Bonus rounds
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Hold [A] + [B] + [C] and press [Start] when the "No Way" message is displayed to play the unknown bonus rounds in order. For example, if you keep playing and reach level 12 and want to stop, make a note of the password at the bottom of the screen. Turn off the game and turn it back on, it will restart at level 1 again. Press [Down] and use the D-Pad to enter the password on the screen. Then, press [Start], the level you last played will begin.
Level select
Begin game play with no other cartridges inserted into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Go to any pulley in the first level and press [Left]x3, [Right]x3, [Up]x3. The sound of a ring being collected will confirm correct code entry. Pause game play and press [A] to restart the game. Hold [A] and press [Start] at the title screen to display a level selection screen.
Alternate level select
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Press [Up]x3, [Down]x3, [Left], [Right], [Left], [Right] at the title screen. A sound will confirm correct code entry. Press [A] + [Start] to display the level selection screen. This code will also all rings to be kept if your character is hit.
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. In Angel Island Zone, grab on to a vine and while swinging on it press [Left]x3, [Right]x3, [Up]x3. A sound will confirm correct code entry. Press [Start] then [A] at the title screen to enter the Sound Test.
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Quickly press [Up]x2, [Down]x2, [Up]x4, after the Sega logo fades and Sonic starts to appear, and before the screen flashes white. The timing of this code is particularly sensitive.
As Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles (Note: This is who you will control when you select a level), go to Angel Island Zone. Find one of the swinging vines (not the vines that go down the other vine, but the ones that go back and forth). Press [Left]x3, [Right]x3, [Up]x3. The sound of a ring will confirm correct code entry. Press [Start], then [A]. Press [Up] or [Down]x2 at the title screen to enter the hidden sound test where you can choose any level. (Only the
Sonic 3 levels in
Sonic 3 but any level in
Sonic 3 and Knuckles). To change your character in the sound test, press [C]. The yellow numbers are your character (00 for Sonic and Tails, 01 for Sonic, 02 for Knuckles, and 03 for Tails.)
Debug mode
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Play songs 1, 9, 9, 4, 1, 0, 1, 8 in order at the level selection screen. Then, select any level, hold [A], and press [Start]. Screen coordinates will appear instead of a score and the number of objects displayed will appear instead of the time remaining. Use one of the following controller actions to enable the corresponding debug code. Note: This code may only be enabled on the first version of the game.
Alternately, insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. First, enable the "Sound Test" option by grabbing hold of a vine in Angel Island. While swinging, press [Left]x3, [Right]x3, [Up] 3). A ring sound will confirm correct code entry. Next, grab any pulley in Mushroom Hill and press [Left]x3, [Right]x3, [Up]x3. The ring sound will confirm correct code entry. Pause game play and press [Start]. You will be taken to the Sega logo and title screen. Select either the "Sound Test" or "1 player" options. When selecting the level, hold [A] and press [Start].
Alternately, insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Enable the "Debug mode" code and complete the entire
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 game. Because it is connected to
Sonic and Knuckles, you should go straight from Launch Base to Mushroom Hill and be able to cheat until the end.
Alternately, insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Enable the "Level select" code and go to Mushroom Hill Zone Act I. Hold [A] the enter time that you are there. Press [B] to jump. When you reach the first Pull Up machine, press [Left]x3, [Right]x3, [Up]x3. A sound will confirm correct code entry. Return to the level select screen, choose a level, then hold [A] and press [Start].
Object transformation
Press [B] during game play to change Sonic into a game object. Press [A] to change into a new object. Press [C] to place an object on the screen. Press [B] again to revert back to Sonic. Note: The type of object that may be selectable will vary from level to level.
Invincibility
Sonic is, by default, invincible in debug mode.
Slow motion
Pause game play and hold [B].
Restart
Pause game play and press [A].
Frame advance
Pause game play and press [C].
Sound test
Press [A]x2, [B], [A]x2, [B]x3, [A]x2, [B], [C] at the title screen to access the sound test for Zone 1. Press [A]x2, [B]x2, [C]x2, [Up], [Down], [Left], [Right], [A], [C], [B], [A]x7 at the title screen to access the sound test for Zone 2. Hold [Y] and press [Up], [Left], [Start]x2 for the last sound test.
Slow motion
Pause game play during any level or act and rapidly press [C]. You cannot control the game while in slow motion.
Extra points
Jump and hit the end of act marker. 100 points are awarded every time the marker is hit.
Play Death Egg Zones 1 and 2 with Knuckles
Enable the "Level select" code with Knuckles and go to the level Death Egg Zone 1 or 2. You will be playing Death Egg Zone with Knuckles. Note: You can not defeat the Master in Death Egg Zone 1 as Knuckles.
