Sonic Adventure 2
Encyclopedia
Sonic Adventure 2 is a platform game
developed by Sonic Team
and published by Sega
for the Dreamcast video game console
. It was released in North America
on June 19, 2001 and in Japan
on June 23, 2001 to mark the 10th anniversary of the release of the first Sonic the Hedgehog game. It is the sequel to Sonic Adventure
. It is the seventh chronological installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It follows the protagonist
team of Sonic the Hedgehog
, Knuckles the Echidna
, and Miles "Tails" Prower
and the antagonist
team of Doctor Eggman
, Shadow the Hedgehog
, and Rouge the Bat
and their attempt to work together in order to save the world from destruction.
The game was a commercial and critical success, receiving generally positive reviews from critics, who complimented its variety in gameplay, graphics, and sound, however, some dismissed its poor control and camera. Due to Sega
's exit from the video game console manufacturing business, the game was ported to the Nintendo GameCube
and re-titled Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, and includes brand new features as well as minor changes in level design. Battle received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised its new features and ability to use the GameBoy Advance link cable, however, dismissed its poor control, camera, and lack of variety compared to other GameCube titles. Despite its mixed reception, Battle was a commercial success, selling more than 1 million copies worldwide and becoming the tenth best-selling Nintendo GameCube game of all time.
, Tails
, while the "Dark" story features Shadow, Rouge, and Dr. Eggman. Each dark character plays similarly to its corresponding hero character, respectively. Levels advance in the same order for both story lines.
Levels featuring Sonic or Shadow are regular platform levels, designed in much the same way as Sonic's levels in Sonic Adventure. The player's primary objective is to reach the end of the level. Levels with Tails or Dr. Eggman are based on shooting, allowing the player to control a mechanized robot
walker and shoot their way to the end, reminiscent of E-102 Gamma's stages in Sonic Adventure. The Knuckles and Rouge levels are based on hunting, with the characters scouring the levels for three keys, usually shards of the Master Emerald, much like Knuckles' levels in Sonic Adventure. Interspersed between the levels are various bosses
, which one particular character must fight. The main story line can only be completed by finishing both the "Hero" and "Dark" story lines. When the main story line is completed, an extra "Final" story mode is introduced where the player must use all 6 characters back to back to achieve the true ending.
At the end of each stage, the player is given a score based on the number or rings collected and time spent within the level. The more rings collected and the less time spent, the higher the player's score is. The player is also given a performance ranking, a letter grade that is either A, B, C, D, or E, with A being the highest and E being the lowest. Irrespective of any other factors, an A Rank is automatically awarded to players that complete any score-ranked mission with all of the rings from that level in the player's possession.
Within Action Stages, players must collect rings and defeat enemies, with a timer counting the time spent within the level. Five missions are assigned to each Action Stage; in order to access the next mission, the player must successfully complete each previous mission. In order from first to last, the missions are to complete the level, collect 100 rings, find a "lost Chao" using the Mystic Melody, finish within a time limit, and complete a "Hard mode
" version of the Action Stage. Special moves are acquired by collecting a certain number of rings; these moves are also seen in the final bosses of the Hero and Dark stories.
Emblems, 180 in total, are also given throughout the game. In order to gain all 180 Emblems, players must defeat every mission within every stage and achieve an A rank in all stages and missions. After collecting all 180 Emblems the player unlocks the 3D Green Hill level, a remake of Green Hill Zone from the original Sonic the Hedgehog game.
Special features in this two-player mode are unlocked by meeting certain conditions in the single player mode. Additional characters include familiar characters from previous games, but they must be unlocked in the original Dreamcast version: Amy and Metal Sonic complement Sonic and Shadow, Chao and Dark Chao complement Tails and Eggman, and Tikal and Chaos 0 complement Knuckles and Rouge. Alternate costumes are usable only in two player mode and vary in each version of the game, as do the conditions required to unlock the costumes.
exist in an area held separate from the rest of the game called Chao World. Chao are meant to be raised and taken care of in the same manner as with human babies. Chao World incorporates three main areas: the Chao Gardens (three in total, but two must be unlocked by the player), the Chao Kindergarten, and the Chao Race Lobby.
The player finds and raises Chao in the Chao Garden. When Chao hatch, they crawl and are unable to swim. They get their nutrition from knocking the fruit off trees. When a Chao begins to grow up, it will eventually go into a cocoon stage in which it will transform. Depending on how each Chao in the garden was raised and treated during childhood, it can become a generic Chao or a Light or Dark Chao. As soon as a Chao transforms, if it has become a Light or Dark Chao, it will unlock for the player the Hero Garden or the Dark Garden, which are vertically positioned in Chao World similar to common Western descriptions of Heaven
and Hell
. "Chaos Drives" and hidden animals can be found in the action stages and can be given to Chao during childhood to boost the Chao's stats and physical attributes.
