The story surrounding Sonic 3 & Knuckles‘ soundtrack has always been a strange one. There are a lot of reasons for that, but it left many wondering whether we would see the classic soundtrack appear in Sonic Origins. Well, now it looks like we’ve got a solid answer. Sonic 3 & Knuckles will feature an adapted version of the soundtrack by Jun Senoue instead of the original music.
This was confirmed yesterday by Katie Chrzanowski, the social media manager for Sonic the Hedgehog. During the Q&A section of a livestream, she stated, “Jun Senoue has been working really hard to adapt the original music that was composed in 1993 for Origins.” Senoue is said to be using original Sega Mega Drive technology as well as his collection of Digital Audio Tape to recreate the unique sound.
So what’s going on with Sonic 3 & Knuckles?
Most would agree that Sonic 3 & Knuckles’ soundtrack is fantastic. However, it also has a mysterious history that’s still in discussion to this day. If you’re a Sonic fan, you more than likely know the issues surrounding this topic. Even if you aren’t a fan of Sonic, you likely know anyway. Just be aware that everything we’re about to discuss is based on rumors, and we’ll likely never know the truth of what happened.
Essentially, many believe that Sonic 3 & Knuckles‘ soundtrack had input from Michael Jackson. There’s a lot of evidence that supports this and a lot that doesn’t. Over the years, members of Sega and Michael Jackson’s team have given mixed signals regarding his input. And for some, that level of confusion is enough to confirm his involvement. For further intrigue, you can listen to and compare the end credits theme of Sonic 3 & Knuckles, to Jackson’s own “Stranger in Moscow.” The two tracks share a striking similarity and add more fuel to the fire. Again, we don’t know if this is true, but it certainly could be.
No matter which way you look at it, some fans aren’t going to be happy. Sonic 3 & Knuckles‘ soundtrack is beloved by many, so any changes to it may spoil the experience. It’s clearly in good hands though, since Jun Senoue has been a mainstay at Sega and created many of Sonic‘s best songs. If you’re skeptical about Sonic 3 & Knuckles‘ soundtrack being adapted, I wouldn’t worry too much.
Sonic Origins releases later this month on June 23.
