Knuckles' Chaotix

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' is a 1995 platform game developed and published by Sega for the 32X. A spin-off from the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series, it features Knuckles the Echidna and four other characters known as the Chaotix, who must prevent Doctor Robotnik and Metal Sonic from obtaining six magic rings and conquering a mysterious island. The gameplay is similar to previous ''Sonic'' games: players complete levels while collecting rings and defeating enemies. ''Knuckles' Chaotix'' introduces a partner system whereby the player is connected to another character via a tether; the tether behaves like a rubber band and must be used to maneuver the characters.

While Sonic Team is sometimes credited with creating ''Knuckles' Chaotix'', it was developed by another Sega team. Production began with ''Sonic Crackers'', a 1994 prototype for the Sega Genesis which experimented with the tethering system and featured Sonic and Tails. ''Knuckles' Chaotix'' was planned as a ''Sonic'' game for the Sega Saturn, but transitioned to the 32X when it could not be completed in time. Sonic and Tails were replaced by Knuckles and a group of mostly pre-existing characters; Mighty the Armadillo first appeared in the arcade game '' SegaSonic the Hedgehog'' (1993).

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' was released in North America and Japan in April 1995, and in Europe in June 1995. It received mixed contemporary reviews and failed commercially. Reviewers found the tethering physics cumbersome, although some appreciated it as an attempt to innovate. The level design and low difficulty level were also criticized. Journalists have described ''Knuckles' Chaotix'' as the last of the "classic" 2D ''Sonic'' games before the series moved to 3D. Some characters and concepts it introduced feature in later ''Sonic'' games and media, beginning with ''Sonic Heroes'' in 2003. Despite interest from fans, it has not been rereleased beyond a brief period through GameTap in the mid-2000s.

Gameplay

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' is a side-scrolling platform game similar to earlier entries in the ''Sonic'' series. Unlike other ''Sonic'' games, players are tethered to a computer or human-controlled partner; the tether behaves like a rubber band and must be properly handled to maneuver through stages. There are five playable characters, each with their own unique abilities. Knuckles the Echidna can glide and climb walls; Mighty the Armadillo can perform a wall jump; Espio the Chameleon can run along walls and ceilings; Vector the Crocodile can boost through the air and climb walls; and Charmy Bee can fly and hover. There are two other partner characters, Heavy the Robot and Bomb, who hinder players' progress due to their slow or destructive nature, respectively. The story takes place on a mysterious island and follows the group's efforts to stop Doctor Robotnik and Metal Sonic from harnessing the power of the island's mythical Chaos Rings to satisfy their evil deeds.

The game takes place over six levels called attractions. Each attraction is divided into five acts; the fifth ends in a boss fight with Robotnik and one of his large robots. Each act has a different time of day decor, such as morning, noon, evening, and night. Like earlier ''Sonic'' games, players collect rings, jump to perform a spin attack to defeat enemies, and can perform a spin dash on the ground to gain speed. Power-ups include rings, shields, and speed shoes. The partner system enables players to perform actions not seen in earlier ''Sonic'' games. Players can call their partner if they are separated, which reunites them with the main character but costs 10 rings, or throw their partner to reach far platforms. If the partner is computer-controlled, the player can stop and anchor the partner to perform special moves such as "snapping" to a higher ledge or thrusting to gain speed.

Before entering a stage, the player begins in a hub world where they choose a partner and level. Bonus stages are hidden throughout attractions, and can also be triggered by obtaining 20 or more rings and finding one of the giant golden rings hidden away in each level. In the bonus levels, the player is free-falling and picks up power-ups. Special stages are reached by finishing a level with 50 or more rings. In these stages, the player collects blue spheres in a forward-scrolling platformer to earn a Chaos Ring. Collecting all Chaos Rings unlocks the "good" ending, in which Sonic and Tails are seen with the Chaotix, who have freed the island from Robotnik.

Development

Although Sonic Team is sometimes credited for developing ''Knuckles' Chaotix'', it was developed by another internal Sega team, including staff who had worked on '' Sonic CD'' (1993). Development began around April 1994 for the Sega Genesis as an engine test, with the working title ''Sonic Crackers''. The prototype featured Sonic and Tails joined by an elastic band of energy; the name likely comes from clackers, a toy comprising two balls connected by string. According to the journalist Ken Horowitz, ''Sonic Crackers'' was most likely a ROM made to demonstrate new concepts to management. Some ideas were used in '' Sonic 3D Blast'' (1996), while the level design, tethering, and some music resurfaced in ''Knuckles' Chaotix''.

