Sonic Pocket Adventure Neo Geo Pocket Color

Sonic Pocket Adventure Neo Geo Pocket Color Official Review By Dreadknux
This game, although similar to Sonic 2, is actually quite good!

Click 'PLAY' to listen to: Neo South Island Act 1 - John Weeks

Here is one of the first Sonic titles that was officially created for another console, namely the Neo Geo Pocket Color. This was to accompany Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast, but sadly the NGPC could never compare to the likes of the Game Boy Color no matter how much it tried, and therefore SPA didn't get nearly enough sales as the Dreamcast companion. Shame that, because it is quite a good game to play. The story eludes me somewhat, me getting the Emulator and not the real game to play, but I suppose the storyline is pretty similar to Sonic 2 seeings as the actual game is based off of its older counterpart.

Erm, not TOO much like Sonic 2 then...
Erm, I don't think Eggman likes me... *help*
Now this is TOTALLY different from Sonic 2, eh? ^_-

Sonic makes a handheld return, but not on the faithful Game Gear. No, in this day and age, the good old GG has been dead and buried (but a re-release of the console is on the cards in USA!), so Sega tried their luck with the NGPC. Well, it pretty much plays like a two-button version of Sonic 2 really, but although the levels are SIMILAR to Sonic 2, most of it is very different, and more added modes have been made available.

Unlike previous Sonic handheld ventures, Robotnik considerately makes an appearance at the end of each level. Yay. You can kick his ass like always now. Except for the first difference about this game from Sonic 2. The bosses are different, and in some cases, harder, although some select few are kept the same from the old game, such as the equivalent of 'Casino Night Zone'. You'll fight him in some mean battlecruiser thingy at the end of the game. Nasty eh?

Much in the style of Sonic 1 on the Mega Drive, collect a certain amount of rings and at the end of each level there will be a giant ring. Jump into it to be taken to the Special Stage, which is totally identical to the Sonic 2 counterpart. If you don't know already, the aim is to collect a quota of rings while avoiding bombs, which will lose you your rings. Collect a certain amount to gain a Chaos Emerald. Good eh?

It may seem that Sonic Team have taken the easy way out and just done a half arsed conversion of Sonic 2, but that is only shown on the surface. Playing the game, it seems different to the original. There are different obstacles, and more diverse bosses to contend with. There are also diamond puzzle pieces, which you can use in the 'Puzzle Room' below. The music has good handheld renditions of the tunes from Sonic 3 on the Mega Drive too. Oh, and the names are slightly different too, but you really didn't give a monkey's about that.

One major difference over the Mega Drive version is the addition of a 'Room' option on the title screen. From here you can practice levels you've already played in 'Trial', you can race a friend Sonic 2 style via link cable in 'Duel' and 'Puzzle' is where you can fix up puzzles from puzzle pieces in each level, described above. Create a puzzle from the pieces you collect, and then try to solve it. Class.

A lot of innovative stuff in it, but once you actually sit down and think about it, you've just spent about Ł30 on Sonic 2. Without Tails. Or a 2-Player mode. For what is there though it seems to make up for, it's not a COMPLETE copy of Sonic 2, but it's damn near enough. Those that enjoyed Sonic 2 though will like this variation, and now it's highly sought after. All you Sonic collectors, get in there. Sonic collectors, wait that's me too. Erm, wait up... ^_^

Sonic Score: 7 out of 10!

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