Tag Archives: Sonic Adventure

Sonic Adventure 2 (Dreamcast)

Sonic Adventure 2

Developer(s) – Sonic Team USA

Publisher(s) – Sega

Director(s) – Takashi Lizuka

Producer(s) – Yuji Naka

PEGI – 7

Released to a generally favorable response from critics at the time, Sonic Adventure 2 delivered a much different Gameplay experience from the original Sonic Adventure with a more linear play progression, a side quest beloved by many Sonic fans. And the introduction of new characters such as Shadow the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat. I did spend a great deal of time playing through this game multiple times when I was a kid. But going back into it with an entirely new perspective, I’ve come to the conclusion that I prefer the original game for a number of reasons. 

Graphics – 9/10

The main thing Sonic Adventure 2 improves on its predecessor, however, is the quality of the visuals on the technical level. Some cutscenes are even presented at 60 frames per second unlike the first. Which was presented entirely at 30 frames per second throughout. From a conceptual standpoint, it’s just as wonderfully varied as the first game was taking place in vibrant cities, deep jungles, space stations, and even pyramids. As far as graphics go, it was most definitely one of the best-looking games on the Dreamcast. 

Gameplay – 8/10

The gameplay is structured much differently than the original too. As opposed to having six different overlapping scenarios, there are two scenarios to play between the heroes of the game and the villains, with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles making up the heroes. And Dr. Robotnik, Shadow the Hedgehog, and Rouge the Bat making up the villains.

The gameplay structure is far less open-ended than the original with merely two predetermined paths. With the added side quest of Chao raising, which is like raising a farm of Tamagotchis. Some players even think that the Chao raising is the best aspect of the game. But to me, in comparison to the first, it falls below par. The gameplay concept of the original game needed to be expanded in the right way. And the developers didn’t do that, making for a more than decent gameplay experience. But just not the experience it could’ve been. 

Controls – 7.5/10

The control scheme is as varied as in the original game, with both Tails and Robotnik in mobile robots this time around. Differing from how Tails handled it in the first game. But the problem. Being is that Sonic’s control scheme, along with Shadow’s, is the same as what is the first Sonic Adventure. And as such, it still presents the same problems. If anything, they actually seem more prevalent as there are fewer open locations than there were in the first game. So although there are positives in regards to the controls, there are enough negatives to keep it as lacking in fluency as the first game. 

Lifespan – 4/10

The biggest downgrade compared to the first game, however, is in regards to the Lifespan. The first game lasted an underwhelmingly short amount of time anyway at 8 hours. But the second game can only be made to last about half that time. Which for a game in a series as popular as Sonic is unacceptable. The point of a sequel is to build on the ideas perpetuated by the first in an attempt to create a better game. And having the second last less time than the first is not building on the first in a positive way. 

Storyline – 8/10

One aspect in which there have been improvements made, however, is in the story and the dialogue. The six characters involved are in the search for the seven chaos emeralds again. But this time, Dr. Robotnik enlists the help of Shadow The Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat to find the emeralds to activate a weapon capable of destroying planets to ensure his dominance over the world. Although there are serious Star Wars vibes, almost to the point of self-parody in fact, the element that makes this game’s story much more interesting than the last is Shadow. On the surface, he seems no better than the likes of Robotnik. But after slowly learning his back story, the player can come to empathize, or maybe even sympathize with him like I ended up doing. 

Originality – 5/10

The game stands out from the original but in many of the wrong ways. Although the overall experience isn’t bad by any means, it’s just not the game it could’ve been developed into in my opinion. And it left me wanting so much more than what is offered. It’s an exceptional example of how not to build on a successful game. Giving players a somewhat watered-down experience. In the end, I found myself asking a lot of what-if questions about this game. And to me, it’s always a bad sign when I find myself doing so. Because it’s a clear indication of the game falling short in comparison to what it could’ve been given a little more development time. 

Happii

However, as much as I have criticized this game, Sonic Adventure 2 is still an enjoyable gaming experience with a fair bit to offer for the short time it lasts. Although it’s nowhere near the quality of the game it had the potential to be, it just about does enough to be considered a worthwhile sequel. 

Score

42/60

7/10 (Fair)

Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast)

Sonic Adventure

Developer(s) – Sonic Team

Publisher(s) – Sega

Director – Takashi Lizuki

Producer – Yuji Naka

PEGI – 7

Though I don’t believe it to be a great game by any means, I think Sonic Adventure is certainly the best direction that Sega has taken in its long-running franchise. It’s the most enjoyable to play in my opinion, and also has the franchise’s best story attached to it.

Graphics – 8.5/10

From a technical standpoint, the Dreamcast was a gaming generation ahead of its time. With the most powerful graphics engine ever included in a home console. By that token alone, the visuals in Sonic Adventure were cutting-edge. Though there were a few glitches left unpolished, nothing like that had ever been seen. Conceptually, the game is a little bit weak. But for the most part, it’s as compelling as any other Sonic the Hedgehog game was before it. There were also some particularly enjoyable boss fights and enemy designs thrown in for good measure.

Gameplay – 7.5/10

What I like best about Sonic Adventure is the RPG element that was added to it in the form of multiple playable characters. Besides playing Sonic, players can go through the story as Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. As well as two new characters to the series: Big the Cat and E-102 Gamma. However, compared to other 3D platformers, I wish much more could have been added for how big the in-game world is and how much there is to explore. Especially as there was a lot more than this in many other games featuring primary video game mascots at the time. Such as Mario or even Crash Bandicoot.

Controls – 8/10

Again, I found myself having the same issues with the controls as I had done in most other Sonic games I’ve played throughout the years. It was pretty annoying in this game. Players can move around the open-world environment particularly quickly. And are consequently prone to banging into things very easily. It’s especially a problem whilst playing as Sonic. But it’s nowhere near as bad whilst playing with other characters. Such as Big or Gamma.

Lifespan – 5.5/10

The entire game can be completed within around 7 to 8 hours. This is particularly underwhelming given that it’s a semi-open world game. Again, I’d put it down to players not having much to do outside the game’s main objectives, and there was definitely room for more to make this game as entertaining and as immersed as possible. It wasn’t as if side quests were unheard of even at the time, and I would point it out as the game’s most standout flaw.

Storyline – 7.5/10

Sonic Adventures follows Sonic and company as they resolve to collect the seven Chaos emeralds before Dr. Eggman, who plans to use the emeralds to restore the monster Chaos to its full power destroy the city of Station Square, and build his own city. Though the story is simple in basic premise, there are certain sequences and individual character narratives that really stand out, such as E-102 Gamma’s own part in the game, for example. But what lets it down mightily is that the voice acting is particularly weak, to say the least. There are moments in the game where the dialogue is embarrassingly scripted, and it makes the game at times pretty difficult to take seriously.

Originality – 6/10

Though it stands out from other 3D platformers in the way that there are so many playable characters and gives the game a considerable amount of variety in gameplay, it is overall fairly generic compared to other 3D platformers around even at the time. I can’t help but feel that if the lack of side quests had been addressed during development, Sonic Adventures could have been much more than what it turned out to be.

Happii

Overall, Sonic Adventures is without a doubt the best game in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, but it was easily improvable. I think the best and most effective way to revive the series would simply be to make another game like this but to tailor it in the manner of a typical sequel; have everything bigger and better than the former game.

Score

43/60

7/10 (Fair)