| Stat: |
Score: |
Notes: |
| Graphics |
7 |
Sega's Sonic Adventure 2: Battle for the Gamecube has some decent graphics. Most of the environments in the pre-space stages look quite good, although the trees in City Escape look as flat as cardboard. The game's space environment are kinda lackluster, but much of the other things in the game look okay. Another annoying thing is the lip sync in the cutscenes; it's obvious that the lip sync was designed in Japanese, and the translators really didn't try to match it up. However, the game's frame rate is incredible and is smooth as silk. The characters move fluidly and the game doesn't slow down even when action heats up, which helped save it from a '6' rating in Graphics. |
| Play Control: |
10 |
Fast. That's the watchword of the game. Even at Sonic's trademark breakneck speed, the game still handles like a dream. Attacks and moves are extremely easy to execute and the camera doesn't cause problems. With all of your primary moves focused on the A and B buttons, it takes a lot less stress to get it to play well. Even the flight controls for Knuckles and Rouge are very sharp. The sole problem is that your Ring Powers in multiplayer are mapped to the same buttons as your Somersault in race mode and the Shoot button in mech mode. |
| Sound: |
10 |
Bingo again. SA2:B has some of the best music on the 'Cube. It's only competition is the famed Medal of Honor: Frontline. It's normal sound effects get the job done, and the classic 'losing rings' sound still remains intact, even after eleven years. You'll find everything is pretty appropriate for your environment; whether it's something as simple as a robot shooting at you or the frenzied "Escape from the City" track as you try to do exactly that. Two thumbs way up here. |
| Value: |
9 |
SA2:B's value comes in the fact that every level has five missions: Standard, Collect 100 Rings, Find the Chao, Time Attack, and Hard Mode. Each of these is meant to get the player to score an 'A' rank on every mission and every stage. This task isn't accomplished without patience. Next, SA2:B's multiplayer is great fun when it comes to racing and mech battles. The treasure hunting can really be done without. Perhaps the quirkiest and most engrossing draws is the Chao Garden. Here you raise a funny little creature called a "Chao" and raise it from an egg. You can pick up scattered Chaos Drives or small animals to give to it to power it up, and then you can send it into competitions. The game sports 180 Emblems, which are basically markings on how completely you've played the game. Gamers diligent enough to get all 180 Emblems get a nice special treat... |
| Gameplay: |
7 |
There are two big things that stop Sonic's latest console romp from getting a ten, and they are BOTH worth the deduction. First, the levels that are the most fun, specifically the Sonic and Shadow the Hedgehog levels, seem to come rarely, even though Sonic has the most levels out of anyone... Shadow sadly has the least. More than half the time you either are using Tails and Knuckles or Dr. Eggman and Rouge, depending whether you've chosen the Hero Side or Dark Side. Tails's and Eggman's levels are mech blasting romps as you Rambo your way to the goal, trying to rack up as many points as possible. Pretty simple. The other huge deduction comes from the last third of the game: Knuckles and Rouge Levels. In these levels, the player is thrown into a vast arena-like Zone to find three lost Master Emerald shards. Sounds kinda fun, until you actually play it. You're given one of the most aggravating radar systems created, which basically beep a different intensity as you close on the emerald. It's not bad in the early levels, but when you reach a Rouge level called "Mad Space", let's put it this way: You'll be wanting to kill Sega. The thing that saves those levels is the fact that Knuckles's and Rouge's moves are really cool and the fact that you can glide around. The characters themselves are cool, but their levels bite. However, it's the Sonic speed that saves the game totally, making the torment worth it. |
Overall Rating: |
9 |
We know what you're thinking. How the heck did a game get a 7 in Gameplay and Graphics and still nail a 9? Well, the game has a great story, and both sides' stories intertwine constantly. The Sonic and Shadow levels are amazing fun and the mech levels are pretty fun too. The Chao Garden can be addictive, and the replay and fun factor values are through the roof, provided you aren't playing a hunting level. In fact, it's these hunting levels that stop the game from getting a perfect 10. SA2:B is definitely worth a rental if you're skeptical about its hunting levels, but to anyone who loves platformers, action, mindless fun, breakneck speed, or everyone's favorite hedgehog, don't pass it up. |
Personally, I love the game. It's Sonic. I've always been a huge Sonic fan, but I will be honest: The hunting levels really do suck. You'll find yourself groaning every time the loading screens come up red or purple. The graphics look weak in places, but I really don't care. I love the sheer speed you get in the Sonic levels; it still gets me every time I play.
Good value; the extra missions give some more depth to the game and the Chao Garden is really a nice way to burn time. I enjoyed the speed, too.
It's absurdly fun in multiplayer in racing mode. Your opponent looks like he may win, but then suddenly they hear the call of Shadow: "Chaos Control!" 
Again, primarily brainless, but the Chao Garden is fascinating; there are so many different ways to breed Chao and raise them. This makes the game worth it for anyone who enjoys this sort of thing. The Hunting Levels require some creative thought, but it's more frustrating than fun.
Solid controls. Even sending Sonic running down a building like some kinda man on fire felt natural!
"Rolling around at the speed of sound. . ." Great. Now I've got that song stuck in my head. At least it's a good one. Thankfully, most of the other music was good too.
Graphics are kinda lame. Other than that, fun.
Awesome fun. Sega did a great port of the original. Can't wait until Sonic Adventure DX comes out.