Fight Robitnik in Mushroom Hill Zone Act 2 as Knuckles
Get three Chaos Emeralds (no more and do not fail in getting any) in Act 1, and three more in Act 2 (again not failing). Fail at getting the seventh Chaos Emerald before the pulley leading up to the battle with the Act 2 Boss. Find another Chaos Emerald far off to the left and succeed in getting it. Make sure to have well over 50 rings and pass the lamp post slowly (stop just after hitting it). If you see red stars, jump in and get more rings. When out of the goal, power up to Super Knuckles <STRONG>only</STRONG> as you are jumping to get the last three rings. Run over to the "underground" machine and jump on it, standing there after the <STRONG>one</STRONG> jump. You should see Dr. Ivo Robotnik in the machine instead of Robo-Robotnik. It seems to work most of the time.
Hidden area in Mushroom Hill Zone
Find the first pulley in the gray area of Mushroom Hill. This is the pulley leads to the Act 2 Boss. Go up the pulley on the left hand side. When you get to the top, Spindash into the spring. You will be sent up through the ceiling into a secret area with two shields. This can be done with any character. It is important that you go up on the left hand side of the pulley.
Sonic 2 And Knuckles: Secret bonus
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. When playing as Knuckles at the second zone, climb up every wall until reaching the top. If you see an extra life there, glide left to find a secret.
Sonic 2 And Knuckles: Easy lives
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Play as Knuckles and get to the end of Chemical Plant. There will be a wall that you can climb on. Go to the top of it. There will be an extra life there. Glide to the left you will land on another wall and find another extra life. Glide again to the left. You will land on another wall with yet another extra life.
Sonic 2 And Knuckles: All Emeralds
With
Sonic The Hedgehog 2, to get all emeralds, enable the "Level select" and "Debug" codes, then play songs 01 06 07 07 07 02 01 06.
Sonic 2 And Knuckles: Extra lives
Near the end of Zone 1 of the second level, Chemical Plant Zone, when Knuckles emerges from a tube with a 10 ring box to the right and going far left, a dropper thing that you cannot get back up from, going right takes you to the level end sign. Do not go left. Instead, climb the tall tower with the 10 ring box sitting next to it. When you reach the top, you will find an extra life. Do not stop there. Glide left and you will reach to another tower with an extra life. Keep gliding left to all the towers until you reach one impassable tower. Then, simply glide back. If it does not land to any of the towers, Knuckles will grab on, then just climb up. Finally, when you reach the original tower, go right. You will pass the level end sign and unless you accidentally (or intentionally ) release the button and drop to the bottom, you will be able to glide back and forth until the victory lyrics end and advance you to the next level.
Sonic 2 And Knuckles: Chaos switch
Enable the "Level select" and "Debug mode" codes. Then in any level become Chaos Sonic. Next, enter debug mode and select the television box. Hit it and Tails will inherit Chaos Sonic's invincibility. Afterwards, Chaos Sonic will be vulnerable to all enemies and traps. Get hit and collect fifty more coins to become Chaos Sonic again to get your invincibility back.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Play as Knuckles
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Keep moving right at the character selection screen until Knuckles appears, then press [Start]. Note: This also changes the ending.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Hyper Sonic, Hyper Knuckles, Super Tails
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. In order to get Hyper Sonic, Hyper Knuckles, and Super Tails, get all the regular emeralds. Once at Mushroom Hill, jump into the flashing ring that Knuckles closes. Then, get all the super emeralds. Get fifty rings and double jump. Sonic will turn into Hyper Sonic, will flash colors, and have stars flashing around him. Knuckles will turn into Hyper Knuckles and blink gray and red. Tails will turn Super, but flashes yellow. His bird friends will also help him; even though the birds might get left behind, Tails is invincible.
Defeat the last boss of with either Sonic or Knuckles. You will then fall to the Mushroom Hill Zone (the first stage of
Sonic And Knuckles). If you have all the Chaos Emeralds, you will find a bonus ring that will be glowing different colors. Go into it you will warp to a strange room. The Chaos Emeralds will spin above you and fly into the air. Then, large beams of light will come down and large colorless-looking diamonds will appear wherever the light beams hits. Jump onto the diamonds to warp to a bonus level. If you complete it, you will receive a Super Emerald. Get all seven and you will be able to become Hyper Sonic or Hyper Knuckles, depending on who you are playing. When you collect 50 rings or more, press [A], then [A] again while in the air to become Hyper. Note: If you have a shield with Sonic, you will not be able to turn Super or Hyper until you lose your it.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Hyper Shadow
When you start the game as Sonic, the introduction will play. Just as Knuckles hits Sonic, pause game play. Sonic will change colors and resemble Hyper Shadow from
Sonic Adventure 2 Battle.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Defeating Fireball Shooter
To defeat this Boss, hit him as many times as possible before it goes behind the waterfall. At first it will be on the left side of the waterfall, next it will go up, then to the right side of the waterfall. Try to hit it any time you can. Make sure to dodge its fireballs.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Defeating flame/missile shooter
If you are Knuckles, it will shoot missiles. Of you are Sonic, it will shoot flames. Either way, it will start to float. Even if you are Tails you cannot hit it from below. Just hit it by jumping on it. Keep jumping on it until it explodes.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Secret stages
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Play "1F" at the sound test screen, then highlight Special Stage one or two and press [Start].
