Sonic's last dash for Dreamcast (Sonic Adventure 2 (DC))

Member Name: johnpaul

Product:	Sonic Adventure 2 (DC)
Date:	22/07/01 (227 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great eye-candy, replayable levels, Level design

Disadvantages: Knuckles/Rouge levels, Occasionally messed up camera, MOR rock soundtrack

Sonic is ten years old, and marks the prestigious date by making his last appearance on a Sega branded console before heading off to other hardware...

Somehow I missed his 16bit outings, and my real first inroduction to the blue hedgehog was Sonic Adventure, one of the launch titles for the Dreamcast. It was a strange mix. Fast, action-packed 3D recreations of Sonics 2D megadrive levels met awkward 'adventure' roaming levels.
Dazzling graphics often betrayed inadequacies in framerate and draw distance, while the game itself showed occasional glimpses of inspiration.

I had a soft spot for Sonic Adventure, despite it's obvious flaws, and was looking forward to Sonic 2, hoping that Sonic Team had managed to put right the wrongs of Sonic's first Dreamcast outing, and expand upon it's successes, and, more or less, that's what they've done.

The weak characters from SA1 have been quickly dispensed with (but a quick eye will spot a cameo of the fishing cat on the level based on the golden gate bridge.) and now they're are two parts to play on the 'story' mode. 'Hero' and 'Dark'. In Hero you take control of Sonic, Tails (now permanently controlling a transformed Tornado plane) and Knuckles, and in Dark it's Dr. Robotnik (in a mech-type walker similar to Knuckles walking plane), 'Shadow' a dark, genetically engineered version of Sonic, and Rouge the Bat (Knuckles mirrored character) as you can see each character is mirrored between 'Hero' and 'Dark' and each pair get to play through some of the same levels.

The weaker 'adventuring' levels from SA1 are gone, with only the action stages remaining, interspersed with cut scenes to link the storyline.

The Shadow and Sonic quick action levels are fun, but are interspersed with the other characters levels, Tails and Robotnik's levels are pretty fun shoot 'em ups in the vein of the E-1
02 Gamma robot from the first game, holding down the fire button to lock onto as many enemies at once to score big bonuses.
The Knuckles and Rouge treasure finding levels, though, can be a bit tedious compared to the full on action of the other character's levels. Dependent on a radar at the bottom of the screen that beeps quicker when nearer to the crystal shards/keys etc. you must find the items within time limits.

The graphics can truly dazzle in this game. From San Francisco style streets, to aircraft carriers and space stations, they never let up. Draw distance and framerate are noticeably improved, with hardly any slowdown from the smooth 60fps.

The game generally becomes more enjoyable as you play it, with the graphics and the levels becoming more impressive as you progress. The gameplay can be hit and miss, and no, the camera isn't entirely perfect, but I wouldn't say it hits the gameplay too badly, and when you head out into huge, glittering levels with gravity switches and platforms in space, you know you're onto a good thing - and even a couple of the Knuckles/Rouge levels can't fail to impress which their sheer size.

The music is still, mainly, MOR type rock (what is it with bad rock and Sega?) but with the occasionally more bearable track here and there.

On the level select mode you can replay each level to get an 'A' grade in five different objectives - significantly lengthening the amount of time you'll be playing the game, and you will want to play the levels again, at least the Sonic/Shadow levels - and there's even some 2 player racing and kart games thrown in for good measure. Add to this the expanded Chao raising...which I admit I don't really dabble with, but I'm sure it's some peoples bag.

Far from perfect, but a ride that's still great fun, and great to look at. If you liked SA1, you can't fail to enjoy SA2 - this GD-Rom may spend a good t
ime in the drive of you DC.

Summary: