>>135325624Knuckles is arguably even more restricted in his usage than Shadow. Even if he doesn't have as many mandates (something that's in question, since SoJ seems to hold him in dome degree of "regard" like they do Shadow), his every appearance by default is going to revolve around either Angel Island, returning to Angel Island if he's been displaced from it for whatever reason, or guarding the Master Emerald on Angel Island. They are literally not allowed to do any other story with him.
Even Movie Knuckles, the ONLY version of him to truly avoid this hell, was nearly subjected to it until Jeff Fowler and the rest of the crew went "that's retarded, unfair, and cruel" and changed it.