Knuckles' Chaotix: Part 1: Introduction & Tutorial
14The final 2D Sonic platformer to be released for a Genesis family member. In this case, the only one released for the Sega 32X. This game also shares some staff with both Sonic CD and Ristar.
I start this on February 2nd, 2024, the 30th Anniversary of Sonic 3, and as such, the 30th Anniversary of Knuckles the Echidna. I want to finally play in the only game he was ever the main lead of...
...which, ironically, isn't even this game as the game itself only calls itself "Chaotix", referring to the rest of the characters featured alongside Knuckles. They are:
- Espio the Chameleon: A chameleon that can running along walls and celings and spins like a top instead of in a ball. Also an expert ninja.
- Charmy Bee: A swift hyper bee and the smaller member of the cast.
- Vector the Crocodile: The really lanky crocodile and self-proclaimed leader of Chaotix who loves music and, surprisingly in the Japanese version of this game, sees the setting the heroes are in as a possible miracle of God.
- Mighty the Armadillo: An armadillo who is said to have strength equal to or even greater than Knuckles'. He also happens to be one of Sonic's oldest friends.
Speaking of whom, Sonic isn't playable in this game, just like both of the games Tails led (Skypatrol & Adventures). Mighty makes up for this while having some of his own perks.
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The story of this game varies between American and Japanese regions. I'll mostly summarize the Japanese version:
Having survived from his own failure at the end of Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnix discovered a mysterious island, and then found an ancient Ring. There were six of these Rings which had power similar to that of the Chaos Emeralds and Master Emerald.
Thus, they were known as the Chaos Rings. Eggman decided to use his know-how to try and gather the Chaos Rings so he can regain the Master Emerald after losing it to his grand battle in space against Sonic. Eggman built a new base known as Newtrogic High Zone to help in his scheme, and also summoned on of his greatest robots, Metal Sonic, to capture any possible threats.
Mighty the Armadillo, Espio the Chameleon, Vector the Crocodile, and Charmy Bee arrived at the island after being drawn to is mysterious appearance, and were subsequently captured by Eggman & Metal Sonic to be frozen into their Combi Catcher.
Thus... the story begins when Knuckles the Echidna also eventually reaches the mysterious, now-corrupted island...
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When you start a new file in this game, you'll only have Knuckles on you, but this will only last for a few seconds.
Knuckles quickly runs into Eggman, who then flees, leaving behind Espio trapped in a Combi Catcher. He is freed shortly afterwards, and the two decide to go save the rest of their friends and stop Eggman as the mad doctor is carried away by Metal Sonic.
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The main deal with this game is how it controls:
You have one character to lead a team and a partner to follow them. They are bound together by special Elastic Rings. Much of your speed and movement in this game is dependent on how you use both characters to sling both characters around.
To emphasize this, the Spin Dash seems to be much weaker in this game.
I first go through a tutorial that shows off how this work, including other actions such as picking up your partner or throwing them.
You can either try yourself through this tutorial or skip it entirely. Then you get to play through the rest of the location Knuckles rescued Espio in, which is called Isolated Island Zone.