On 9.9.99, I went to Oxford Valley Mall's Electronics Boutique and brought home my Dreamcast and two games, Soul Calibur and Sonic Adventure. It was my most celebrated day in gaming. I had this new system, which was the finest to ever grace the earth, and two games that systematically blew my mind.
While Soul Calibur eventually became my reason for waking up in the morning, Sonic Adventure took the cake on Dreamcast's U.S. birthday. Running at top speed, this platformer gave me a glimpse of the future of gaming and what master development houses, such as Sega's Sonic Team, would be able to do with futuristic hardware. Sonic Adventure was one of the reasons I fell in love with my Dreamcast.
Many ass products have reared their hideous heads since that wonderful day. Then Sega announced they would no longer make Dreamcasts so its peeps could focus on multi-platform software development. If you're like me, you've been wondering how to feel the rush of 9.9.99 all over again. I have found the answer.
It's Sonic Adventure 2, baby. Sega has brought the hedgehog out for another romp, and while the game has a few of the same problems the first one had, every aspect that made Sonic Adventure a terrific game has been enhanced.
I didn't think that the graphics could get much better they were in Sonic Adventure. Sega's Sonic Team turned it up a notch; several of the game's levels and action sequences are as fast and as furious as they should be in a platformer with the "Sonic" tag. There are many reasons to like a Sonic game, but there are two reasons this series has become so popular: looks and speed. Sonic Adventure 2 only enhances that reputation. The game's sound also received an overhaul and is much more aurally pleasing than its predecessor.
Sonic Adventure 2 has a story and a path one must follow with goals to attain. This, however, is the weakest part of the game. I was not interested to know the relations among Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, Dr. Robotnik, and Shadow. I knew that you could either be a good hedgehog (Sonic) and help save the world or a bad hedgehog (Shadow) and take it over. This info didn't concern me, though. Sonic Adventure 2 is a made-for-speed platformer, not an RPG. While that may be stretching it a bit, the story goes nowhere and the game doesn't suffer for it.
With a few minigames and Chaos to collect, Sonic Adventure 2 has a fair amount of replay value. In this Sonic game, you can download an extra course for the Kart Race, as well as different objects in the game's Action stages. You can also download a different Menu Screen Theme. This may not sound like much, but it's a pleasant reminder that Sega is using its web presence and the DC's 56k modem--something no other console is doing.
If you own a Dreamcast and are looking for an excellent platformer, Sonic Adventure 2 will not disappoint. It's simple, robust gaming at its best.
Tips:
Always have at least one gold ring in your pocket. They are lifesavers.
Go with the flow when Sonic starts moving fast. It's the ideal time to check out the game's amazing scenery.
Q&A...Do one of these questions answer yours?.
