Sonic 3 and Knuckles

Sonic 3 and Knuckles - the third and fourth parts of the series are combined into one platformer, and now the story about the blue hedgehog is played without interruptions. There are fourteen levels, bonus stages are added to them, where rings and medallions are collected in separate labyrinths. There are three heroes: Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. A fast hedgehog runs and accelerates, a fox flies and picks up its partner, an echidna glides through the air and breaks through walls. Everyone goes through the same zone with their own route, and this changes the feeling of familiar stages. The levels are connected to each other without loading screens: the hero falls into a pipe and emerges in the next zone, which was unusual for those years. Chaos Emeralds are collected by level, and a complete set of them unlocks superforms with enhanced abilities. Shields provide additional skills: one protects from fire, another allows you to breathe under water, and the third turns into lightning. The levels end with battles with Eggman, and between zones there are videos explaining where the Death Egg station went. Saves allow you to continue from the same point, which was rare for platformers of those years. Competitive time trials and small item challenges add reasons to return to completed areas. There are many secrets in the stages: some of the moves can only be opened by Knuckles, and some can only be opened in super form. The music changes as you move through the location, emphasizing the transition from one part to another. For those players who want to go through the classics in their entirety and see how the two parts come together into one story.