View source for Sonic & Knuckles Collection

{{bob
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{{company|{{SegaLink|WWorldwise Enterprise}}|system=PC|region=TW}}
{{company|{{SegaLink|WMedia Master International}}|system=PC|region=TW}}
| system=[[Windows PC]]
| players=1-2
| releases={{releasesPC
| pc_date_jp=1997-02-14{{ref|1=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304042939/http://sega.jp/search/result.php?page=10&pf=11}}
| pc_code_jp=HCJ-0108
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| pc_code_jp_Ultra 2000=MKW-051
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| pc_date_us=1997-03-14{{intref|{{#switch:{{SITENAME}}|Sonic Retro=sega:}}Press release: 1997-03-18: Sega Entertainment brings three enhanced Sonic classics to the PC for the price of one}}
| pc_code_us=85037
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| pc_code2_uk_xp=3016963
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| pc_date_fr=1997-03-20{{intref|{{#switch:{{SITENAME}}|Sonic Retro=sega:}}Press release: 1997-03-10: Après Sonic CD, la nouvelle Collection Sonic arrive sur PC: Le 20 mars 1997, SEGA lance Sonic & Knuckles Collection sur CD-Rom PC}}
| pc_rrp_fr=249{{intref|{{#switch:{{SITENAME}}|Sonic Retro=sega:}}Press release: 1997-03-10: Après Sonic CD, la nouvelle Collection Sonic arrive sur PC: Le 20 mars 1997, SEGA lance Sonic & Knuckles Collection sur CD-Rom PC}}
| pc_code_fr=MK-85037

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}}
'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is a compilation for Microsoft Windows-based PCs, released in 1997. Games included are the [[Sega Mega Drive]] titles ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'', ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'', ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles]]'', and ''[[Blue Sphere]]'' (listed as "Special Stage Mode").

It should be noted that normally, the program lacks a speed-limiting feature in windowed mode, so it runs far too fast on modern PCs. However, it is possible to specify a framerate to run at, which is explained further [[Sonic & Knuckles Collection/Hidden content#Secret INI file settings|here]]. The timings used by full screen mode are always based on the monitor's refresh rate, so the game can always be played correctly on a modern system as long as the player's refresh rate is set to 60Hz.

==Differences from console version==
Most of the original music is faithfully converted to [[MIDI]] format, with the user able to choose between General MIDI and FM MIDI formats. Some of ''Sonic 3'''s music tracks, such as those of [[Carnival Night Zone]], [[IceCap Zone]], [[Launch Base Zone]], [[Knuckles the Echidna|Knuckles]]' theme, the Competition menu, and the credits music, were replaced with completely different tracks originally from a [[Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (prototype; 1993-11-03)|''Sonic 3'' prototype]]. One possible explanation for this is that the tracks featured sampled sound effects not supported by the MIDI standard, and some sound cards during this time were not capable of playing these alongside the standard MIDI instruments. Another potential explanation is that the original tracks [[Sonic the Hedgehog 3/Development/Music|may have been composed by Michael Jackson]], and were replaced due to legal reasons that arose since their original release. IceCap Zone<nowiki>'</nowiki>s soundtrack may have been replaced due to having its origins in '''Hard Times''', an unreleased 1982 track by [[wikipedia:The Jetzons|The Jetzons]], an American new wave band whose keyboardist, Brad Buxer, later worked on the ''Sonic 3'' soundtrack. <!--The following music tracks were rearranged in some bootlegs of the game.--> Aside from this musical difference, the game plays virtually identically to its original incarnations. 

Other differences include the fact that the ''Sonic 3 & Knuckles'' Level Select Cheat works on ''Sonic 3'' alone, in [[Angel Island Zone]]. This code (usually input at [[Mushroom Hill Zone]] in ''Sonic & Knuckles'') does not enable [[debug mode]] as in the original, though it does still allow characters to play stages they couldn't access otherwise from the level select. Examples include [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]] in [[Doomsday Zone]] and Knuckles in [[Sky Sanctuary Zone|Sky Sanctuary]] 1. When the level select code is performed in ''Sonic 3'', and the first [[Special Stage (Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles)|Special Stage]] option is selected (which unlike in the original accesses the ''Blue Sphere'' mini-game), this enables the player to use Knuckles in the ''Sonic 3'' levels, though they are incomplete and thus cannot always be beaten.

==''Sonic the Hedgehog The Screen Saver''==
In North America and Europe, ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog The Screen Saver]]'' was included in the compilation. This disc allowed users to customize Windows with ''Sonic'' themes, wallpapers, icons, and play music from ''Sonic 1, 2, 3, S&K'' and the Japanese version of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD|Sonic CD]]''. In Japan, ''Sonic the Hedgehog The Screen Saver'' was sold separately.

