SegaAlthough it has fallen on tough times recently, the Sonic franchise has been one of the most prominent and recognizable faces of gaming. At the time of its origins, Sonic's gameplay was cutting edge and imaginative, and led to the fame that it holds today. Perhaps the best game, or games, if you please, in this successful line-up is the combination of Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles, dubbed Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Both Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles were intended to be sold as one game, but were eventually split because of time and budget constraints. Sonic and Knuckles was released as a lock-on cartridge for Sonic 3 that allowed you to play both games in tandem, opening up levels from both games and revealing scenarios not found in either standalone game. Sonic 3 & Knuckles improved upon so many things that had already made Sonic a household name. In addition to presenting up three playable characters, Sonic 3 & Knuckles grants players abilities that weren't seen in any of its predecessors, such as a mid-air jump, shields, and Tails' ability to fly. The graphics look great for the period it was released, and each environment is engaging and diverse. Even the music in the game is great, possibly because of the rumors that suggest that late singer Michael Jackson may have had a hand in a few of the game's compositions.