The Sonic and Shadow levels are decent, everyone else’s levels suck balls. The chao garden and the car racing mini games are more fun than the base game. The voice acting and writing is really bad, but it’s a product of its time. This essentially is the same game as the Dreamcast version, just with two player mechanics added to it that don’t add very much
I know it's mid af but the final ending and music are untouchable in my heart
This review contains spoilers
Buckle those seatbelts because I have many thoughts. I did not grow up with this game which I feel is what depicts from the lovers and the haters.
This is objectively a bad game, I'm sorry. Or at the very least, a poorly made one. Presentation is terrible, while the graphics are definitely nice for the time the cutscenes are made by devs who don't know how to mix audio. The music is too loud over character voices and they cut each other off before another character is done talking to them. Simply jarring. It's funny for me to imagine a Mario game that is this messy.
The gameplay is frustrating and full of cheap shots. Why does the final level have an entire water section as Knuckles with some of the worst controls and having to chase bubbles that send him straight down into a hazard? Anytime I was playing as Tails or Eggman, I just needed the level to end as fast as possible. Those random car levels were ass too.
That said, I didn't mind most of the search levels from Knuckles and Rouge, aside from the timed level. Sonic's levels were the most fun, but there were some times were progression was cryptic and I had to experiment and inevitably lose a life (this happened with Tails sometimes also). Not enough Shadow levels on the dark side in favor of Eggman.
The story is ridiculous but in a fun way, and the climax was fun also. Live and Learn goes hard no matter what. OST was pretty good all things considered.
Overall, despite all the flaws I would actually reccomend it based on the experience of what this is as a 3D Sonic game, although I really like and prefer the first game by comparison. I think this is better as an eight year old who's into the Chao Garden. Admittingly, I didn't wanna replay the game and get really into it, but I'm sure that adds most of the enjoyment and it's a fun idea I'd like to see brought back in some capacity.
This is objectively a bad game, I'm sorry. Or at the very least, a poorly made one. Presentation is terrible, while the graphics are definitely nice for the time the cutscenes are made by devs who don't know how to mix audio. The music is too loud over character voices and they cut each other off before another character is done talking to them. Simply jarring. It's funny for me to imagine a Mario game that is this messy.
The gameplay is frustrating and full of cheap shots. Why does the final level have an entire water section as Knuckles with some of the worst controls and having to chase bubbles that send him straight down into a hazard? Anytime I was playing as Tails or Eggman, I just needed the level to end as fast as possible. Those random car levels were ass too.
That said, I didn't mind most of the search levels from Knuckles and Rouge, aside from the timed level. Sonic's levels were the most fun, but there were some times were progression was cryptic and I had to experiment and inevitably lose a life (this happened with Tails sometimes also). Not enough Shadow levels on the dark side in favor of Eggman.
The story is ridiculous but in a fun way, and the climax was fun also. Live and Learn goes hard no matter what. OST was pretty good all things considered.
Overall, despite all the flaws I would actually reccomend it based on the experience of what this is as a 3D Sonic game, although I really like and prefer the first game by comparison. I think this is better as an eight year old who's into the Chao Garden. Admittingly, I didn't wanna replay the game and get really into it, but I'm sure that adds most of the enjoyment and it's a fun idea I'd like to see brought back in some capacity.
Sonic Adventure 2 is the great filter for people who hate fun ideas. Just about everything in this game is absurd. There's memorable story beats and levels sprinkled everywhere. There is not a single level in this game can't repeat in my head. It's so emblematic for the time period it came out in that I don't think we will ever see a good SA3. Something like this just can't happen again after gaming hit the mainstream.
Sonic Adventure 2: Battle delivers a high-speed, split-narrative thrill ride with Sonic, Shadow, and friends. Its action levels are blazingly fast and packed with spectacle, while the treasure-hunting and mech-shooting stages offer a change of pace. The Chao Garden provides a surprisingly addictive side activity for those who enjoy raising virtual pets. Though the camera can be occasionally unruly and some levels are less polished than others, Sonic Adventure 2: Battle remains an energetic and surprisingly diverse blast from the past.
grinding the levels for chao drives sucks but you best believe i did that shit for 200+ hours as a kid
I first played this when I was 16... and it was my first real sonic game. As a complacent enjoyer of b movies, it's entirely on brand that I love this cheesy "b movie" of a game. It doesn't exactly stand up to what Mario and other franchises were doing at the time, but regardless it boasts a fun (at times, very broken) and unique gameplay structure, introduces iconic characters, and has one of the best video game soundtracks ever. There's tons to do in this game after beating the main stories, too.
Nothing deserves a full-fledged remake quite like SA1 & 2 do.
Nothing deserves a full-fledged remake quite like SA1 & 2 do.
I love this game. This game is mediocre.
