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Sonic Adventure 2

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Critic Reviews 86% add missing review

Video Game Critic, The (A) (100%)

The animation is silky smooth, but the character speech doesn't match up with their lip movements, making it look like a bad martial arts flick. Personally, I thought Sonic was much cooler before they gave him that wimpy voice! I also can't forget to mention the music - it's outstanding. From rock to rap, original songs were specifically composed for each stage. In addition, for those who care, those worthless "Chao" virtual pets are back with some new VMU games. Sonic Adventure 2 is a wild ride, one every Dreamcast owner will appreciate.

Jun 27th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

SegaFan.com (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

¿Es Sonic Adventure 2 el mejor juego de plataformas? ¿Es el mejor Sonic? A lo primero yo creo que sí, es el mejor junto a Mario 64, yo no me decido por ninguno de los dos, por que los dos tienen su esencia, su carisma. A lo segundo como todo el mundo dice es el mås ambicioso, pero que queréis que os diga, para mi sí, pero eso siempre lo juzgaréis vosotros, yo solo aporto mi humilde opinión de "viciao" xDDD.

Dec 15th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Meristation (9.5 out of 10) (95%)

En el 10 año de vida de SONIC, Sega tira la casa por la ventana (esas sonrisas) y nos demuestra que en esto de las plataformas y la velocidad y como diría la canción... Con dinero o sin dinero, hacen siempre lo que quieren y su palabra es la ley, no tiene trono ni reina, ni nadie que lo comprenda, pero SONIC sigue siendo EL REY!.

Jun 26th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

IGN (9.4 out of 10) (94%)

There's so much I could talk about because Sonic Adventure 2 delivers so much gameplay on one GD-ROM. It's rather unfortunate that some of you dear readers out there, as well as some of my "peers" gave the final verdict to Sonic Adventure 2 without experiencing a lot of the wonderful gameplay modes. I was also teetering on giving this a slightly lower score until I finished the game with the full ending. Even then, there's still a lot of gameplay to enjoy as I have a feeling I'll be replaying the later levels, if not to find hidden areas, but because I want this wonderful feeling to last. Sonic might appear on other next generation systems in the future, but right now, all I care about is playing one of the best Sonic games ever on one of the best consoles ever. If this is the last Sonic game in these declining Dreamcast years, it's satisfying to know that the DC didn't go out with a bang, but with a sonic boom.

Jun 22nd, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

VicioJuegos.com / uVeJuegos.com (94 out of 100) (94%)

Acabando, este es el mejor plataformas de DC de largo y el mejor hasta la fecha de cualquier plataforma. Largo, muy largo, variado (auqnue las fases de exploraciĂłn pueden llegar a cansar), con una calidad tĂ©cnica sublime (con el Ășnico defecto de la cĂĄmara) y una jugabilidad propia de la saga: vertiginosa. La despedida del erizo azul de las consolas SEGA y de su dĂ©cimo aniversario no podĂ­a ser mejor, con un tĂ­tulo cinco estrellas. ÂżEres un hĂ©roe, o un villano? ÂżSalvarĂĄs el mundo o lo dominarĂĄs? DecĂ­delo jugando a Sonic Adventure 2.

May 21st, 2006 · Dreamcast · read review

Shin Force (9.3 out of 10) (93%)

If you like top notch action along with a very playable adventure, then look no further. Sonic Team shows the world how to make games (again), and this one's just in time for the celebration... That would be the 10th Anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog!

Dec 15th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Gaming Target (9.3 out of 10) (93%)

In my opinion, Sonic Team pulled off a huge feat and made the best Sonic game ever. The characters are great, it’s fast, extremely fun, and it looks magnificent. Even though Sonic Adventure 2 wasn’t a flawless showing for Sonic and this pals, it’s still a must own title for Dreamcast (and Sonic) fans.

Jun 25th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Consoles Plus (92 out of 100) (92%)

La réalisation est assez époustouflante. L'animation est speed, la jouabilité instinctive, et on peut désormais jouer à deux. Un des jeux phares de la DC.

Jul 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

4Players.de (92 out of 100) (92%)

Ihr wollt den Geschwindigkeitsrausch? Aber auch Shooter-Action? Und Adventure-Flair? Und Mini-Games? All das bietet Euch Sonic Adventure 2 in Prachtgrafik. Zehn Jahre nach dem ersten und Ă€ußerst erfolgreichen Sonic-Game, prĂ€sentieren die Entwickler wieder einen Top-Hit, der an den Erfolg des Originals anknĂŒpft und sowohl Sonic-Fans als auch Einsteiger begeistern wird: Das Game ist optisch ein Genuss, spielerisch voller Abwechslung und bietet - was bei Konsolenspielen nicht selbstverstĂ€ndlich ist- Langzeitmotivation. Wer den letzten Beweis fĂŒr das Potenzial der Dreamcast braucht, sollte sofort zugreifen!

Jun 28th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Next Level, The (USA) (A-) (91%)

And so in conclusion, how much do the downers in Sonic Adventure 2 detract from the game's greatness? Well, I have to say after playing the game through all the way, very little. The game as a whole is good enough to make the problems, in hindsight, seem a bit minor. And while I have to say that as, broken down to it's components, it's a weaker game than its precursor, but on the whole, Sonic Adventure 2 manages to deliver a worthy sequel. Good stuff.

Jul 5th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

GamersMark (9 out of 10) (90%)

I thought to my self after i played this game "buy the game now!" So what are you waiting for you heard my review go buy the game its awesome. Remember Sonic is Back but with his Evil side!

Jul 25th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Gamekult (9 out of 10) (90%)

Sonic fait ses adieux Ă  la Dreamcast de la plus belle maniĂšre qui soit en offrant aux joueurs ce qui est assurĂ©ment une de ses toutes meilleures prestations. La Sonic Team rĂ©ussit le tour de force de prĂ©server tout l'attrait qu'on peut avoir envers un jeu dont l'ossature n'a pourtant pas changĂ© depuis 10 longues annĂ©es. En apportant toujours plus, en polissant, en amĂ©liorant sans relĂąche au fil du temps. RĂ©alisation en bĂ©ton, gameplay rĂ©ussi et durĂ©e de vie consĂ©quente permettent Ă  cet ultime Ă©pisode de ne pas dĂ©roger Ă  la rĂšgle. Au mĂȘme titre qu'un Mario, Sonic a toujours Ă©tĂ© une valeur sĂ»re, et il le reste cette fois encore.

Jun 25th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

GamePro (US) (4.5 out of 5) (90%)

Additionally, mastering the controls of six different characters gives Sonic 2 enough variety in its gameplay to make it addicting to the very end. Sonic Adventure 2 continues the Hedgehog?s legacy in impeccable form. Brilliantly showcasing marvelous visuals, hip tunes, and a diversity of playable characters, Sonic runs at supersonic speeds to deafening fun. Feel the rush with one of the Dreamcast?s last fantastic games.

Jun 19th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Defunct Games (90 out of 100) (90%)

As a whole, Sonic Adventure 2 stands as a remarkable game stemming from pure Sega ingenuity. The controls are familiar and the style and flare from the first has been raised to an entirely new level! Better options, different narrative structure, and new characters bring an onslaught of advancements over the former Sonic Adventure. While many of us are willing to play games that cause you to painstakingly waste time by backtracking for hours on end, the rest of us prefer a quick-paced, action-packed game. And even though Sonic Adventure 2 does lack a sense of complexity, the game is sure not to disappoint with its continuous flow of adventure and exceptional surroundings.

Feb 27th, 2005 · Dreamcast · read review

Eurogamer.net (UK) (9 out of 10) (90%)

Sonic Adventure 2 is a triumph. Whilst its predecessor was a fantastic game in its own right, it could be a little overbearing with the "adventure" aspect, and with this Sega have gone back to Sonic's roots in style - buy it now.

Jun 23rd, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Adrenaline Vault, The (AVault) ( ) (90%)

While it’s not perfect by any means, Sonic Adventure 2 is easily the best platform jumper available for the Dreamcast today and a solid contender as one of the top five platformers of all time. By providing players with three distinct characters, all of whom possess unique abilities, this is, essentially, three games in one. While there are some minor control issues that may hamper the fun, the camera has at least shown signs of improvement over the original Sonic Adventure. Some might argue that switching the focus away from the lead character and his unique skills distills the purity of the Sonic license, but the change of pace provided by this system makes for a more complete, challenging and entertaining experience. Even better, you can take a break from your role as a hero and play evil equivalents of Sonic and his friends — further mixing up the levels, goals and storyline.

Aug 27th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Gamezone (Germany) (8.8 out of 10) (88%)

Sonic Adventure 2 kann seinen VorgĂ€nger noch mal ĂŒbertreffen und bietet jede Menge Spielspaß fĂŒr alle Fans des Genres. Allerdings leidet Sonic Adventure 2, wie jedes 3D-JumpÂŽnÂŽRun, teilweise etwas an UnĂŒbersichtlichkeit, was den Spielfluss etwas ins stocken geraten lĂ€sst.

Jun 27th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Power Unlimited (88 out of 100) (88%)

Beste Sonic, namens de gehele redactie en alle lezers van de PU gefeliciteerd met je 10e verjaardag, ouwe egel!