The Chao Kindergarten is where the player can take the Chao to have it named, have its health and stats checked, and have it learn new skills. Also, in the GameCube adaptation only, rare items can be purchased at the Black Market using the Rings collected during normal gameplay. The Black Market is also available in Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut; in that version, with more game Emblems earned, rarer merchandise becomes available in the Market.
, February 12, 2002 in North America, and on the GameCube's launch (May 3, 2002) in Europe. This game changed a large portion of raising Chao. A Chao's stats can be viewed from within the game. The player can transfer one Chao from Sonic Adventure 2 Battle to the "Tiny Chao Garden" section in Sonic Advance, Sonic Advance 2
, and Sonic Pinball Party
with the GameCube-Game Boy Advance Link Cable
. If a Game Boy Advance is connected without a GBA game inserted, a version of the Tiny Chao Garden can be copied temporarily into the Game Boy Advance's memory. Chao Karate was also introduced in this version. The Chao's stats are used against a computer-controlled opponent to fight in a fighting game style, but with minimal influence from the player and very little in terms of actual karate. The layouts of all three Chao Gardens were also changed slightly, with Sonic Adventure 2 Battle's Chao Gardens significantly smaller than those of the original Dreamcast version.
The "Battle" multiplayer options were expanded in the GameCube version, including the addition of new characteristics to the multiplayer-exclusive characters, while removing all online play. Also, the additional features for the kart mode are not required to be unlocked in the GameCube version.
There are several aesthetic changes, as well. In the GameCube version, minor special effects were added such as rain in the "White Jungle" level. Also, when playing as Knuckles or Rouge, an exclamation (!) will appear above his or her head when directly nearby their targets. Some cutscenes were also redone slightly, with different character animations and camera angles. Some rankings had their requirements changed. Additionally, the cutscenes appear to play faster than on its original Dreamcast counterpart, such as when the heroes crash on their first arrival on the ARK. Most of Big the Cat's cameos did not remain in the stages, cutscenes, or two-player mode, but he can still be viewed in some story sequences by rapidly pressing the A or B buttons throughout the scenes. A Dark Chao (with Dark Chao Walker) replaces Big the Cat in two-player mode.
Meanwhile, Knuckles confronts both Rouge the Bat and Eggman, who each attempt to steal the Master Emerald. Knuckles shatters the Master Emerald to prevent this, and proceeds to search for the scattered shards and restore the Emerald. While Rouge also intends to collect the shards for personal benefit, she must also accomplish a mission for the government to spy on Eggman. This mission also leads her to the ARK, where Shadow relays to Eggman his plan to use the Chaos Emeralds to charge a "super weapon" on the ARK called the Eclipse Cannon to take over the world. To accomplish this, Shadow and Eggman recruit Rouge to assist in the search of the Chaos Emeralds.
Tails and Amy infiltrate Prison Island and rescue Sonic from G.U.N., while Eggman, Shadow, and Rouge collect three Emeralds on the island, which they then destroy. Eggman then broadcasts his threats across the planet and demonstrates the cannon's level of power by destroying half of the moon. Sonic and company use the final Emerald within their possession to track down the other six, with Knuckles coming along as well. Together, the group infiltrates Eggman's base, narrowly boarding Eggman's shuttle as it launches into space. Along the ride into space, Knuckles' Master Emerald shards are spilled, and he leaves the group to collect them, encountering Rouge again. During the fight, Knuckles saves Rouge from certain death, and Rouge surrenders her collected shards, finally allowing Knuckles to restore the Master Emerald.
Onboard the ARK, Tails reveals that he has created a counterfeit Chaos Emerald designed to reverse the effects of the real Emeralds and destroy the Eclipse Cannon. Sonic goes to place the fake Emerald into the cannon when Eggman announces he has captured Tails and Amy. Sonic tries to give Eggman the fake Emerald, but at the last second Eggman traps and jettisons Sonic in an escape pod rigged with explosives. Using the fake Emerald, Sonic manages to perform Chaos Control and escape before it explodes, but Tails, thinking Sonic is dead, fights Eggman again. Shadow is sent to intercept Sonic before he destroys the Eclipse Cannon, but Sonic succeeds.
