SEGA had a lot of hardware misadventures in the 1990s. The 32X add-on was one of them; a little device that you plugged into the top of your Mega Drive that granted you access to a slim library of 32-bit games. In my opinion, the most notable 32X game was Sonic spinoff Knuckles' Chaotix.
It almost goes without saying that Knuckles' Chaotix has some really nice graphics and an exemplary soundtrack; that's almost a given for Sonic games of this period. What makes Chaotix interesting is it's central premise. You play as two characters at once, joined together by an elastic band-style tether. You can use the tether to, amongst other things, launch your characters up a ramp and into the air with a speed and velocity that makes Sonic's spindash look sluggish in comparison. This tether gimmick has a lot of potential and, when coupled with each Chaotix members unique moveset, makes movement in Knuckles' Chaotix a fast-paced, hectic thrill-ride. That's really how Sonic it feels like Sonic games SHOULD be designed.
There is an issue, however. Despite how fun the game's central shtick is the level design lets the game down. Thematically, all of the game's levels are quite samey and not particularly distinct. The careful level layouts of Sonic 1, 2 & 3 is replaced with more of a big 'playground' approach to level design. The levels are huge, to make space for the new form of movement, but they're forgettable and feel quite empty and aimless. In a sense then, Chaotix is similar to Sonic CD; the level design is a step down from Sonic's best efforts to try to accommodate a new gimmick.
There are moments when Chaotix's potential does shine through and, I have to say, I adore the Chaotix cast. They're some of my favourite Sonic characters in terms of design and character (though a lot of the credit for my enjoyment of them goes to the Fleetway comic series) and earn the game an extra half star. Chaotix is a game that I enjoy but it's one that has some glaring weaknesses. Well worth a play if you're a Sonic fan though.
It almost goes without saying that Knuckles' Chaotix has some really nice graphics and an exemplary soundtrack; that's almost a given for Sonic games of this period. What makes Chaotix interesting is it's central premise. You play as two characters at once, joined together by an elastic band-style tether. You can use the tether to, amongst other things, launch your characters up a ramp and into the air with a speed and velocity that makes Sonic's spindash look sluggish in comparison. This tether gimmick has a lot of potential and, when coupled with each Chaotix members unique moveset, makes movement in Knuckles' Chaotix a fast-paced, hectic thrill-ride. That's really how Sonic it feels like Sonic games SHOULD be designed.
There is an issue, however. Despite how fun the game's central shtick is the level design lets the game down. Thematically, all of the game's levels are quite samey and not particularly distinct. The careful level layouts of Sonic 1, 2 & 3 is replaced with more of a big 'playground' approach to level design. The levels are huge, to make space for the new form of movement, but they're forgettable and feel quite empty and aimless. In a sense then, Chaotix is similar to Sonic CD; the level design is a step down from Sonic's best efforts to try to accommodate a new gimmick.
There are moments when Chaotix's potential does shine through and, I have to say, I adore the Chaotix cast. They're some of my favourite Sonic characters in terms of design and character (though a lot of the credit for my enjoyment of them goes to the Fleetway comic series) and earn the game an extra half star. Chaotix is a game that I enjoy but it's one that has some glaring weaknesses. Well worth a play if you're a Sonic fan though.