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Hidden Palace Zone (Sonic & Knuckles)

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Hidden Palace Zone
Fifth Zone, Sonic & Knuckles
Number of Acts: 1
Maximum rings, Act 1: 33 + 40

Hidden Palace Zone is the fifth zone in Sonic & Knuckles (the eleventh zone in Sonic 3 & Knuckles). Hidden Palace Zone is where Knuckles hides and protects the Master Emerald. As Sonic, is the setting of a major turn point in the game's storyline.

The level begins at the end of Lava Reef Zone Act 2. After a few steps, the scenery changes into that of the Hidden Palace. After a short walk through the level...

As Sonic and/or Tails, you will fight Knuckles. After this fight, a cutscene occurs in which Dr. Robotnik steals the Master Emerald. Knuckles attempts to save it, but Robotnik electrocutes him. After this, Knuckles will lead you to a teleporter that sends you to the next Zone, Sky Sanctuary.

As Knuckles, the Zone merely acts as a pass-through to access the Sky Sanctuary Zone, albeit a different area than Sonic and Tails are sent to -- it is an upper route through the first half of the level. The transporter that Sonic and Tails land on before they go to face Knuckles is where he teleports to Sky Sanctuary. He cannot reach the area where the Master Emerald is except through the giant rings of Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

All characters enter from tunnels from Lava Reef, and exit through transporters to Sky Sanctuary. In the game data, Hidden Palace is listed as Lava Reef Act 4 in the Stage Select menu, as it is placed in the 2nd act of the 2nd level slot reserved for Lava Reef data. This is not an unreasonable jump by in-game standards either, as it shares music and overall appearance with Lava Reef Act 2, although the backgrounds are different as the Death Egg can be seen leaving the mouth of the volcano in Hidden Palace, while it was still stuck there in Act 2.

Instruction Manual Description

Some mysteries are solved! Robotnik makes his big play, and Knuckles finds out who is the REAL bad guy is!

Trivia

  • The mural in the background where Sonic fights Knuckles depicts/predicts the final battle in the Doomsday Zone.
  • If one is playing Sonic 3 & Knuckles, and one has collected the all Super Emeralds, they can be seen around the Master Emerald altar.
  • In addition, this is the area in Sonic 3 & Knuckles where the player is warped after taking a giant special ring like the ones near the start of Mushroom Hill Zone.
  • Similarly, using debug mode during the scene where Robotnik takes the Master Emerald will unlock the controls enabling Sonic and Tails to move freely, and any uncleared super emeralds that are there will warp the player to a special stage if Sonic lands on one.

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