Once Eggman collects all seven Chaos Emeralds and attempts to fire the Eclipse Cannon at full power, a failsafe activates, and a recorded message is broadcast by the late Gerald Robotnik. It explains that the ARK will collide with and destroy Earth, as revenge against humanity for condemning him and his research, killing his granddaughter Maria and numerous colleagues on-board the ARK. Everyone agree to work together to neutralize the Chaos Emeralds with the Master Emerald and stop the collision. Shadow initially does not participate, due to his apathy for humankind, however Amy's pleading reminds him of Maria's true request to serve as a benefit for society. He catches up with Sonic and Knuckles after they make their way to the core.
After disabling the various security features guarding the Cannon's core, Sonic and Knuckles encounter the Biolizard, a prototype of the Ultimate Life Form, and Shadow's "biological" brother, who had been awoken from stasis to ensure that the Emeralds would not be tampered with. Shadow defeats the Biolizard, allowing Knuckles to deactivate the Chaos Emeralds using his repaired Master Emerald. However, the injured Biolizard uses Chaos Control to fuse with the Eclipse Cannon, becoming the Finalhazard and continuing the ARK's collision course by physically dragging it along. Using the power of the Chaos Emeralds, Sonic and Shadow transform into Super Sonic and Super Shadow and defeat the Biolizard while he is fused to the ARK. They then use Chaos Control to teleport the ARK back into a stable orbit around Earth. The process, however, depletes Shadow's energy, and he is unable to remain in orbit, plummeting to Earth, to his apparent death content that he has fulfilled his promise to Maria. Humanity celebrates openly as the two teams solemnly express gratitude towards Shadow for his sacrifice and return to Earth, expressing their plans from there.
, and published by Sega
. The game was directed by longtime series contributor Takashi Iizuka
, and was developed over the course of approximately one and a half years.
The environments of the game were inspired by San Francisco, California
—the location of Sega Studio USA—and by the United States as a whole. The game was designed to be action-oriented as opposed to the slower-paced, more story-based Sonic Adventure.
Sega promoted Sonic Adventure 2 both as the final Sonic game for the Dreamcast, and as marking the tenth anniversary of the original Sonic the Hedgehog.
The stage City Escape is included in the console version of Sonic Generations
and Radical Highway will be on the 3DS version. Also, in the console and handheld versions of the game, Sonic will be battling Shadow
, who is a returning boss. And, the Biolizard will be fought by Sonic in the handheld version of this game.
returned as head composer for this game. Like the previous game, each character received an instrumental motif that serves as their theme song. The game features performances by returning vocalists Tony Harnell
, Ted Poley
, Marlon Saunders
, Nikki Gregoroff and Johnny Gioeli
, as well as new vocalists Tabitha Fair, Todd Cooper, Paul Shortino
, Everett Bradley, Kaz Silver and Hunnid-P.
Crush 40
, which consists of Senoue and vocalist Johnny Gioeli, officially debuted with the theme song Live & Learn, which plays during the main menu and the final battle.
The Sonic Adventure 2 Multi-Dimensional Original Soundtrack was produced by Jun Senoue and released by Marvelous Entertainment on August 22, 2001. The songs feature the band Crush 40.
Sonic Adventure 2 Vocals Collection: Cuts Unleashed was produced by Jun Senoue and released on August 21, 2001 by MMV. It contains musical tracks from the game composed by Jun Senoue and Kenichi Tokoi.
. The game received praise for its fast-paced Sonic/Shadow levels, high-quality graphics, remodeled and enhanced Chao Garden and improved gameplay mechanics from the original.
Like its predecessor, however, the game was subject to criticism concerning the game's camera system. Although sites like Gamespot
admitted that the camera flaws in the original Sonic Adventure were "infinitely more frustrating by comparison" the sequel was still noted to "retain some of the quirky camera work". Along with the camera flaws, the game received criticism for the Knuckles/Rouge levels, which were described by some reviewers as "confusing" and "frustrating", while other reviewers found them to be a "fun different gamemode". The game was also criticized for having a lack of challenging boss fights.
Despite these issues, the game was still a critical and commercial success with many reviewers agreeing that the game was one of the last great Dreamcast releases. IGN
concluded that "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."
The GameCube version, Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, fared considerably worse in terms of reviews, despite having no single player gameplay changes from the Dreamcast version, and only an 8-month gap between their releases. Even in spite of the negative reviews, the game has sold 1.44 million units in the United States alone , making it one of the GameCube's highest selling games.
The game also sold well enough to be re-released as a Player's Choice
title.
