Sonic 3 & Knuckles
 

Sonic HQ / Gaming Info / The Games List / Sonic 3 & Knuckles - Sega Genesis, Sega Megadrive

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  • Title: Sonic The Hedgehog
  • US Release Date: June 23, 1991
  • Japan: ???
  • Europe: ???
  • System Console: Sega Genesis/Megadrive
  • Genre: 2D Platformer
  • Cart Size: 4 megabits
  • First Appearances: Sonic The Hedgehog, Doctor Robotnik, Badniks, Scrap Brain


    • Anchor Links
      Story | Zone Menu | Level Select & Debug Codes
    Codes | Cheats | Tricks | Game Genie Codes     		 
     

    Other Sonic 3 & Knuckles Sections
      Challenges and Replay Enhancers | Time Attack Records
    Top Scores For Each Act | Badnik Profiles | Moves & Items
    Box | Screen Shots | Magazine Scans | Comic Adaptation
    S3 Music | S&K Music | S&K Collection Music | Reviews
    Original Sonic 3 Page | Original Sonic & Knuckles Page     		 
     

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    Even though called Sonic 3 this is the fourth installment in his series of Sega Genesis games. This game was released on February 2, 1994, "Hedgehog" Day. The zones in this game may only be 2 acts, but the acts were twice as big as the ones in Sonic 2. Therefore there was a lot more to discover in this game. Just realize that if you're locking on Sonic and Knuckles you'll be heading over ground not mentioned in here sometimes. Doctor Robotnik has returned but this time he's not alone....this time he's brought Knuckles The Echidna and rebuilt his greatest invention - The Death Egg!!! Enjoy!

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    Released on October 14, 1994, Sonic and Knuckles was a revolutionary game because it was the first (and only game so far) containing Lock On Technology, which gave it the ability to hook up to other games. In this case, you could plug Sonic 2 or 3 into the top of the Sonic and Knuckles cartridge to play as Knuckles in those games. It boosted Sonic 3 even farther, Knuckles traveled over new ground in some zones and now there were 14 emeralds. Because of there being 14, you could now access Hyper Sonic, Hyper Knuckles, and Super Tails. You can also stick Sonic and Knuckles in the Genesis and play it on its own. The zones are about the same size as the ones in Sonic 3, and most of them have 2 acts. Some only have 1. Like Sonic 3, there is a boss in every act, except for Hidden Palace Zone.


    Sky Sanctuary Zone


    Title Remix

  • Story

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    Whatever happened to the Death Egg after Sonic 2? After getting knocked out of the sky along with his entire Death Egg ship, Dr. Robotnik crash-landed on a mysterious Floating Island where he quickly meets Knuckles the Echidna, last of a lost civilization and guardian of the Floating Island - as well as a giant emerald better known as the mysterious "Master Emerald". The Eggman dupes Knuckles into thinking that Sonic and Tails are the bad guys, and learns that a giant Master Emerald keeps the island afloat. If he could get this Master Emerald, there would be no need for regular chaos emeralds as he would have a new source of Death Egg fuel - Forever! And while Knuckles is doing the rounds with Sonic and Tails, the Doc should have plenty of time to repair his Death Egg, as well as search for this Master Emerald.....

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    After knocking Robotnik's recently re-launched Death Egg back outta the sky before it even left the atmosphere, the explosion sent Sonic and Tails back down onto Floating Island. They landed deep in the Mushroom Hills, while the Death Egg crash-landed on the top of Floating Island's largest volcano. Now there is no choice: Robotnik needs the Master Emerald to get his Death Egg back up and running, and Sonic knows it.

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    While Sonic and Tails are off galavanting around the Floating Island, someone else is busy making sure they don't get thier hands on the master Emerald - his name is Knuckles and right now he doesn't realise he's being duped by Doctor Robotnik! Knuckles, a bit peeved with all the trouble by this point, decides it's time to stop taking names and start handing out punishments. Little does he know that even though he won't be battling Robotnik - he'll face a foe just as deadly! Follow Knux as he makes Sonic's life a living pain as youre introduced to the secret passages on the Isle unnaccessible by Sonic as well as later on chasing the mysterious "Eggbot" that is trying to do away with you....

