Remember when Sonic and Knuckles first dropped on the Sega Genesis? That cartridge lock-on gimmick blew my mind as a kid—stacking it on top of Sonic 3 to play as Knuckles in the full game? Absolute wizardry for 1994.

This one’s all about momentum. You’ve got those classic loop-de-loops and corkscrew ramps, but now with Knuckles’ gliding and wall-climbing to mix things up. First time I tried his glide off a cliff, I totally faceplanted into a spike pit. Took a few runs to get the hang of it.

The levels feel meatier than Sonic 2, with more alternate paths and hidden areas—especially in the later zones where the screen tilts sideways or upside down. Still holds up if you’re into that old-school precision platforming. Just don’t get me started on the barrel in Carnival Night Zone.