special Stage 6 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Red
Special Stage 7 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | Cyan
Special Stage 8 | Sonic & Knuckles | Green
Special Stage 9 | Sonic & Knuckles | Orange
Special Stage 10 | Sonic & Knuckles | Purple
Special Stage 11 | Sonic & Knuckles | Blue
Special Stage 12 | Sonic & Knuckles | White
Special Stage 13 | Sonic & Knuckles | Red
Special Stage 14 | Sonic & Knuckles | Cyan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
###############################################################################
6. Transformations
###############################################################################
Depending on whether Sonic & Knuckles or Sonic 3 & Knuckles is being played,
the number of transformations will differ.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Sonic & Knuckles
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Transformations allow you to play as powered up versions of characters. There
are two transformations (Super Sonic and Super Knuckles) in this game. It is
required that all 7 Chaos Emeralds are obtained first to transform into the
Super Forms. When you collect 50 Rings, you can double jump to enable the
transformations. Note that you lose Rings for every second that your character
is in his Super Form, so you must collect them to increase your Rings gauge.
Otherwise, you'll turn back into your regular character. If you crush
yourself, drown or fall into bottomless pits, you'll still lose a life, so be
careful.
Each transformation can destroy Badniks by touching them. If you're Sonic, you
can become Super Sonic. He runs much faster than regular Sonic and breaks
through barriers that would require Spin Dashing. If you're Knuckles, you can
become Super Knuckles. He runs and climbs much faster than regular Knuckles.
The characters' transformations make Mini-Bosses/Bosses much easier, so it's
worth it to collect all 7 Chaos Emeralds. Collecting the Chaos Emeralds
unlocks better endings for both characters. As an added bonus, you can access
The Doomsday Zone to fully complete the game as Sonic.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Transformations allow you to play as powered up versions of characters. There
are five transformations (Super Sonic, Super Knuckles, Hyper Sonic, Hyper
Knuckles, and Super Tails) in this game. It is required that all 7 Chaos and
Super Emeralds are obtained first to transform into the Super and Hyper Forms,
respectively, but Tails' transformation is the exception. He needs 7 Super
Emeralds to transform into Super Tails. When you collect 50 Rings, you can
double jump to enable the transformations. Note that you lose Rings for every
second that your character is in his Super/Hyper Form, so you must collect
them to increase your Rings gauge. Otherwise, you'll turn back into your
regular character. If you crush yourself, drown or fall into bottomless pits,
you'll still lose a life, so be careful.
Each transformation can destroy Badniks by touching them. If you're Sonic
Alone or Sonic & Tails, you can become Super Sonic and Hyper Sonic. The
former runs much faster than regular Sonic and breaks through barriers that
would require Spin Dashing. In addition, the latter can also breathe
underwater and double jump to unleash a lightning attack, destroying all
Badniks on the screen in the process. If you're Knuckles, you can become
Super Knuckles and Hyper Knuckles. The former runs and climbs much faster
than regular Knuckles. Additionally, the latter can also breathe underwater
and glide into a wall to destroy all Badniks on the screen (similar to Hyper
Sonic's lightning attack). Super Tails can fly up faster and remain in the
air longer. The 4 Flicky birds surrounding him can automatically attack all
enemies on the screen, including Mini-Bosses and Bosses.
The characters' transformations make Mini-Bosses/Bosses much easier, so it's
worth it to collect all 7 Chaos/Super Emeralds. Collecting the Chaos/Super
Emeralds unlocks better endings for characters. As an added bonus, you can
access The Doomsday Zone to fully complete the game as Sonic Alone or Sonic &
Tails.
When you collect all 7 Chaos Emeralds, you can transform into Super
Sonic/Knuckles. However, once you go to the Emerald Chamber of Hidden Palace
Zone and transform the Chaos Emeralds into grey Super Emeralds, you'll no
longer be able to transform into the characters' Super Forms.
###############################################################################
7. Bonus Stages
###############################################################################
Depending on whether Sonic & Knuckles or Sonic 3 & Knuckles is being played,
the number of Bonus Stages will differ.
===============================================================================
Sonic & Knuckles
===============================================================================
When you pass a Starpost and have at least 20 Rings, a Star Circle will appear.
Jump through the circle to enter a Bonus Stage. The stage that you'll enter is
determined by the colours of the Star Circle. If you collect 50 Rings in
either Bonus Stage, you'll earn a Continue.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Slot Machine Stage
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
In this stage, you'll start circling around a slot machine. The slot machine
is similiar to the ones from Sonic 2's Casino Night Zone, and the playing field
resembles Sonic 1's Special Stages. Like Sonic 1, you'll exit the Bonus Stage
if you touch the GOAL bars. "R" Bars rotate the field in the opposite
direction. If you hit the Blue Bars 3 times, they'll change into GOALs, so
watch out. You can jump into the slot machine to win or lose Rings, depending
on the combinations made when the tumblers roll. The combinations you can get
are listed below.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ Slot Machine Combination Chart +
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| Combo | Prize |
---------------------------------+
| 1 Bar | Win 2 Rings |
| 2 Bars | Win 4 Rings |
| 3 Bars | Win 8 Rings |
| 3 Tails | Win 20 Rings |
| 3 Knuckles | Win 25 Rings |
| 3 Sonics | Win 30 Rings |
| 3 Jackpots | Win 100 Rings |
| 3 Robotniks | Lose 100 Rings |
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~+
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Glowing Spheres Stage
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
In this stage, you'll start on a magnetic sphere. You must jump to higher
spheres and activate the flippers to reach the top. If you do this, you'll
complete the Bonus Stage. The force field that is rising from below will exit
you out of the stage, so try to stay ahead of it. On your way up, you'll come
across various balls containing prizes. The prizes you can get are listed
below.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ Slot Machine Combination Chart +
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| Gumball | Prize |
---------------------------------+
| "B" | Win Shield |
| Super Ring | Win 10 Rings |
| 1-Up | Win 1 life |
| Clear | Win nothing |
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~+
===============================================================================
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
===============================================================================
When you pass a Starpost and have at least 20 Rings, a Star Circle will appear.
Jump through the circle to enter a Bonus Stage. The stage you enter is
determined by the number of Rings you have. There are 3 Bonus Stages in
this game, namely Slot Machine (20-34 Rings required), Glowing Spheres (35-49
Rings required) and Gumball Machine (50-65 Rings required). If you collect 50
Rings in Bonus Stages, you'll earn a Continue.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Gumball Machine Stage
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
When you appear in a shaft, use the yellow bumpers to move your character
upwards. Once you bounce off the bumpers, they will disappear. The set of
springs at the bottom of the shaft will also disappear when you bounce off
them. If you turn the crank of the gumball machine, balls will be released and
you can grab these balls to receive prizes. The colours of balls indicate the
prizes contained within them. When you fall out of the shaft, the Bonus Stage
ends.
Grey
----
Shows 1 Ring. Gives you 10 Rings.
Pink
----
Shows the word "1-UP". Gives you an extra life.
Blue
----
Shows the letter "B". Gives you a Water Shield.
Brown
-----
Shows the letter "B". Gives you a Lightning Shield.
Orange
------
Shows the letter "B". Gives you a Flame Shield.
Green
-----
Shows the letters "REP". If the set of springs at the bottom of the shaft have
disappeared, a new set will replace them.
Black
-----
Propels you up or down.
Clear
-----
Gives you nothing.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
6. Sonic & Knuckles
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Table of Contents
-----------------
1. Story
2. Walkthrough (Sonic)
2.01 - Mushroom Hill Zone
2.02 - Flying Battery Zone
2.03 - Sandopolis Zone
2.04 - Lava Reef Zone
2.05 - Hidden Palace Zone
2.06 - Sky Sanctuary Zone
2.07 - Death Egg Zone
2.08 - The Doomsday Zone
3. Walkthrough (Knuckles)
3.01 - Mushroom Hill Zone
3.02 - Flying Battery Zone
3.03 - Sandopolis Zone
3.04 - Lava Reef Zone
3.05 - Hidden Palace Zone
3.06 - Sky Sanctuary Zone
4. Giant Ring Locations (Sonic)
5. Giant Ring Locations (Knuckles)
6. Badniks
###############################################################################
1. Story
###############################################################################
In the aftermath of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic defeated Robotnik at Launch
Base Zone, causing the re-launched Death Egg to plummet back to Angel Island
(AKA Floating Island) and crash land on top of Lava Reef Zone's volcano.
Remembering that the Master Emerald is the source of Floating Island's
levitation powers, Robotnik decides to make a second attempt at re-launching
the Death Egg, this time by using the Emerald to fuel its engines.