Sep 2001 · Dreamcast

SegaFan.com (8.7 out of 10) (87%)

En resumen, un excelente juego de Sonic, probablemente no el mejor, pero sin ninguna duda uno de los mĂĄs trabajados juegos de plataformas que jamĂĄs haya visto la luz en consola alguna. El Sonic Team se merece un enorme aplauso, y el Ășnico erizo azul del planeta tambiĂ©n; hay que reconocer que es difĂ­cil mantenerse en lo mĂĄs alto durante 10 años sin quedar anticuado ni perder la esencia del comienzo, y Ă©l lo ha conseguido. Nuestra prĂłxima cita serĂĄ en las consolas de Nintendo, donde esperamos con ansiedad su estreno. Yo no me pienso perder la batalla de Sonic y Mario en las propias consolas de la competencia, Âżvosotros?

Dec 4th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

GameSpot (8.6 out of 10) (86%)

Unlike movie sequels, video game sequels generally have a legitimate chance at being superior to the original. Developers are able to learn new hardware techniques and are able to create a more visually robust product with the sequel, and feedback from critics and consumers alike let them make specific tweaks to the gameplay system. Such is the case with Sonic Adventure 2: Sonic Team listened to the complaints about the first Sonic Adventure--the uninspired voice acting, the camera problems that interfered detrimentally with the gameplay, the tedious and often tiresome adventure sequences--and has responded with Sonic Adventure 2, a streamlined action game that gives a determined nod to the original, and still classic, 2D Sonic the Hedgehog games. The ghosts of those original 2D Sonic titles are exorcised in the game's amazing pace, heart-pounding platform jumping action, and in the unyielding barrage of creatively designed levels--much more so than the original Sonic Adventure.

Jun 19th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Gamezilla (85 out of 100) (85%)

Here is another gem in the Dreamcast library. I beat up the camera angle a little bit, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it past those odd situations. In all actuality, SA2 is an excellent purchase title in what will ultimately be a limited number of Dreamcast games released this year. Anyone of any age will enjoy this game if for no other reason than the rocket fast Sonic/Shadow levels and excellent graphics.

Jul 26th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Gamer's Pulse (85 out of 100) (85%)

The question is how long can the player remain happily engaged in chugging through the limited game modes without asking, “why weren’t all of these incorporated into a single, continuous experience?” The answer for most is: long enough to warrant a purchase. There is a lot to play here, and most of it is fun for a decent while. SA2 is a good title from a great development house, and one of a few good notes for the DC to exit on.

Jun 20th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Game Vortex (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

It's not perfect, but Sonic Adventure 2 offers plenty of fun to any gamer willing to give it a shot. With sharp graphics, tons of levels, and enough replay value to keep you coming back for more trying to get all of the emblems, you'll find Sonic Adventure 2 is a worthy addition to your Dreamcast library. Yes, I could have done without the Knuckles/Rouge levels, but the rest of the game ranges from solid to brilliant. Good job, Sonic Team.

Dec 8th, 2002 · Dreamcast · read review

Planet Dreamcast (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

This is without a doubt one of the best 3D platformers I have ever played on the Dreamcast, or on any other console for that matter. A decade from now when you look back and start waxing nostalgic about platformers, Sonic Adventure 2 will likely spring to mind, and a tear will appear in your eye. Once you wipe the dust from said eye, you'll want to pull the Dreamcast out of the closet and give SA2 a whirl. Most will overlook the game's problems and have a really good time with it. And while it doesn't offer much in terms of innovation or make platform fans out of everyone, gamers itching for a great new Sonic adventure won't likely be disappointed. I can only wish all developers made their games this good.

Jun 29th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Power Sonic (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

É inegĂĄvel que Sonic Adventure 2 Ă© bem mais refinado que o Sonic Adventure. Os Ă©picos bugs de cĂąmera de seu antecessor foram bastante reduzidos, o que nĂŁo quer dizer que o game nĂŁo tenha uma cĂąmera perfeita. A CĂąmera ainda Ă© falha, mas estĂĄ bem mais aperfeiçoada. Os grĂĄficos continuam tĂŁo bons ou melhores que o seu antecessor. As cutscenes nĂŁo estĂŁo ainda ideais, mas foram bastante melhoradas em relação ao antecessor. Os personagens continuam tendo movimentos robĂłticos e Ă s vezes ficam deformados. De vez em quando eles nem abrem a boca para falar. A dublagem Ă© boa apenas com o ĂĄudio em japonĂȘs, pois os movimentos da boca ficam bem sincronizados. JĂĄ em inglĂȘs fica muito estranho. AlguĂ©m fala e muito tempo depois ele abre a boca.

Jan 31st, 2015 · Dreamcast · read review

Game Freaks 365 (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

Like I said earlier, you can choose as either Hero or Dark mode. If you choose Hero you will play as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. You play as Shadow, Robotnik, and Rouge in Dark mode. Each will take an average gamer between 4 and 8 hours to beat. Both Hero & Dark are about 30 levels altogether and make for a great game filled with action, excitement, and adventure.

2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Gaming Age (B+) (83%)

Sonic Adventure 2 even with all its faults, is a splendid game that everyone must have in their collection. However, it still can?t be helped that it could have been even greater than it is. It?s still a great Dreamcast farewell present that makes you wonder why the Dreamcast had to die so soon. If you?re a Dreamcast owner you must purchase this title. If you?re not a Dreamcast owner, well, if you got money to spend then go and buy one.

