Game of the Year 1994: Sonic 3 & Knuckles

Chris Mawson writes: "As 2014 draws to a close, the staff here at Power Up Gaming are currently considering which games of the past year are most worthy of their praise. It's been a year of highs – but also considerable lows, with some stellar titles being overshadowed by a few bug-riddled messes. As a result, we've decided to take a step back in time to a gaming era where things were, for the most part, much simpler.

As 1994 came to an end, titles including Super Metroid, Super Street Fighter II Turbo, Donkey Kong Country and Tekken were amongst the many contenders for game of the year. For us, however, it was Sega's last entry in its 2D Sonic the Hedgehog series that was most worthy of the accolade. Today, we fondly revisit a staple of many of our childhoods: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles."

[Metallox]

Super Metroid (launched in 1994) is a masterful piece of video game design, it's a game that I would put on the top of everything.

[Roaddhogg]

I guess it's just the Sega fanboy in me. I did at least give it a brief mention!

[Metallox]

No worries, buddy.

[Yi-Long]

Absolutely LOVED Sonic 1 and 2, but never cared much for Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles.

I just felt the whole visual-design of the levels wasn't really 'Sonic' anymore, while they also gave Sonic a Grab/Hang ability, which took the speed somewhat out the game, cause now you were making a jump and suddenly you were stuck hanging from a vine or whatever. It was annoying.

Sonic 2 is my favourite Sonic game ever, although the first 1 is a very close second. Just perfect games, which still look fantastic today.

1994 had some amazing games. Sensible World of Soccer was fantastic, Donkey Kong Country blew everyone away at the time with it's graphics and gameplay, and as Metallox already mentioned Super Metroid.

Earthbound, Doom 2, Tie Fighter, Theme Park, Beneath a Steel Sky, etc etc. Such diversity, originality and quality.

[MrChow666]

for me the best game for genesis that year was Dynamite heady got it for my birthday, and there was also Story of Thor, Earthworm Jim, Soleil, Hard Corps and Castlevania Bloolines all great games.
Best Sonic was 2 IMO
that was 20 years ago damnnn..

[Tetsujin]

I remember playing Sonic 3 and Knuckles for hours on end, beat the game and play it over again. Boy that game was highly addictive (next to Super Street Fighter 2 and Samurai Showdown 2).