    Now it's a mad three-sided race to the Master Emerald, and there can only be one victor....

  • Zone Menu

  • Angel Island Zone
  • Hydrocity Zone
  • Marble Garden Zone
  • Carnival Night Zone
  • Ice Cap Zone
  • Launch Base Zone
  • Mushroom Hill Zone (Original Name - Mushroom Valley Zone)
  • Flying Battery Zone
  • Sandopolis Zone
  • Lava Reef Zone
  • Hidden Palace Zone
  • Sky Sanctuary Zone
  • Death Egg Zone
  • Doomsday Zone

  • Special Zone
  • Glowing Spheres Special Stage
  • Slot Machine Bonus Stage
  • Gumball Machine Bonus Stage

  • Azure Lake Zone - Time Attack
  • Balloon Park Zone - Time Attack
  • Chrome Gadget Zone - Time Attack
  • Desert Palace Zone - Time Attack
  • Endless Mine Zone - Time Attack

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    Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic 2

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    Secret Special Zone Game
    (Lock-On With Sonic 1, Sonic Spinball, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, Ecco 2, or Dynamite Headdy)

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  • Level Select / Debug (Different For Each Version)
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  • Level Select / Sound Test (Sonic 3 & Knuckles, or Sonic & Knuckles Alone):
    • Start Mushroom Hill or Angel Island. For Angel Island grab a vine - For Mushroom Hill grab a Pull-Up machine. (An easy one to find is in Sonic and Tails' version of Act 1. It's just after the box with the power sneakers and the Madmole.) Hang from the vine/machine and press left left left, right right right, up up up. You should hear a ring sound. Pause the game and press A to reset to the title screen.
  • Construction / Debug Mode (Sonic 3 & Knuckles):
    • To activate Debug, siply do the Level Select code in both Angel Island and Mushroom Hill.
    Debug is not quite the same as it was in the previous Sonic games. You still press B to use Debug, A to place items, and C to cycle between items. However, when Debug isn't being use, the game timer is not messed up, and pressing A will cause gravity to reverse like it does in Death Egg Zone Act 2.
  • Level Select / Sound Test (Sonic 3):
    • When the Sega logo comes up, just after the "Sega" theme is sung and the screen begins to turn black, quickly press: Up, Up, Down, Down, Up, Up, Up, Up to the beat of the drums. You should hear a ring chime if you did it correctly. A new Sound Test option should appear at the title screen.
    The Flying Battery, Mushroom Hill, and Sandopolis Zones are visible on the Level Select screen, but can't be played without Lock-On. Those levels were originally intended for Sonic 3, but were pulled in order to release the game on time.
  • Construction / Debug Mode (Sonic 3):
    • Enter the Level Select code, then press A + Start to choose your starting level. Once the action starts, press B to change into an item, A to cycle between the available items, and C to place an item.
    Alternatively, turn on the Genesis and press Up, Up, Down, Down, Up, Up Up before Sonic gets fully on screen.
  • Sonic 2 -> Sonic 3 Cheat (Sonic 3 - duh):
    • If you can't do the super-tough Level Select code for Sonic 3, there is an alternative.
    (WARNING: I'm not sure if this code is healthy for your Genesis or not, but it is not representative of recommended use, so I strongly recommend that you do not use it. Keep trying the regular Level Select code, or just do the much easier Sonic 3 & Knuckles Level Select instead.)
    Insert Sonic 2 and enter the Sonic 2 Level Select (play sounds 19, 65, 09, and 17). Return to the title screen, hold A and press Start. To transfer this to Sonic 3, hold A and carefully remove the cartridge without turning off the Genesis. Insert Sonic 3 and press Reset. Finally, release A and press Down twice at the main menu.