Jun 22nd, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

SEGA-Portal.de (8 out of 10) (80%)

Das hört sich bis jetzt alles ziemlich toll an, doch insgesamt war ich von Sonic Adventure 2 sehr enttĂ€uscht. Warum hat man die Oberwelt gestrichen? Gerade sie war ein wichtiger atmosphĂ€rischer Bestandteil des ersten Teils. Auch die Story ist nicht mehr so sehr ausgefeilt und die Aufteilung in zwei SpielstrĂ€nge lĂ€sst einem nicht so viele Freiheiten. Ich habe es auch lieber wenn sich viele Charaktere eine Welt teilen und nicht jeder seine eigenen bekommt. Kurz und Knapp: Das Feeling und die Begeisterung aus Teil 1 waren weg! Versteht mich nicht falsch, natĂŒrlich macht dieser Sonic-Titel immer noch viel Spaß und weiß dank einiger toll ausgeklĂŒgelter Erweiterungen deutlich lĂ€nger bei Stange zu halten. Auch die Technik ist mal wieder ein Kracher und versetzt einen mehrere Male ins Staunen. Nur das Erlebnis was ich aus Sonic Adventure mitgenommen habe, fand ich hier zu keiner Zeit wieder.

Sep 20th, 2009 · Dreamcast · read review

Retrogaming History (8 out of 10) (80%)

Sonic Adventure 2 ù un platform curato, divertente e con tutte le carte in regola per soddisfare i numerosi fan del genere. Capace d’offrire momenti di vera e propria esaltazione videoludica, quest’ennesima fatica del Sonic Team viene purtroppo pesantemente ridimensionata dal moltiplicarsi di quelle sezioni che, non avendo nulla a che fare con il simpatico porcospino blu e le sue storiche meccaniche, finiscono col tradire un’impostazione di base fondamentalmente vincente.

Aug 28th, 2009 · Dreamcast · read review

G4 Tech: Tech TV ( ) (80%)

In the end, "Sonic Adventure 2" is a fairly solid title, but falls short of the mark for a big Sonic release. After completing a stage, you have the option of moving on to four extra missions for that stage (collect 100 Rings, finish in X amount of time, etc.), but it's hard to imagine wanting to play some of these levels more than once. The Chao World provides some replay value, and several stages are excellent showcases of the Dreamcast's still-impressive power, but Sonic fans will need patience to reach the more rewarding final levels.

Jun 27th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Jeuxvideo.com (16 out of 20) (80%)

Au final, c'est donc un sonic survitaminé et qui n'a pas pris une seule ride que l'on découvre dans cette seconde mouture. Le jeu est rythmé et varié et ne laisse pas une seule seconde de répit si ce n'est lorsqu'il s'agit de se livrer aux courses de Chaos entre les différentes étapes clés de l'aventure. Voici donc un titre au gameplay et à l'action particuliÚrement efficaces et qui permettra de découvrir ou redécouvrir Sonic sous son meilleur jour.

Jun 19th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Computer Bild Spiele (2.03 out of 6) (79%)

Viele Leute haben nur wegen des ersten Sonic-Adventures ihre Dreamcast gekauft. Und der zweite Teil ist noch besser! PĂŒnktlich zum zehnten Geburtstag des blauen Igels kommt das wohl spektakulĂ€rste Spiel fĂŒr Segas letzte Konsole auf den Markt. Dreamcast-Spieler sollten sich diesen KnĂŒller nicht entgehen lassen, denn bessere Grafik, rasantere Action und cooleren Sound bietet noch nicht mal die Playstation 2. Sonic Adventure ist schlicht und einfach „gut“.

Jul 2001 · Dreamcast

Game Revolution (B) (75%)

In the end, I liked Sonic Adventure 2, but it could have been even better. If only they balanced it with a touch more quality in a couple areas in exchange for all the quantity. But grievances like this don't take away enough to ruin the game. There are these beautiful moments where everything seems to be just right. Where the fastest, most arrogant hedgehog leaves a blue streak through a technicolor world. And I am a wide-eyed boy again, tagging along for the race.

Jul 1st, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Super Play (Sweden) (7 out of 10) (70%)

Hur som helst Àr Sonic Adventure 2 sÀmre Àn sin föregÄngare, men fortfarande en juvel bland mÄnga i den kungakrona som fÄr matcha Dreamcasts svepning ned i graven. Om inte annat för att det förmodligen Àr igelkottens sista Sega-exklusiva framtrÀdande.

