History VideoGame / KnucklesChaotix

TheOneWhere Knuckles [[ADayInTheSpotlight took the spotlight]]. Kind of. He had to share it with that one armadillo from the arcade game and three new characters who would become official [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes eight years from then]].

TheOneWith two different stories depending on the version and Knuckles as a playable character.

* ExcusePlot: While there are large discrepancies between the English and Japanese plots, they¡re both centered on the same problem -- the Doctor is invading the island using Ring Power for an evil purpose, and it's up to Knuckles and company to stop him!

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' (simply known as ''Chaotix'' in Japanese) is a GaidenGame in the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise released for the UsefulNotes/Sega32X in 1995. It's the only Sonic game to appear on that system. Though mostly forgotten, the soundtrack has endured even amongst non-fans of the series, most notably the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-axPO7pwgg "Door Into Summer"]] track. If you're a connoisseur of retro game [=OSTs=], you've probably been linked to that theme at least once. ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' uses a rearrangement of the song for one of its menus.

* ComicBookAdaptation: The game got loose adaptations in both [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics the Archie comic]] (as a 48-page special) and ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'' (as a six-part serial). The characters became regulars for a long while, by contrast to the many years before their [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes next appearance in the games]].

* BulletproofHumanShield: Partners can be used for this purpose, as they only lose one ring when hit instead of all of them (unless your partner is Bomb, who explodes when hit, causing you to lose all of your rings if you're within its blast radius). Your partner also doubles as an extra hit point, since getting hit will just cause you to lose him for a few seconds and then return.

* ComicBookAdaptation: In both [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics the Archie comic]] (as a 48-page special) and ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'' (as a six-part serial). The characters became regulars for a long while, in comparison to the many years before their [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes next appearance in the games]].

* DarkerAndEdgier: Not as a whole, but the final boss　has a far more threatening character design than you would expect in a classic ''Sonic'' game. And if you fail to collect all Chaos Ring, the Bad Ending [[spoiler:shows him ''floating above a burning city.'']]

* ExcusePlot: While there are large discrepancies between the English and Japanese plots, they both have the same problem -- the Doctor is invading the island using Ring Power for an evil purpose, and it's up to Knuckles and company to stop him!

* TheMole: [[JokeCharacter Heavy and Bomb]] are implied to be Robotnik's spies, intentionally being hard to use to slow down the Chaotix.

* SurpriseCreepy: The above-mentioned SuddenDownerEnding is darker than anything else in the game, or anything in a ''Sonic'' game for that matter, since it ends with the implication of [[spoiler:a genocide of apocalyptic proportions if not TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt]].
** The final boss itself, having the most threatening character design seen in a classic ''Sonic'' game.

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' (simply known as ''Chaotix'' in Japan) is a GaidenGame in the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise released for the UsefulNotes/Sega32X in 1995. It's the only Sonic game to appear on that system. Though mostly forgotten, the soundtrack has endured even amongst non-fans of the series, most notably the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-axPO7pwgg "Door Into Summer"]] track. If you're a connoisseur of retro game [=OSTs=], you've probably been linked to that theme at least once. ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' uses a rearrangement of the song for one of its menus.

In Western versions: Knuckles is enlisted as a bouncer at Carnival Island, a high-tech amusement park and resort. Dr. Robotnik has designs on the island's Emerald Pillar, which houses the Power Emerald which supplies the island's power. Robotnik has trapped four of Knuckles' friends in the Combi Confiner, so it's up to Knuckles to rescue them (using the ''real'' ring power of teamwork!) and kick out Robotnik before the grand opening.

In the Japanese version: Dr. Eggman discovers a mysterious island containing artifacts known as Chaos Rings, regular rings infused with Chaos Emerald energy. He's built his base, dubbed the Newtrogic High Zone, on the island. Mighty the Armadillo[[note]]An otherwise-obscure character from a Japanese-only arcade game called ''VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog''[[/note]], Espio the Chameleon, Charmy Bee, and Vector the Crocodile all arrive at around the same time for their own reasons, but are captured by Eggman and placed in his "Combi Catcher" machine to prevent them from meddling in his plans. Knuckles, curious about the island, ventures there to find out more about the Chaos Rings and their connection to the Floating Island.

* ComicBookAdaptation: In both [[Comicbook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog the Archie comic]] (as a 48-page special) and ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'' (as a six-part serial). The characters became regulars for a long while, in comparison to the many years before their [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes next appearance]].

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' (simply known as ''Chaotix'' in Japan) is a GaidenGame in the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise released for the [[UsefulNotes/OtherSegaSystems Sega 32X]] in 1995. It's the only Sonic game to appear on that system. Though mostly forgotten, the soundtrack has endured even amongst non-fans of the series, most notably the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-axPO7pwgg "Door Into Summer"]] track. If you're a connoisseur of retro game [=OSTs=], you've probably been linked to that theme at least once. ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' uses a rearrangement of the song for one of its menus.

* SequelDifficultyDrop: The game is significantly easier than the previous Genesis Sonic titles for a variety of reasons, such as the relatively straightforward and sparse level design and lack of enemies, the very easy boss fights, the return of the save feature from Sonic 3, the player being able to stack up to three hit points and even get a shot at getting all of their rings back by grabbing only one if theyre hit (provided they get the Combi Ring power-up first), the precense of the ''incredibly'' broken Charmy the Bee as a default playable character, and the fact that [[DeathIsASlapOnTheWrist dying is merely a short term inconvienience]] due to the lack of extra lives or game over screen.

The player controls two characters who are joined together by an elastic ring, with the 'cord' shown as a trail of sparkles. Before each stage, you use the Combi Catcher to randomly select your partner, then select a stage (also at random; how fast the stage select indicator moves depends on what day cycle you're currently on). Knuckles and co. plod through the game in the usual Sonic fashion: Beat Eggman's robots and reach the end of the stage. Cooperation is required to make it through the game, as you have to make use of the properties of the rings you and your partner hold in order to zoom and slingshot your way around obstacles. Eggman is fought numerous times in the game, and his ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]'' henchman Metal Sonic shows up in the finale to put an end to your heroic career.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Not as a whole, but the final boss, [[spoiler:Metal Sonic Kai]], has a far more threatening character design than you would expect in a classic ''Sonic'' game. And if you fail to collect all Chaos Ring, the Bad Ending [[spoiler:shows him ''burning an entire city down.'']]

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' (simply known as ''Chaotix'' in Japan) is a spinoff in the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise released for the [[UsefulNotes/OtherSegaSystems Sega 32X]] in 1995. It's the only Sonic game to appear on that system. Though mostly forgotten, the soundtrack has endured even amongst non-fans of the series, most notably the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-axPO7pwgg "Door Into Summer"]] track. If you're a connoisseur of retro game [=OSTs=], you've probably been linked to that theme at least once. ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' uses a rearrangement of the song for one of its menus.

* ADayInTheLimelight: Knuckles gets to headline his own game here, with a few new friends tagging along.

* ADayInTheLimelight: The sole time Knuckles has ever been given solo billing in a game title (and he doesn't even get ''that'' in the Japanese title or title screen, with the title reduced to simply saying "''Chaotix''"), which was only done to prevent tainting the ''Sonic'' brand name on a platform that wasn't given high hopes internally (also the reason Mighty simply co-opts Sonic's moves; he is a redrawn Sonic sprite).

** "Mighty" the Armadillo focuses more on speed and agility than any strength-based abilities. This, however, is due to the fact that his sprite is simply a redrawn version of the Sonic sprite used in a prototype for this project entitled ''Sonic Crackers''.

