Is it possible to play as Knuckles in Sonic 1 on the Wii Virtual Console?

Solution 1:

It is not possible to play as Knuckles in the Wii Virtual Console release of Sonic the Hedgehog 1.

The Wii Virtual Console version of Sonic the Hedgehog 1 is a direct port of the original 1991 Genesis game. It has no additional features.

According to a post on The Escapist Forums, if you own Sonic & Knuckles on the Wii Virtual Console, it is possible to use the Sonic & Knuckles lock-on technology with Sonic 1, 2, and 3.

Press the '-' button on the Wii Remote. This can be done ANY time. The game will reset and reload as what ever you chose. There are 4 options: Normal, Sonic 1, Sonic 2 and Sonic 3.

Normal is just Sonic & Knuckles, and the others are Get Blue Spheres (Sonic 1), Knuckles in Sonic 2, and Sonic 3 & Knuckles

The only official way to play as Knuckles in the original Sonic the Hedgehog would be the remastered iOS and Android ports by Christian Whitehead. The mobile port included several enhancements, such as the addition of Tails & Knuckles as unlockable characters.