Sonic, meanwhile, has landed in the depths of Mushroom Hill Zone. He knows
that the Master Emerald is hidden somewhere on Floating Island and suspects
Knuckles knows where it is. Sonic can't let Robotnik get his hands on the
Master Emerald. He'd have Death Egg fuel forever - and Floating Island would
be destroyed. Can Sonic convince Knuckles that Robotnik is the true villain
and stop the second attempt at re-launching the Death Egg?
###############################################################################
2. Walkthrough (Sonic)
###############################################################################
When the Title Screen appears, you'll see the Death Egg plummeting back down to
the Floating Island. As the space station lands on top of Lava Reef Zone's
volcano, Sonic and Knuckles will appear on a cliff. You can use Up or Down to
decide which character you want to play as. If you're playing as Sonic, read
this Walkthrough. If you're playing as Sonic & Tails or Tails (via Lock-On
with Sonic 3), you can also read this Walkthrough, but you may be able to
follow different paths, due to Tails' flying ability.
===============================================================================
2.01 - Mushroom Hill Zone
===============================================================================
Mushroom Hill Zone is a good training level for practicing and mastering
Sonic's moves. Be on the lookout for badniks such as Cluckoid and Dragonfly.
The Cluckoid can blow you back in the opposite direction, while the Dragonfly
usually appears when you least expect it. If you get caught in vines, Spin
Dash to get free.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 1
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Head right and go past the Butterdroids. Run through the loop de loop and roll
down the hill. Collect the Super Shoes for a speed boost. Ignore the pulley
lift nearby and proceed right. Climb up the poles and run through the loop de
loop. Use the pulley lift above you to go up. Press Up and Down to make the
pulley lift go up and down, respectively.
Use the two mushrooms to raise Sonic higher, so you can access the spring above
you. Bounce on it and speed through the loop de loop. Use this swing lift to
send Sonic over to the right. Head across the vine-shaped bridge and drop the
pole at the bottom right. You'll land next to a secret passageway containing
a Giant Ring.
Exit the passageway by going right, and use the swing lift to hoist Sonic up to
a vine-shaped bridge. Drop down and go past the Starpost. Run down the hill
and drop down again to find a pulley lift. To the right of it is a hidden
passageway containing a Giant Ring.
Exit the passageway and use the pulley lift. Run through two loop de loops.
When you nearly reach a mushroom at the top, stop running left and drop down to
the right. Continue onward to find a passageway containing a Giant Ring. When
you exit the passageway, watch out for the Dragonfly on patrol. Run down the
loop de loop and climb up the poles to find a Starpost. Go past it and head
right to meet the Mini-Boss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini-Boss Battle: Woodcutter Machine - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
The machine will throw logs at you in a vertical direction. If you have the
Fire Shield, hit it from below to destroy. Alternatively, wait for it to come
down before jumping on top of it to attack it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 2
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Go right and run down the hill to meet Knuckles. He pulls a lever, sending you
hovering upwards. When you land, you'll notice that the seasons have changed
and that it's Autumn/Fall now. Collect the Invincibility and go right. Use
the mushroom seesaws and run through the loop de loops. Drop through the gap
nearby and use the pole to hoist Sonic upwards. Use the spring to go up the
loop de loop and find a passageway containing a Giant Ring.
Drop down and use the pulley lift nearby. Go right and use the mushrooms to
send Sonic up to a Super Ring and an Invincibility. Use the spring to go over
to the right. Go up the loop de loop and use another spring. When you land
near a spring and a mushroom, drop down to the left and head right to find a
hidden passageway containing a Giant Ring. Now exit the passageway and use the
seesaw to land on a spring above.
Head across the vine-shaped bridge and go past the Starpost. Use the pulley
lift and bounce on the red spring to catapult Sonic over to the swing lift. If
you can use the springs to bounce Sonic over to the right, you'll land near a
loop de loop. When you come across a Cluckoid, go past it to find a hidden
passageway containing a Giant Ring.
Run through the loop de loops and use the pulley lift to go upwards. Before
you do so, go past the Cluckoid and enter the hidden passageway to find a Giant
Ring. When you make it to the surface, go right and use the mushroom seesaws.
Go past the Starpost to see a satellite dish emitting signals.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: Dr. Robotnik's Speed Booster Machine - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
Jump on the satellite dish to destroy it, revealing Robotnik's machine in the
process. If you can hit him a few times, the Boss Battle will be easier to
win. When Robotnik flies off to the right, chase after him and follow him
through an obstacle course. When you are running through the obstacle course,
jump to avoid the spikes. If you keep running, you'll catch up with Robotnik.
When he switches off the boosters, you can hit him. If you have a Flame
Shield, the boosters won't hurt you, so you can attack Robotnik repeatedly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robotnik's machine starts to explode, but Robotnik still isn't worried.
However, his machine soon crashes into a tree and it falls apart. When you've
opened the Prison Egg, Sonic will look up and you'll see the Flying Battery
Blimp fly past. Robotnik flies up in his Egg Pod and enters the battleship.
Sonic immediately jumps up and grabs onto it.
===============================================================================
2.02 - Flying Battery Zone
===============================================================================
Flying Battery Zone is a remade version of Sonic 2's Wing Fortress Zone. It's
quite the change from the nature of Mushroom Hill Zone. Obstacles include
flame blasters, Prison Eggs, mines, and crushing platforms. In Act 1, you'll
be underneath the battleship for a while, so be ready. I think Act 2 is
easier. If you follow this Walkthrough, you should be prepared for the many
obstacles in this level.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 1
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Go right and head through the purple cylinder. Go down the platform and head
left. Go past the flame blasters and head right. Outside the Flying Battery,
hop across the platforms and use the levers. Jump onto the ledge and go up to
re-enter the Blimp.
Go past the Starpost and make your way through the purple cylinders. Spin Dash
up the slope and position Sonic on the flame blaster. After being catapulted
upwards, go right and use the moving platforms to go over to the flame blaster.
If you open the Prison Egg, Badniks will emerge from it, so watch out.
Use the flame blaster to go upwards. Go past the mines and use the poles.
Drop down and go left. Jump over the speed boost and go past more mines. Go
down the platform and head right. Wait for the platforms to rise to avoid
getting crushed.
Go past the Starpost and press the switch. Drop down and go left. Spin Dash
up the slopes and jump on the Prison Egg. Run through the purple cylinders and
drop down. Go right and head past the Starpost. Go up the slopes and use the
moving platforms.
Jump on the Prison Egg and use the spring. Go right and wait for the missiles
to uncover an opening for you to drop through. When you drop down, run
through the purple cylinder and head past the Starpost.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini-Boss Battle: Fake Prison Egg Machine - 6 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When you come across the machine, it will be disguised as a Prison Egg. Jump
on the plunger to reveal two spiked arms. To destroy this Mini-Boss, you make
it attack itself. Position Sonic on the plunger and wait for one of the
spiked arms to proceed to hit you. When it does so, run off the plunger. The
machine will be hit instead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 2
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Go right and head up the purple cylinder. Jump on the springs and go past the
mines. Drop down and head through the purple cylinder. Press the switch and
go down. Head right and press another switch. Go down the whole way and head
left.
Go past the Starpost and press the switch. Go up and use the spider to go
across the purple cylinder. Run past the mines and press the switch. Drop
down and go through the purple cylinder. Go past the Starpost and press the
switch.
Go right and jump on the flame blaster to undo the cork screw. Drop down and
go past the Starpost. Press the switch and Spin Dash to avoid getting crushed.
Press two more switches and drop down. Go right and use the platforms.
Go past the mines and use the spider. Go down and press the switch. Go past
the Starpost and head left. Go up and head through the purple cylinder. Use
the moving platforms to get to the top and meet another Mini-Boss. Yes, there
are two Mini-Bosses in the Flying Battery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini-Boss Battle: Laser Machine - 0 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
Robotnik unleashes a laser machine on you. It is similar to Sonic 2's Wing
Fortress Zone Boss. This time, however, you can't destroy it. You must make
it destroy itself. Each time it fires a laser, it will damage itself and cause
the room to cave in. If you have a Lightning/Water Shield, you can hit the
machine, but it won't have any effect. Eventually, the machine will explode
and Robotnik will run off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Follow the path, and a platform will start ascending. Keep running until you
arrive at the final spikes. The platform will take you up and it'll eventually
stop rising. When it does so, Robotnik will swoop down and appear in the
centre of the screen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: Dr. Robotnik's Spiked Swinging Machine - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When Robotnik appears, he'll swing up and down. When he's doing this, you can
attack him. After swinging for a moment, Robotnik will move his machine
towards you. If you position Sonic underneath it, Robotnik will fire a
flamethrower at you. When Robotnik approaches you, jump over to the opposite
side of the screen. When Robotnik starts swinging again, you can hit him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When the Prison Egg is opened, you'll automatically run right and go through a
hallway. Sonic jumps off the battleship and lands in Sandopolis Zone.
