Knuckles The Echidna To Return In Lock-On Form To Sonic The Hedgehog 2 On Switch

I'd rather see newer titles instead of the billionth Sanic port, thanks Sega.

Rather see them solve the Sonic 3 music issues to be honest.

@Jimez I didn't know there were music issues. Is the music just bad quality or...?

@Kalmaro I believe it's an issue with the rights to the soundtrack getting in the way of re-releases. Michael Jackson's estate is meant to own them I understand.

I may have got this completely wrong however.

On a separate note how depressing is it to see the phrase "For those too young to remember" not applying to oneself?

Sonic 3 & Knuckles might never see the daylight, though.

This Sega Ages line is truly pointless, about two years in and they're avoiding their best titles (Daytona USA, Crazy Taxi, Shinobi 3, Streets of Rage 1-3, Golden Axe, Ristar, Gunstar Heroes) for unknown reasons.

It's almost as bad as NES/SNES Online lineup.

@RupeeClock Adding on to what you've said, Sega hasn't officially rereleased Sonic 3 & Knuckles since 2011's Steam Port, and in recent years, Sonic & Knuckles has also stopped being included in releases.

Another interesting tidbit is that Carnival Night, Ice Cap, and Launch Base Zones all had different music in the PC release of the Sonic & Knuckles Collection. This has become much more notable in the last few months because a Beta of Sonic 3 was found with a date just a few months before release, with the PC Collection Music for those 3 Zones. It was speculated that this was changed because of Jackson for the PC Release, but the Beta turns that theory on it's head and instead suggests that these were the original songs Sega made before Jackson's Involvement. It certainly has raised more questions than the community has answers for at the moment.

Will buy this when it’s released, but Puyo Puyo 2 is the next release in Japan (that will be 4 versions of this game on Switch)

Not wanting to sound like a preacher, but if people don’t buy the existing Ages releases, we won’t get any more after what’s already been announced (I know it shouldn’t be like that, but pessimistically I think that’s how it will be)
I am hoping for a lot more Ages releases

Interesting. Given this won't be thee taxman remake, which brings much needed improvements (wide-screen support is SO useful for Sonic games in particular) adding knuckles lock on may be the only thing thst gets my attention

Did sega ages sonic 1 have the lock on blue sphere game? I remember playing that for ages on sonic mega collection. Sounds sad but that (mini) game is like crack when you get into it

I thought it was weird how during the boss music in sonic 3 it sounded like Michaels trademark whooos could be heard. It's also strange how you don't see his name anywhere in the credits and it doesn't seem entirely clear if he was involved or not in the music of the game. If he was that's kinda awesome though! I always liked his stuff!

I don't think MJ's contribution is to blame for several reasons:

• The contribution is uncredited and the musician can't claim anything because he passed away and his children know less than us (did they even exist in the 90s?). Besides, he always denied Sonic 3 while alive because of the 16-bit sound.
• There is an alternative soundtrack as stated earlier and it's probably the original one so Sega could always use that.
• Sonic 3 is currently available for purchase on Xbox One (backwards compatibility), Xbox 360 and Steam.

I have no idea why Sega doesn't release a new version for the current-generation consoles but, in my opinion, Sonic 3 & Knuckles is the best Sonic game and much better than Sonic Mania.

The very first game I bought for my Switch Lite (just got it for christmas) was Sega Ages : Phantasy Star. It's not a remake, it's the same good old game ,but with quality of life improvements. For example : a map !!! It seems not much of an addition, but believe me, for this game, it makes quite a difference.
On 3DS I bought every single M2 port. Their 3D versions of Sonic and Street of Rage are still, in my opinion, the best versions possible of those classics.

I love M2 and their work. Damn, must buy Virtua Racing, btw.

@Bobobiwan I am disappointed that the Switch version of Sonic is 4:3, WTF?

@BlueOcean
Yeah Sonic 3 was always my favorite too! Never got why some prefer 2. It's great sure but 3 with knuckles was the best of all!

Remember when they were talking about bringing Dreamcast games to this line? Yeah.......

