Sonic Adventure
Reviewed by Clement Chan Zhi Li
Sonic Adventure was released as one of the first batch of
games and of course, SonicTeam's five years on spending
creating, designing and making this game turns out to be
really outstanding. The truly perfect in-depth gameplay,
truly huge and creative design on the graphics,
good-sounding music and the overall replay value turns out
to be great. If you're used to 2D games like me, expect a
little problem on getting used to the fully 3D environment
but you should get easily used to it as there are many
helpful hints and tips around that will help you along with
this game.
Graphics - 10
Every single thing of this game are totally detailed, making
a truly perfect 3D graphics environment with everything
rendered greatly, not a thing is to be missed out. The
characters themselves are very cute to look at, especially
Tails and Amy. The characters models are in 3D so it's
really an amazing awe from me as I'm not expecting a truly
realistic character models of those 2D memories brought back
from the various Sonic games in the good 'ol Genesis. The
game also moves very fast and fluent but without a single
slow-down or noticeable flaw in the frame-rates. But
unfortunately, there are also several minor problems, like
if you went to fast and ram into a side of a wall and other
simple and miscellaneous problems.
The background are great, with those sky turning colour from
time to time as this game has a built-in time to suit the
story sequence of the story, meaning that you will see the
sky transforming into cool, respective colours that looks
extremely real, especially red and purple mixed up together
at dawn. The stages are relatively huge and designed
thoroughly with every single aspect not be missed like the
tiny dandelions giving out their seeds, red mountaineering
areas, roads that leads one way to another, hot bloody lava
that could melt anyone that accidentally fell in there
(well, sort of) and the aeroplane, Tornado that looks real
cool when piloted by Tails.
Music - 10
The background music themselves are a great thing to hear,
changing from various tunes that are great to listen and
pleasant to the ears. Some can be real cool with rapping and
all of that sort while some can get real quick into a fast
mood to suit with Sonic's characteristics. Not to mention
that there are totally no eerie tunes as most action and
adventure games will have, so people who can get scared
easily will be safe with that aspect. And of course, the
best things are the characters' music theme that have lyrics
in them and are sung by various people. These are cool to
listen and those who love music will be enchanted by certain of them.
The voices, on the other hand, are one thing that I really
like about them. All of the Sonic games are mute (well, no
voices) and the only way you can hear them is to watch the
three Sonic cartoons that appeared in the past and probably
there are in few countries in the present, Adventures of
Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog and the latest and
newest cartoon, Sonic Underground. The voices really suit
everyone, especially our three main characters, Sonic, Tails
and Knuckles with a certain kind of 'attitude' in their voices.
The sound effects are just nice with every single action
that you perform will result noises that suit in everything.
Example, when Sonic spins, you can hear the original
spinning sound but more enhanced and when Tails fly about
with his twin tails. How you jump, rustling of leaves,
horrid machinery created by Eggman, tons of enemy robots moving
and shooting around and many more. Just great, to cap that.
Gameplay - 10
This is an action / adventure game so you have to expect
things based on that, enemies and more enemies, destroying
and more destroying, and more rap action that will grab
everyone's attention. This game is fast, with lots of Sonic
attitude and in fact, too fast for you to control in the
beginning. As you started the game as Sonic, you can admire
the wonders that have been created here, as well as the
storyline that grips you and makes you crave for more.
Most of the enemies are very simple to defeat, it's only the
stages that will give you a headache. Some stages are simply
too hard and will make you throw your controller to the
floor in frustration because of the stages' design or you're
stuck in a particular point while others are relatively easy
and straightforward. Other times, you're needed to solve a
certain puzzle that will allow you to continue the game further.
Choosing different characters will let you enter different
stages with different missions. Every characters will have
their own respective missions which differs from one to
another. Example, Sonic's stages are pretty simple and what
you need to do is to reach to the other end to break the
capsule that holds animals to collect or collect the Chaos
Emeralds or any other things. Tails' missions are to race a
particular character to the end of the stage and you'll need
to find shortcuts to get you through. If you ever need help,
there will be a glowing red ball that will help you from
time to time, inside the stages or even outside them to give
you hints on certain puzzles.
To know better about these Sonic Adventure areas, there are
few things that are separated from one to another. The
Action Stages are what they are called, simply stages which
you must complete in order to progress to the next stage.
The Adventure Field is one big compound area which you can
explore and complete certain tasks and puzzle there. There
are not really any missions here but it's basically like a
city where you can wander about and access the Action Stages
from these places.
Your freedom is released in here where you can do almost
everything you like but only certain areas can only be
accessed and only certain shops can only be visited. You can
jump down from a high cliff in the Adventure Field and lose
your life but if you want to go somewhere that does not
allow you to do so, there will be an invisible barrier that
holds you back, no matter how much you tried and jump and
fly about, there will be no use.
If you have played any of the Sonic games before this great
game, you'll be pleased to know that some of the old
features are remained intact. Collecting rings will be a
common thing and getting all 100 of those gold things will
gain you an extra life. You can also hit item boxes which
are now redesigned into a transparent box and there is also
even a loop-de-loop which can be found on some of the
stages. Jumping from moving platforms are also available on
the stages too, which are useful to get you across but
you're most likely to find yourself falling down to the
bottomless pits with nothing at the end.
Of course, there will be bosses in certain stages and areas
which you must really defeat. In the beginning, these bosses
does not posses any threat to you (as most Robotnik's robots
are useless, or Eggman as all of the characters call him)
and they're easily defeated with a couple of hits. You'll
notice their patterns of attacking and you can easily dodge
from all of their pitiful attacks. But nearly the end or in
the middle of any adventure, these bosses and robots will be
almost impossible to be defeated, until you know all of
their ways and have managed to get used to these type of controls.
