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[SonicMegaDrive]

If you'll recall, it was 11 years ago on February 2, 1994, that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was released in North America for the Sega Genesis. Sega dubbed the day 'Hedgehog Day' to stir up hype for thier much-anticipated title. While it was not the runaway success the previous 2 Sonics were, Sonic 3 did introduce many new elements to the Sonic kingdom. The zones were much larger, there was much more variety in the gameplay, they implemented a new save feature, and they introduced a new character - Knuckles the Echidna!

Now a regular in the Sonic games, it's hard to imagine a time when Knuckles wasn't a part of the cast. At first, Knuckles was more of a nemesis for Sonic, and wasn't yet playable in this game(not until the following October's release of the title, 'Sonic & Knuckles', of course). Knuckles became an instant favorite of Fans of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, almost surpassing the series' star, Sonic himself. Knuckles eventually became so popular, he was actually given his own game on the failed 32X console, 'Knuckles Chaotix'. Nowadays, Knuckles can be seen alongside Sonic and Tails in the latest of Sega's Sonic offerings, 'Sonic Heroes'. Undoubtebly, he'll be featured in this fall's upcoming Gamecube Sonic title as well. It's hard to believe it's been 11 years already.

Happy 11th birthday, you ugly, red bastard!

 

[belgurdo]

I'd like to see an action-oriented all-Knuckles (and Rouge) game, if only to placate the whiners who can't handle the non-Sonic parts of the 3D games

 

[speedpop]

Did I ever tell you that echidna's rule?

Any animal that can survive a freakin' hot arse Australian bush fire by burying itself in the ground right in the thick of things deserves my respect.

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

True! Echidnas are also the last surviving monotremes. This is a special classification for mammals that lay eggs. The only other monotreme was, obviously, the now-extinct platypus.

 

[Suerte]

Aaaah, those were the days. I wish I still felt like that toward games.

 

[D-X]

I remember the rumours about a Knuckles rpg just after SA1 was released. We got Sonic Shuffle instead.

 

[MIMIC]

He represents Republicans.

I don't like him anymore.

 

[D-X]

The only other monotreme was, obviously, the now-extinct platypus.

Platypus extinct? Since when?

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

A Knuckles RPG?

I don't know. Knuckles Chaotix was pretty neat, but a story based around Knuckles doesn't sound too intriguing. At least, it isn't if you've read any of his solo tales in the North American comic books.

Wow.

Knuckles is kind of like Marvel Comic's The Punisher. Or Venom from Spider-Man. He's really cool in small doses, but he should never cross that fine line to the point where he's over-exposed.

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

Say, you're right about the platypus! They're almost gone, but a choice few have been seen in the wild as recently as the year 2000 in Australia. Most notably in areas of Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

 

[Saturnman]

Sonic 3 also introduced the concept of an incomplete game.


- split screen play seriously scaled back.
- less zones.
- knuckles unplayable in the main game, he would only magically be 8 months later in the other half of Sonic 3.


P.S. I still like Sonic 3 for the most part. I was just very disappointed in it.

 

[D-X]

I never understood how archie let that artist continue drawing echidnas as if they've just come off the rack

 

[Jotaro]

Yes a Knuckles-only game, sounds good. A game where you have to backtrack endlessly and spend dozens of frustrating hours, while listening to inanely nagging music, to get all of these damn emeralds. :lol

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

Yeah, I never understood associating Knuckles with Rap music.

If anything he listens to salsa. :lol

 

[Jotaro]

Yeah, I never understood associating Knuckles with Rap music.

If anything he listens to salsa. :lol

Did you played the Halloween stage in Sonic Adventure 2 featuring Knuckles? Oh my god that was a crappy stage! :lol

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

Yeah, the Knuckles levels weren't very well-designed(I think I spent over 15 minutes on that level the first time I played it ). I can see what they were going for, but it's obvious that they paid more attention to designing the Sonic and Tails stages. The Knuckles levels seemed more like an afterthought.

 

[D-X]

Yeah, I never understood associating Knuckles with Rap music.

If anything he listens to salsa. :lol

Knuckles is assocaited with rap cos people make comparisons between his spines and dreadlocks. Apparently he was to have a Jamaican accent in SA1 luckily that was dropped or he would've spoken like Tom from Shenmue.

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

Actually, Knuckles did have a Jamaican accent in Sonic 3 and in Sonic and Knuckles, or at least that's what character profiles and official strategy guides would have you believe. I think along the way, probably right before Sonic Adventure 1, Sega just said, "Ah, screw it. Just leave everything the way it was in the Japanese version." They did away with a lot of the 'western' Sonic stuff, too. Like, Dr. Robotnik became Dr. Eggman again, and they did away with the concept of Mobius.

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

 

[belgurdo]

Actually, Knuckles did have a Jamaican accent in Sonic 3

Yeah, it was very obvious as to what they were going for with Knuckles early on (the Rasta-colored shoes and the whole "fight to retain my cultural identity" thing are also dead giveaways) but they seemed to shy away from all that after SA1. Wonder why.

 

[Saturnman]

Yeah, it was very obvious as to what they were going for with Knuckles early on (the Rasta-colored shoes and the whole "fight to retain my cultural identity" thing are also dead giveaways) but they seemed to shy away from all that after SA1. Wonder why.

Because it didn't fit with the Inca/Maya/Aztec theme.

Some of it was already in S & K with Knuckles in his ancient ruins.

 

[demon]

"Well it's Hedgehog Day......again......."

 

[Jotaro]

I think I spent over 15 minutes on that level the first time I played it

I spent 4 hours on that stage. Fortunately Dreamcast controllers are made strong.

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about Dreamcast discs.

 

[Jotaro]

Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about Dreamcast discs.

Come to think of it, I think I still have my original bogus Sonic Adventure GD-Rom from launch day that always froze! :lol

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

Ah, yes. The infamous faulty lauch software.

I bought my copy of Sonic Adventure a bit later. It's got that glaring 'Greatest Hits' tag on the box, though.

 

[Jotaro]

My spleen wants a spacegoat. I'm gonna smack this disc up on the floor! :lol

 

[belgurdo]

I spent 4 hours on that stage.

Hopefully not on the emeralds part, since the stage is easy once you realize that the game rarely places the emeralds in the middle of the board. It just takes forever to fly the length of the stage

The 100 rings mission, though...

 

[Jotaro]

Hopefully not on the emeralds part

Yes. It was all the camera's fault! :lol