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Game Information

Release Date: June 23, 2001
Developer: Sonic Team
Publisher: SEGA
Platforms: Dreamcast, GameCube, PlaySation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, Steam
Genre: Action-Adventure
Players: 1-2

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Synopsis

The sequel to Sonic Adventure, Adventure 2 features two good-vs.-evil stories: a hero story of Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower and Knuckles the Echidna as they attempt to save the world, and a dark story following Shadow the Hedgehog, Doctor Eggman and Rouge the Bat in their attempt to conquer it. The stories are divided into three gameplay styles: traditional, fast-paced platforming for Sonic and Shadow; multi-directional shooting for Tails and Eggman, and action-exploration for Knuckles and Rouge. The game also includes an extensive Chao-raising system.

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Story

Good vs. evil at it's finest runs this story. King of evil, Dr. Eggman, learns from a documented source that their is a super weapon hidden inside a high-security facility operated by G.U.N. (Guardians Units of Nations). This weapon is a self-proclaimed "Ultimate Life Form" who is actually just a hedgehog named Shadow. Eggman frees Shadow from the complex after defeating G.U.N. and Shadow offers his help to find the oh-so important Chaos Emeralds. After they meet to further discuss the locations of these emeralds, Shadow goes to Central City to steal one. While there, he runs into Sonic, who is battling G.U.N.-who mistakes him for Shadow- and after a short confrontation between both G.U.N. and Sonic, he escapes and they capture Sonic. On an abandoned space ship, ARC, is where the evil ones reside. On this space ship, is a huge cannon that needs all the Chaos Emeralds to control the world. Sonic and his friends must prevent them from collecting all the Chaos Emeralds or else the world they know is gone.

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Gameplay

Sonic Adventure 2 is divided into two stories with six characters: Dark vs. Hero (Eggman, Shadow, and Rogue vs. Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails). Each character plays exactly the same as their counterpart. Sonic and Shadow race, Knuckles and Rogue find emeralds, and Eggman and Tails battle their way through places. You are allowed to play any character at any time you wish and this will not affect the story. Along the way, each character has hidden upgrade that you can find that improve them such as faster jumping, better spotting, and improved rockets. Just as every Sonic game, ones health is based on rings. You will die if you get hit without having any rings.

In two-player mode, players can play against each other in basically what they story is: if you choose Sonic or Shadow you race against each other on three different tracks and it is best out of three. If you choose Knuckles or Rogue you must find all three hidden emeralds on a map, also best out of three. And finally, if you choose Eggman or Tails, you battle against each other. Also best out of three. Their is also a hidden go-kart race you can unlock once you have completed the story mode for either side.

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Graphics

Graphics have been improved drastically from the first one and it makes the first one look like an Atari game. Visuals are gorgeous, landscapes look flawless, characters are very crisp, constant action that looks real, and the map is always fully loaded. None of that you have to be near it to see it crap. SEGA did a fantastic job on this game even though it was only a three year difference from it's predecessor. You can definitely tell they took all the flaws from the first and destroyed them in a beautiful way. This game has set standards for years to come for numerous action games.

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Controls

Once again SEGA has learned the flaws from the first and completely overhauled them. Controls are almost too simple in this game that a baby can play it. No more multi-function buttons that don't work and sensitivity has been decreased so much. You will instantly fall in love with how simple the controls are in this game.

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Ratings

Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 9.5/10
Controls: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.5/10