Sonic Adventure 2 has also won several awards: IGN's and GamePro's
Editors' Choice Awards and GameSpy
's Best of 2001: Best Dreamcast action/adventure game. ScrewAttack
also rated Sonic Adventure 2 as the fifth best Dreamcast game.
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
developed by Sonic Team
Sonic Team
is a Japanese computer and video game developer established in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan in 1990, originally known as Sega AM8. The Japan-based division is also known as G.E. Department Global Entertainment. The studio has collaborated with several in-house Japanese studios as well as other American-based...
and published by Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
for the Dreamcast video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
. It was released in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
on June 19, 2001 and in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on June 23, 2001 to mark the 10th anniversary of the release of the first Sonic the Hedgehog game. It is the sequel to Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure
is a 1999 platform video game developed by Sonic Team and released on December 23, 1998, in Japan by Sega for the Dreamcast. One of its development titles was Sonic RPG...
. It is the seventh chronological installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It follows the protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
team of Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog (character)
, trademarked Sonic The Hedgehog, is a video game character and the main protagonist of the Sonic video game series released by Sega, as well as in numerous spin-off comics, cartoons, and a feature film. The first game was released on June 23, 1991, to provide Sega with a mascot to rival Nintendo's...
, Knuckles the Echidna
Knuckles the Echidna
Knuckles the Echidna is a video game character of the Sonic the Hedgehog game series, including spin-off games and comics. His first appearance was in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, released in 1994 to introduce a new rival for Sonic. He was presented as an antagonist who was tricked by Dr. Eggman into...
, and Miles "Tails" Prower
Miles "Tails" Prower
, better known by his nickname , is a character, as well as the main deuteragonist in the Sonic the Hedgehog series of video games, comics, animated series and film released by Sega....
and the antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
team of Doctor Eggman
Doctor Eggman
, also known by his alias , is a fictional video game character, the main antagonist of the Sonic the Hedgehog series created by Sega. Dr. Eggman is a rotund, mad scientist with an IQ of 300 who plans to conquer the world in order to build his Eggman Empire and is the archenemy of Sonic the Hedgehog...
, Shadow the Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog
is a character from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Shadow is an artificially-created life form. His trademark hover shoes propel him at extreme speeds that rival those of Sonic, and with a Chaos Emerald he has the ability to distort time and space using "Chaos Control." Often referred to as being...
, and Rouge the Bat
Rouge the Bat
is a character in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series, who is a determined treasure hunter and part-time government agent who plans to make all the gems and treasures of the world hers. Her main jewel obsessions are the Master Emerald and Chaos Emeralds...
and their attempt to work together in order to save the world from destruction.
The game was a commercial and critical success, receiving generally positive reviews from critics, who complimented its variety in gameplay, graphics, and sound, however, some dismissed its poor control and camera. Due to Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
's exit from the video game console manufacturing business, the game was ported to the Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
and re-titled Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, and includes brand new features as well as minor changes in level design. Battle received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised its new features and ability to use the GameBoy Advance link cable, however, dismissed its poor control, camera, and lack of variety compared to other GameCube titles. Despite its mixed reception, Battle was a commercial success, selling more than 1 million copies worldwide and becoming the tenth best-selling Nintendo GameCube game of all time.
Gameplay
Sonic Adventure 2 uses 3D graphics in addition to scrolling backgrounds. The game follows the same basic principles of previous games in the series. Within most stages are rings, which will protect the player from dying, so long as at least one is held by the player. The Tails and Doctor Eggman stages are an exception, as they employ a health bar which is reloaded by gathering rings. Item capsules are also located within the stages, which provide the player bonuses. Each character has obtainable power-ups which grant them new abilities, such as the ability to destroy metal boxes or play mystical melodies.Single-player
The single player mode can be played between two parallel story lines, the "Hero" story mode and the "Dark" story mode. The player has the option of advancing in either story at any time. The "Hero" story features Sonic, KnucklesKnuckles the Echidna
Knuckles the Echidna is a video game character of the Sonic the Hedgehog game series, including spin-off games and comics. His first appearance was in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, released in 1994 to introduce a new rival for Sonic. He was presented as an antagonist who was tricked by Dr. Eggman into...
, Tails
Miles "Tails" Prower
, better known by his nickname , is a character, as well as the main deuteragonist in the Sonic the Hedgehog series of video games, comics, animated series and film released by Sega....
, while the "Dark" story features Shadow, Rouge, and Dr. Eggman. Each dark character plays similarly to its corresponding hero character, respectively. Levels advance in the same order for both story lines.
