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Sonic Adventure 
Release date: 31 Aug 1999
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Mygamer review
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Sonic Adventure
Sega's Sonic Adventure is screaming across Dreamcast consoles and reinventing what gamers should expect from the Sonic franchise. More than a cookie-cutter 3D translation of a popular game, Sonic Adventure is completely transformed from its initial side-scrolling roots. The gameplay remains true to the originals and the story remains largely unchanged, but progression through the game is completely reworked and open-ended.
Gameplay is divided into two distinct areas including Action Stages and Adventure Fields. The action stages are the game's levels; huge 3D versions of what one might normally expect from a Sonic game. The Adventure Fields are what gives Sonic Adventure its twist. These are sprawling, enemy-free environments serving not only as homes for boss battles and real-time cut scenes but also acting as hubs between the Action Stages. Sonic can explore these areas at his leisure; playing mini-games, interacting with NPCs, and even catching a train ride between two of the major regions.
Adventure and Trial modes are offered from the main menu. Trial allows the user to replay any Action Stage or mini-game that has been unlocked in Adventure mode. Extra characters can be used in either mode, but they must each unlock their own mini-games and Action Stages. Characters are unlocked after Sonic encounters them during Adventure mode - the game's main story mode where Sonic drops into Station Square for a little rest and relaxation, only to discover that the evil Doctor Robotnik is at it again. This time he's gathering the seven chaos emeralds and feeding them to Chaos, a life form that the ‘Eggman' released from the Master Emerald to do his bidding. Once complete, Eggman plans to destroy Station Square and build his own city.
After selecting a character to use in Adventure mode there is a brief tutorial explaining their unique abilities and specific objectives within the Action Stages. In classic style, Sonic must destroy the capsule at the end of each stage in order to free his captured fuzzy friends. Tails has the same goal, but he must open the capsule by beating Sonic to the end of the stage by utilizing his flying abilities. Knuckles, guardian of the Master Emerald from which Chaos emerged, must use his gliding and climbing skills to collect the emerald fragments that were scattered when Chaos broke free. More of the story unfolds as each individual character is used.
Hint Orbs and floating monitors within the Adventure Fields provide clues as to what the characters must do next. If the user doesn't feel like continuing to the next Action Stage, he can hang out in the casino or travel to one of three Chao Gardens and play the Chao mini-game. Chao are tiny creatures that can be raced against other Chao or saved to the VMU and treated as electronic pets. At any time the Chao can be transferred from the VMU back to the Chao Gardens.
Being that the Action Stages are fairly simple and linear they stay true to the Sonic formula and remain extremely fast-paced. As expected you'll collect rings as you rocket through each stage, earning an extra life for every one hundred amassed, and losing all of them if you get hit. Springs, loops, and speed pads are all there to help Sonic find his way to the waiting capsule. Crossing through Point Markers saves your position and time on the course; if you die you'll restart from the last marker you passed. The game is populated by many familiar items, such as High-Speed Shoes, Shields, and Extra Lives, as well as some new goodies like Level Up items, which enhance a character's abilities for the duration of the game.
Emblems are rewarded to each character as they accomplish their goals on the Action Stages. You can check the Emblem Results on the Trial mode submenu. Each character has their own attacks that help them achieve their goals, and Sonic's new Homing Attack allows him to charge an opponent when already in midair.
When dashing through the Action Stages there are some notable problems - mostly camera related. Backtracking is nearly impossible because the camera automatically reorients itself. Frequently, after hitting a spring or other projectile, the character automatically follows a path of floating markers through the air; the view changes rapidly and it's tough to tell when the automatic progression stops and player input is again required. You will plummet to your death on more than one occasion due to confusion on which way you should be going and whether or not the camera is facing the right way. Frequently, on Tails' first Action Stage, he will fall short of a safe landing after automatically passing through a series of rings, because it is unclear whether you're in control of him when passing through the final ring.
Though some of the character models are better than others, most of the game's environments are breathtaking. Sonic's first Action Stage starts him on a hotel beach, complete with chairs, umbrellas, and, of course, palm trees. Everything from the water to the sky is beautiful, and characters even leave footprints in the sand. The Adventure Fields are equally, if not more, impressive; Station Square is full of moving cars and explorative buildings. The D-Pad switches gameplay to first-person view; a feature you'll want to use often in order to take everything in.
Nearly as impressive as the graphics is the sound. Each main character has a voice throughout the entire game and also individual theme music. The Adventure Field music rounds-out the area's feel, especially the calming flute and harmonizing that perfectly complements the rustic look of the Mystic Ruins. Many sound effects have carried-over from previous games for the sake of authenticity.
With six characters in all, you'll want to play through Adventure mode with all of them to see the story from different points of view. Mini-games, including racing, snowboarding, and raising Chaos, will provide plenty of extra content to keep you coming back for more. Not only is Sonic Adventure a successful recreation of Sonic The Hedgehog, it is also rich in content, and its free-roaming environments allow it to stand on its own as a great adventure game. This is truly a Sonic adventure, with Tails, Knuckles, and a few new friends, along for the ride.
Review by Dave Kaplan on 1 Oct 2004
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