Between Sonic 1, 2, and 3, 3&K which one stands out the most?

[Turbo Kid]

they kind of are though. lol

We are still waiting on that supercut version that combines the two that Tarantino will never give us. I heard a rumor once that a combined version he did was shown in a certain theater, but only a few people were allowed to go see it.

I feel like Vol 1 and 2 both feel very different so they feel like separate movies to me. Vol 1 is very action heavy, vol 2 is very dialog driven.

 

[petran79]

Sonic 1 but the SMS version

 

[Miles Miles]

Sonic 1 but the SMS version

Why the SMS version?

 

[petran79]

Why the SMS version?

It does things better than the Mega Drive version. I remember watching my cousin play it and get the good ending and I thought that game was as good as Mario 3 and more difficult too (I had an NES)

 

[Miles Miles]

It does things better than the Mega Drive version. I remember watching my cousin play it and get the good ending and I thought that game was as good as Mario 3 and more difficult too (I had an NES)

What does the SMS version do better?

 

[TinRattler]

Toss up between 1&2

 

[petran79]

What does the SMS version do better?

better level design and variety allowing greater flow without traps
also gem stones have to be located inside the level instead of bonus stages and even then SMS has better bonus stages
also better music
It is a respected opinion among Sonic fans
Same for Castle of Illusion

Sonic 2 on the other hand is better on the md

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Nobody talks about Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2 as one movie because they weren't released that way.

I think Back to the Future is seen as a trilogy even if 2&3 weren't planned from start.

Sonic 3&K is two parts of the same story.

 

[Deleted member 257420]

Whichever one lets me fuck that thieving bat

 

[Miles Miles]

better level design and variety allowing greater flow without traps
also gem stones have to be located inside the level instead of bonus stages and even then SMS has better bonus stages
also better music
It is a respected opinion among Sonic fans
Same for Castle of Illusion

Sonic 2 on the other hand is better on the md

Hard disagree. The Mega Drive version is WAY better in every way except for the special stages.

 

[petran79]

Hard disagree. The Mega Drive version is WAY better in every way except for the special stages.

SMS version is definitely harder if you want to get the good ending, since you have to find all the gem stones. It requires to search the levels rather thoroughly instead of breezing through.
MD version was more of a tech demo of the capabilities of the machine, while improvements came with Sonic 2. By that time, developers knew how to take better advantage of the SMS hardware, hence Sonic 1 there is more polished.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Sonic 2 as an improvement over the first was a massive upgrade.

It also added many stapples such as the spin dash, the two acts levels, the 7 Chaos Emeralds with Super Sonic and even Robotnik having a ship as well as the Death Egg which we still witness in many different entries in the franchise (the Death Egg wasn't back until Sonic 4 Episode 2 and Generations but the Ark was indeed a reference to it).

Spoiler

Sonic 3&K had Flying Battery, Adventure had the Egg Carrier, Heroes had the Egg Fleet with Final Fortress, Shadow had Sky Troops, Unleashed's introduction had spaceships, Colours had Starlight Carnival and so on.

Sonic 3&K has improved upon but I understand why Sonic 2 made a great impression (especially when Sonic 3 came out at the tail end of the 16-bits gen so most people were turned to 3D).

 

[Miles Miles]

SMS version is definitely harder if you want to get the good ending, since you have to find all the gem stones. It requires to search the levels rather thoroughly instead of breezing through.
MD version was more of a tech demo of the capabilities of the machine, while improvements came with Sonic 2. By that time, developers knew how to take better advantage of the SMS hardware, hence Sonic 1 there is more polished.

Sonic 1 on the SMS is NOT more polished.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Someday I'll try the 8-bits Sonic games.

Should I do the 1 and 2 on the SMS rather than the GG?

 

[Miles Miles]

Someday I'll try the 8-bits Sonic games.

Should I do the 1 and 2 on the SMS rather than the GG?

The SMS versions are far superior since you can see a lot more. The 8-bit games aren't anywhere near as good as their 16-bit counterparts, but they're still worth a try.

 

[petran79]

Sonic 1 on the SMS is NOT more polished.

they are different games basically and sonic 1 is one of the best games of the system. For an 8bit platformer it is polished.
Like some prefer SMB3 to SMW

 

[Tetronomicon]

Common answer so far but I'd have to say Sonic 3 & Knuckles (Sonic 3 Complete). Considering it's effectively a ROM hack of what Sega originally planned for the game, it kinda just feels right overall.

Personally, I think it's the only platformer of (effectively) that era which could truly go toe to to with Super Mario World 2 and the Donkey Kong Country trilogy.

Sonic 1 but the SMS version

Even though I personally think Sonic the Hedgehog is better than Sonic SMS, I still like the SMS version more myself. Though much like the enhanced port that Sonic 3 & Knuckles is, I like using the Sonic 1 Improvement ROM hack for Sonic SMS when I do play it (https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/983/).

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Personally, I think it's the only platformer of (effectively) that era which could truly go toe to to with Super Mario World 2 and the Donkey Kong Country trilogy.

Don't forget about Kirby Superstar.

 

[DrunkGecko]

sonic 1 is my favorite
and it stands out to me the most because of all the various art styles
green hill, marble, and spring yard look nothing alike

 

[Anoobis]

Sonic 2 for me. I remember that Christmas morning like it was yesterday.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

I think I've enjoyed Sonic 2 more with the remaster by Taxman which finally allowed Tails to fly and improved greatly on the Special Stages with real 3D.

Sonic 2 having no proper save system when Mario World that came out before had one (or at least a restart at the beginning of Act 1 of a level with 0 points) is quite baffling. I could understand for Sonic 1 since it was arguably shorter and easier. At least it should've had at least a password system of some kind so you could still start in the middle of the game (or one for each thirds).

Playing with Sonic & Tails is not optimal as you'll need more rings in Special Stages and he cannot even carry you and Tails alone is straight up useless since he cannot fly and doesn't turn into Super anyway.

 

[Yousef Yousef]

Well Sonic 3&K quite literally had McDonald’s market for it, so it probably got the most word of mouth out of all the MG classics at the time, not to mention it’s the sole game with lock-on built in mind, making it quite literally one of a kind. its nice they made it retroactively work with Sonic 2 too, shame about Sonic 1’s sprite palettes though.

 

[Sonic Boomer]

For me, growing up I loved Sonic 1, 2 and 3 equally
but when Knuckles released I was a bit disappointed with the level selection.
The first zone was amazing, but then we had that flying battery zone which I didn't like much due to the IMO overuse of bottomless pits and most of the game's levels were pretty underwhelming.

One thing to note tho is that because bootleg copies were sold in my country at the time I had a bootleg cart that you couldn't connect to Sonic 3, I wouldn't learn that you were supposed to connect them together until a few years later when I got the original.

Still even to this day when I play Sonic 3 I play it on its own, there's just something special and unique about Sonic 3, the invincibility and super sonic music, the slight differences I love 3 as is.

I do play S&K and S3&K too just not as often

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Sonic & Knuckles not having a save system was not the brightest idea.

On the other hand Lava Reef was such a vibe for a 16-bits platform level. Hidden Palace itself unveiled some lore too.

Flying Battery is good if you know where to go. Mania's version is a bit too long for its own good.