Page 35 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #4

Review by Henry Hutcheson

with an equally bad one: Big's running
ow! All I can say is WOW! speed (or lack thereof!). After starting
W Sonic Adventure, a game re- the first level, I thought it would take
sponsible for Sega's comeback, is truly over an hour to finish the level! How-
amazing. The Blue Blur is back, bring- ever, once you get past those prob-
ing with him an array of new charac- lems, most of the gameplay is great.
ters, faster moves, and awesome Now on to Sonic Adventure’s great-
graphics. est aspect: replay value. Each charac-
This time around, Sonic’s old neme- ter's part of the game takes at least a
sis, Robotnik, has attacked Station few hours to beat, with the least impor-
Square with his monster, Chaos, a liq- tant character having the shortest play-
uid capable of morphing into various in a rather foul mood. ing time and Sonic having the most. As
creatures (including Sonic himself!). Another problem is the disorienting a bonus, once you beat the game using
Robotnik has also set out to achieve effect caused by the camera jumping all characters, you are then given ac-
world domination by collecting the around. One moment you’re gliding cess to play the game using Super-
seven Chaos Emeralds so Chaos can around as Knuckles, when the camera Sonic, the invincible yellow Hedgehog.
evolve into higher stages of ferocity. In suddenly pulls so far back, you’re lost To me, this is one of the best games
addition to Chaos, Robotnik has cre- in the air and fall to your death. Or, you ever and certainly belongs in any
ated 5 robots to rub out Sonic and his may be running at an extremely high gamer’s library! Suitable for gamers of
friends, although one of them, named speed and the camera will suddenly all ages, Sonic Adventure is excellent
E-102 "Gamma," seems to have a soft get stuck behind a wall. Now if that isn't for novice players, yet is certainly chal-
spot for Sonic. frustrating, I don't know what is! lenging enough for even the most
In order to defeat Robotnik, players The game’s sound is very impres- jaded gamer. Since most of the prob-
must utilize different characters to com- sive. These are not your average lems I mentioned are easily over-
plete their mission. In addition to E- bleeps and bloops. In fact, to call them looked, once you get past them, you'll
102, there is Big the Cat, Amy Rose, bleeps and bloops would be an insult! realize how great this game is.
Knuckles, Tails, and of course, Sonic. Take, for example, Sonic's spin-dash.
You begin the game as Sonic and As he begins to rev-up, the sound Now, bring on Sonic Adventure 2!
unlock other characters as you encoun- starts with a low hum and works up to a
ter them while completing various high roar, resembling a jet. Other great Graphics: A+
stages of the game. As the game pro- sounds can be heard when enemies Sound: A
gresses, the characters can earn bo- are destroyed (almost sounding as if Replay Value: A
nus items, such as Sonic’s spin-dash they were taken straight from an action Gameplay: B+
shoes, in addition to new moves such movie).
as the Light Speed Dash and Homing The music in Sonic Adventure en- Overall: A
Attack. hances the gameplay immensely and
As far as the graphics are con- never becomes repetitive or overbear-
cerned, they can best be described as ing. Each character is even given its
“jaw dropping.” Showcasing every bit own theme song! Faster paced levels,
of Dreamcast's 128-bit graphics power, such as the Snowboarding one, feature
Sonic’s characters are beautifully ren- up-tempo, rock-like music, while the
dered and the spacious environments music on the longer, drawn out levels,
(spanning more than 50 levels) display such as the Snowcap Zone, is more
a wide spectrum of colors. Mystic Ru- unhurried with a softer, more mystical
ins and Station Square are real stand melody. Most of the songs feature rec-
outs in this regard; I have never seen ognizable instruments, giving the music
graphics this impressive. They are an “established" kind of feel.
awesome... with almost zero problems. Note that not all of Sonic Adven-
Note that I said "almost." One of the ture’s gameplay is perfect. Control can
few problems Sonic Adventure has is be one of the game’s other frustrations. Sonic Adventure
with clipping. At times, Sonic will get For instance, you can be running at an Platform: Sega Dreamcast
stuck in walls and pass through solid extremely high speed and easily lose Developer: Sonic Team
objects; other times, the floor will begin control of the character, sending him Publisher: Sega
blinking or just disappear entirely. This into randomly wild directions. While Number of players: 1
causes you to fall to your death and this problem doesn't exist with the Supports: VM Unit, Jump Pack
have to start again, which can put you character of Big the Cat, his is replaced MSRP: $49.99

Classic Gamer Magazine Summer 2000 35