Knuckles' Chaotix is a 1995 platform game developed and published by Sega for the 32X. A spin-off of 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
thumb|left|alt=Gameplay screenshot of Knuckles and Espio in Isolated Island, the first level of Knuckles' Chaotix. This particular screen shows the game's cooperative "rubber band" physics in action.|The player (left) builds tension in the tether while anchoring the partner (right) to perform a speed boost.
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. 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; 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. 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.
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 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. 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".
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. 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. The 32X's processing power allowed for dynamic sprite-scaling effects, and 3D polygons in the special stages.
Release
Knuckles' Chaotix was released in North America in April 1995, in Japan on April 21, 1995, and in Europe on June 23, 1995. According to Horowitz, the game was rushed to help boost sluggish 32X sales. 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.