Levels featuring Sonic or Shadow are regular platform levels, designed in much the same way as Sonic's levels in Sonic Adventure. The player's primary objective is to reach the end of the level. Levels with Tails or Dr. Eggman are based on shooting, allowing the player to control a mechanized robot
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
walker and shoot their way to the end, reminiscent of E-102 Gamma's stages in Sonic Adventure. The Knuckles and Rouge levels are based on hunting, with the characters scouring the levels for three keys, usually shards of the Master Emerald, much like Knuckles' levels in Sonic Adventure. Interspersed between the levels are various bosses
Boss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
, which one particular character must fight. The main story line can only be completed by finishing both the "Hero" and "Dark" story lines. When the main story line is completed, an extra "Final" story mode is introduced where the player must use all 6 characters back to back to achieve the true ending.
At the end of each stage, the player is given a score based on the number or rings collected and time spent within the level. The more rings collected and the less time spent, the higher the player's score is. The player is also given a performance ranking, a letter grade that is either A, B, C, D, or E, with A being the highest and E being the lowest. Irrespective of any other factors, an A Rank is automatically awarded to players that complete any score-ranked mission with all of the rings from that level in the player's possession.
Within Action Stages, players must collect rings and defeat enemies, with a timer counting the time spent within the level. Five missions are assigned to each Action Stage; in order to access the next mission, the player must successfully complete each previous mission. In order from first to last, the missions are to complete the level, collect 100 rings, find a "lost Chao" using the Mystic Melody, finish within a time limit, and complete a "Hard mode
Difficulty level
In general usage, difficulty level refers to the relative difficulty of completing a task or objective.In computer and video games, the term specifically delineates the ease or difficulty with which an average user may complete a game or a part of a game. Arcade games as well as many early console...
" version of the Action Stage. Special moves are acquired by collecting a certain number of rings; these moves are also seen in the final bosses of the Hero and Dark stories.
Emblems, 180 in total, are also given throughout the game. In order to gain all 180 Emblems, players must defeat every mission within every stage and achieve an A rank in all stages and missions. After collecting all 180 Emblems the player unlocks the 3D Green Hill level, a remake of Green Hill Zone from the original Sonic the Hedgehog game.
Two-player mode
A two-player mode is also available in Sonic Adventure 2, where the corresponding characters from the "Hero" and "Dark" stories are able to play against one another in racing levels, shooting levels, and treasure-hunting levels. Stages from the main one-player game are available in this mode, slightly altered for competitive play. The goals for each stage are to defeat the other player by completing a task first: racing levels require the player to reach the Goal ring, shooting levels end when one Walker runs out of energy either by being destroyed by the competitor or falling off the stage, and the treasure hunting levels are won when one character gets two of the three Emerald shards.Special features in this two-player mode are unlocked by meeting certain conditions in the single player mode. Additional characters include familiar characters from previous games, but they must be unlocked in the original Dreamcast version: Amy and Metal Sonic complement Sonic and Shadow, Chao and Dark Chao complement Tails and Eggman, and Tikal and Chaos 0 complement Knuckles and Rouge. Alternate costumes are usable only in two player mode and vary in each version of the game, as do the conditions required to unlock the costumes.
Chao and The Chao World
The animal ChaoChao (Sonic the Hedgehog)
A is a fictional life form in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series published by Sega. Chao made their first appearance in the 1998 Dreamcast game Sonic Adventure as digital pets. They have since appeared in several video games in the Sonic the Hedgehog series as digital pets, minor characters,...
exist in an area held separate from the rest of the game called Chao World. Chao are meant to be raised and taken care of in the same manner as with human babies. Chao World incorporates three main areas: the Chao Gardens (three in total, but two must be unlocked by the player), the Chao Kindergarten, and the Chao Race Lobby.
The player finds and raises Chao in the Chao Garden. When Chao hatch, they crawl and are unable to swim. They get their nutrition from knocking the fruit off trees. When a Chao begins to grow up, it will eventually go into a cocoon stage in which it will transform. Depending on how each Chao in the garden was raised and treated during childhood, it can become a generic Chao or a Light or Dark Chao. As soon as a Chao transforms, if it has become a Light or Dark Chao, it will unlock for the player the Hero Garden or the Dark Garden, which are vertically positioned in Chao World similar to common Western descriptions of Heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
and Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
. "Chaos Drives" and hidden animals can be found in the action stages and can be given to Chao during childhood to boost the Chao's stats and physical attributes.