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  • [an error occurred while processing this directive] Easy Emeralds / Superness:
    • To gain all the chaos emeralds, enter the Level Select code, then highlight "Special Stage" and press C + Start. After receiving the emerald, press A + Start and repeat the process until you have them all.
    Alternatively, enter the Sound Test code and play sounds 2, 4, 5, 6 in order. If you did it correctly, the Emerald sound will play.
  • Nightime Play:
    • Enter the Level Select code, then press C + Start to choose your starting level.
  • The Missing Special Stage:
    • Access a special stage not found with Sonic and Knuckles!!!!!! For an all new bonus stage, enable Level Select, then play tune 1F. Finally, highlight stage 2 and hold A while pressing Start.
  • Bonus Boards Unlimited:
    • Enter the Level Select code, then highlight the "2P Vs" option and press START. You will enter a series of bonus stages that last until you reset the system or press A+START.
  • Special Controls - Escape, Slow Motion, Frame Advance:
    • After the Level Select / Sound Test Code has been entered, pause in any level. Press A to escape to the game's title screen, B to advance several frames ahead in time (repeatedly for slow-motion), or C to advance one frame ahead in time.
  • Animation Gallery:
    • After the Construction / Debug Mode Code has been entered, enter a level, and press B while holding C. Your character will start cycling very quickly through every animation he has. Use the Pause-C "frame skip" to see every frame of every animation. There are several that were not used in the final game, including Sonic whistling and Sonic falling asleep.

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  • Cheats
    • [an error occurred while processing this directive] Unlimited Rings and Unlimited Super/Hyper:
    Enter Debug Mode then select a stage. Choose the monitor as your item. Place one (Ity will have an "S" on it) and collect it to get 50 rings and become Super. You can do this as many times as you want, meaning that you have unlimited rings and can remain Super as long as you want.
  • Extra Lives At The Launch Base:
    • To do this trick you must get to the first level of the Launch Base Zone. Set off the first alarm, stop Sonic in the middle of it, and do a Spin-Dash attack. The flybots will continue to attack, and eventually their value will increase to 10,000 points! Every five flybots will gain you a life and, if you're patient enough, you can earn up to 99 lives!
  • Extra Rings For Tails:
    • Enter Debug Mode then select a stage. Next press B, A (you must have Sonic and Tails on-screen.) When your cursor changes into a ring, paste it on Tails.
  • Super Shortcut In The Balloon Park:
    • Go to Competition and select Balloon Park. Instead of going forward, fall down backward to land on a yellow balloon. Hold LEFT, You should walk on the ceiling. You will disappear and keep going until you win!
  • Turbo Tails !!!!! (Sonic 3 Only):
    • Enable Level Select, then press Down to make sure you have the sound test (don't select it yet). Start a one-player game and choose Tails in the Data Select screen. When the timer appears, press RESET.

    Enter the Sound Test menu and choose any zone. Hold A and press Start. You should be Tails and be in debug mode. From here press B, then press A until you see a item monitor. Press C to select it, then press B to return to Tails.

    To enable Turbo Tails, jump on the box. Tails will look weird and can not be hurt or lose any rings. He can still get squashed and drowned, though, so be careful in the Ice Cap zone. You will have do this at the beginning of each zone. Robotnik can hurt him at the very end of Launch Base zone-act 2.

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  • Tricks
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  • Changing Identities:
    • Use the debug mode cheat. Start any level that has a special stage ring. Next turn into your favorite object. As an object go to the center of a ring. Now hit B twice quickly. When you get out of the special stage you will look like that object for the rest of the level.
  • Battle Music In the Hydrocity Zone:
    • Just before Before you fight Robotnik in the Hydrocity Zone, act 2, the boss music will come. Keep Sonic's head under the shallow water until he is about to drown, then pop out of the water. You will hear the boss music from Sonic and Knuckles.
  • Mecha Sonic and Mecha Tails:
    • Use the Debug Mode code in Launch Base act 2. Beat the game. When Sonic or Tails jumps towards you, activate Debug Mode and get out of it immediately. You will be able to use Sonic or Tails in the background for a short time, but they will look like robots.
  • Black and Blue Knuckles:
    • (Submitted by Rob Trappen)
    In debug get to Carnival Night act 2. Get to where knuckles hits the lever and activates the anti-gravity tubes. Get in and out of debug quickly. As soon as Knux hits the lever and starts to run, go after him and outrun him. Go back to where he was, he should have a odd blue body and a black face. If he isn't there go back to the tube and he'll reappear. Repeat the process.
  • Random Start:
    • Enter the sound test menu choose a level. Look for a star post, touch it and hold A and press START. Then choose another level. If done correctly the title of the zone will change. Beware you might start out in a wall so use debug mode to fly out.
  • Super Super Zone Shortcut:
    • (Submitted by Rob Trappen)
    In debug go to any zone except sandopolis. Change into a sprite and go as far back as possible. Get out of debug. You should start flying super fast (Get back into debug because who knows where you'll end up); Just enjoy the ride.
  • Fake Act:
    • (Submitted by Rob Trappen)
    (This does not work in Ice Cap 1 but it will send you to act 2 and won't work in Mushroom Hill, Flying Battery, Sandopolis, Lava Reef, Hidden Palace, Sky Sanctuary, or Angel Island)
    Go to the bottom of the screen in debug. You should see a ceiling the background, and some black (in some zones you may have to travel under near the boss area). Go right to the end of the screen and press up until you enter a small replica of the act (to get out use debug and try to move left at all times.)