===============================================================================
2.03 - Sandopolis Zone
===============================================================================
In my opinion, Sandopolis Zone is the hardest level in the game. Obstacles
include quicksand, slides, locked passageways, and ghosts. I find that Act 1
isn't too hard, but Act 2 is difficult. In Act 2, you have to push blocks to
unlock passageways, but you have a time limit for you to do this. In addition,
once you release the ghosts, you'll need to press the levers to lighten the
place up. If it becomes very dark, the ghosts can hurt you, so watch out. As
long as you press the levers and continue onward, you shouldn't have to worry.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 1
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
When you land in the sand, jump up. Go right and push the yellow block. Ride
it and go down the slides. Run down the slope and grab the pulley lift. Go
right and run through the loop de loop. Push the yellow block and ride it.
Use the swings and go left.
Collect the Invincibility and go up. Go past the Starpost and head down the
slides. When you land in the quicksand, jump over to the right. Push the
yellow block and ride it. Spin Dash up the slope, and use the platforms to go
up the slide. Run through the loop de loop and use the pulley lift.
Push the yellow block and ride it. Go right and then up. Use the swing and go
past the Starpost. Use the pulley lift and push the yellow block. Ride it.
When you drop down, go right and head down the slopes. Use the swings and go
left. Run through the loop de loop and go up.
Go right and use the pulley lift. Go past the Starpost and head right. You'll
see a pyramid rise from underneath the sand. When the entrance opens, the
fight with the Pyramid Guardian begins.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini-Boss Battle: Pyramid Guardian - 0 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When the Pyramid Guardian approaches you, you can hit him, but it'll have no
effect. To defeat this Mini-Boss, you must trick it into entering the
quicksand nearby. You can jump into the quicksand and wait for the Guardian
to head towards you. If you keep jumping in the quicksand, the Guardian will
jump into it, destroying the Mini-Boss in the process. Alternatively, you can
go to the right side of the screen and hit the Guardian constantly.
Eventually, the impact of your attacks will send it into the quicksand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 2
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Go right and pull the levers to turn on the lanturns. Head right and push the
black block to the right. Go through the opening and go up. Go left and
collect the Invincibility. Push the black block to the left and leave. Run
through the loop de loop, and you'll release the ghosts from the Prison Egg.
Push the black block to the left and go through the opening. Press the lever
and go down the slides. When you see a swing above a particular slide, jump
onto it and go past the Starpost. (If you don't jump onto the correct slide,
you'll go down an infinite loop of slides instead. To continue through the
level, wait for Sonic to land near the correct slide again and try to jump
onto it this time.) Push the black block to the left and go up. Push the
yellow block and ride it.
When you get through the opening, jump on the swing and use the pulley lift.
Push the black block to the right and go up the opening. Go right and run
through the loop-de-loops. Go past the Starpost and push the black block to
the right. Jump on the swing and press the lever.
Go through the opening and break the container. When the sand rises, go left
and then up. Jump on the swing and push the black block to the left. Go right
and head through the opening. Break the container and press the lever. Go
right and then left. Push the black block to the right to reveal an opening.
Go through the opening and push the black boulder to the right. Go right and
jump on the swing. Press the lever and push the black block. Jump down the
opening and go right. Jump on the swing and use the pulley lift. Go right and
press the lever.
Run through the loop de loop and go left. Use the pulley lift and head right.
Go past the Starpost and head down the slide. Run through the loop de loop and
use the spring to land on the slide. Go down the slide and run through another
loop de loop. Go right and use the lever.
Use the moving platforms and go right. Push the black block to the right, and
press the lever. Use the swing and break the container. Go through the
opening and press the lever. Go past the Starpost and push the black block to
the right. Jump down and go right to meet the Boss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: Dr. Robotnik's Egyptian-Themed Robot - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When the Egyptian-Themed Robot moves towards you, Robotnik will charge up his
laser cannon and fire a small laser at you. If you stay away from the robot,
you should be able to dodge it. Robotnik will use his 2 hands to crush you,
but you can use them to climb up the robot and hit the laser cannon. The
armour of the robot will fall apart, revealing Robotnik in the process. Hit
him a few times and jump off the robot, as the armour will cover it up again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once you have opened the Prison Egg, you'll automatically head right and Sonic
will fall into the depths of Lava Reef Zone.
===============================================================================
2.04 - Lava Reef Zone
===============================================================================
Lava Reef Zone is easier to complete than the Sandopolis Zone, but it can still
be hard. Obstacles include lava, moving platforms, flamethrowers, spiked
balls, and spiked platforms. A Flame Shield is very useful to have in this
level, so try to hang onto it as long as you can.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 1
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
When you land, drop down the two ledges and Spin Dash through the boulders.
Press the switch and go through the opening. Hop across the rocks. If you
fall into the pool of lava, you'll get hurt. Go right and climb up the steps.
Avoid the flamethrowers as you do so.
Collect the Invincibility and go right. Run down the slope and go across the
pool of lava. Press the switch and go through the opening. Spin Dash through
the boulders and run through the brown cylinder. Run left and go past the pool
of lava. The Death Egg can be seen in the background. It seems Robotnik is
repairing the space station in this level (a la Launch Base Zone).
When you reach the waterfall of lava, wait for an opening to appear before
crossing it. Use the spring and jump over to the Starpost. Collect the Flame
Shield and go left. Destroy the switch and go through an opening. Jump on the
black platform and position Sonic to the left. Spin Dash to lower the
platform.
Go right and press the switch. Go through the opening and make your way down
the steps. Head across the waterfall of lava and press the switch. Go through
the opening and head right. You can attack the drilling machine if you want
to, but it'll fall into the pool of lava, destroying it.
When you land, hop across the rocks and press the switch. Climb up the steps
and Spin Dash up. Spin Dash through the boulders and use the moving spiked
platform. Go left and use another platform. Climb up the steps and press the
switch. Go through the opening and use the platform.
When the moving platform rises, jump down and head right. Spin Dash through
the boulders and go past the Starpost. Run down the slope and collect the
Flame Shield. When the ledge collapses, go down the steps and head right. Go
across the bridge and run down the black tunnel.
Go left and destroy the switch. Run through the opening and head down the
slope. Watch out for the spiked ball as you drop down the gap. Go right and
climb up the steps. Head across the waterfalls of lava. Press the switch and
go through the opening. When the lava rises, wait for it to sink before
crossing the platforms.
Go past the Starpost and Spin Dash through the boulders. Use the moving
platforms and press the switch. Go through the opening and climb up the steps.
Press the switch and run through another opening. Spin Dash through the
boulders and go down the slope. Press the switch and go through the last
opening. Head past the Starpost.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini-Boss Battle: Hand Machine - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
Although the Mini-Boss is the Hand Machine, there are also two wheels for you
to contend with. They will fire small projectiles at you, so run back and
forth to dodge them. Each wheel takes 4 hits to destroy. If you concentrate
on destroying one wheel, you can deal with the other one during the next attack
sequence. You don't need to take the wheels out, but their attacks can be a
nuisance, so I advice doing so. When the wheels leave the screen, the
Mini-Boss will make an appearance. The hand will copy your movements in an
attempt to pound the ground and crush you. If you keep running back and forth,
you should be able to dodge it. When it pounds the ground, hit it once.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 2
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
When the pool of lava freezes over, go right and head across it. Press the
switch and go through the opening. Head across the blue cylinder while
avoiding the row of spikes. Dodge the Robotnik Boxes and use the moving
platforms to go to the top. Head right and run down the slope. Drop down and
go left.
Drop down the ledge and go down the steps. Spin Dash through the walls and use
the spring. Jump onto the moving platform and go left to find a hidden
passageway containing a Giant Ring. Drop down and go left. Head past the
moving spikes and run down the slope.
Go right and jump over the flamethrowers. Press the switch and enter the
opening. Use the spiked platforms and go right. Head past the Starpost and
use the spring. Jump across the platforms while dodging the spikes. Go left
and press the switch. Enter the opening and head past the flamethrowers.
Use the spiked platforms and go right. Press the switch and enter the opening.
Use the blue cylinders as pulley lifts. Go left and use the spring. Collect
the Flame Shield in the hidden passageway and jump across the two platforms.
Enter another hidden passageway to find a Giant Ring. Leave the passageway and
go right.
