[ Register or Signin to view external links. ]

Game Information

Release Date: December 23, 1998
Developer: Sonic Team
Publisher: SEGA
Platform(s): Dreamcast, GameCube, Windows, Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, Steam
Genre: Action-Adventure
Players: 1

---

Synopsis

The hedgehog with an attitude makes his triumphant return to the world of videogames in Sonic Adventure. Using the power of the Dreamcast, Sonic has been catapulted into the third dimension with style. Racing at supersonic speeds through nearly 50 gorgeous, fully 3D levels, Sonic will have to adapt to the new challenges and dangers invented by the evil Dr. Robotnik. Sonic knows when he's outmatched, though, so he's recruited five friends including Amy Rose, Tails, and Knuckles to help him put a stop to Robotnik's evil scheme. Each playable character features different abilities, playing through levels differently and seeing the story evolve from their own perspectives. Players can even collect tiny creatures called Chao and raise them on the go then bring them back into the game world for competition! Your favorite blue hedgehog enters the next generation of games with style in Sonic Adventure

---

Story

Thousands of years ago in an ancient city is a tomb home to a tribe, Echidna. It's ruler, Pachacama, wants to rule the world. His daughter, Tikal, discovers the Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald, which both have great power, in a shrine which lies in the center of the city and now her father wants to use these for his plans. So she befriends the guardians of these emeralds, Chaos and Chao, to prevent her father from completing his mission.

A few thousands years later one of the members of the tribe, Knuckles, guards these emeralds on an isolated island far away from the tomb after an evil scientist, Dr. Eggman, shatters the emeralds releasing the Master Chaos. This sends the island falling into the sea breaking up into numerous pieces whilst sending every emerald into different ways. In order to find these emeralds Knuckles goes into a city, Station Square (Times Square knock off), to find some help. He finds Sonic battling the Master Chaos, which he defeats, and ask to help him in order to save the world.

Along the way, you will have to save others in order for them to help you such Tails, Amy, Big the Cat, and E-102 Gamma. Each one is stuck in their own predicament which requires you. In the end, you must defeat Eggman and his pet, Master Chaos.

---

Gameplay

Sonic Adventure brings back the classic game play from the old Sonic games whilst bringing 3D into it as well. There are two different game modes installed into the story mode - action stages and adventure fields. Actions stages are a lot like the older Sonic games and Adventure Fields bring a whole new view to adventure games.

In the Action Stages you can only run one way while collecting rings, jumping over obstacles, killing enemies, avoiding booby traps, and reaching Dr. Eggman at the end.

Adventure mode is a free-roam area. You can go find collectibles scattered throughout the map, collect rings, talk to strangers, play pinball in the casino, and a myriad of things that won't affect your game whatsoever. There are also mini-games you can play that differ between characters. Sonic has a timed race, Tails has a shootout in his plane, Amy finds things, Knuckles fights, E-102 frees people from Eggman's jails, and Big the Cat fishes.

---

Graphics

This game has easily one of the best graphics for an adventure game during it's time. Vast areas with great detailing, high-resolution, environment looks amazing, and characters are very crisp. The game runs at a very nice pace so frames don't usually drop, but there are times when it will due to over-action and just too much detailing on buildings or in the casino, mainly the casino. Although the voicing is done very well, the lip syncing is just awful. It's almost like they put no effort into it, or simply did not care for it.

---

Controls

If you are new to adventure games, this will be one game that you may not like due to the buttons being quite sensitive. However, if you play them often, it still may take some time to get used to, but once mastered, it's a breeze. Some buttons also do multiple things at once and this can be annoying, as they won't respond most of the time. Either it was a mistake putting them in like that, or Japanese players have a completely different view on a controller.

---

Ratings

Gameplay: 9.5/10
Graphics: 8/10
Controls: 5/10
Overall: 8.5/10