  • Game Genie

    • Sonic 3 Only

    AA6T-AAXC Level select
    AWHA-CA92 Don't lose rings
    SCGT-DJYL Rings worth 2
    SCGT-DNYL Rings worth 3
    SCGT-DTYL Rings worth 4
    SCGT-DYYL Rings worth 5
    SCGT-D2YL Rings worth 6
    SCGT-D6YL Rings worth 7
    SCGT-DAYL Rings worth 8
    KRGT-CAE0 75 Rings needed for a free guy
    GLGT-CAE0 50 Rings needed for a free guy
    D4GT-CAE0 30 Rings needed for a free guy
    CWGT-CAE0 20 Rings needed for a free guy
    BLGT-CAE0 10 Rings needed for a free guy
    HCGT-DJZY Get 2 free guys for 100 rings instead of 1
    HCGT-DNZY Get 3 free guys for 100 rings
    HCGT-DTZY Get 4 free guys for 100 rings
    HCGT-DYZY Get 5 free guys for 100 rings
    HCGT-D2ZY Get 6 free guys for 100 rings
    HCGT-D6ZY Get 7 free guys for 100 rings
    HCGT-DAZY Get 8 free guys for 100 rings
    AC5A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 0
    A05A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 5 instead of 10
    B85A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 15
    CW5A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 20
    DG5A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 25
    D45A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 30
    GL5A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 50
    NW5A-CAHN Super ring powerup worth 100 (1-Up every time
    AJZA-CA8N Super Sonic doesn't lose rings
    AJ3A-CA7A Infinite lives
    AG4T-AAH4 Start with 1 life
    AL4T-AAH4 Start with 2 lives
    A04T-AAH4 Start with 5 lives
    BL4T-AAH4 Start with 10 lives
    DG4T-AAH4 Start with 25 lives
    GL4T-AAH4 Start with 50 lives
    NR4T-AAH4 Start with 99 lives
    ACAT-CAB6 Shield can be activated multiple times
    AJRT-CA8R Invincibility power-ups last forever
    986A-CAB6 Invincibility lasts almost twice as long
    KR6A-CAB6 Invincibility lasts half as long
    E06A-CAB6 Invincibility lasts 1/4 as long
    SCFT-BJT4 Only need 6 chaos emeralds
    SCFT-BNT4 Only need 4 chaos emeralds
    SCFT-BTT4 Only need 3 chaos emeralds
    SCFT-B2T4 Only need 2 chaos emeralds
    SCGA-BL0N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 2
    SCGA-BR0N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 3
    SCGA-BW0N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 4
    SCGA-B00N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 5
    SCGA-B40N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 6
    SCGA-B80N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 7
    SCGA-BC0N + A4GA-A28T Blue spheres worth 8
    ACGA-AA8T 1 Blue sphere needed for chaos emerald
    TAYA-CRB6 Bonus jump
    AAYA-CWB6 Super jump
    AAYA-C0B6 Mega-jump
    ATST-CA38 Never drown (must switch off for some spring-pad jumps)