Go past the moving platforms and Spin Dash through the walls. Go down the
black tunnel and Spin Dash over the flamethrower. Head past the spikes and
drop down the collapsing ledges. Go left and press the switch. Run down the
slope and head past the Starpost. Press the switch and enter the opening.
Hop across the ledges and go up the platforms. Head past the flamethrowers and
use the spring. When you land on a platform, go right and climb up the steps.
As you do so, you'll see the Death Egg in the background once again. It seems
the repairs are complete, and Robotnik plans to use the Master Emerald as a
power source to launch the space station. When you reach the end of the steps,
you'll meet Knuckles. He pushes a boulder down the steps, causing you to fall
into the abyss below.
When you land, you'll see the Death Egg in plain view. After Robotnik
demonstrates its blasts and heats up the lava, he'll appear in the background.
Robotnik fires eight missiles at you. Hop across the platforms to dodge them.
When the screen continuously scrolls to the right, jump across the collapsing
ledges one by one. This is a difficult area to get through, as you can lose a
life, by moving too slowly or falling off the platforms/ledges.
When you reach the Starpost, go past it and hop across the platforms. When the
screen stops scrolling to the right, go back the first platform to find a Flame
Shield nearby. Collect the Flame Shield. It'll make the Boss Battle coming up
much easier. Position Sonic on a platform and wait for it to descend. When
you reach the waterfall of lava at the bottom, Robotnik will emerge from the
lava on the right side of the screen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: Dr. Robotnik's Mine Launcher Machine - 14 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When Robotnik appears, he'll tilt the lava in his direction. If you've
collected the Flame Shield, you can go left and hop across the platforms to
avoid sliding into Robotnik. When Robotnik launches 3 mines, jump on the
platforms to dodge them. If you get hit, you'll lose the Flame Shield, making
this Boss Battle harder to win. The 3 mines will hit Robotnik one after
another. When Robotnik sinks into the lava, he'll emerge in the opposite
direction and repeat his attack pattern.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When a Prison Egg starts to descend from above, be aware of the lava that is
still around you. If you fall into it by mistake, you'll lose your Rings or
lose a life, so wait for the Prison Egg to reach your jumping distance first.
Once it's at a reasonable height, jump up to hit its plunger. After the lava
freezes over once again, you can safely go across it and enter Hidden Palace
Zone.
===============================================================================
2.05 - Hidden Palace Zone
===============================================================================
"Some mysteries are solved! Robotnik makes his big play, and Knuckles finds out
who the REAL bad guy is!"
The above statement is the Instruction Manual's description of this Zone, and
that's generally what happens in the Hidden Palace. It is the shortest Zone in
the game, due to the fact that its purpose is to show Robotnik's true colours
to Knuckles. On a side note, when you go to the Level Select menu, you don't
actually see the Zone's name on the screen. It's referred to as Act 4 of the
Lava Reef Zone instead.
Anyway, back to the Walkthrough. Go right and head up the steps. If you're
playing as Tails, you can fly up to find every type of Item Box at the top left
and right. Use the teleporter and go past the Starpost. Head right to meet
Knuckles. The echidna finally challenges you to a battle. The ancient stone
tablet displayed above shows a picture of Sonic unleashing incredible Emerald
forces in a showdown with Robotnik. This event takes place in The Doomsday
Zone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: Knuckles the Echidna - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
In comparison to your recent Boss Battles, Knuckles is easy to defeat. If you
Spin Dash towards him, he'll block it, so don't bother. If Knuckles Spin
Dashes, jump over him. Don't Spin Dash to counter Knuckles' Spin Dash, since
you'll still get hurt. When he glides, hit him from behind. If you Spin Dash
towards Knuckles the moment he lands, you can hit him, but it's tricky to do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the battle, a series of explosions occur. When Knuckles runs off to
investigate, chase after the echidna and you'll see Robotnik stealing the
Master Emerald from the Emerald Chamber. (If you're playing Sonic 3 & Knuckles,
you may notice grey/coloured Super Emeralds here, depending on whether you have
collected the Chaos/Super Emeralds in Special Stages.) Knuckles realises that
Robotnik is the true villain, but it's too late - the mad doctor has stolen the
Master Emerald!
As Robotnik flies off, you automatically head right. Knuckles attempts to stop
Robotnik, but he electrocutes the echidna and makes his escape. Robotnik can
take infinite hits, so don't bother attacking him. When the floor around you
collapses, you'll land in another area. Knuckles awakens and breaks down a
wall. He runs left and shows you a teleporter. Sonic jumps onto it and is
transported to Sky Sanctuary Zone.
===============================================================================
2.06 - Sky Sanctuary Zone
===============================================================================
Like Hidden Palace, Sky Sanctuary is no ordinary Zone. There is only one Act
in this Zone, and it is divided into three Boss Battles. They're a blast from
the past for players of Sonic 1 and Sonic 2.
When you arrive, you'll see the Death Egg rise from underneath the clouds.
It is powered by the Master Emerald and piloted by Robotnik. He dispatches an
armada of EggRobos to patrol the Sky Sanctuary Zone, so be ready for them.
Knuckles presses a switch to create a bridge for you to cross.
If you're read Egmont Fleetway's Sonic The Comic, you'll probably know that
Knuckles teamed up with Sonic. Well, in the game, you'll have to continue
onwards on your own. Of course, if you're playing as Sonic & Tails in Sonic 3
& Knuckles, you won't have to.
Jump on the vines and go right. Run down the slope and head up the green
tower. Jump across the black pillars and go left. After the fountain, go past
the EggRobo and hop across the black pillars. Jump over the clouds. You'll
fight Metal Sonic of Sonic CD. It seems Robotnik dispatched him to stop you
from reaching the Death Egg. The robot will battle you on three separate
occasions throughout this level. The first two Bosses are carbon copies of
Sonic 1's Green Hill Zone Boss and Sonic 2's Metropolis Zone Boss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: Metal Sonic's Chained Ball Machine - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When Metal Sonic appears on the right side of the screen, jump on one of the
two platforms and hit him twice. As Metal Sonic reveals his chained ball, stay
underneath the western platform to avoid getting hurt. When he swings the ball
to the left, jump on the platform and hit him. You should bounce off him and
land on the platform without getting hurt. Repeat this strategy to win.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Use the teleporter and go right. Head past the Starpost and grab the vines.
Hop across the black pillars and use the vines. Collect the Flame Shield and
go right. Jump across the clouds and go past the spiked swing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: Metal Sonic's Sphere Cloning Machine - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When Metal Sonic appears in the centre of the screen, use Sonic's Insta-Shield
to hit him. Although eight spheres are protecting Metal Sonic, you'll still
get score hits against him and you won't get hurt. If you're Tails, you can
fly up and hit him. As long as Metal Sonic remains in the air, you won't get
hurt if you attack him. This is due to a glitch, which wasn't in the original
Metropolis Zone Boss. When you hit Metal Sonic, he'll release one of the eight
spheres and stay in the air. If you destroy the spheres, Metal Sonic will
descend, so I advice ignoring them and concentrating on hitting him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Use the teleporter and go left. Head past the Starpost and use the spiked
swing. Go up and jump across the clouds. Go right and head past the spiked
swings. Use the teleporter and apprach the tower. When you see the birds,
wait for a moment and take out the EggRobo that appears. Go up the bridges and
head past the Starpost. Use the teleporter to transport Sonic to an arena
where you have a showdown with Metal Sonic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: Metal Sonic - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
Metal Sonic's attack pattern is similar to that of Silver Sonic from Sonic 2's
Death Egg Zone. Fortunately, this battle is much easier, since you have Rings
and Metal Sonic's pattern isn't difficult to predict. He will spin around the
screen and he will do two attacks. If he charges towards you, jump to dodge
the attack. If he spins towards you, learn his pattern, so you can avoid the
attack. You can only hit him when he isn't spinning. Once you get the hang of
countering Metal Sonic's attacks, this battle should be over soon enough.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Metal Sonic short-circuits, the arena falls apart and Sonic jumps onto a
tower. He runs up the collapsing spiral pathway and jumps onto the rising
Death Egg.
===============================================================================
2.07 - Death Egg Zone
===============================================================================
Death Egg Zone is the final level of Sonic & Knuckles if you haven't collected
all 7 Chaos Emeralds. Obstacles include electric bridges, electric walls,
collapsing platforms, conveyor belts, sound wave machines, anti-gravity
passageways, and reversed gravity. While this Zone isn't easy, it isn't too
hard either, in comparision to Sonic 1's Scrap Brain Zone and Sonic 2's
Metropolis Zone. If you follow my Walkthrough, you should be able to complete
this level without too much problems.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 1
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Take out the Spikebonker and go across the electric bridge. Use the collapsing
platforms and head right. When the electric wall is active, use the speed
boost and grab the pulley lift. Go left and collect the Water Shield. Use the
moving platform and head through the anti-gravity passageway.