@RupeeClock did you read the article???it will be included with sonic 2 lol

@BlueOcean MJ’s collaborators also had a hand in the music like Brad Buxer. So there are numerous authors that probably have to be licensed from

I honestly can't think of too many dreamcast games i would want. All the best ones were also on gamecube except nights and shenmue which was recently re released anyway.

@Zeldafan79 I agree. Sonic 2 is fun and sweet but Sonic 3 & Knuckles is better.

There are some Sega classics including Dreamcast games on Xbox One: Nights, Shenmue 1 & 2, Panzer Dragoon, Crazy Taxi, Daytona USA, Sonic CD, Fighting Vipers, Alex Kidd, Monster World, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe...

yawn… wake me up when they do lock-on technology in a PHYSICAL release! i want a tall stack of plastic sticking out of the cartridge slot

@Ooccoo_Jr you are correct. mj did the soundtrack

@Swifthom that version has Knuckles as a playable character anyways

@dartmonkey Fun subtitle.

I already have it on my Hacked Genesis Mini, I am good lol.

Why do they even bother,we already have a perfect port of Sonic 2,port the Whitehead version,add the drop dash and that's it.Why work so hard on an inferior port.SEGA ain't making any sense🤦🏾‍♂️

@Isaix agree! Feel like they are making life hard for themselves. I want the hidden palace level!

@Isaix @Alexface The worst thing though is that the Switch version of Sonic is 4:3!

@RupeeClock I came here to point you in the direction of the Whitehead version of Sonic 2, but based on your most recent comment it seems you are already aware of it. If that's true, then why did you say including Knuckles in Sonic 2 sets a new precedent? Whitehead already did it several years ago.

Well, a nice inclusion, but I'm still waiting to know what feature that wasn't previously possible on Mega Drive for this game, according to M2 long ago, will be included.

Here: https://www.sonicstadium.org/2018/11/sega-ages-sonic-2-could-include-originally-cut-features/

@rushiosan

Well they did do virtua racing so that's a start.

I'd love to see Daytona and the VF series. Don't care about Crazy Taxi.

@fadedcolors

And instead we get the usual rehashed garbage that's available on dozens of other platforms.
And then Sega dares to wonder why the Ages line isn't doing so hot.

@sword_9mm

I'd love to see anything that is NOT a Megadrive port or 80's arcade game.
Sega as usual is ignoring all their 90's titles.

@Jimez YES. And at that, provide the FULL Sonic3+Knuckles game too!

@rushiosan You buy the Sega Collection for those

@RupeeClock Funnily enough, there was a beta/prototype of Sonic 3 on the Mega Drive that used completely different music; the same music was used on the PC port in 1998/1999, proving Sega at one time considered using it in the MD/Genesis port as well.

Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be3B-_ZrGu8&list=PLcBhxfLWCap5FC1No7mCk4iwgVy9GR23K&index=11&t=0s

Good we are getting close to Sonic 3 and Knuckles, Sega finally realize that lock-on features for these games exist. Hopefully we get Sonic 3 and Knuckles by Sonic's 30th birthday.

Not much love for Sonic 3 as of late.

They should just jump back into the console space and make a new Dreamcast with updated games like the switch is doing with the Wii u games.

I love Whitehead's version and have it on mobile, but my guess is that porting it to Sega Ages would go against the point of Ages, which is to provide the classic games we remembered with minimal changes. Additionally it would cost Sega more money to license Whitehead's engine and also commission him to do more compatibility / bug fixing work, so those are more reasons why Sega have likely decided against letting us enjoy the best version of S2 on Switch

Just give me Power Drift in the Sega Ages line and I'll be happy.

i only like sonic 3 with knuckles in it the music rock also pls for the love of add debug mode in there

@rushiosan Pretty sad when the Xbone has all those games you mentioned for ages now thanks to the backwards compatible xbox 360 feature

@RupeeClock Would be more interesting if M2 just put back in the original tracks from the recent beta/PC version that would make it appear new compared to the past Sonic 3 ports we gotten in the last console gens

It's nice not having to have an extra game to play as Knuckles in Sonic 2 for a change, although I imagine many people will get that game on Switch too when it inevitably comes out. I'm not too surprised though. Columns II on Switch also contained the first Columns game, albeit missing some minor features from the Genesis game.

