Odd as it may sound, Sonic has slowly but surely redeemed himself over the last few years. Between games like Sonic Generations and Sonic the Hedgehog 4 putting the spotlight back on the blue blur and classics like Sonic CD revisiting his glory days, his career is racing right along. Unfortunately, Sonic Adventure 2 is a dark-days relic that doesn’t look any better in HD.
The game’s first stage is enjoyable, but it goes downhill quickly.The worst Sonics have lots in common — strategy-free platforming, death-causing camera troubles, terrible voiceovers, and an awful soundtrack. Sonic Adventure 2 not only incorporates all of these woes, but also spreads them across two campaigns and three different play styles. With Sonic and Shadow, you’ve got the awkward platforming that the series has only just refined in recent games, while Knuckles and Rouge’s scavenger-hunt levels manage to be boring and frustrating. Tails and Dr. Robotnick’s mech-based stages are simplistic, but they have some fun “intro to mech combat” moments.
Fleeting moments of decency can’t make up for the overall trudge, though. With such better Sonic outings in recent years, this old speedbump is best avoided
If you like aimlessly wandering and deciphering oft-obtuse clues, you’ll dig the scavenger-hunt stages. Also, something is wrong with youPUBLISHER: Sega • DEVELOPER: Sonic Team • ESRB: Everyone 10+ • MULTIPLAYER: Split-screen offline • ACHIEVEMENTS: Slow-going • COST: 800 Microsoft Points ($10) • RELEASE DATE: October 5, 2012
+ Brief moments of excitement during Sonic/Shadow and Tails/Eggman stages.
- Camera angles cause tons of grief in all levels, and a camera controlled with an analog stick doesn’t help.
- Terrible visuals aren’t done any favors in HD; Knuckles and Rouge stages are dreadful.
? Would a Smartglass version of the Dreamcast VMU Chao-pet minigame have helped this package? Probably.