Use the moving platform and go right. Head up the steps and go across the
conveyor belt. When you arrive at the Starpost, jump up the electric bridges
and climb up the steps. Grab the pulley lift and head right. Use the sound
wave machine and go down the steps. Run through the anti-gravity passageway.
Go down the conveyor belt and head across the electric bridge. Go left and
cross another conveyor belt. Watch out for the rockets that are launched at
you, when you ride the next one. When you reach the Starpost, jump over to the
right immediately to avoid falling into the gap and losing a life. Climb up
the steps and go through the anti-gravity passageway. Press all six switches
on the moving platform and go through another passageway.
Use the speed boost and go left. Use the sound wave machines and climb up the
steps. Go past the Starpost and head right to meet the Mini-Boss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini-Boss Battle: Eye Machine - 16 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
In my opinion, this is the hardest Mini-Boss in the game. When the eight balls
circle around the machine on the floor, you can hit the eye. Unfortunately,
each time you do so, one of the balls will explode, scattering tiny spikes
everywhere. It can be difficult to avoid them. If you lose your Rings, try to
get them back quickly, so you can hit the eye constantly. When the balls
extend themselves, wait for them to circle around the machine again, so you can
hit the eye.
When all the balls are destroyed and you've hit the eye 8 times, there will be
an explosion and the eye itself will attack. It looks like this Mini-Boss
Battle is far from over. There are now 2 spiked platforms circling around the
eye. You must jump on these platforms to hit the eye. Unfortunately, the eye
fires a laser underneath it at different times. You need to wait for the laser
to disappear before attacking the eye. If the eye fires the laser and hovers
towards you, the rotating spiked platforms can hurt you. If you go to the
opposite side of the screen, you can duck to try to avoid the spikes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 2
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
After the armour of the Death Egg is destroyed, you'll be sent hovering
upwards. You'll notice that the background has changed. It seems the space
station has been orbiting around Sonic's home planet Mobius for some time now.
Anyway, go right and head across the electric bridge. Go through the
anti-gravity passageway. From this point, there will be reversed gravity at
different times throughout the level.
Head across the electric bridge and go through the anti-gravity passageway.
When you have to choose which direction to go in next, take the eastern route,
as it's the easiest path to get through. Climb up the steps and go right.
Head across the conveyor belt and climb more steps. Go left and use the
elevator.
Go right and head across the electric bridge. Hop across the moving platforms
and go down the conveyor belt. Head past the Starpost and go down another
conveyor belt. This one is much harder to get through, as it is on the
ceiling. Try to dodge the rockets by jumping constantly. Go left and use the
springs. Go right and use the elevator. When you reach the dropping
platforms, stand on the last one to the left and wait for the last one to the
right to rise. When it does so, hop onto it and jump over to the right. Watch
out for the electric ceiling as you go past the Starpost.
Head across the conveyor belt and use the elevator. Go left and use the sound
wave machine. Go right and use another machine. Go through the anti-gravity
passageway and use the machine. Climb up the steps and take the elevator.
Board the next one and go down the steps. Ride the conveyor belt and go past
the Starpost. Take the elevator to face another Mini-Boss. Like the Flying
Battery Zone, there are two Mini-Bosses in this level.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini-Boss Battle: Shielded Sphere Machine - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When you appear on the right side of the screen, you'll see Robotnik behind a
wall, controlling his machine. You can't destroy this Mini-Boss by yourself.
You must use the 4 elevators to change the gravity and cause the spiked robots
to hit the machine. If you are on the ceiling, you can Spin Dash to change the
position of the spiked robots, so the spikes can hit the machine. This can be
tricky to do, though. When a spiked robot damages the machine, tiny spikes
will be sent around the screen. If you enter the elevators, you can avoid
getting hurt by them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When the machine explodes, the wall behind Robotnik crumbles and Sonic chases
after him. Like the finale of Sonic The Hedgehog 3, you'll now have to fight 3
Bosses one after another. If you lose a life from this point, you'll start the
Boss Battles without any Rings, so try to make your first play through count.
When Robotnik locks himself inside a giant robot, the floor to the left will
start to collapse, so run right to avoid falling off the screen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: Dr. Robotnik's Giant Robot, Part 1 - 18 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When the floor starts shaking, you'll see Robotnik's Giant Robot appear on the
left side of the screen. He uses the robot's six fingers to pound the floor.
You must hit the fingers 18 times, as each finger takes 3 hits to destroy. You
can Spin Dash between the two sets of fingers to take them out more quickly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When all the fingers are destroyed, Robotnik's Giant Robot will sink into the
floor. As the floor starts to collapse again, you'll see the Giant Robot
surface on the left side of the screen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: Dr. Robotnik's Giant Robot, Part 2 - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When the Giant Robot appears, the floor will start collapsing continuously from
this point. As Robotnik fires a flamethrower at you, jump to dodge it. Hit
the robot to reveal its power source - the Master Emerald! When Robotnik begins
charging up the laser cannon, hit the Emerald once and wait for the cannon to
charge up. When it does, jump up IMMEDIATELY to dodge the huge laser. If
you're playing as Sonic & Tails, Tails will copy your moves, so you can
probably hit the Master Emerald more than once during each attack sequence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Of course, Robotnik isn't going to go down that easily. As the exploding Giant
Robot leaves the screen, he grabs the Master Emerald and tries to escape.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: Dr. Robotnik's Emerald Grabber Machine - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
As Robotnik flies off, the floor will start collapsing continuously again. You
must run right and chase after Robotnik. Hold Right to keep running fast. If
you're move too slowly, you'll fall off the screen. You'll probably only be
able to hit Robotnik once each time you get near him, so be patient. If you're
playing as Sonic & Tails, you may be able to hit Robotnik more than once.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Robotnik flies off, he'll drop the Master Emerald and make his escape. The
Death Egg explodes, causing the space station's destruction. Sonic will enter
The Doomsday Zone, assuming you have collected all 7 Chaos Emeralds. If you
haven't, the game will end at this point. If you're playing as Tails, you'll
have completed the game. Congratulations!
===============================================================================
2.08 - The Doomsday Zone
===============================================================================
When the Death Egg exploded, Robotnik stole the Master Emerald while Sonic was
distracted. You can only access this zone if you have collected all seven
Chaos Emeralds. As Super Sonic, you must fly through the asteroid field to
retrieve the Master Emerald from Robotnik. Note that you lose Rings for every
second that your character is in his Super Form, so you must collect Rings to
increase your Rings gauge. Otherwise, you'll turn back into your regular
character. Consequently, you'll lose a life and have to repeat the level.
(If you're playing Sonic 3 & Knuckles, you can access this zone, even if you
have transformed the Chaos Emeralds into grey Super Emeralds. As long as 7
Emeralds are displayed on your Save File, you can play this zone. Once you've
collected all 7 Super Emeralds, you can still access this zone. The only
difference is that you'll be Hyper Sonic instead of Super Sonic. You'll also
see an extra scene before the credits as a sign of completing the objective of
restoring all of Knuckles' Emeralds back to the Floating Island.)
Upon transforming into Super Sonic in outer space, make your way through the
level while avoiding the asteroids and missiles. I haven't written a
walkthrough for this level, as it is difficult to write one, since it would be
hard to understand, in my opinion. Instead, I've written some general hints
and tips.
Try to fly up and down to collect the Rings that you see as you progress
through the level. If you remember the layout of this level, it's possible to
collect a lot of Rings. I've often managed to get 100 Rings here. If you
follow the paths of rows of Rings, you'll be able to dodge most of the
asteroids and missiles. Both asteroids and missiles can slow down your
movement, but this only lasts for a few seconds, as you can break through the
latter and destroy the former. Eventually, you'll leave the asteroid field and
catch up with Robotnik's spaceship.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: Dr. Robotnik's Spaceship - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
If you've got nearly 100 Rings, you'll have plenty of time to win this Boss
Battle. If you've got around 70 Rings, it's best to win as soon as possible.
Robotnik fires tiny projectiles and launches three missiles at you. You must
trick the missiles into hitting the upper right grey part of the spaceship.
Lead the missiles into the grey part, damaging the spaceship in the process.