In the Japanese version: Dr. Eggman discovers a mysterious island containing artifacts known as Chaos Rings, regular rings infused with Chaos Emerald energy. He's built his base, dubbed the Newtrogic High Zone, on the island. Mighty the Armadillo, Espio the Chameleon, Charmy Bee, and Vector the Crocodile all arrive at around the same time for their own reasons, but are captured by Eggman and placed in his "Combi Catcher" machine to prevent them from meddling in his plans. Knuckles, curious about the island, ventures there to find out more about the Chaos Rings and their connection to the Floating Island.

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' (simply known as ''Chaotix'' in Japan) is a spinoff in the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise released for the [[UsefulNotes/OtherSegaSystems Sega 32X]] in 1995. It's the only Sonic game to appear on that system. Though mostly forgotten, the soundtrack has endured even amongst non-fans of the series, most notably the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-axPO7pwgg "Door Into Summer"]] track. If you're a connoisseur of classic game [=OSTs=], you've more than likely been linked to that theme once. ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' used a rearrangement of the song for one of its menus.

The player controls two characters who are joined together by an elastic ring, with the 'cord' shown as a trail of sparkles. Before each stage, you use the Combi Catcher to randomly select your partner, then select a stage (also at random; how fast the stage select indicator moves depends on what day cycle you're currently on). Knuckles and co. plod through the game in the usual Sonic fashion: Beat Eggman's robots and reach the end of the stage. Cooperation is required to make it through the game, as you have to make use of the properties of the rings you and your partner hold in order to zoom and slingshot your way around obstacles. Eggman is fought numerous times in the game, and his ''VideoGame/SonicCD'' henchman Metal Sonic shows up in the finale to put an end to your heroic career.

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' (simply known as ''Chaotix'' in Japan) is a spinoff in the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise released for the [[UsefulNotes/OtherSegaSystems Sega 32X]] in 1995. It's the only Sonic game to appear on that system. Though mostly forgotten, the soundtrack has endured amongst even non-fans of the series, most notably the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-axPO7pwgg "Door Into Summer"]] track. If you're a connoisseur of classic game [=OSTs=], you've more than likely been linked to that theme once. ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' used a rearrangement of the song for one of its menus.

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' (simply known as ''Chaotix'' in Japan) is a spinoff in the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise released for the [[UsefulNotes/OtherSegaSystems Sega 32X]] in 1995. It's the only Sonic game to appear on that system. Though mostly forgotten, the soundtrack has endured amongst even non-fans of the series, most notably the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-axPO7pwgg "Door Into Summer"]] track. If you're a connoisseur of classic game [=OSTs=], you've more than likely been linked to that theme once. ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' used a remix of the song for one of its menus.

The player controls two characters who are joined together by an elastic ring, with the 'cord' shown as a trail of sparkles. Before each stage, you use the Combi Catcher to randomly select your partner, then select a stage (also at random; how fast the stage select indicator moves depends on what day cycle you're currently on). Knuckles and co. plod through the game in the usual Sonic fashion: Beat Eggman's robots and reach the end of the stage. Cooperation is required to make it through the game, as you have to make use of the properties of the rings you and your partner hold in order to zoom and slingshot your way around obstacles. Unlike in most Sonic games, Eggman is never fought, but his ''VideoGame/SonicCD'' henchman Metal Sonic shows up in the finale to put an end to your heroic career.

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' (simply known as ''Chaotix'' in Japan) is a spinoff in the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise released for the [[UsefulNotes/OtherSegaSystems Sega 32X]] in 1995. It's the only Sonic game to appear on that system. Though mostly forgotten, the soundtrack has endured amongst even non-fans of the series, most notably the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-axPO7pwgg "Door Into Summer"]]. If you're a connoisseur of classic game [=OSTs=], you've more than likely been linked to this theme once. ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' used a remix of the song for one of its menus.

''Knuckles' Chaotix'' (simply known as ''Chaotix'' in Japan) is a spinoff in the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' franchise released for the [[UsefulNotes/OtherSegaSystems Sega 32X]] in 1995. It's the only Sonic game to appear on that system.