Sonic the Hedgehog
A fast hedgehog who uses jumping, rolling, and the Spin Dash to cross the zones and oppose Dr. Eggman.
Documented for this version
Which controls does this version use?
Actions
D-pad | Move left or right; press Up or Down to navigate slopes and passages. |
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A | Jump; in the air, perform a Spin Attack. B and C also perform the standard jump on Genesis. |
B | Jump; in the air, perform a Spin Attack. |
C | Jump; in the air, perform a Spin Attack. |
DownA/B/C | Charge and release the Spin Dash while standing. The button must be held while Down is pressed, then released to launch. |
Start | Pause the game. |
Combos and sequences
DownA/B/Crelease | Spin Dash Hold Down and a jump button while stationary, then release the button. |
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Control notes
Knuckles can glide by jumping and pressing a direction in the air.
Knuckles can climb after grabbing a climbable wall.
How it plays
How does Sonic & Knuckles play?
The game is a side-scrolling platformer viewed from the side. Players move through multi-act zones, collect Rings, defeat enemies, activate checkpoints, and reach the goal before confronting zone bosses.
Sonic uses speed, jumping, rolling, and the Spin Dash. Knuckles follows different routes by gliding across gaps and climbing certain walls. Special Stages award Chaos Emeralds, while bonus areas provide additional rewards. The standalone cartridge includes Sonic and Knuckles campaigns; lock-on play can add connected Sonic 3 content and additional playable characters.
Plan your run
What is the best way to play Sonic & Knuckles?
Explore before rushing forward: branching paths often hide Rings, shields, extra lives, and entrances to Special Stages.
- Use the Spin Dash to build speed safely and attack ground enemies.
- As Knuckles, check climbable walls and glide across gaps for alternate routes.
- Preserve Rings before boss encounters, and use checkpoints to reduce the cost of mistakes.
- Learn boss patterns rather than attacking recklessly; most encounters have clear openings.
Meet the cast
Who are the key characters?
Knuckles the Echidna
The guardian of the Master Emerald. He can glide and climb walls, opening routes unavailable to Sonic.
Dr. Eggman
The principal antagonist, who seeks the Master Emerald and deploys machines and enemies throughout the island.
Documented inputs
What cheats and unlocks are documented?
Use specific lock-on combinations from the title screenConnecting compatible cartridges unlocks altered content, characters, and stage variations.
Collect all Chaos EmeraldsUnlocks related ending content and bonus rewards.
Before you begin
What should you know before playing?
- 1
Collect 50 Rings and pass a checkpoint to access a Starpost bonus opportunity.
- 2
The Special Stages are important for collecting Chaos Emeralds and pursuing the best endings.
- 3
Lock-on compatibility changes the available content; use only cartridges officially supported by the hardware.
Community discussion
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