The Chao Kindergarten is where the player can take the Chao to have it named, have its health and stats checked, and have it learn new skills. Also, in the GameCube adaptation only, rare items can be purchased at the Black Market using the Rings collected during normal gameplay. The Black Market is also available in Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut; in that version, with more game Emblems earned, rarer merchandise becomes available in the Market.
GameCube adaption
The Nintendo GameCube adaption of Sonic Adventure 2, called Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, was released on December 10, 2001 in JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, February 12, 2002 in North America, and on the GameCube's launch (May 3, 2002) in Europe. This game changed a large portion of raising Chao. A Chao's stats can be viewed from within the game. The player can transfer one Chao from Sonic Adventure 2 Battle to the "Tiny Chao Garden" section in Sonic Advance, Sonic Advance 2
Sonic Advance 2
is a side-scrolling platform game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, developed by Dimps and published by THQ for the Game Boy Advance. The game was released in Japan on December 19, 2002, in North America on March 9, 2003, in Europe on March 18, 2003...
, and Sonic Pinball Party
Sonic Pinball Party
Sonic Pinball Party is a video game released for Game Boy Advance in 2003. It is a celebration of sorts for Sonic Team featuring many references to its previous games, mostly Sonic.-Story:...
with the GameCube-Game Boy Advance Link Cable
Nintendo GameCube-Game Boy Advance cable
The Nintendo GameCube–Game Boy Advance cable is a cable used to connect the Nintendo GameCube and the Game Boy Advance . Small games can be downloaded into the GBA, the GBA may be used as an extra screen to supplement gameplay, or the GBA can be a separate controller...
. If a Game Boy Advance is connected without a GBA game inserted, a version of the Tiny Chao Garden can be copied temporarily into the Game Boy Advance's memory. Chao Karate was also introduced in this version. The Chao's stats are used against a computer-controlled opponent to fight in a fighting game style, but with minimal influence from the player and very little in terms of actual karate. The layouts of all three Chao Gardens were also changed slightly, with Sonic Adventure 2 Battle's Chao Gardens significantly smaller than those of the original Dreamcast version.
The "Battle" multiplayer options were expanded in the GameCube version, including the addition of new characteristics to the multiplayer-exclusive characters, while removing all online play. Also, the additional features for the kart mode are not required to be unlocked in the GameCube version.
There are several aesthetic changes, as well. In the GameCube version, minor special effects were added such as rain in the "White Jungle" level. Also, when playing as Knuckles or Rouge, an exclamation (!) will appear above his or her head when directly nearby their targets. Some cutscenes were also redone slightly, with different character animations and camera angles. Some rankings had their requirements changed. Additionally, the cutscenes appear to play faster than on its original Dreamcast counterpart, such as when the heroes crash on their first arrival on the ARK. Most of Big the Cat's cameos did not remain in the stages, cutscenes, or two-player mode, but he can still be viewed in some story sequences by rapidly pressing the A or B buttons throughout the scenes. A Dark Chao (with Dark Chao Walker) replaces Big the Cat in two-player mode.
Plot
After discovering the existence of a secret weapon mentioned in the diary of his grandfather, Gerald Robotnik, Dr. Eggman infiltrates a high-security G.U.N. facility in search of it. This "weapon," a black hedgehog named Shadow who claims that he is the "Ultimate Life Form," offers to help Eggman take over the world, telling him to rendezvous with Shadow at the abandoned Space Colony ARK with more Chaos Emeralds. Shadow proceeds in stealing one of the emeralds, and G.U.N. officials mistake him for Sonic. Shadow has a flashback during these events to the final moments of a young girl named "Maria", who begging him to do an unspecified task—which he interprets as a request for revenge. Sonic is apprehended shortly after he confronts Shadow, who demonstrates to Sonic the Chaos Control technique.Meanwhile, Knuckles confronts both Rouge the Bat and Eggman, who each attempt to steal the Master Emerald. Knuckles shatters the Master Emerald to prevent this, and proceeds to search for the scattered shards and restore the Emerald. While Rouge also intends to collect the shards for personal benefit, she must also accomplish a mission for the government to spy on Eggman. This mission also leads her to the ARK, where Shadow relays to Eggman his plan to use the Chaos Emeralds to charge a "super weapon" on the ARK called the Eclipse Cannon to take over the world. To accomplish this, Shadow and Eggman recruit Rouge to assist in the search of the Chaos Emeralds.
