- Bonus Stages

Unlock the secrets of Sonic & Knuckles' Bonus Stages! Learn how to enter the Slot Machine, Glowing Spheres, and Gumball Machine stages to snag extra Rings, Shields, and Lives.

Alright, let's talk about those sweet Bonus Stages in Sonic & Knuckles! They're a great way to rack up extra Rings, Shields, and even lives. The way you get into them and the types of stages you'll find actually change a little depending on which version you're playing.

First off, for the original Sonic & Knuckles cartridge, keep an eye out after you pass a Starpost. If you've managed to grab at least 20 Rings, a special Star Circle will pop up. Jump through that bad boy, and you'll be whisked away to a Bonus Stage! The color of the Star Circle actually tells you which stage you're heading into. And hey, if you can snag 50 Rings within any of these Bonus Stages, you'll earn yourself a precious Continue!

Slot Machine Stage

This one feels a bit like a throwback to Sonic 2's Casino Night Zone, but with a layout similar to Sonic 1's Special Stages. You'll be spinning around a slot machine, and your goal is to avoid hitting the GOAL bars, or you'll be kicked out. Watch out for the 'R' Bars too – they'll reverse the direction of the spinning field. If you hit the Blue Bars three times, they turn into GOALs, so be careful! You can also jump into the slot machine itself to try your luck. Depending on the combination that rolls, you might win or lose Rings.

Glowing Spheres Stage

In this stage, you start on a magnetic sphere and need to jump between higher spheres. Your main objective is to activate flippers to make your way to the very top. If you manage to reach the top, you'll complete the stage! Just be mindful of the rising force field from below – it'll push you out if you're not quick enough. As you ascend, you'll find various balls containing prizes. Grab them to see what you get!

Now, if you're playing the Sonic 3 & Knuckles version, things are a little different. You still need 20 Rings to see a Star Circle after a Starpost, but the stage you enter is determined by how many Rings you have when you jump in. There are three Bonus Stages here:

• Slot Machine: Requires 20-34 Rings.
• Glowing Spheres: Requires 35-49 Rings.
• Gumball Machine: Requires 50-65 Rings.

Just like before, collecting 50 Rings in any of these Bonus Stages will bag you a Continue.

Gumball Machine Stage

This stage puts you in a shaft where you'll use yellow bumpers to bounce upwards. Be aware that once you bounce off a bumper, it disappears! The springs at the bottom of the shaft also vanish after you use them. You can turn a crank on a gumball machine to release balls, and grabbing these balls will get you prizes. The color of the ball tells you what's inside. The Bonus Stage ends when you fall out of the shaft, so try to keep bouncing!