Aug 2001 · Dreamcast

Electric Playground (6.5 out of 10) (65%)

In the end, Sonic Adventure 2 is a decent diversion and a good time waster. The game plays just as well as a standalone title as it does as a sequel, since the story is independent of the first. Ultimately though, it doesn't have the "wow" factor that the first game had and is somewhat forgettable after you have played it through. Completionists will want it and Sonic fans will love it, everyone else will play though it, have some fun and then wonder what's next. Were this game released by any other developer it would have been lauded as a good first effort, but as a Sonic Team release it is a bit disappointing. We know they can do better.

Jul 30th, 2001 · Dreamcast · read review

Sharkberg ( ) (60%)

If you have a Dreamcast, definitely look into picking this up. It’s a bit more rare (and thus more expensive) than Adventure 1, since this one came out right at the end of Dreamcast’s all-too-short lifespan. But if you have a Gamecube, you can also go for the enhanced edition titled Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, which features more multiplayer levels to enjoy. (I forgot to even mention that there is 2-player split-screen competition in this game. It’s not bad!) Also worth noting, this version of the game has been ported to PS3, Xbox 360, and Steam.

Dec 19th, 2015 · Dreamcast · read review

Player Reviews

Very, very, very fun

The Good
The thing I loved most about this game is it introduced my all time video game character, Shadow. His levels, along with Sonic's, are so fast which is what I love about the Sonic games. The final boss is also one of the things I love. It's challenging and actually fights back, unlike other bosses in the Sonic games. The music in the game was, as always, great for the game.

The Bad
There were few things I didn't like in the game. One thing that I found disappointing is they took away the adventure fields. So far that's all I can think of.

The Bottom Line
Sonic Adventure 2 is a worthy sequel if ever I played one. It has all of your favorite characters and some new faces in the Sonic Team. If you still have your Dreamcast laying around somewhere, play this game and remember the fun times.

by M.Allen (83) on Jun 1st, 2007 · Dreamcast

Better than the first one!

The Good
A massive improvement on Sonic Adventure in every way. Better graphics, gameplay, story line, enemies. Just a better game all round.

The Bad
Over too quickly.

The Bottom Line
Imagine Sonic Adventure and put right everything you didn't like about it and that will give you Sonic Adventure 2.

by Baza (1877) on Feb 28th, 2002 · Dreamcast

Sonic Adventure 2 sends the Dreamcast off with a "Sonic Boom."

The Good
The one line summary of the game I wrote is an actual quote from IGN when they readily updated the Dreamcast portion of their website. It's interesting that the Dreamcast portion of IGN's own network was still active up until 2006 however that isn't what this is about.

This review is about Sonic Adventure 2. Is Sonic Adventure 2 the greatest, most refined 3D Sonic game Sega ever produced? The answer is yes. Why is this the greatest 3D Sonic game ever produced? Let's find out.

Riding on a wave of positive reception garnered by Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2 eliminates problems present in the original game and presents a streamlined format the speeds the game along at the pace of a V2 Rocket. The original Sonic Adventure was a brilliant but flawed experience. There were camera problems and the pace of the game was staggered by the inclusion of redundant characters like Big. Sonic Adventure 2 eliminates the wandering from Sonic Adventure and flows at a pace similar to the original Sonic the Hedgehog games.

The primary difference between Adventure 1 and 2 is the inclusion of Hero and Dark stories. Hero refers to Sonic, Knuckles and Tails and the Dark story refers to Shadow, Rouge and Eggman. The three styles of play are varied but carry over for each equivalent character. Sonic's levels are identical in play style to the original game however Sonic has more moves and some moves like the Light Speed Dash are far easier to pull off. Knuckles stages are identical to those in the original Sonic Adventure however the environmental detail and hint system have been overhauled. Finally Tails is fitted with a Walker and plays like E102 Gamma from Sonic Adventure. Shadow, Rouge and Eggman play like their Sonic, Knuckles and Tails respectively. Criticism has been levelled at the similarity between play styles of the characters however this was intended to make the game longer while providing narrative and locational variety. It essentially makes the game seem twice as long.

The length and detail in the levels has been vastly improved and the some of the level designs are pure genius. Sonic and Shadow feature the premiere stages in the game while Knuckles stages are nowhere as annoying as they were in Adventure. Tails' stages can be irritating however on the whole they are satisfying.

Speaking of detail the graphics in Sonic Adventure 2 are really something. The quality of the textures and general environmental design is commendable. Sonic looks and is animated fantastically and if it wasn't for some rough edges I wouldn't have anything negative to say about the graphics at all. There is no fog, barely any pop-in and I just can't heap enough praise on how clear and realistic the textures are. Eggman is one of the best looking characters in the game. He has real form now and a realized aesthetic. He looked very haphazardly put together in Sonic Adventure and seeing him so realized gives me warm fuzzies. Shadow is a great looking character, from the way his far out quills bounce around to the little jets of flame that push his shoes along. Rouge is another great looking character. Her form and mannerisms have had a lot of thought put into them from the way her ears wave around when she walks to...a certain body part of hers that...well let's just say it's noticeable.

