WEM 06 - Sonic Adventure 2 (battle)
Welcome to my next review. My third favourite of all time Sonic Adventure 2. Went though the hero side story and raised my little Shigeru high enough to finally beat that git Flash. Went into a panic when I couldn't find him, turns out he was in Adventure DX. Wish I knew that before I frantically checked every tiny chao garden I had.
Also makes it the fourth time I've gotten the 180 emblems.
Anyway here's the review and I hope to have Super Smash Bros Melee's done tomorrow (which is my 5th fav game, SOAL is my 4th)
---------------------------------
There is still much love for the blue blur. Maybe he’s not a console seller but generally since he went multi format Sonic game sales have regularly been high. Sonic Adventure 2 probably won’t be as recognised by the non hardcore as say the Mega Drive/Genesis Classics, but shall we condemn it now and wait for one that will?
Generally a marmite game, Sonic Adventure 2 is hated by many but loved by some. I’m in the latter category but I’m going to try and stay neutral despite being Sonic’s biggest fan. So why do I rate this so highly and why is it in my list of favourite games? Read on.
Sonic Adventure 2 was released in June 2001 for Sonic’s tenth anniversary. Later an enhanced port with the subtitle battle was released at launch for the Gamecube. It attempts to give Sonic a decent enough plot to follow and hopes to bring the series into 3D. In some areas it succeeds, in others it fails.
One of the biggest issues seems to be incorporating all the characters of the past. You see stick with just Sonic and you’ll have an uproar from fans of other characters. Use too many and you’ll be criticised for it. Sonic Team attempt to cover the middle ground, sticking with the basic three Sonic, Tails and Knuckles, and giving them darker counterparts, Shadow, Dr. Eggman and Rouge.
However some of the more unique features of Tails and Knuckles don’t translate all that well from 2D to 3D. Flying through the stages freely as Tails is a massive task due to the length of Sonic levels. Knuckles exploration moves like Climbing and Gliding don’t work either. So instead they split the game into 3 smaller games. Racing style Platforming for Sonic, Exploring areas for treasure for Knuckles, and Shooting enemies from an armoured mech for Tails.
This is what will make or break the game for you and what makes it a marmite game. Hate one style; you’ll wonder why they poison the game with it. Like all three and it’ll be a favourite.
Anyway let’s start be analysing these three gameplay styles. Traditionally Sonic and his dark counterpart Shadow race through levels at high speed. They appeal to the player who likes to beat times, testing reflexes and quick moves more than anything else. If you’re the type that wants to see what it’s like on the building in the distance you’ll be sorely disappointed. Levels are usually thin tracks, much like a racing game, which you’ll be expected to do quickly and efficiently.
For what it intends to achieve it does it very well. You keep going forward at high speeds and you won’t suffer from many problems. The better you play this game the better it responds to you. Play poorly and the camera will be your worst foe. Like most 3D platformers this game has camera that attempts to make you do something, rather than give you the freedom to explore. Though if you wanted to explore levels this isn’t for you.
That’s left for Knuckles and his Dark counterpart Rouge. Their levels have you searching areas, which get bigger as you progress, for special items hidden in random locations. To help you, you get a hot/cold radar system to help you pinpoint their locations. Like most of Sonic they expect you to learn how to do this quickly and efficiently for the higher scores and ranks. Fortunately both are equipped with climbing, digging and gliding skills to help you get to those dark corners they may be hiding in.
In between them two styles if the shooting style. Either as Tails or Dr. Eggman (Robotnik if you just can’t let go of that, either name is seen as acceptable); you’ll proceed through a thin track like Sonic but at a much slower pace. The aim here is to get you to shoot everything down while still proceeding through the level quickly. Locking on to many enemies at once before shooting rather than shooting each one individually will give you a higher score. Much like most shooters on the market actually.
If you hate one of these three styles you’ll condemn the game due to the fact you have to play them. There are no options to only play one style of gameplay. Though each style does set out what it achieves to do well with a common theme of speed throughout.
Actually that only applies to the story. More on the other modes later but as far as the story mode goes it’s both a blessing and a curse. It is ridiculously easily to complete, obviously designed to give some challenge but to let the story flow naturally. No waiting at a checkpoint for days when you want to know what happens next. It really won’t last you all that long. It’s a good plot though. Enough questions to keep theorising fans happy, enjoyable enough to keep the rest mildly entertained. Not the most amazing story but then it’s never been about the story.
Where Sonic Adventure 2 gets its length from is the stage select mode. Here you can attempt 4 extra missions per level that has you collecting 100 rings, finding a lost Chao, doing it within a strict time limit and finally the very challenging hard mode. Each has its own score and rank system and to really get the most of the game you’re expected to get every A rank, which involves mastering each level almost perfectly. Here’s where the challenge really starts to kick in.