Tails and Amy infiltrate Prison Island and rescue Sonic from G.U.N., while Eggman, Shadow, and Rouge collect three Emeralds on the island, which they then destroy. Eggman then broadcasts his threats across the planet and demonstrates the cannon's level of power by destroying half of the moon. Sonic and company use the final Emerald within their possession to track down the other six, with Knuckles coming along as well. Together, the group infiltrates Eggman's base, narrowly boarding Eggman's shuttle as it launches into space. Along the ride into space, Knuckles' Master Emerald shards are spilled, and he leaves the group to collect them, encountering Rouge again. During the fight, Knuckles saves Rouge from certain death, and Rouge surrenders her collected shards, finally allowing Knuckles to restore the Master Emerald.
Onboard the ARK, Tails reveals that he has created a counterfeit Chaos Emerald designed to reverse the effects of the real Emeralds and destroy the Eclipse Cannon. Sonic goes to place the fake Emerald into the cannon when Eggman announces he has captured Tails and Amy. Sonic tries to give Eggman the fake Emerald, but at the last second Eggman traps and jettisons Sonic in an escape pod rigged with explosives. Using the fake Emerald, Sonic manages to perform Chaos Control and escape before it explodes, but Tails, thinking Sonic is dead, fights Eggman again. Shadow is sent to intercept Sonic before he destroys the Eclipse Cannon, but Sonic succeeds.
Once Eggman collects all seven Chaos Emeralds and attempts to fire the Eclipse Cannon at full power, a failsafe activates, and a recorded message is broadcast by the late Gerald Robotnik. It explains that the ARK will collide with and destroy Earth, as revenge against humanity for condemning him and his research, killing his granddaughter Maria and numerous colleagues on-board the ARK. Everyone agree to work together to neutralize the Chaos Emeralds with the Master Emerald and stop the collision. Shadow initially does not participate, due to his apathy for humankind, however Amy's pleading reminds him of Maria's true request to serve as a benefit for society. He catches up with Sonic and Knuckles after they make their way to the core.
After disabling the various security features guarding the Cannon's core, Sonic and Knuckles encounter the Biolizard, a prototype of the Ultimate Life Form, and Shadow's "biological" brother, who had been awoken from stasis to ensure that the Emeralds would not be tampered with. Shadow defeats the Biolizard, allowing Knuckles to deactivate the Chaos Emeralds using his repaired Master Emerald. However, the injured Biolizard uses Chaos Control to fuse with the Eclipse Cannon, becoming the Finalhazard and continuing the ARK's collision course by physically dragging it along. Using the power of the Chaos Emeralds, Sonic and Shadow transform into Super Sonic and Super Shadow and defeat the Biolizard while he is fused to the ARK. They then use Chaos Control to teleport the ARK back into a stable orbit around Earth. The process, however, depletes Shadow's energy, and he is unable to remain in orbit, plummeting to Earth, to his apparent death content that he has fulfilled his promise to Maria. Humanity celebrates openly as the two teams solemnly express gratitude towards Shadow for his sacrifice and return to Earth, expressing their plans from there.
Development
Sonic Adventure 2 was developed by Sega Studio USA, the former United States division of Sonic TeamSonic Team
is a Japanese computer and video game developer established in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan in 1990, originally known as Sega AM8. The Japan-based division is also known as G.E. Department Global Entertainment. The studio has collaborated with several in-house Japanese studios as well as other American-based...
, and published by Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
. The game was directed by longtime series contributor Takashi Iizuka
Takashi Iizuka (game designer)
is a Japanese game producer, game director, game designer, level designer, scenario writer and currently the head of Sonic Team.-Early career:His first collaboration with Sega involved working with STI on Sonic 3 and Knuckles as a designer. Later, he helped supervise Traveller's Tales with the...
, and was developed over the course of approximately one and a half years.
The environments of the game were inspired by San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
—the location of Sega Studio USA—and by the United States as a whole. The game was designed to be action-oriented as opposed to the slower-paced, more story-based Sonic Adventure.
Sega promoted Sonic Adventure 2 both as the final Sonic game for the Dreamcast, and as marking the tenth anniversary of the original Sonic the Hedgehog.
The stage City Escape is included in the console version of Sonic Generations
Sonic Generations
is a 2011 platform video game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, produced by Sonic Team for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and Nintendo 3DS...
and Radical Highway will be on the 3DS version. Also, in the console and handheld versions of the game, Sonic will be battling Shadow
Shadow the Hedgehog
is a character from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Shadow is an artificially-created life form. His trademark hover shoes propel him at extreme speeds that rival those of Sonic, and with a Chaos Emerald he has the ability to distort time and space using "Chaos Control." Often referred to as being...
