音速小子大集合 Knuckles' Chaotix

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Knuckles' Chaotix[a] is a 1995 side-scrolling platform game developed by and published by Sega for the 32X. A spin-off to the Sonic the Hedgehog series, the game features Knuckles the Echidna and a collective of characters known as the Chaotix. The story follows the team in their efforts to prevent series antagonist Dr. Robotnik and his henchman Metal Sonic from obtaining the six Chaos Rings. Gameplay is similar to previous series installments; however, Knuckles' Chaotix introduces a partner system in which the player's character is tethered to another via a ring force bond with "rubber band" physics. The gameplay is based on using this mechanic to maneuver the characters through a series of levels.

Unlike many other Sonic games, Knuckles' Chaotix was not developed by Sonic Team, but rather another internal development team at Sega. Development on the game can be traced back to a 1994 internal prototype for the Sega Genesis titled Sonic Crackers. The game featured Sonic and Tails and experimented with the ring force bond physics. This core concept was carried over to the 32X where development continued under the working title Knuckles' Ringstar. Sonic and Tails were removed from the game and replaced with Knuckles and four other characters. Among these characters was Mighty the Armadillo, who previously featured in SegaSonic the Hedgehog (1993).

Critical reception to Knuckles' Chaotix, both contemporary and in retrospect, has been mixed. Critics found the partner mechanic and tethering physics to be cumbersome, although most praised Sega for attempting to innovate the series. The level design was also cited as poor by multiple publications. In retrospect, the game is remembered for its uniqueness, and has been considered the last classic game of the Sonic series. Some of the characters and concepts introduced in Knuckles' Chaotix would later feature in other Sonic games and media. The game itself has not been re-released except for a brief period through GameTap in the 2000s, despite interest by fans.