Amongst all this is the last time we’ve seen the brilliant A-life system called Chao. When you want to cool down and take things a little more casually you’ll have the option to raise your own little creature, increase their stats then race (of fight in the GCN version) them in tournaments. Some may find this boring but others might relish in playing with a child like creature.
Added to all this is a fairly decent multiplayer mode, again split in the three styles. It’s quite a lot of fun but not enough to challenge the more famous titles in this area. It’s a nice extra that’s reminiscent of the 2 player mode in Sonic 2.
There are also boss rush modes and a kart racing mini game, which all in all gives you plenty of options and lots to do. This is why I personally love this game. I feel a good indication of how good a game is, is how long it lasts. Getting all 180 emblems is a lengthy challenge, and with times and scores to beat there is potential for it to last even longer. I’ve done it four times, each taking at least 20 hours, with the longest being 77 hours, and have enjoyed it every time.
Visually at the time it was very impressive. Characters felt a little more 3D with areas such as eyes bulging out. Compare this to the later 3D Sonics where individual areas like these merge into one. You felt like it was pushing a system too, whereas the later ones seem like they are going at the speed of the slowest. Cities seem to expand for miles even if you can’t explore them, and levels are generally huge. Even today playing on the ARK levels is a treat for the eyes.
Sound wise things are very Sonic mixed in with another rock soundtrack. This is another area that’s hit and miss but I personally love it. Music is usually used to highlight the games better moments, such as the brilliant opening, the awesome finish and the more tense moments in between. If you didn’t like the soundtrack of Adventure, Heroes or Shadow, Adventure 2 is more of the same and I don’t see it ever changing.
Overall Sonic Adventure 2 is a thrilling adrenaline rush from start to finish, that may occasionally slow down a little. If you’re not the type to master levels for good ranks, which in turn leads to cool unlockables, or you prefer games at a much slower pace with more freedom, then this isn’t for you. But if this is what you want there’s so much in this game on offer to you, you’d be foolish not to at least try it yourself.
+ Loads of missions, modes and stuff to unlock
+ Gameplay styles change frequently giving you a little variation as you play
+ Great replay value
- Gameplay styles change frequently, even when you only want to play one style.
- Poor Camera, especially why you try to explore
- Levels can be too restrictive for some
9 out of 10
Also makes it the fourth time I've gotten the 180 emblems.
Anyway here's the review and I hope to have Super Smash Bros Melee's done tomorrow (which is my 5th fav game, SOAL is my 4th)
---------------------------------
There is still much love for the blue blur. Maybe he’s not a console seller but generally since he went multi format Sonic game sales have regularly been high. Sonic Adventure 2 probably won’t be as recognised by the non hardcore as say the Mega Drive/Genesis Classics, but shall we condemn it now and wait for one that will?
Generally a marmite game, Sonic Adventure 2 is hated by many but loved by some. I’m in the latter category but I’m going to try and stay neutral despite being Sonic’s biggest fan. So why do I rate this so highly and why is it in my list of favourite games? Read on.
Sonic Adventure 2 was released in June 2001 for Sonic’s tenth anniversary. Later an enhanced port with the subtitle battle was released at launch for the Gamecube. It attempts to give Sonic a decent enough plot to follow and hopes to bring the series into 3D. In some areas it succeeds, in others it fails.
One of the biggest issues seems to be incorporating all the characters of the past. You see stick with just Sonic and you’ll have an uproar from fans of other characters. Use too many and you’ll be criticised for it. Sonic Team attempt to cover the middle ground, sticking with the basic three Sonic, Tails and Knuckles, and giving them darker counterparts, Shadow, Dr. Eggman and Rouge.
However some of the more unique features of Tails and Knuckles don’t translate all that well from 2D to 3D. Flying through the stages freely as Tails is a massive task due to the length of Sonic levels. Knuckles exploration moves like Climbing and Gliding don’t work either. So instead they split the game into 3 smaller games. Racing style Platforming for Sonic, Exploring areas for treasure for Knuckles, and Shooting enemies from an armoured mech for Tails.
This is what will make or break the game for you and what makes it a marmite game. Hate one style; you’ll wonder why they poison the game with it. Like all three and it’ll be a favourite.
Anyway let’s start be analysing these three gameplay styles. Traditionally Sonic and his dark counterpart Shadow race through levels at high speed. They appeal to the player who likes to beat times, testing reflexes and quick moves more than anything else. If you’re the type that wants to see what it’s like on the building in the distance you’ll be sorely disappointed. Levels are usually thin tracks, much like a racing game, which you’ll be expected to do quickly and efficiently.