Sega eventually moved development to the Genesis' more powerful 32X add-on. According to Horowitz, this was because the 16-bit era of consoles was coming to an end. Former Sega of America CEO Tom Kalinske recalled that ''Knuckles' Chaotix'' was once intended for the Genesis' successor, the Sega Saturn, as a mainline ''Sonic'' game. According to Kalinske, development moved to the 32X when it became clear that the game would not be ready for the Saturn launch; Kalinske said it was "too big, it was taking too long, it was over budgeted, it was behind schedule". Because Sega needed new 32X games, Sega decided to downsize the game and introduce it quickly on 32X.

By December 1994, Sonic and Tails had been removed and the game had been reworked to star Knuckles the Echidna, who had been introduced in ''Sonic the Hedgehog 3'' (1994). The project had the working title ''Knuckles' Ringstar''. The game also adds the characters Mighty the Armadillo, Vector the Crocodile, Espio the Chameleon and Charmy Bee. Mighty had appeared in the arcade game '' SegaSonic the Hedgehog'' (1993); many of Sonic's animations from ''Crackers'' were repurposed for Mighty. Vector the Crocodile was created for the original ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' (1991) but scrapped before release, and Charmy Bee originally appeared in the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' manga. ''Sonic'' co-creator Naoto Ohshima said he was responsible for repurposing Vector and Charmy, but otherwise had no involvement with ''Knuckles' Chaotix''.

Espio was the only original character, designed by manga artist Takumi Miyake. A leaked prototype lists Espio as the featured character on the title screen instead of Knuckles, suggesting he once featured more prominently, possibly in a starring role. The 32X's processing power allowed for dynamic sprite-scaling effects, and 3D polygons in the special stages. A complex palette system allowed each level to load unique colors. The music was composed by Junko Shiratsu and Mariko Nanba.

Release

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' was released in North America in April 1995, in Japan on April 21, 1995, and in Europe in June 23, 1995. According to Horowitz, the game was rushed to help boost sluggish 32X sales. It quickly faded into obscurity, and is now considered a valuable collector's item due to the 32X's commercial failure. The only rerelease came in 2005, when ''Knuckles' Chaotix'' was briefly made available for Mac OS X and Windows computers via the subscription service GameTap.

The ''Sonic Crackers'' prototype ROM was leaked online by a Belgian hacking group in June 1995 and can be played with emulators. A cartridge version was auctioned for $146.50 in 2001. While some fans speculated that the ''Sonic Crackers'' ROM was an April Fools' Day hoax, its authenticity has been corroborated by multiple sources, including references in an internal Sega design document and text found in a later ''Knuckles' Chaotix'' prototype.

Reception

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' received mixed reviews, and failed commercially, as did the 32X.

The game's presentation divided critics. The four reviewers of ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (''EGM'') praised its graphics and believed the game was one of the best for the 32X, and ''GameFan'' considered ''Knuckles' Chaotix'' the best entry in the franchise since '' Sonic the Hedgehog 2'' (1992). On the other hand, a reviewer from '' Next Generation'' found the graphics garish, and felt that the game made "unimpressive attempts to show off". ''GamePro'', ''Game Players'', and ''IGN'' believed the game failed to push the 32X to its limits, citing the lack of graphical effects and Genesis-quality audio, though ''IGN'' felt some elements, such as several musical tracks, were highlights. In 2008, ''GamesRadar'' wrote that ''Knuckles' Chaotix'' was the best game for the 32X and was underrated, though it still considered the game a "wasted opportunity".

The "rubber band" multiplayer system was criticized, despite being acknowledged as an effort to innovate. Though ''IGN'' admired the attempt to "breathe life into a series that was running out of steam" and fix the lopsided multiplayer of ''Sonic 2'' and '' Sonic 3'' (1994), whereby Tails would get lost off-screen, they felt the physics were "clunky" and unorthodox. ''EGM'' felt the system was original, but slowed down the gameplay, as did ''GamesRadar''. ''Next Generation'' felt the bond was tiring and not truly innovative, and ''GamePro'' called it ''Knuckles' Chaotix''s biggest flaw, finding it frustrating and choppy. The reviewer also found that the bond complicated gameplay and compared it to being handcuffed.