The projectiles and missiles can stop you for a moment, but the latter will be
destroyed if they hit you. Use the A, B or C Buttons to speed up, so you can
lead the missiles towards the spaceship quicker.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the spaceship explodes and falls down to Mobius, Robotnik will appear in a
giant robot (not again?) and try to escape with the Master Emerald. You must
enter another asteroid field to stop the mad doctor once and for all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Final Boss: Dr. Robotnik's Giant Robot - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
This Boss will look familiar to Sonic 2 players because it is the same design
as the Final Boss from Sonic 2's Death Egg Zone. This time, however, Robotnik
will only shoot missiles and spikes at you, and he will be constantly trying to
run away from you. If you fly at your normal speed, you won't get to Robotnik
in time to defeat him, so press the A, B or C Buttons repeatedly to catch up
with him. Since you can collect Rings, this final fight is actually easier
than the previous battle. Simply charge into Robotnik to hit him. If he
launches missiles or spikes at you, ignore them. Since you're Super Sonic,
they can't hurt you. They may pull you back a little, but if you concentrate
on attacking Robotnik, this battle should be over soon enough.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the Giant Robot explodes and falls apart, Super Sonic will grab the Master
Emerald. Congratulations! You have completed Sonic & Knuckles! Now enjoy the
ending.
If you collected all 7 Chaos Emeralds, Super Sonic will bring the Master
Emerald down with him from outer space. When Super Sonic enters Mobius'
atmosphere, Tails appears in the Tornado and grabs the Master Emerald. You
turn back into regular Sonic and land on the biplane. Sonic and Tails return
to the Floating Island and leave the Master Emerald in Angel Island Zone. As
Floating Island rises into the sky, Sonic and Tails leave in their plane.
If you obtained 0-6 Chaos Emeralds, Sonic will fall from outer space, but the
Master Emerald will remain there. When Sonic enters Mobius' atmosphere, Tails
appears in the Tornado. You'll land on the biplane and return to the Floating
Island. The island remains in the sea as Sonic and Tails leave in their plane.
When you complete the game, watch the credits roll and you'll eventually see
a short scene at the end, depending on whether you collected all 7 Chaos
Emeralds. If you did, you'll see the wreckage of the Death Egg and one of
Robotnik's EggRobo Badniks emerging from it. This is the same EggRobo that
drops a bomb in Knuckles' intro scene and pilots the vehicles in his adventure.
If you didn't, you'll see Robotnik with the Master Emerald.
###############################################################################
3. Walkthrough (Knuckles)
###############################################################################
When the Title Screen appears, you'll see the Death Egg plummeting back down to
the Floating Island. As the space station lands on top of Lava Reef Zone's
volcano, Sonic and Knuckles will appear on a cliff. You can use Up or Down to
decide which character you want to play as. If you're playing as Knuckles,
read this Walkthrough.
===============================================================================
3.01 - Mushroom Hill Zone
===============================================================================
Knuckles' adventure begins with a bang, when an EggRobo (this is the same
EggRobo that emerges from the wreckage of the Death Egg at the conclusion of
Sonic's adventure) drops a bomb where Knuckles is resting with his animal
friends. As Knuckles notices the bomb, it explodes, causing the echidna to
be knocked unconscious and his friends to run away. After regaining his
senses, a furious Knuckles sees EggRobo hovering down from above and chases
after the Badnik (if you're playing Sonic 3 & Knuckles, you'll skip this scene
and begin this zone immediately).
Mushroom Hill Zone is a good training level for practicing and mastering
Knuckles' moves. Be on the lookout for badniks such as Cluckoid and Dragonfly.
The Cluckoid can blow you back in the opposite direction, while the Dragonfly
usually appears when you least expect it. If you get caught in vines, Spin
Dash to get free.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 1
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Head right and go past the Butterdroids. Run through the loop de loop and roll
down the hill. Collect the Super Shoes for a speed boost. Ignore the pulley
lift nearby and proceed right. Climb up the poles and run through the loop de
loop. Use the pulley lift above you to go up. Press Up and Down to make the
pulley lift go up and down, respectively.
Use the two mushrooms to raise Knuckles higher, so you can access the spring
above you. Bounce on it and speed through the loop de loop. Use this swing
lift to send Knuckles over to the right. Head across the vine-shaped bridge
and drop the pole at the bottom right. You'll land next to a secret passageway
containing a Giant Ring.
Exit the passageway by going right, and use the swing lift to hoist Knuckles up
to a vine-shaped bridge. Drop down and go past the Starpost. Run down the
hill and drop down again to find a pulley lift. To the right of it is a hidden
passageway containing a Giant Ring.
Exit the passageway and use the pulley lift. Run through two loop de loops.
When you nearly reach a mushroom at the top, stop running left and drop down to
the right. Continue onward to find a passageway containing a Giant Ring. When
you exit the passageway, watch out for the Dragonfly on patrol. Run down the
loop de loop and climb up the poles to find a Starpost. Go past it and head
right to meet the Mini-Boss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini-Boss Battle: Woodcutter Machine - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
The machine will throw logs at you in a vertical direction. If you have the
Fire Shield, hit it from below to destroy it. Alternatively, wait for it to
come down before jumping on top of it to attack it. Watch out for the logs it
throws at you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 2
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Go right and head down the hill. This is where Knuckles pulled a lever in
Sonic's adventure, but now you can break through the wall and continue onward.
When you see a Dragonfly, climb up the cliff beneath it. Take out the
Dragonfly and grab an Invincibility. Drop down and run through the passageway
to end up in an Autumn/Fall version of this level.
Glide back and forth to safely descend to the bottom. Break through the walls
and bounce on the hidden spring. Glide across the spikes and grab onto the
blue mushroom lift. Controlling a mushroom lift is similar to gliding. Press
Left/Right to move it.
Earlier on in the Act, when you see a pulley lift and a Madmole, drop down.
Run through the loop de loop and bounce on the hidden spring. Grab onto the
blue mushroom lift. Press Left/Right to move it. Use the pulley left and go
past the Starpost. Bounce on another spring and use the spring nearby to send
Knuckles over to the right. You'll land near a hidden passageway containing
a Giant Ring.
Use the mushroom seesaws and run through the loop de loops. Drop through the
gap nearby and use the pole to hoist Knuckles upwards. Use the spring to go up
the loop de loop and find a passageway containing a Giant Ring.
Go back up and use the pulley lift nearby. Go right and use the mushrooms to
send Knuckles up to a Super Ring and an Invincibility. Use the spring to go
over to the right. Go up the loop de loop and use another spring. When you
land near a spring and a mushroom, drop down to the left and head right to find
a hidden passageway containing a Giant Ring. Now exit the passageway and use
the seesaw to land on a spring above.
Head across the vine-shaped bridge and go past the Starpost. Use the pulley
lift and bounce on the red spring to catapult Knuckles over to the swing lift.
If you can use the springs to bounce Knuckles over to the right, you'll land
near a loop de loop. When you come across a Cluckoid, go past it to find a
hidden passageway containing a Giant Ring.
Run through the loop de loops and use the pulley lift to go upwards. Before
you do so, go past the Cluckoid and enter the hidden passageway to find a Giant
Ring. When you make it to the surface, go right and use the mushroom seesaws.
Go past the Starpost to see a satellite dish emitting signals.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: EggRobo's Speed Booster Machine - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
Jump on the satellite dish to destroy it, revealing EggRobo's machine in the
process. If you can hit him a few times, the Boss Battle will be easier to
win. When EggRobo flies off to the right, chase after him and follow him
through an obstacle course. When you are running through the obstacle course,
jump to avoid the spikes. If you keep running, you'll catch up with EggRobo.
When he switches off the boosters, you can hit him. If you have a Flame
Shield, the boosters won't hurt you, so you can attack EggRobo constantly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EggRobo's machine starts to explode, but EggRobo still isn't worried. However,
its machine soon crashes into a tree and it falls apart. When you've opened
the Prison Egg, Knuckles will look up and you'll see the Flying Battery Blimp
fly past. EggRobo flies up in his Egg Pod and enters the battleship. Knuckles
immediately jumps up and grabs onto it.
===============================================================================
3.02 - Flying Battery Zone
===============================================================================
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 1
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Go right and head through the purple cylinder. Go down the platform and head
left. Go past the flame blasters and head right. Outside the Flying Battery,
hop across the platforms and use the levers. Jump onto the ledge and go up to
re-enter the Blimp.
Go past the Starpost and make your way through the purple cylinders. Spin Dash
up the slope and position Sonic on the flame blaster. After being catapulted
upwards, go right and use the moving platforms to go over to the flame blaster.
If you open the Prison Egg, Badniks will emerge from it, so watch out.
Use the flame blaster to go upwards. Go past the mines and use the poles.
