SONIC ADVANCE 2 (GBA)


Sonic's second outing a success

By OLIVER Von TRAPP III

I have never liked Mario much, too boring. As for these new fangled video game mascots… Crash Bandicoot? Whats he ever done: Spun in a circle? Good on ya mate. They are ten a penny...

First appearing on the Sega Megadrive in ’91 - thems were the days - Sonic’s second game on the Gameboy Advance is now on shelves.

I really like this game. I like Sonic. I like Cream (the new character) though at first I didn’t, but then I felt sorry for her. When she rail slides, she looks scared, waving her arms around. Awww…

I also really like that this game has finally got some challenge. That was the problem with the old Sonics. Too easy to finish. I have never died so much in a Sonic game in my life, I hasten to add I have played every single Sonic ever released over his proud twelve year history.

First off, the levels are rather large in this game, larger than in Sonic Advance and massive compared to the Megadrive version. It will take usually about two to three minutes to get from the start to the finish of most levels. And that is about twice what it usually takes.

This isn’t including any exploration whatsoever, just running as fast as possible from left to right.

Once you start exploring you realise how big the stages are. That’s the new thing in Sonic Advance 2, exploration.

You have to explore this time around. You have to find seven special rings in each zone, of which there are seven. When you have the seven special rings you then can run after the Chaos Emerald in the Special Stage.

Only when you have all seven Chaos Emeralds can you complete the game properly. Also, you can play as five different characters; Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, Amy and the new one Cream (interesting name) who is a rabbit. Once again though, to play as all the characters you have to unlock them all.

Sonic Team and Sega seemed to have improved on the original GBA game in all ways. There is now a four player race, and with a single game pak for the povvoes out there, four player single pak play, which is alright, but kind of crap anyway.

The music is very upbeat and not too cheesy. Plenty of digitised samples, none of this twenty year old "Game and Watch" stuff that we had to endure on the old Gameboy.

The graphics are pretty nice too, super smooth animations on all the characters, nice spot effects too when you run extra fast and when you rail slide. The other thing you’ll notice is how bloody quick this game can move. I’d almost say too fast… No I take that back, the whole thing about Sonic is to go fast, and dammit he certainly does in this.

The bosses: In the old Sonics they were easy to beat. They used to be as easy as falling off a log in Easy Street, while listening to ‘Easy’ by Faith No More. They are not easy any more. They are hard. I like that. I like this game. I’m going off to play it now.

What more can I say? Great looks, great sounds, great lastabality, great game. I don’t believe in assigning numbers to show their worth to society, but if I had to, I’d say nine out of 10.

ORIGINALITY 75%
SOUND/GRAPHICS 95%
PLAYABILITY 85%
ENJOYMENT 90%
OVERALL 90%