 The
Sega mascot, Sonic the blue hedgehog, has come to Nintendo. This
video game has been converted from the now defunct Dreamcast
console system, and enhanced with more head-to-head battles for
the Game Cube.
Single player games feature two
unique quests to choose from: children can play in either Hero or
Dark modes. In Hero mode, kids play as Sonic, Knuckles,
and Tails in an effort to save the world from the malicious Dr.
Eggman (Robotnik). In Dark mode, kids can play as Shadow (who looks identical
to Sonic, but appears in black instead of blue), Rouge, or the
evil Dr. Eggman himself.
Plenty of high-speed action is in
store for kids when they assume the identity of Sonic or Shadow.
Playing as Sonic in City Escape, for example, means skateboarding
and running at lightning speeds down hilly San Francisco-like
streets, collecting rings, being chased by a monstrous truck, and
more, in an attempt to get out of the city. Stage 6, Pumpkin Hill,
is a haunted stage filled with ghosts and other spooks.
The treasure hunts featuring
Knuckles and Rouge are rather frustrating to play--the items
players are searching for are in straightforward places, but
getting to them can be challenging.
The variety of play will please
young gamers. They can collect and raise virtual pets called Chao,
play against a friend in multi-player battles, and race through
level after level in this time-consuming game. With a special cable,
kids can connect the game to GameBoy Advance game, Sonic
Advance,
and raise and train their Chao on their handheld.
The music is rather chaotic
throughout the game, and the controls are not always easy. The
gameplay is awkward at times, and the modes that don't feature
Sonic or Shadow are less appealing to play. The cutscenes are
entirely entertaining for the under-12 crowd, and kids will spend
a lot of time in Chao World, where they can buy items for their
virtual pets and the lands they live in, and check up on their
progress. The Chao aspect of the game is a nice feature--it allows
kids to take a break from the main game when they are stuck or
simply want to do something different. Kids can race their Chao
against those of their friends or against the computer on a number
of different courses; take part in Chao Karate matches; breed Chao,
and trade them with friends (using memory cards from both
systems).
Note: The Chao are adorable
"virtual pets", and they can "die"--younger,
more sensitive children may easily become attached to these little
creatures (we had tears flowing in our household when a Chao the
kids were particularly fond of kicked the bucket, so to speak).
Although the game is not
without its flaws, children 11 and under won't mind all that much.
For more information, user
reviews, or to buy the game, follow this link:
Sonic Adventure 2 Battle
Pros:
- Variety of game-play;
lots to do.
- Virtual pets, Chao,
provide extra entertainment.
- Hours of enjoyment.
|
Cons:
- Awkward and frustrating to play at
times.
- The camera makes the
game puzzling at times.
|
| For Nintendo Game Cube |
By: Sega |
|
Released: 2002 |
|
|