The camera system, one of the biggest problems from the first Adventure, have been totally rectified...well, apart from a few select boss battles. The camera sticks tightly to your character at all times, never losing its way or getting stuck on things. It even works perfectly in tight spaces. This isn't to say the camera system is perfect, however for this particular type of game it couldn't get any closer to perfect.

The sound in the game is a big improvement over Adventure. An eclectic mix of techno, electronic beats, guitar riffs and hip hop music accompanies the varied styles of each level. While in Adventure the tunes were slightly overbearing they are well suited to the action in Adventure 2. Each character still has their own theme song however.

After finishing Sonic Adventure 2 you have a plethora of options waiting to extend replay value for you. There is a vastly improved Chao Garden complete with Chao Kindergarten and various mini-games like Chao Karate and Chao racing to keep you occupied. The black market within the Kindergarten allows the player to buy hard to find items for the raising of their Chao and finding eggs and keys unlocks more options to customize your cute little buddy. You can still transfer your Chao to your VMU and play with and train it and it's still a reason to carry your VMU around with you. Further augmenting replay is a Time Attack mode, Kart Racing and downloadable events which are obviously unavailable now.

The Bad
Sonic Adventure 2 gets almost everything right and just about comes close to perfecting the formula the original Sonic Adventure is so famous for.

It is not without its issues however.

While the flow of the game has been streamlined it comes at the expense of a feeling of freedom. In Sonic Adventure you had the option of playing as each of the characters, you weren't obliged to play as Big or E-102 Gamma however obviously it meant you wouldn't be able to complete the game properly. Having to sit through several Knuckles and Tails stages just to play as Sonic is a little frustrating at times especially considering you might have to play 4 non Sonic stages in a row just to play as Sonic.

On the topic of levels while the level of genius in level design is typically very high it is a little inconsistent. Some of Tails' levels seem to have been designed by a sado-masochistic numb skull who enjoys making children cry. They will often throw enemies or drops at you out of nowhere wiping your score from the high 1000's to 0 meaning you either persevere and get a terrible score or are constantly forced to restart. The same can be said for Rouge's stages. Knuckles are generally painless and he gets one of the best boss fights in the game however Rouge's levels are nothing but a vague, frustrating grind.
Rouge's Security Hall level is nothing but a vague, cruel joke that will force constant restarts and her one boss fight is an inaccurate jump fest that will result in much frustration.

Speaking of boss fights they seem to use a completely different camera than the general levels. The camera will often struggle to keep up with the character you're using either flipping over and totally disorientating you or getting stuck on walls while you get pummeled. It's baffling considering the high quality during the actual levels that the boss fights could be so frustrating and incoherent.

The boss fights themselves are something of a mixed bag. While they are generally quite fun and inventive they are recycled within the Dark story, which you will invariably play second to the Hero story. The issue is, the characters that are forced to fight the recycled bosses in the Dark story are totally inappropriate for the arena's you fight them in. That isn't to say there aren't original bosses in the Dark story, the fact is they original ones are outnumbered by the recycled ones.

The Bottom Line
Sonic Adventure 2 is no doubt the last great game that Sega would end up releasing for the Dreamcast. It uses the hardware to give players an almost flawless Sonic game, addressing the issues that were present in Sonic Adventure while not compromising too much on the core gameplay ideals that made the first so popular.

The game looks stunning, with fantastic modelling and almost photo realistic texture work. Sonic and company have never looked better and being able to play as the flawed genius that is Eggman has finally been realized.

That isn't to say the game is without its own unique problems. Some of the stage designs are inconsistent with the level of genius shown in Sonic and Shadow's stages. Tails', Rouge's and Eggman's stages suffer from some flawed design that makes them feel like a grind more than anything else and while the streamlining of the game was a great idea having to play through 4 or 5 non Sonic or Shadow stages is just mean.

This is simply one of the must have games in any Dreamcast owners library and one of the best games around to show off the untapped power of our favourite little white box. Grab this if you can.

by AkibaTechno (238) on May 16th, 2010 · Dreamcast

The second best game in the best series of games ever

The Good
The graphics are brilliant and the characters all cool. The chao system has been improved and theres loads to unlock

The Bad
Finding myself being woken at 12 in the afternoon holding a clammy controller with pizza stuck to my cheek. Thats how addicted i got over this game

The Bottom Line
Really really really cool. Worth buying a dc for!!!

by Ben Burton (3) on Mar 5th, 2002 · Dreamcast

Whilst it lasts, it's a blast.

The Good
The wonderful, atmospheric and imaginative graphics. The cut-scenes are a vast improvement over those in the first Sonic Adventure. The Tails/Robotnik mech-suit levels are fun and have good replay value, as do some of the earlier Sonic/Shadow levels. Rouge the Bat is a much better character than Amy. Die-hard Sonic fans will probably find it rewarding to play, and it's certainly much better than Twinsanity on the PS2.

