Yes, Sonic Mania Has A Secret "& Knuckles" Mode

August 22nd, 2017 - 2:22 PM EDT by Matt Schimkowitz

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Sonic Mania Start menu with a pixelated image of Knuckles and the words "& Knuckles" photoshopped into the menu.

As Sonic fans undoubtedly know, the mid-90s video game Sonic & Knuckles has become a bit of a joke in the Sonic fandom universe. At the heart of the joke is Sonic & Knuckles' "lock-on technology," once an exclusive feature of the game allowing players to plug in other Sonic cartridges for hybrid modes of gameplay, which has since long lost its cutting-edge gloss but gained a whole lot of kitsch appeal driven by 90s nostalgia, to the point where adding "& Knuckles" to just about anything became a meme. However, the Japanese video game publisher is poised to take “& Knuckles” back.

Hidden in Sonic Mania, the latest titled in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchies, is an "& Knuckles" mode that allows users to play as the beloved red echidna. What's more, the game replaces Sonic's sidekick Tails with another Knuckles. That's right, "Sonic and Tails" are out, and "Knuckles and Knuckles" are in.

For those who don’t remember, back in 2015, video game fans began mocking the seemingly endless influx of reboots, spin-offs and DLC add-ons by plugging the words “& Knuckles” next to just about everything, from other video games to donut-slash-taco restaurants.


Not surprisingly, Sega cheeky inclusion of the hidden "& Knuckles" mode in the game has been met with cheers and praises from the Sonic fanbase.




Finally, vindicated, Knuckles can live within the Sonic universe, no awkward add-on cartridge needed.


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