, who is a returning boss. And, the Biolizard will be fought by Sonic in the handheld version of this game.
Music
Jun SenoueJun Senoue
is a video game composer and musician from Wave Master, well known for some of his contributions in many Sonic the Hedgehog games. He is also the guitarist for the band Crush 40, which also contributes to many Sonic the Hedgehog games.-Biography:...
returned as head composer for this game. Like the previous game, each character received an instrumental motif that serves as their theme song. The game features performances by returning vocalists Tony Harnell
Tony Harnell
Antony "Tony" Harnell is an American hard rock singer, best known for his work with the Norwegian hard rock band TNT....
, Ted Poley
Ted Poley
Ted Harris Poley is a rock singer and drummer most famous for being in the band Danger Danger.-Biography:...
, Marlon Saunders
Marlon Saunders
Marlon Saunders is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. A professor of voice at Berklee College of Music, Marlon has two solo recordings on his independent label, Black Honey Records: the improvisational A Groove So Deep: The Live Sessions and 2003's critically acclaimed Enter My Mind...
, Nikki Gregoroff and Johnny Gioeli
Johnny Gioeli
Johnny Gioeli is an American hard rock singer. Originally lead singer of the band Hardline, he is also currently the vocalist of Crush 40 and German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell's band...
, as well as new vocalists Tabitha Fair, Todd Cooper, Paul Shortino
Paul Shortino
Paul Shortino is a singer who has sung for several bands, including Rough Cutt/The Cutt, Quiet Riot, Bad Boyz, and Shortino. He's recorded with JK Northrup as Shortino/Northrup. He's also recorded as a solo artist. He also did the theme song for Dr...
, Everett Bradley, Kaz Silver and Hunnid-P.
Crush 40
Crush 40
Crush 40, formerly known as Sons of Angels, is a Japanese-American hard rock band formed in 1997 that is best known for their contributions to the soundtracks of several video games, predominantly the Sonic the Hedgehog series...
, which consists of Senoue and vocalist Johnny Gioeli, officially debuted with the theme song Live & Learn, which plays during the main menu and the final battle.
The Sonic Adventure 2 Multi-Dimensional Original Soundtrack was produced by Jun Senoue and released by Marvelous Entertainment on August 22, 2001. The songs feature the band Crush 40.
Sonic Adventure 2 Vocals Collection: Cuts Unleashed was produced by Jun Senoue and released on August 21, 2001 by MMV. It contains musical tracks from the game composed by Jun Senoue and Kenichi Tokoi.
Reception
After its initial release on the Dreamcast, Sonic Adventure 2 was well-received, being the recipient of very positive reviews, averaging an 89% according to critic compiler MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. The game received praise for its fast-paced Sonic/Shadow levels, high-quality graphics, remodeled and enhanced Chao Garden and improved gameplay mechanics from the original.
Like its predecessor, however, the game was subject to criticism concerning the game's camera system. Although sites like Gamespot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
admitted that the camera flaws in the original Sonic Adventure were "infinitely more frustrating by comparison" the sequel was still noted to "retain some of the quirky camera work". Along with the camera flaws, the game received criticism for the Knuckles/Rouge levels, which were described by some reviewers as "confusing" and "frustrating", while other reviewers found them to be a "fun different gamemode". The game was also criticized for having a lack of challenging boss fights.
Despite these issues, the game was still a critical and commercial success with many reviewers agreeing that the game was one of the last great Dreamcast releases. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
concluded that "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."
The GameCube version, Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, fared considerably worse in terms of reviews, despite having no single player gameplay changes from the Dreamcast version, and only an 8-month gap between their releases. Even in spite of the negative reviews, the game has sold 1.44 million units in the United States alone , making it one of the GameCube's highest selling games.
The game also sold well enough to be re-released as a Player's Choice
Player's Choice
Nintendo Selects is a marketing label used by Nintendo to promote video games on Nintendo game consoles which have sold well; Nintendo Selects titles are sold at a lower price point than other games...
title.
Sonic Adventure 2 has also won several awards: IGN's and GamePro's
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
Editors' Choice Awards and GameSpy
GameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
's Best of 2001: Best Dreamcast action/adventure game. ScrewAttack
ScrewAttack
ScrewAttack . is a video game-related website that showcases original entertainment for an audience of video game enthusiasts. Its content is also shown on GameTrailers and IGN...
also rated Sonic Adventure 2 as the fifth best Dreamcast game.
External links
- Sonic Adventure 2 at SonicTeam.com
- Sonic Adventure 2 Battle at SonicTeam.com