The Bad
This is a far cry from the classic days of the Genesis 2-D scrolling platformers. One of this game's boasts is that it has six characters, but it looks to me as though Robotnik, Rouge and Shadow have simply been shoe-horned into levels that could easily have been intended for Tails, Knuckles and Sonic. The grind-rail sections are a total pain in the proverbial, were nothing but a gimmick to advertise some brand or other of trainers. The Knuckles and Rouge levels involve roaming around environments looking for three pieces of an emerald, helped only by a next-to-useless tracking device. Sound familiar? It should do to anyone who was bored senseless by the Knuckles levels in SA1. Another thing which lets this game down is the music. There are some atmospheric tunes in the Tails and Robotnik levels, certainly, but most of the rest are plagued by singing and rap, which quickly becomes irritating.

The Bottom Line
Anyone who played SA1 should be familiar with this. There are the tried-and-trusted fully 3-D Sonic, Knuckles and Tails levels (though the Tails levels now involve him riding a mech-suit, are similar to the robotic levels in SA1). You can also play an alternative game as Shadow (an evil hedgehog), Rogue (a female bat) and Robotnik. Make your way through 3D platform levels as before.

by Gary Smith (57) on Dec 11th, 2004 · Dreamcast

Best Sonic game made ever!

The Good
The fact that you could be either the Hero or the Villain is so cool. Plus, all the upgrades made the game even more fun. And the theme song to the game is off the hook, I play it every day after I get home from school.

The Bad
The fact that each character didn't have their each individual storyline. Their were too many emblem levels to beat. Plus, the prototype is too difficult to beat, it took me a week to beat that thing! And the theme music for each character was kind of cheesy except for Sonic and Shadow.

The Bottom Line
Graphic wise it was about the same and the music is below average. But, if you a person who loves a challenge like me, I would recommend this to them.

by Exodia85 (2150) on Jan 17th, 2003 · Dreamcast

Sonics 10 year anniversary is celebrated in style.

The Good
Basically, as far as Sonic titles go, this has the look and feel of an enhanced Sonic Adventure 1 but with the level structure of one of the side scrolling Megadrive titles. Gone are the rpg elements of the sonic adventure 1 and instead we have a more streamlined action title. The graphics are amazing and leave every other platformer on any system to date, for dead with high resolution everything and a solid 60 fps running speed which is essential with a game that is centred on speed. There are 2 main games, the first lets you play the story as the heroes, Sonic, Tails and Knuckles which each have their own game styles while the 2nd puts you in the shoes of the villains. Dr Robotnik, Shadow and Rogue whom are the bad equivilent of each of the heroes. Sonic and Shadows stages are high speed platform areas that we've all come to expect from Sonic games. They are easily the most fun to play and you'll want to go back and do so again and again. Tails and Robotnik have shooting stages with some mild platforming which is very similar in gameplay to the robot stages from SA1. Lastly, Knuckles and Rogue have treasure hunting stages where you have to locate certain objects within the stage to progress. There are loads of bonuses such as the go kart mini game and the Chao raising section from SA1, plus once you finish both games there is a final area and after that there is the monumental challenge of obtaining all 180 emblems throughout the game world. The emblem system also means that in order to obtain the later emblems, you must accomplish different challenges within each stage to gain the new emblem thus making the replay value skyrocket. The music is cheesy J-pop which usually suits the game very well and is often hilarious. Sound is solid and thankfully there is the option to have the original Japanese dialogue with subtitles for those of us who prefer it. Sonic Adventure 2 is a game certain to keep you occupied for weeks.

The Bad
The English voice acting is poor and the voices are very wrong for the characters. The music during some of the areas is enough to drive you towards the mute control on the tv (knuckles stages spring to mind.) Cameras can sometimes leave you blind, although they are much better than those in SA1 plus knuckles and rogues stages can grate a bit when you can't find one of the items you're after. It seems that in its transition from Japanese to English, Sega neglected to add subtitles to the pre-rendered sequences so if you prefer the Japanese voices with English subtitles, you may find yourself a little confused with the story. The final cutscene at the end of the whole game has quite a bit of non-subtitled dialogue so I'd advise braving the English acting when you get to this point.

The Bottom Line
Sonic Adventure 2 has its faults but they don't stop it from being one of, if not THE best sonic game ever made not to mention one of the best platformers ever so anyone who has even a passing interest in platform games would do well to get it. And those of you who didn't get a Dreamcast are just going to once again, miss out on yet another top notch title.

by Sycada (177) on Jul 28th, 2001 · Dreamcast

Sonic Team US, you have a lot to answer for.

The Good
Graphically, it's still gorgeous in places, especially in terms of texture-mapping, which the DC has always excelled at. The Sonic/Shadow levels are a blast, though not as good as SA1's were.

The Bad
Well, everything else, really.