For what it intends to achieve it does it very well. You keep going forward at high speeds and you won’t suffer from many problems. The better you play this game the better it responds to you. Play poorly and the camera will be your worst foe. Like most 3D platformers this game has camera that attempts to make you do something, rather than give you the freedom to explore. Though if you wanted to explore levels this isn’t for you.
That’s left for Knuckles and his Dark counterpart Rouge. Their levels have you searching areas, which get bigger as you progress, for special items hidden in random locations. To help you, you get a hot/cold radar system to help you pinpoint their locations. Like most of Sonic they expect you to learn how to do this quickly and efficiently for the higher scores and ranks. Fortunately both are equipped with climbing, digging and gliding skills to help you get to those dark corners they may be hiding in.
In between them two styles if the shooting style. Either as Tails or Dr. Eggman (Robotnik if you just can’t let go of that, either name is seen as acceptable); you’ll proceed through a thin track like Sonic but at a much slower pace. The aim here is to get you to shoot everything down while still proceeding through the level quickly. Locking on to many enemies at once before shooting rather than shooting each one individually will give you a higher score. Much like most shooters on the market actually.
If you hate one of these three styles you’ll condemn the game due to the fact you have to play them. There are no options to only play one style of gameplay. Though each style does set out what it achieves to do well with a common theme of speed throughout.
Actually that only applies to the story. More on the other modes later but as far as the story mode goes it’s both a blessing and a curse. It is ridiculously easily to complete, obviously designed to give some challenge but to let the story flow naturally. No waiting at a checkpoint for days when you want to know what happens next. It really won’t last you all that long. It’s a good plot though. Enough questions to keep theorising fans happy, enjoyable enough to keep the rest mildly entertained. Not the most amazing story but then it’s never been about the story.
Where Sonic Adventure 2 gets its length from is the stage select mode. Here you can attempt 4 extra missions per level that has you collecting 100 rings, finding a lost Chao, doing it within a strict time limit and finally the very challenging hard mode. Each has its own score and rank system and to really get the most of the game you’re expected to get every A rank, which involves mastering each level almost perfectly. Here’s where the challenge really starts to kick in.
Amongst all this is the last time we’ve seen the brilliant A-life system called Chao. When you want to cool down and take things a little more casually you’ll have the option to raise your own little creature, increase their stats then race (of fight in the GCN version) them in tournaments. Some may find this boring but others might relish in playing with a child like creature.
Added to all this is a fairly decent multiplayer mode, again split in the three styles. It’s quite a lot of fun but not enough to challenge the more famous titles in this area. It’s a nice extra that’s reminiscent of the 2 player mode in Sonic 2.
There are also boss rush modes and a kart racing mini game, which all in all gives you plenty of options and lots to do. This is why I personally love this game. I feel a good indication of how good a game is, is how long it lasts. Getting all 180 emblems is a lengthy challenge, and with times and scores to beat there is potential for it to last even longer. I’ve done it four times, each taking at least 20 hours, with the longest being 77 hours, and have enjoyed it every time.
Visually at the time it was very impressive. Characters felt a little more 3D with areas such as eyes bulging out. Compare this to the later 3D Sonics where individual areas like these merge into one. You felt like it was pushing a system too, whereas the later ones seem like they are going at the speed of the slowest. Cities seem to expand for miles even if you can’t explore them, and levels are generally huge. Even today playing on the ARK levels is a treat for the eyes.
Sound wise things are very Sonic mixed in with another rock soundtrack. This is another area that’s hit and miss but I personally love it. Music is usually used to highlight the games better moments, such as the brilliant opening, the awesome finish and the more tense moments in between. If you didn’t like the soundtrack of Adventure, Heroes or Shadow, Adventure 2 is more of the same and I don’t see it ever changing.
Overall Sonic Adventure 2 is a thrilling adrenaline rush from start to finish, that may occasionally slow down a little. If you’re not the type to master levels for good ranks, which in turn leads to cool unlockables, or you prefer games at a much slower pace with more freedom, then this isn’t for you. But if this is what you want there’s so much in this game on offer to you, you’d be foolish not to at least try it yourself.
+ Loads of missions, modes and stuff to unlock
+ Gameplay styles change frequently giving you a little variation as you play
+ Great replay value
- Gameplay styles change frequently, even when you only want to play one style.
- Poor Camera, especially why you try to explore
- Levels can be too restrictive for some
9 out of 10
posted by Master hunter at 1:47 am
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