Drop down and go left. Jump over the speed boost and go past more mines. Go
down the platform and head right. Wait for the platforms to rise to avoid
getting crushed.
Go past the Starpost and press the switch. Drop down and go left. Spin Dash
up the slopes and jump on the Prison Egg. Run through the purple cylinders and
drop down. Go right and head past the Starpost. Go up the slopes and use the
moving platforms.
Jump on the Prison Egg and use the spring. Go right and wait for the missiles
to uncover an opening for you to drop through. When you drop down, run
through the purple cylinder and head past the Starpost.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini-Boss Battle: Fake Prison Egg Machine - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When you come across the machine, it will be disguised as a Prison Egg. Jump
on the plunger to reveal two spiked arms. To destroy this Mini-Boss, you make
it attack itself. Position Knuckles on the plunger and wait for one of the
spiked arms to proceed to hit you. When it does so, run off the plunger. The
machine will be hit instead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 2
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Go right and head up the purple cylinder. Jump on the springs and go past the
mines. Drop down and head through the purple cylinder. Press the switch and
go down. Head right and press another switch. Go down the whole way and head
left.
Go past the Starpost and press the switch. Go up and use the spider to go
across the purple cylinder. Run past the mines and press the switch. Drop
down and go through the purple cylinder. Go past the Starpost and press the
switch.
Go right and jump on the flame blaster to undo the cork screw. Drop down and
go past the Starpost. Press the switch and Spin Dash to avoid getting crushed.
Press two more switches and drop down. Go right and use the platforms.
Go past the mines and use the spider. Go down and press the switch. Go past
the Starpost and head left. Go up and head through the purple cylinder. Use
the moving platforms to get to the top and meet another Mini-Boss. Yes, there
are two Mini-Bosses in the Flying Battery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini-Boss Battle: Laser Machine - 0 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
EggRobo unleashes a laser machine on you. It is similar to Sonic 2's Wing
Fortress Zone Boss. This time, however, you can't destroy it. You must make
it destroy itself. Each time it fires a laser, it will damage itself and cause
the room to cave in. If you have a Lightning/Water Shield, you can hit the
machine, but it won't have any effect. Eventually, the machine will explode
and EggRobo will run off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Follow the path, and a platform will start ascending. Keep running until you
arrive at the final spikes. The platform will take you up and it'll eventually
stop rising. When it does so, EggRobo will swoop down and appear in the
centre of the screen. (Robotnik's sprite is shown, but it's really EggRobo that
you're fighting. Apparently, Sonic Team decided not to replace Robotnik's
sprite with that of EggRobo, as it may have been difficult to programme
EggRobo's sprite, since this Boss has a different sprite than all the others.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: EggRobo's Spiked Swinging Machine - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When EggRobo appears, he'll swing up and down. When he's doing this, you can
attack him. After swinging for a moment, EggRobo will move his machine
towards you. If you position Knuckles underneath it, EggRobo will fire a
flamethrower at you. When EggRobo approaches you, jump over to the opposite
side of the screen. When EggRobo starts swinging again, you can hit him. As
Knuckles, this Boss Battle will be harder, as EggRobo fires flamethrowers
continuously, so watch out. If you hit the left or right side of EggRobo,
you'll have a better chance of avoiding getting hurt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When the Prison Egg is opened, you'll automatically run right and go through a
hallway. Knuckles jumps off the battleship and lands in Sandopolis Zone.
===============================================================================
3.03 - Sandopolis Zone
===============================================================================
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 1
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
When you land in the sand, jump up. Go right and push the yellow block. Ride
it and go down the slides. Run down the slope and grab the pulley lift. Go
right and run through the loop de loop. Push the yellow block and ride it.
Use the swings and go left.
Collect the Invincibility and go up. Go past the Starpost and head down the
slides. When you land in the quicksand, jump over to the right. Push the
yellow block and ride it. Spin Dash up the slope, and use the platforms to go
up the slide. Run through the loop de loop and use the pulley lift.
Push the yellow block and ride it. Go right and then up. Use the swing and go
past the Starpost. Use the pulley lift and push the yellow block. Ride it.
When you drop down, go right and head down the slopes. Use the swings and go
left. Run through the loop de loop and go up.
Go right and use the pulley lift. Go past the Starpost and head right. You'll
see a pyramid rise from underneath the sand. When the entrance opens, the
fight with the Pyramid Guardian begins.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini-Boss Battle: Pyramid Guardian - 0 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When the Pyramid Guardian approaches you, you can hit him, but it'll have no
effect. To defeat this Mini-Boss, you must trick it into entering the
quicksand nearby. You can jump into the quicksand and wait for the Guardian
to head towards you. If you keep jumping in the quicksand, the Guardian will
jump into it, destroying the Mini-Boss in the process. Alternatively, you can
go to the right side of the screen and hit the Guardian constantly.
Eventually, the impact of your attacks will send it into the quicksand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 2
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
When you appear in the pyramid, you'll notice that it's dark and that the
ghosts have been released. Quickly, pull the lever to activate the lanterns.
Go right and pull the levers to turn on the lanturns. Head right and push the
black block to the right. Go through the opening and go up. Go left and
collect the Invincibility. Push the black block to the left and leave. Run
through the loop de loop, and you'll land on the opened Prison Egg.
Push the black block to the left and go through the opening. Press the lever
and go down the slides. When you see a swing above a particular slide, jump
onto it and go past the Starpost. (If you don't jump onto the correct slide,
you'll go down an infinite loop of slides instead. To continue through the
level, wait for Knuckles to land near the correct slide again and try to jump
onto it this time.) Push the black block to the left and go up. Push the
yellow block and ride it.
When you get through the opening, jump on the swing and use the pulley lift.
Push the black block to the right and go up the opening. Go right and run
through the loop-de-loops. Go past the Starpost and push the black block to
the right. Jump on the swing and press the lever.
Go through the opening and break the container. When the sand rises, go left
and then up. Jump on the swing and push the black block to the left. Go right
and head through the opening. Break the container and press the lever. Go
right and then left. Push the black block to the right to reveal an opening.
Go through the opening and push the black boulder to the right. Go right and
jump on the swing. Press the lever and push the black block. Jump down the
opening and go right. Jump on the swing and use the pulley lift. Go right and
press the lever.
Run through the loop de loop and go left. Use the pulley lift and head right.
Go past the Starpost and head down the slide. Run through the loop de loop and
use the spring to land on the slide. Go down the slide and run through another
loop de loop. Go right and use the lever.
When you see two moving platforms, drop down and break through the eastern
wall (you can't take Sonic's route due to Knuckles' low jump). After a while,
you'll arrive in a room where the exit is locked. If you push the black block,
it will go back to its original position too quickly for you to progress.
Fortunately, there is a container nearby. Smash it to fill the room with sand.
Push the yellow block over to the black block. When the wall rises to its
zenith, head for the exit.
Press the lever and go right. Push the black block to the right and position
Knuckles on it. Quickly glide over to the western wall and then glide right.
Break through the eastern walls and go past the exit. When you reach a
Starpost, push the black block and drop down to battle the Boss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: EggRobo's Egyptian-Themed Robot - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
When the Egyptian-Themed Robot moves towards you, EggRobo will charge up his
laser cannon and fire a small laser at you. If you stay away from the robot,
you should be able to dodge it. EggRobo will use his 2 hands to crush you,
but you can use them to climb up the robot and hit the laser cannon. The
armour of the robot will fall apart, revealing EggRobo in the process. Hit
him a few times and jump off the robot, as the armour will cover it up again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once you have opened the Prison Egg, you'll automatically head right and
Knuckles will enter Lava Reef Zone.
===============================================================================
3.04 - Lava Reef Zone
===============================================================================
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 1
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
When you arrive, go right and head past the stalitites. The moving spiked
platform can be difficult to cross, but if you Spin Dash after it rises, you
should be able to pass it. While avoiding the spiked balls, climb down the
steps. When you come across the waterfall of lava and a drilling machine, stay
on the left side of the screen.
When the ground in the centre of the screen collapses, you're supposed to drop
down and follow the southern path. Instead, you can take the northern path to
end up on Sonic's route through this Act. If you go left for a while and then
head right, you'll see that the drilling machine is gone. You can jump over to
the right and climb up the steps (avoid the flamethrowers as you do so). Press
the switch to reveal a hidden exit to the right.
Go right and press the switch. Go through the opening and make your way down
the steps. Head across the waterfall of lava and press the switch. Go through
the opening and head right. You can attack the drilling machine if you want
to, but it'll fall into the pool of lava, destroying it. The Death Egg can't
be seen in the background. It seems Robotnik repaired the space station and
launched it, but Sonic finally destroyed it.