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Quick goodies
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. At the start of Angel Island, kill the monkey in the tree and jump on the first gray rock to reveal a bumper spring. Bounce up into the tree, and using the bumper spring hidden in the tree, bounce left to land on the moving platform. The platform will take you to a ring bonus and lightning shield power-up. Using the spring in the tree again, bounce right to land on ground with spikes and a RhinoBot. Jump past these to collect the fire shield. When this is collected, Sonic can use the fire dash attack by pressing [C]x2.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Easy Rings
Insert
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Enable the "Level select" and "Debug mode" codes. Select Knuckles (03) and Icecap Act 1. Glide out of tunnel and land on other side. Climb to top and glide to the left. Start climbing the hill. On the steep parts, use the debug mode to help. You can get about 30 Rings in two and a half minutes.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Easy big Emeralds
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Enable the "Debug mode" code and have a saved game. Get all of the small emeralds from the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 stages. When you get to Mushroom Hill, find all of the big colored rings after obtaining all of the emeralds in that stage. Then, restart the game.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Hidden monitors
Select Tails and go to the Hidden Palace Zone (Lava Reef Zone Act 4). Just before you get transported up to fight Knuckles, fly up just before the spike and there should be a group of monitors. Note: You must fly quickly and be up at the wall for this to work -- just before you get up there, Tails falls.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Anti-gravity Sonic
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge and enable the "Level select" and "Debug mode" codes. Start in any level, and press [A] while standing still. Sonic will flip upside down and be able to walk on the ceiling. If this is done on a level with no ceiling, like Sky Sanctuary, Sonic will die. This trick can also be done with Tails or Knuckles.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Knuckles in events
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. On some levels you can see Knuckles in an event. Enable the "Debug mode" code. As Sonic, when an event happens with Knuckles turn into an object and go out of reach of the event. Change back into Sonic and you can play the level with the following effects: Sonic will sometimes get Knuckles' jumping skill; many objects will turn completely or partially red; Knuckles' theme will play; the speed up boxes have pictures of Knuckles' foot; and The 10 ring boxes have pictures of Knuckles' leg. This trick will work in Launch Base Zone Act 1, Launch Base Zone Act 2, Mushroom Hill Zone Act 1, and Mushroom Hill Zone Act 2.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Blue Knuckles
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Enable the "Debug mode" and "Level select" codes. Select Sonic and go to The Sky Sanctuary Act 2. Defeat Metal Sonic with Hyper on. Once defeated, you will see a Blue Knuckles in the ending.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Red Sonic and Blue Knuckles
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge and play as Knuckles. Enable the "Debug mode" code. Play until the end with all of the Super/Hyper emeralds. When Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles resting on a giant Sonic 3 and Knuckles logo appears, press [B] and place an S monitor. Press [B] again and Knuckles will be blue. Break the monitor, and the Sonic on the logo will turn red and flash white, like Super Knuckles.
Sonic 3 And Knuckles: Play as Hyper Knuckles/Sonic or Super Tails
Insert the
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 cartridge into the
Sonic And Knuckles cartridge. Collect all the Emeralds and complete the game. Enter the secret places at beginning of Mushroom Forest (depending on the character you are playing, the locations will vary. Complete the bonus levels in the secret place (they are large rings that flash different colors. Collect 50 rings in any level, jump, and press [Jump] again in the air. Note: You can play as Super Sonic Super Knuckles when you collect just the Emeralds and 50 rings. When playing as Hyper Sonic/Knuckles you can use the following special moves:
Hyper Sonic: Double jump to kill everyone in the screen.
Hyper Knuckles: Glide into a wall to make it shake and kill everyone on screen.
Super Tails: Let your bird followers attack
Note: Your rings are how many seconds you have to stay in Hyper or Super mode. Do not remove the cartridges from each other and play just
Sonic And Knuckles or just Sonic
The Hedgehog 3, as this will erase your file. You must collect all of the Super Emeralds in order to play as Super Tails or Hyper Knuckles/Sonic. You can still die by getting squished. You can have different files for different people. For example, one file for Sonic, another for Knuckles, and yet another for Tails. You cannot use your special move on Robotnic unless you play as Tails.