Another wonderful thing is that you can try and find those
nifty power-up items that will enhance your power and give
you cool new attacks and moves that will help you along your
journey as well as defeat enemies easily. Every of all the
characters will have at least one power-up items and most of
them are hidden in places that you wouldn't even guess. But
as always, the glowing red ball will always be there to help
you out and hint locations where the power-up should be.
And then, there is the cute, cute virtual pet called A-Life
or better known as Chao. This cute things can be put inside
your memory card as a mini-game or better still, you can
feed it with foods and combine it with animals you will find
in the Action Stages after you destroyed the robots to have
it grow those animals characteristics and have the animals'
abilities. You can do almost anything you like ranging from
carrying it about or even spin towards your Chao to hurt him
and eventually die. And you'll soon grow attachment to these
things, and raise it where it will evolve. Taking care and
understanding the Chao's life process will be a great
knowledge to you as you will then understand more and not to
be worried on little things.
Raising your Chao both outside in the game and inside the
memory card is crucial for your Chao's health life and
ever-growing abilities. Inside the memory card you can fight
against computer enemies or connect two memory cards
together and fight against your friend's Chao. You can even
name your Chao and store your personal details inside the
memory card when your Chao asks for it. Even so, you can
play a memory game that will gain you more food for your
Chao to eat. These foods will add more points to the
abilities where you can train your Chao to be perfect. These
abilities are: Fly, Run, Swim and Power where the first
three abilities are useful for the Chao Race and the Power
is your Chao's strength inside the game where you must have
them to attack your enemies although the Power is also
useful on one or two of the races.
The Chao Race are basically a place for you to race against
your computer opponents to get a medal or you can even race
against your friend's Chao or your own Chao. If you have
played Final Fantasy VII before, you'll know that there is a
Chocobo Race where you can race your yellow, fluffy bird
Chocobo, based on what food you have give them will give
them strength. If you have played it before, you'll
understand the basic concept of Chao Race. Your Chao will
either lose or win based on how high the abilities are and
how you have trained and raised your Chao.
Added to that, if you have bought a Dreamcast with modem
inside it (which would be a European, US and Japan
Dreamcasts), you can access the Internet where you can
download lots of add-on files that will fiddle and change
the appearances or any features in Sonic Adventure which is
a nice change. Example, you can download the Christmas
download where you will see Christmas trees appearing in
every Adventure Field and snow raining down or a contest
file where you must find something within the game or even
submit your highest score when Sega held a contest to see
whether you're the fastest or not. Surfing the Internet has
never been at all fun, until this game is released. The
official website of Sonic Adventure that can only be
accessed by Dreamcast will really get you hooked!
Controls - 10
There should not be any problem while playing this game
because it's got the simplest controls where even a six-year
old can play this game. Just a jump and attack button and
the D-pad controls will let you learn very quickly. If you
are not comfortable with the controls, try and get used to
them and this game should not pose any controls difficulty.
Really. Just jump and attack and you'll perform the move.
Story - 10
Possibly the best storyline ever as it's deep in meaning and
requires you to pay attention carefully to know what is
actually going on. Basically this time, the story takes
place in the planet Earth instead of Mobius. Dr. Robotnik
(or Eggman as the characters call him) is back and works on
his disastrous plans. He woke up the mysterious, liquid
creature, Chaos and planned to give him the most powerful
essence, the 7 Chaos Emeralds. Once he got all of them, he
will 'turn Station Square into rubble' to build his
so-called 'Robotnikland' (sounds more like an amusement
park!). That's where Sonic must try and make his plans fail
by getting the Chaos Emeralds first!
Also, there is a mysterious connection between Chaos and the
other echidna girl? What could it be? In every character's
adventure, there will a short story about them and it could
be quite confusing if you don't pay attention properly and
as you progress, you'll begin to understand more. So, find
out yourself. You can take control of the available six
characters with their own storylines and you'll get to know
their missions.
Replay Value - 10
There are simply so many things to do for goodness sake and
six characters means six times the fun. The Chao virtual pet
system will allow you to take care of the rest, meaning that
you'll lose your sleep and be totally addicted to the game.
It requires lots of time (basically most of your time) and
patience so if you're up to the challenge, play this game
and train your army of Chao. Furthermore, there are lots of
stages which you can find yourself playing them all over
again for fun and it's worth the time spending them.
Thankfully, Sega has implanted the Emblem system, where
you're required to find them in the Adventure Fields and
collect all of them in the Action Stages by reaching at the
end of the level in the fastest time possible. Exciting, eh?
To make a surprise shock for you, there are 130 Emblems all
together; three in each of every character's Action Stages
and the rest of them scattered all over in the Adventure
Fields. Getting all of them will let you boast to all of
your friends as the Sonic Adventure master as getting all of
them are difficult, real difficult.
Overall - 10 out of 10
On top of everything I say, Sonic Adventure is a game not to
be missed as it possessed everything that an action /
adventure game should have, lots of fun, pure exciting
gameplay and tons of replay value. As it is, there are
simply too many things to do as you can roam about in this
fully 3D world or play with your cute Chao, making you to
lose sleep and be totally addicted to it. Nevertheless, grab
this game and shell out your money and you'll see that
you've made a right choice.
Sonic
-----
+ Great graphics with full-roaming 3D world.
+ The cool A-Life (Chao) system will get you addicted!
+ Cool music, great storyline and lots of things to do even
after you have finished the game!
Panic
-----
- Occasional graphical glitchesÉ
- You'll get addicted!
- You'll lose sleep!
OR
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