When you land, hop across the rocks and press the switch. Climb up the steps
and Spin Dash up. Spin Dash through the boulders and use the moving spiked
platform. Go left and use another platform. Climb up the steps and press the
switch. Go through the opening and use the platform.
When the moving platform rises, jump down and head right. Spin Dash through
the boulders and go past the Starpost. Run down the slope and collect the
Flame Shield. When the ledge collapses, go down the steps and head right. Go
across the bridge and run down the black tunnel.
Go left and destroy the switch. Run through the opening and head down the
slope. Watch out for the spiked ball as you drop down the gap. Go right and
climb up the steps. Head across the waterfalls of lava. Press the switch and
go through the opening. When the lava rises, wait for it to sink before
crossing the platforms.
Go past the Starpost and Spin Dash through the boulders. Use the moving
platforms and press the switch. Go through the opening and climb up the steps.
Press the switch and run through another opening. Spin Dash through the
boulders and go down the slope. Press the switch and go through the last
opening. Head past the Starpost.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mini-Boss Battle: Hand Machine - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
Although the Mini-Boss is the Hand Machine, there are also two wheels for you
to contend with. They will fire small projectiles at you, so run back and
forth to dodge them. Each wheel takes 4 hits to destroy. If you concentrate
on destroying one wheel, you can deal with the other one during the next attack
sequence. You don't need to take the wheels out, but their attacks can be a
nuisance, so I advice doing so. When the wheels leave the screen, the
Mini-Boss will make an appearance. The hand will copy your movements in an
attempt to pound the ground and crush you. If you keep running back and forth,
you should be able to dodge it. When it pounds the ground, hit it once.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Act 2
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
When the pool of lava freezes over, go right and head across it. Press the
switch and go through the opening. Head across the blue cylinder while
avoiding the row of spikes. Dodge the Robotnik Boxes and head right to
break open a few boulders (you can't take Sonic's route due to Knuckles' low
jump). Go through the orange pipe and jump over the hidden spring.
Break through the boulders and grab a Flame Shield on the platform nearby. You
can bounce on the bottom right spring to have an easier time getting to it.
Drop down the collapsing ledges and head past the exploding rocks. When the
eastern platform moves left, jump right to continue onward.
Head across the blue cylinder while avoiding the row of spikes, but beware of
the overhead spikes. Bounce on the hidden spring to catapult Knuckles up to a
Starpost. Activate it and drop down. Press the switch and go through the
opening. Take out the 2 Toxiomisters and use the spiked platforms to descend.
Watch out for the flamethrower.
Break through the boulders and go through the pipe. Climb carefully up the
walls to avoid getting hit by the flamethrowers. When you reach a platform,
press the switch nearby to reveal an opening. Grab the Flame Shield and
activate the Starpost. Go past the Toxiomisters and spiked balls. Press the
switch and head through the opening.
Break through the boulders and go through the pipe. Head past the
flamethrowers and spiked balls. When you reach some steps, climb up them and
break through more boulders. Jump up the moving platforms and go right. Glide
over the long row of spikes. Press the switch and go through the opening.
Break through the boulders and glide over to the right. Head past the
flamethrowers and break through more boulders. The Death Egg can't be seen in
the background. Apparently, the space station crashlanded on top of the
ceiling above you, but Sonic finally destroyed it. This is where Knuckles
pushed a boulder down the steps in Sonic's adventure. As Knuckles, you only
have to continue going right to finish the level.
===============================================================================
3.05 - Hidden Palace Zone
===============================================================================
Hidden Palace Zone is a shadow of its former self in Knuckles' adventure.
Climb down the steps and use the teleporter to transport Knuckles to the Sky
Sanctuary Zone. Sonic Team probably programmed the Zone this way, since you
would battle another Knuckles if you were able to take Sonic's route.
Unfortunately, this means you can't see the Chaos Emeralds in the Emerald
Chamber as Knuckles, but you will see the Master Emerald in Sky Sanctuary Zone.
===============================================================================
3.06 - Sky Sanctuary Zone
===============================================================================
When you arrive at Sky Sanctuary Zone, you'll automatically collect 3 Rings and
see EggRobo fly towards you. It's impossible to avoid getting captured, so let
him grab you and take you over to Metal Sonic. As Metal Sonic spins towards
you, Knuckles breaks free of EggRobo's grasp, causing the Badnik's destruction
instead. Although one enemy has been destroyed, another has taken its place,
so you must defeat Metal Sonic to restore peace to the Floating Island again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boss Battle: Metal Sonic, Part 1 - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
Metal Sonic will spin around the screen and he will do two attacks. If he
charges towards you, jump to dodge the attack. If he spins towards you, learn
his pattern, so you can avoid the attack. You can only hit him when he isn't
spinning. Once you get the hang of countering Metal Sonic's attacks, this
battle should be over soon enough.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Of course, Metal Sonic isn't going to go down that easily. The robot comes
back to life and rushes towards the Master Emerald. Knuckles follows him and
witnesses Metal Sonic using the power of the Master Emerald to transform into
Super Metal Sonic.
The Floating Island can be seen in the background. It seems EggRobo stole the
Master Emerald and brought it here. This explains why Floating Island is
descending, since the Master Emerald is the source of its floating power.
Apparently, Sonic thought that he had defeated Metal Sonic, but the robot
teamed up with EggRobo, who tricked Knuckles into following him to Sky
Sanctuary Zone. It's up to Knuckles to stop Metal Sonic once and for all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Final Boss: Metal Sonic, Part 2 - 8 Hits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes and Strategy
------------------
Super Metal Sonic will fly across the screen and he will do three different
attacks. If you stay underneath Metal Sonic, he'll spin down towards you.
When you stay near the Master Emerald, he'll charge towards you or fire three
energy balls at you. If he charges, jump left to dodge the attack. If he
fires energy balls, jump to dodge them. While he's in his Super Form, Metal
Sonic is invincible.
When Super Metal Sonic fires three energy balls, he'll turn back into regular
Metal Sonic. This is your chance to attack. However, once he jumps onto the
Master Emerald and becomes his Super Form, he'll be invincible again. It's
possible to score 4 hits against Metal Sonic before he lands on the Master
Emerald. While he's recharging or spinning, you can't hit him. After six
hits, Super Metal Sonic will not return to the Master Emerald for recharging.
Instead, he will float across the screen while shooting rings in eight
directions. You can then only hit him when he turns back into regular Metal
Sonic for a few seconds. Hit him twice to win the final fight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Metal Sonic explodes, Sky Sanctuary Zone is destroyed. Congratulations! You
have completed Sonic & Knuckles! Now enjoy the ending. As long as you don't
get a Time Over, you'll be able to return to the Floating Island, regardless of
how far it descended.
If you collected all 7 Chaos Emeralds, Knuckles will appear on Sonic's biplane,
holding the Master Emerald. Sonic and Knuckles return to the Floating Island.
As the island rises higher into the sky, Sonic leaves in his plane. If you
obtained 0-6 Chaos Emeralds, an exhausted Knuckles will appear on Sonic's
biplane, but he won't have the Master Emerald. Sonic and Knuckles return to
the Floating Island. The island descends into the sea as Sonic leaves in his
plane.
When you complete the game, watch the credits roll and you'll eventually see
a short scene at the end, depending on whether you collected all 7 Chaos
Emeralds. If you did, you'll see a view of outer space where Knuckles faces
the screen in front of the Sonic & Knuckles logo. If you didn't, you'll see a
short-circuiting Metal Sonic with the Master Emerald. He somehow repaired
himself, despite exploding to pieces. The robot comes back to life and jumps
onto the Master Emerald, but nothing happens. This ending proves that Metal
Sonic is still alive, allowing him to return in future games.
###############################################################################
4. Giant Ring Locations (Sonic)
###############################################################################
This section lists the locations of the Giant Rings in Sonic & Knuckles. I've
listed at least 1 Giant Ring for nearly each Act in every Zone (Sandopolis Zone
is the exception). Since you can't save your progress in Sonic & Knuckles
alone, it is much harder to collect the Chaos Emeralds than in Sonic 3.
Therefore, I advice trying to collect them in the earlier levels. If you're
playing this game for the first time, I advice concentrating on beating the
game on your first play through, as finding the Giant Rings can be quite
difficult.
===============================================================================
MUSHROOM HILL ZONE
===============================================================================
Mushroom Hill Zone has the largest number of Giant Rings in this game. If you
can find them all, you may be able to collect all 7 Chaos Emeralds in this
Zone, assuming that you can complete the Sp