Sonic gameplay is good but a stepback compared to Adventure 1in terms of level desing. Even taking that in mind, it's the best gampeplay style in the game, and that's not good. The first treasure hunting levels are pretty good, but they get annoying fast, the nerf to the radar was a mistake and even without that the level desing becomes way too big. The hints are pretty shit and the game would have better with something similar to Tikal. The Mech stages are mediocre and feel clunky. So yeah, this game is only consistenly fun 1/3 of it. I like the story for what it is. The whole game consist on heros and villains clashing with each other while Shadow is there being mysterious, slowly learning about his past until he gets his character growth in the end. The other characters really don't get an arc or make a point, the game is supposed to be about duality but that could shine trough a lot more. This is still one of my favorite Sonic games and story.
Sonic gameplay is good but a stepback compared to Adventure 1in terms of level desing. Even taking that in mind, it's the best gampeplay style in the game, and that's not good. The first treasure hunting levels are pretty good, but they get annoying fast, the nerf to the radar was a mistake and even without that the level desing becomes way too big. The hints are pretty shit and the game would have better with something similar to Tikal. The Mech stages are mediocre and feel clunky. So yeah, this game is only consistenly fun 1/3 of it. I like the story for what it is. The whole game consist on heros and villains clashing with each other while Shadow is there being mysterious, slowly learning about his past until he gets his character growth in the end. The other characters really don't get an arc or make a point, the game is supposed to be about duality but that could shine trough a lot more. This is still one of my favorite Sonic games and story.
Once you learn how to actually play it properly (scoring mechanics and raising Chao) the game clicks and becomes something really special.
raising chao is the best
Big step back from it's predecessor. There are some great moments in here like a few of the Speed and Mech levels, and I dig the game's ambition and ost.
Unfortunately, every gameplay style that had an SA1 equivalent plays worse, be it weaker controls (Speed, Mech) or borked objectives and level design (Hunter)
I also cannot get invested in the story because it's poorly animated and the sound mixing is unbearably awful
I wish I liked this game more than I do because there's a lot of good shit here. Also, I do not het the hype for the Chao Garden.
Unfortunately, every gameplay style that had an SA1 equivalent plays worse, be it weaker controls (Speed, Mech) or borked objectives and level design (Hunter)
I also cannot get invested in the story because it's poorly animated and the sound mixing is unbearably awful
I wish I liked this game more than I do because there's a lot of good shit here. Also, I do not het the hype for the Chao Garden.
Extrañaba los juegos que ponés y empiezan. Sin prólogos, sin tutoriales, sin nada. Y cuando tiene que terminar termina.
No puedo recomendarlo lo suficiente, el juego que todo fan de Sonic debe jugar.
No puedo recomendarlo lo suficiente, el juego que todo fan de Sonic debe jugar.
I feel like the more I play this game the more I like it. I used to hate the mech and treasure hunting levels but I find them quite fun now. The speed stages are obviously the highlight though. Was a fun quick 3 hour stroll down memory lane.
God this game plays poorly and has tons of issues with the audio mixing, graphics, story, etc. But I loved and still love it so much.
Shadow's and Sonic's levels are the only good ones. Radical Highway is a masterpiece. The Chao Garden's excellence goes without saying. Everything else is a big slog for the most part. This is still the greatest video game of all time.
don't fall for their lies, sonic games are good
Live and Learn!
Where Adventure 3 Sanic?
Where Adventure 3 Sanic?
so much style but the levels are so ass and none of the gameplay styles are actually fun
The best Sonic game for a long time, until Sonic Generations came out. Gameplay is fantastic, story is engaging, characters are all fun. If you can look past old-game jank, you'll find a real treasure here. Though you will have to find that treasure in a specific order. Seriously why did they make that change from Adventure 1?
This review contains spoilers
Ive Recently began a All A Rank Quest
a decision to redeem my child self who beat last story and then spent 600+ hours in chao world.
The games jank. in many ways id say its not even as great as i remember...but it is FUN and thats all you need in a game sometimes
a decision to redeem my child self who beat last story and then spent 600+ hours in chao world.
The games jank. in many ways id say its not even as great as i remember...but it is FUN and thats all you need in a game sometimes
"This is Knuckles, and you've reached the Death Chamber."
The Chao Garden is the wisest addition to a video game in modern history.
fucking brillant
Arguably the best 3d sonic game? Things work as intended and the music is great.
Who am i kidding, we're all here for the Chao Garden.
Who am i kidding, we're all here for the Chao Garden.
He pissed on the moon.
Mixed bag. On one hand, there are awesome Dr. Eggman levels, but on the other hand there are the absolutely terrible and time-consuming Knuckles and Rouge levels...
I can’t even describe how soulful and comforting this game makes me feel. I play this and I feel like I’m back on my bedroom floor, 4 years old, playing through this. It’s very nostalgic for me and it’s really held up in terms of music, characters, aesthetic and gameplay. Yeah it’s janky at times but I found it’s apart of the experience of SA2.
I find it kinda insane how they treated this game like Sonic’s final game? Rest easy heroes ❤️
I find it kinda insane how they treated this game like Sonic’s final game? Rest easy heroes ❤️
Live and Learn
Speed Stages and the story is awesome, the writing as well! Too bad this game is a slog after that
THE sonic game