What first hit me was how utterly dire the music was. They've taken some of the greatest tunes from the original SA, remixed them, and destroyed them. Honestly, some of this stuff made me want to chop off my friggin' ears. Don't get me started on the rap crap...

The characters are next on my hit-list. Why in god's name have they expanded upon the worst elements of SA1? Sure, there's 6 characters, but since they all behave identically to their good/evil counterparts, it's basically 3.

As I said earlier, the Sonic/Shadow levels are fantastic in places, so what about Eggman/Tails & Rouge/Knuckles? Seriously, SEGA, I'm asking you, what about these horrible, horrible things? What possessed you to wedge crap into this game? The Eggman/Tails levels are an expansion of the E-102 (sp?) levels from SA1, which were short but fun. Here, they're just slow and hideous, with some truly yawn-worthy moments. They involve robots. big, hulking robots, something Tails looks really awkward in. Now, guess what the Knuckles/Rouge levels are based on? Yup, those horrible "find the jewel in the enormous level with only a really crappy sonar thing to help you" levels from SA1. Terrible. Truly awful beyond belief.

The Bottom Line
A sure-fire disappointment in your Sonic-loving life.

by laemus (11) on Dec 3rd, 2003 · Dreamcast

The shadow of Sonic Adventure.

The Good
Shadow's first appearance in the Sonic The Hedgehog video games series. David Humphrey's voice matches Shadow's image and the main person that he is. The levels for both Sonic and Shadow are very fast. It's like they are travelling at the speed of light.

The graphics are much better in Sonic Adventure 2, then what they are in Sonic Shuffle. Rouge's flashy appearance makes me laugh. As she believes she will always get what she wants!

The Bad
The game is much more harder to play, then the original Sonic Adventure. It's that I wanted the storyline to end, but The Dark Side's storyline was finishing over so fast. Plus, Shadow only has four levels to complete, they were very easy.

The main point is, that they cut out the Adventure Fields. There is nothing to explore.

The Bottom Line
Sonic Adventure 2 is a worthy sequel. It features all of your favorite characters, as well as some new members in the Sonic Team gang. If you still have a Dreamcast console laying around, play this video game, and remember the good times!

by Kluke (7) on Oct 6th, 2007 · Dreamcast

Sonic Adventure Without The Adventure, I Am Just As Confused As You

The Good
Two Years after the release of Sonic Adventure, Sega hit Dreamcast gamers with Sonic Adventure 2. SOA 2 drops the adventure mode, why?

In Sonic Adventure 2, a black hedgehog Shadow, has been causing trouble leaving Sonic to be blamed, a armed group known as G.U.N., is gunning for the blue blur. Meanwhile Dr. Robotnik, aka Eggman, is up to know good, he wants to abduct Shadow, and use him against our favorite hedgehog.

The plot is not very well done. But more on that later. New to the franchise, is the ability to play as the villains. Dr. Robotnik, Shadow, and Rouge. This is a good idea, but it ultimately fails.

The Graphics are much improved over the original game. And better show off the Dreamcast’s power. The camera angles are better but far from perfect.

The Music is horrible. Who wrote these lyrics? The Eagles? The Sound effects are done well however.

The Adventure mode is gone. Now it plays more like the Sonics on old. Basically you play a level, watch a cutscene and than play the next often as a different character. You can no longer choose which character you wish to play as. And each one has a shorter game.

The Bad
The plot is bad. It is so clichéd. I mean an evil Sonic come on. What is this a poorly written cartoon? Plus the G.U.N. plot point is never resolved. And how the hell do the mix up Shadow and Sonic? Shadow is black, while Sonic is blue. Are they color blind?

Late in the game we learn about Shadow’s origin. Which is horribly written. We learn that Shadow was created to protect the human race, and somehow the jackass thinks he is meant to destroy it. WTF? And why is he like Sonic?

Playing as the bad guys is a good idea on paper, but in action not so much. There games play exactly like the games of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. They are not very satisfying either. I have waited years to play as Dr. Robotnik, but Sonic Team blew it. Sega Of America did not develop this contrary to what you may have heard.

The music is atrocious. Sonic Team needs to either learn how to write lyrics or fire the writer. This game just feels rushed. And unpolished. Sega probably rushed it out to have a game for Sonic’s 10th anniversary. But what did they do for the 10th anniversary for Phantasy Star? Or that of Streets of Rage?

The Bottom Line
Very poor effort from Sonic Team. Play Sonic Adventure and skip this one. It pains me to see such a weak Sonic game.

by MasterMegid (723) on Sep 2nd, 2006 · Dreamcast

Plus 51 player ratings without reviews

Contributors to this Entry

Critic reviews added by Big John WV, Kohler 86, Alsy, Riemann80, Wizo, Parf, vedder, Evil Ryu, Jeanne, Gustavo Henrique dos Santos, Emiliano Valori, Patrick Bregger, RhYnoECfnW.