What I would also like to see is Mario and company in some of the Sonic games. Yeah, I saw the Dorkly videos. They don't prove anything!!

This gives me hope that they'll finally do a M2 port of Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

@Isaix You do realize that Sega doesn't own that version right so they had no reason to use it. The hack job on that one was done and own by Christian Whitehead so for Sega to port it to another platform means Sega needs permission from Whitehead to do so. The same could apply to Whitehead as well, though Whitehead made that enhance version, the game is still using a Sega IP so Whitehead can't just port it to another platform either. It requires both party and a good deal for it to happen and using it means Sega had to pay Whitehead for it, instead of losing money they rather enhance their own version with M2 instead. If this sounds like a big issue to you then realize now why Nintendo never like the idea of acquiring fan made game like this to begin with.

I vaguely remember that. That's cool they are adding it.

@retro_player_22 Well if they have to pay Whitehead....why not do so,I'm sure SEGA can afford it,they did for Sonic CD back on the PS3/360 era.

It'd be like if Nintendo port Wind Waker and Twilight Princess on Switch,but instead of releasing the HD versions from the Wii U they ported the GC versions,it wouldn't make any sense. As a fan I don't care about SEGA's legal issues,I just want the best versions possible of the game and if they don't give me that version I don't have any reason to get this Sonic 2,I already have it on Gamecube in the Mega Collection.

The last two Sega Ages games were really underwhelming choices for me, I would love to see this next.

For those that want to know about the music. The story ultimately has nothing to do with regards to Michael Jackson. M.J. was involved making music for the game at one point. But it’s believed he left the game because he didn’t like the sound quality that came from the mega drive, and didn’t want to be associated with something that diminished the value of his art.

However Jackson’s producer, Brad Buxer was in a band called The Jetzons. In the last decade a previously unreleased song called “hard times” was released. Another band member Bruce Connole is credited with writing the song, and he should of been credited when ice cap zone was created. Hence the legal problems that now exist with Sega releasing sonic 3

@Isaix I agree.

This is exactly what I would expect from an AGES release and I’m so glad they’re going to deliver. Mark my words, this will be my first AGES purchase. I am hoping so bad that we get a 3 & Knuckles someday :/ that right there is absolute PERFECTION.

@speedyboris i would kill to see Power Drift!!! Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

@Lemon500 Interesting, but do you have a source for that?

@mlj11

Here’s an interview with Brad Buxer on the subject http://info.sonicretro.org/Brad_Buxer_Interview_(Black_%26_White,_November/December_2009)

This YouTube video gives a summary of it https://youtu.be/_Uko0fCp86c

@Lemon500 Thanks, Buxer's interview doesn't appear to mention this Connole at all. Additionally, the idea that S3 isn't being released anymore due to legal issues stemming from somebody not being credited is speculative at best, as there's no hard evidence of this, just another third party's allegation.

Could we have this feature added to the 3DS version, too? If not, oh well, there's always "Sonic Mega Collection."

@ChromaticDracula ...except for Sandopolis Zone, Act 2. That act is pure sadism!

@Kalmaro Legal issues POSSIBLY with Michael Jackson's estate, since he was involved in the composition of the soundtrack, at some point during the game's development. There are also several other composers who could be the reason for the legal tie-up (someone else already mentioned long-time Jackson collaborator and keyboardist Brad Buxer, who composed the game's Ice Cap theme song). Aside from a few, no one is even certain who composed what songs anymore. But really the tie-up could be about anything.

@KitsuneNight Well good news a new sonic game is coming out next year that is apparently linked to Sonic Mania and Sonic Forces...

@ShankyMcSpanky

...that's good news ?

@KitsuneNight What do you mean?Of course it is.A new sonic game would be awesome

@ShankyMcSpanky
Considering Sonic's track run that's debatable.

Also I am a Sega fan. I don't care much for sonic or platformers as a whole .