For those of you who are still sticking around after seeing the dull title, I've finally decided to review one of my favorite games of all time: SONIC ADVENTURE 2!!!! Can't you hear the crowd cheering?
It is one of my favorite games because the original Sonic Adventure was the first game I ever played. It set me on a path to loving Sonic, resulting in extreme obsession from ages 3-5, and then reasonable love from ages 6-12. I've liked every Sonic game ever released, even Sonic '06. Yes, Sonic '06. Some of you may be staring at the computer with your mouth wide open, others may be shaking your head in despair. But it's true. So just sit back, relax, and enjoy the review.
There are two stories from which you can choose from: Hero and Dark. Throughout each story, you will alternate between three different characters. On the Hero side, you will play as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, and on the Dark side, you will play as Shadow, Rouge, and Eggman. Sonic and Shadow make for high-speed levels, Knuckles and Rouge are treasure hunting, and Tails and Eggman make for shooting stages. There's also an obvious rivalry between the characters and their equivalents; physical confrontations are not uncommon.
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Sonic and Shadow make for speed stages in the game, and, as such, they are the most fun. Also, a new element has been added: grinding, and it is put to good use. As usual, you have to get your upgrades by yours. Sonic's secret upgrades from the first game--the Light Shoes, and the Ancient Light--return, and he also has new upgrades, such as the Bounce Bracelet, Magic Glove, and Flame Ring, which adds a fire effect to his new somersault move. Shadow's got all of Sonic's upgrades except for the Bounce Bracelet and Magic Glove (which really aren't that useful, anyway). Shadow's stages are usually a bit harder than Sonic's, but at the same time, he's often more fun. Maybe I'm just a Shadow fan?
Don't mock Shadow!
Knuckles and Rouge make for the infamous treasure hunting stages from the first game. However, since no characters share levels in this game, it doesn't feel as tacked on as Knuckles's stages from the first game. Also, the stages are bigger, making for harder, more fun Emerald hunts. But if things get too tough, you can always get a clue from one of the monitors.
Tails and Eggman make for E-102 Gamma-style shoot-em-up missions. Thankfully, there's no time limit anymore; you're free to take as long as you like. Also, you've got a much-needed health bar, so that you won't get killed if you get hit without any rings. Also, there's a new bonus points system: the more enemies you lock on to at once, the more points you get. Although Tails and Eggman are the least fun to play as, it's still stinkin' cool to play as a super-powerful mech!
While this game has a lot of the same stuff as its predecessor, it has something that SA1 seriously lacked: multiplayer. There are three modes: racing with Sonic and Shadow, hunting with Knuckles and Rouge, and shooting with Tails and Eggman. The main problem here is that the multiplayer has only a few stages, and gets old fast. However, if you have a friend, you can get some enjoyment out of it.
Sonic Adventure 2 gets a 5 out of 5. Although I usually regard SA1 as better than SA2, I guess it really ends in a tie. Both games have a distinct feeling to them.
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