The level design and low difficulty were also criticized. ''GamePro'' wrote that the levels, while fairly large, were not populated with enough enemies or secrets, a sentiment echoed by ''IGN'' and ''Mean Machines Sega''. ''IGN'' considered the boss design simplistic and the level design bland and seemingly unfinished, and ''Mean Machines Sega'' thought that, without enemies, "this is just not half the game it could have been". ''Game Players'' criticized the game's lack of replay value, saying the game's simplicity made secrets in levels impossible to miss. However, ''IGN'', ''GameFan'', and ''EGM'' praised the number of playable characters, and ''IGN'' felt the game's "marvelous" fully 3D special stages were the best of the ''Sonic'' series.

''IGN'' described ''Knuckles' Chaotix'' as "a bad game with a good foundation", and in another article, concluded that it was interesting, if flawed. ''EGM'' felt it was the best for the 32X but failed to live up to previous games in the ''Sonic'' series. ''Game Players'' found it a major disappointment, saying "other than a few color-enhanced backgrounds, you're gonna wonder why this isn't a Genesis title". Some journalists have referred to ''Knuckles' Chaotix'' as the series' declining point, and ''AllGame'' and ''Complex'' both wrote that it was among the worst games in the series.

Legacy

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' is considered the last of the "classic" ''Sonic'' games before the 3D game ''Sonic Adventure'' (1998) took the series in new gameplay directions. Several of its concepts were re-used in later ''Sonic'' games. A similar partner system features in the Game Boy Advance game '' Sonic Advance 3'' (2004), and ''IGN'' noted similarities between the game's auto-running special stages and '' Sonic and the Secret Rings'' (2007). Two tracks from ''Knuckles' Chaotix'', "Tube Panic" and "Door Into Summer", appear in ''Sonic Generations'' (2011). The "Hyper Ring" power-up re-appeared in '' Sonic Mania'' (2017) and a recreation of ''Knuckles' Chaotix''s final boss fight was added in a 2018 update.

With the exception of Mighty, all Chaotix members have become recurring characters in the ''Sonic'' series. The characters initially did not reappear until ''Sonic Heroes'' in 2003. Director Takashi Iizuka said that Sonic Team revived the Chaotix because the studio thought they were unique and had never used them. Iizuka considers the ''Heroes'' version of the characters different from the 32X one, claiming to have created new characters simply using the same designs. The group had storylines in the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' comic series produced by Archie Comics and '' Sonic the Comic'' by Fleetway Publications, as well as in the anime series ''Sonic X''. While ''Game Informer'' considered the Chaotix to be among the best characters of the franchise and are underutilized, ''GamesRadar'' considered the introduction of the Chaotix a negative turning point for the series as it "diluted the ''Sonic''-verse by introducing tons of shitty characters". James Stephanie Sterling felt that all the Chaotix lacked redeeming qualities, calling Vector "Idiot the Crocodile" and Espio "Generic Brooder the Chameleon". They singled out Charmy for particular ridicule, feeling he was annoying and noting his high-pitched voice. Mighty would eventually return as a playable character in ''Sonic Mania Plus'' in 2018.

In 2011, Sega noted fans frequently requested ''Knuckles' Chaotix'' as a game desired to be rereleased. '' 1UP.com'' and ''GameSpy'' expressed disappointment the 2005 compilation '' Sonic Gems Collection'' did not include the game. In 2010, Sonic Team head Iizuka expressed interest in developing a sequel. Also expressing interest was Christian Whitehead, the developer of the mobile versions of ''Sonic CD'', ''Sonic the Hedgehog'', and ''Sonic the Hedgehog 2'', saying in 2014 that he would be open to remaking ''Knuckles' Chaotix'' using the Retro Engine.

Notes

References

External links

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' on GameTap
(Archived at the Wayback Machine)

''Chaotix''
on Sonic Retro

''Knuckles' Chaotix''
on MobyGames

{{Portal bar, Video games, 1990s

1995 video games
Sega video games
32X games
Sega 32X-only games
Video games set in amusement parks
Cooperative video games
Side-scrolling platformers
Sonic the Hedgehog spinoff games
Video games scored by Mariko Nanba
Video games developed in Japan
Multiplayer and single-player video games