I recently learned that people view Knuckles Story from S3&K as happening after the Sonic & Tails campaign. I am flabbergasted. I've always believed that the Knuckles campaign happens alongside that of Sonic, we just get to know it from a different perspective. Is there any official word on this?
I'm not sure if you're joking or not? It's after. Well, actually, no official word, and apparently we can't infer things, just homicidal birds.
No, really. It's been years since I've played as Knuckles, but aren't You fighting Sonic in hidden palace in his campaign? Also it didn't make any sense to me, why Knuckles would fight an EggRobo. I always thought, that Eggman send it, so Knuckles doesn't realize he is the bad guy.
Obnoxiously snide comments aside, getting the true ending in Sonic's story has the Egg Robo from Knuckles' campaign rise from a heap of scrap after the credits. Furthermore, playing as Knuckles in Angel Island changes the background so the ocean is no longer visible, showing that Angel Island is in the air so the Death Egg must have been removed (which is why Knuckles doesn't go to the Death Egg - it has already been destroyed in Sonic's story). Also, if Knuckles' story was to be concurrent with Sonic's, then I'm sure he'd have some pointed questions as to why he's being harassed by a robot that looks suspiciously similar to Eggman.
It's confirmed in Sonic Jam Official Guide: https://info.sonicretro.org/index.php?title=File:SonicJamOfficialGuide_Book_JP.pdf&page=96 Much of the in-game evidence has been mentioned, but to recap: * A surviving Egg Robo appears as a post-credits scene in Super Sonic's ending: http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/genesis/b/s&k.htm * Mecha Sonic doesn't explode at the end of Sonic's Sky Sanctuary Zone, he sparks but is still intact. * Some background changes in Knuckles game: Angel Island Zone's ocean is replaced by sky, the Death Egg isn't visible in Launch Base Zone or Lava Reef Zone. * The ghosts have already been freed from the capsule in Sandopolis Zone. * Angel Island is in the sky (but falling) in Knuckles' Sky Sanctuary Zone. In Sonic's story Angel Island is in the ocean, at first due to the impact of the Death Egg and later because Eggman steals the Master Emerald. * In Knuckles' story, Mecha Sonic steals the Master Emerald. After Knuckles defeats Mecha Sonic, Sonic flies by in the Tornado and saves Knuckles. These events couldn't possibly happen concurrently with Sonic's story.
Yet Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I's official summary on the SEGA website had them happen at the same time.
The back of the Sonic & Knuckles EU/US box also implies they happen at the same time. But, much like the Sonic 4 website, it was probably written by someone who wasn't involved with the in-game story and probably just making guesses about what was going on.
Those two sources are quite plainly wrong. Given the state of Angel Island in Knuckles' story, it can't possibly take place at the same time as Sonic's. Hell, there's more ground to say it takes place before Sonic's story, but that is dashed by the ending of Knuckles' story with him clearly being on good terms with Sonic. The single most primary source, the game itself, shows that Knuckles' story has to take place after Sonic's.
Actually, I think I was confusing the S&K box with the US manual story. Here is the US manual story: The last time Sonic and Robotnik went head-to-head, Sonic blasted Robotnik's Death Egg to smithereens. The explosion heaved Sonic deep into Floating Island's Mushroom Hills! Sonic knows that many emeralds, including the Master Emerald, are hidden somewhere on Floating Island. He bets this Knuckles character knows where they are! 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! Now Sonic's got two problems. How to protect the Master Emerald? And how to keep Knuckles off his back? He'll have to deal with that wild Echidna right away! Knuckles has problems, too. As guardian of Floating Island and all the emeralds, Knuckles has a mission: to wage war on all invaders. Whoever threw that bomb is in DEEP trouble. Knuckles is ready with tricks, traps, and bare-fisted attacks to keep Floating Island safe. Sonic's not taking any chances. Neither is Knuckles! But while they're going the rounds with each other, who's stopping Dr. Robotnik? Could this be the end of Floating Island? The writer clearly seems to just be making guesses based on the opening cut scene in Knuckles's story, and obviously hadn't played the game in full.
I'd say "Making guesses without playing the game in full" describes SoA's original relationship with Sonic Funny how fans get the games more right than them.
Thanks for pointing these things out guys, I was clearly wrong. Live and Learn I guess I certainly should get Sonic Origins and replay all the classics, my memory of them is too fuzzy.
The Encyclo-speed-ia says Knuckles' story takes place after Sonic's adventure. His peaceful return to the status quo is interrupted by an Eggrobo bombing raid. Knuckles gives chase, leading to a final confrontation with Mecha Sonic for the fate of the Master Emerald and the teetering Angel Island.
If people wanted to confirm this, but can't read Japanese or figure out what to translate, it's the opening line of the first text box below where it says, "Playing as Knuckles." It states, 「ナックルズの物語、ソニックが去ってからのお話。」. It means, "Knuckles' story, the tale of after Sonic leaves." You can paste it in whatever translator to confirm but that's the gist. BTW, can anyone with more JP experience tell me the reason they wrote it like that? Is it similar to saying it dramatically like, "Knuckles' story...(DRAMATIC PAUSE)... what happened after Sonic left," or just one of those differences between spoken and written Japanese? Edit: Was just going through that manual for the first time. I find it very funny that Sega JP consistently points out that Sonic Spinball was made by foreigners lol. Extra edit: I meant guide not manual. I clicked onto the Guide's page later and was thinking it was a rip-off just lifting things from the manual... should have read Pengi's post more carefully. Though tbf, as I was looking through it initially, I was surprised how robust a "manual" it was lol.
Oh yea SoJ was prob like "we don't want people thinking this trash was made by us" so in with the "MADE IN THE USA" branding for Spinball
Yeah, it's amusing when games developed/published by Japanese companies don't get released domestically. If something was made by a foreign subsidiary or a western 3rd party developer, there's like a 1/4 chance they'll actually bring it out in Japan. It's like how some celebrities will do commercials abroad because they don't give a damn about their image there. "Yeah, just let those gaijin have Sonic Rivals and Sega Superstars Tennis. They'll eat this crap up." - (Not trying to bash Superstars Tennis - I think it's supposed to be quite good and I plan on buying it) If only that level of quality-control prevailed globally :') Edit: And yes, I know 99% of these decision are based on actual financial reasoning and not some, "Revere the Emperor, expel the kusoge" mentality... but we did get Revenge of Shinobi on the GBA and they did not.
Is Rivals bad? That's one of the ones I never got to. It might be one of the most-overlooked games in the series by fans, I hardly ever see mention of it.
I liked it but I was 11 and just excited to have a Sonic game for PSP. Never replayed it and I can't remember anything, so that should answer that.
