Episode 542: Sonic 3 & Knuckles Pt. 2 (Patreon)

Stuart: I like Sonic 3 & Knuckles. I’m sure this is clear to you if your ears have experienced the first senses-shattering episode of this not-so-mini-series, in which myself (Stuart Gipp), Seumidh MacDonald (ShayMay), and Dave Bulmer (Dave Bulmer) talk and talk and bloody talk about this outstanding Mega Drive classic. Here, we move on from Hydrocity (pronounced Hydro City, do not start with me) to Marble Garden; perhaps the low point of the Sonic 3 portion of the game? You’ll have to listen to find out.

Clearly, this isn’t going to be a short series, but I do hope you’ll think the insight, the discussion makes it worthwhile. Sonic 3 & Knuckles is a big deal to us and I want you, the listener, to understand the depth of the thing and just what makes it so gosh darn special to so many people. It’s my full intention to give the same treatment to other games in this often-spectacular series, though nothing is going to experience quite as much analysis as the beloved S3K. By all means sound off in the comments if you have any thoughts; it’s a conversation, you see.

Art by Salem Sloane, edits by Greg Leahy.

• 09:58 - Sonic 3D Blast (Saturn): Rusty Ruins Zone, Act 1
• 18:38 - Marble Garden Zone, Act 1
• 26:51 - Marble Garden Zone, Act 2
• 32:57 - Carnival Night Zone, Act 1
• 41:08 - Carnival Night Zone, Act 1 (Prototype ver.)
• 52:04 - Sonic Frontiers: Theme of Starfall Islands
• 1:05:22 - Act 1 Boss
• 1:16:03 - Sonic Triple Trouble 16-bit: Nack the Weasel/Fang the Sniper (Boss) | Ice Cap Zone Act 1
• 1:24:27 - Ice Cap Zone, Act 1 (Prototype ver.)
• 1:34:40 - Ice Cap Zone, Act 2
• 1:45:50 - Freedom Planet: Battle Glacier 1
• Closing - Bonus Stage: Slot Machine