==Hidden content==
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Hidden content}}

==Also released on==
* ''[[Sonic Action Pack]]'' for the PC (2000)
* ''[[Sonic Action 4 Pack]]'' for the PC (2001)
* ''[[Sega PC Mega Pack]]'' for the PC (2003)

==Production credits==
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Production credits}}

==Manuals==
{{reqmanual}}
<gallery>
Skpc JP ultra2000 manual.pdf|PC, JP (Ultra 2000)
SKC PC EU manual.pdf|PC, EU
SonicScreenSaver PC EU manual.pdf|PC, EU (''[[Sonic the Hedgehog The Screen Saver]]'')
S&KC US manual.pdf|PC, US (digital manual from US version disc)
</gallery>

==Magazine articles==
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}

==Artwork==
<gallery>
File:S&KCollection JP Group Key Artwork.png
</gallery>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Skcollection.jpg
File:JackintheBoxKnuckles Toy.png
</gallery>

==Physical scans==
{{ratings|PC}}
{{Scanbox
| console=PC
| region=JP
| front=Skpc-box-jap.jpg
| back=SonicandKnucklesCollection PC JP Box Back.jpg
| spinemissing=yes
| disc=Scd pc jp disc HCJ-0108.jpg
}}
{{Scanbox
| console=PC
| region=JP (Ultra 2000)
| front=Skpc_JP_ultra2000_front.jpg
| back=Skpc_JP_ultra2000_back.jpg
| square=yes
| disc=Skpc_JP_ultra2000_disc.jpg
| manual=Skpc_JP_ultra2000_manual.pdf
}}{{Scanbox
| console=PC
| region=JP (Yuu Yuu)
| cover=SonicandKnucklesCollection PC JP Box YuYu.jpg
}}
{{Scanbox
| console=PC
| region=US
| front=SKC_US_Boxart.jpg
| back=
| spinemissing=
| disc=Skc us pc cd.jpg
| manual=SKC PC US Manual.pdf
}}{{Scanbox
| console=PC
| region=US (Jack in the Box)
| front=SKC PC US Box Front JitB.jpg
| back=SKC PC US Box Back JitB.jpg
| square=yes
| disc=Skc us jitb pc cd.jpg
}}
{{Scanbox
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| region=US ([[Expert Software]]])
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{{Scanbox
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{{Scanbox
| console=PC
| region=US ([[Expert Software]]; alt 2)
| front=SKC PC US Box Front Expert.jpg
| back=SKC PC US Box Back Expert.jpg
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| jewelcase=yes
| jewelcasefront=SKC US Expert front.jpg
| jewelcaseback=SKC US Expert back.jpg
| disc=Skc pc us disc rerelease.png
| manual=SKC US Expert Manual.pdf
}}{{Scanbox
| console=PC
| region=EU
| front=S&kcbigboxuk.jpeg
| back=SKC PC EU Box Back.jpg
| spinemissing=yes
| jewelcase=yes
| jewelcasefront=SKC PC EU Box Front Alt.jpg
| jewelcaseback=SKC PC EU Box Back JewelCase.jpg
| disc=Skc eu pc cd.jpg
| manual=SKC PC EU manual.pdf
| item1=SonicScreenSaver PC EU manual.pdf
| item1name=''[[Sonic the Hedgehog The Screen Saver|Screen Saver]]'' manual
}}{{Scanbox
| console=PC
| region=BR
| jewelcase=yes
| jewelcasefront=SKC PC BR Box Front Jewelcase.jpg
| jewelcaseback=SKC PC BR Box Back Jewelcase.jpg
| disc=SKC PC BR Disc.jpg
| manual=SKC PC BR manual.pdf
| item1=SonicScreenSaver PC EU manual.pdf
| item1name=''[[Sonic the Hedgehog The Screen Saver|Screen Saver]]'' manual
}}{{Scanbox
| console=PC
| region=UK ([[sega:Xplosiv|Xplosiv]])
| cover=SKC PC UK xp cover.jpg
| disc=
}}{{Scanbox
| console=PC
| region=UK ([[sega:Xplosiv|Xplosiv]]; alt)
| cover=SKC Xplosiv EU box.jpg
| disc=SKC Xplosiv EU disc.jpg
}}{{Scanbox
| console=PC
| region=KR
| cover=Skc pc kr cover.jpg
| inlay=Skc pc kr inlay.jpg
| spinemissing=
| disc=Skc pc kr disc.jpg
| square=yes
}}{{Scanbox
| console=PC
| region=TW
| front=SKC PC TW Box Front.jpg
}}

==Technical information==
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Technical information}}

==Downloads==
{{Download|title=''Sonic & Knuckles Collection'' Demo|file=Sonic&KnucklesCollection Demo.7z‎|filesize=4.97 MB}}

==External links==
* Sega of America webpage: [https://web.archive.org/web/19980223120542/http://www.sega.com:80/products/games/00358.html PC]
* Sega of Japan catalogue pages (Japanese): [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://sega.jp/pc/sonicknu/ PC]

==References==
<references/>

{{SKCOmni}}
{{S3Omni|collapse}}
{{S&KOmni|collapse}}
{{SonicWindowsGames}}
{{SonicPCCompilations}}
[[Category:PC games]]
[[Category:Game compilations]]