Sonic Advance 2

 Game Boy Advance
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Mar 9, 2003
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
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  1. G4 TV
    100
    Sonic fans will be in heaven, as will anyone who enjoys a good healthy adrenaline rush.
  2. Play Magazine
    100
    The graphics are just bliss: crazy parallax, glistening crystals, heat waves, blinking neon sparks, crazy animation - everything you love about 32-bit 2D (well almost; it's no Astal) is on display. [Apr 2003, p.66]
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  3. Cinescape
    100
    The levels are huge now. While they were pretty big before, they were basically straight forward. Not anymore.
  5. Nintendophiles
    95
    A fast paced platforming action game. With the ability to play five playable characters and having different paths in each level, the ideal amount of replay value is added to the game.
  6. Gaming Age
    91
    Hands down one of the most impressive looking games that I have seen on the GBA. The backgrounds are vibrant, colorful and full of life.
  7. GameNow
    91
    This cart isn't about depth, it's all about flash and energy, and I mean that in a good way. [May 2003, p.40]
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  8. Eurogamer
    90
    It takes a tried, tested, and thoroughly flogged old genre and injects some more speed and ingenuity into it, and there's a heck of lot of replay value here, even if the game's levels can probably be beaten in a few hours.
  9. IGN
    90
    As good as the original Sonic Advance was, the sequel is a much better platformer.
  10. Nintendojo
    90
    Sonic games have always been known for their speed, but in Sonic Advance 2, it's been exaggerated almost to a fault.
  11. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    85
    A pocket adrenaline rush; it's the perfect complement to the more moderately paced Mario games already in your collection. [May 2003, p.136]
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  12. Pocket Games
    85
    The action comes fast n' furious as ever. [Summer 2003, p.48]
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  13. GameSpot
    82
    The levels are larger and require more exploration than the typical Sonic game; the abilities of the five separate playable characters actually have an influence over the strategy you'll use to complete an area.
  14. Nintendo Power
    82
    May not present significant advances beyond his GBA debut, but it's a solid action title with great game play and lots of secrets. [Mar 2003, p.137]
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  15. Gamestyle
    80
    Slight negativity aside, Sonic Advance 2 represents Sonic at its best - fast, slick, looking great and offering yet more of those bonus features (now unlockable, however). Whilst technically there have been better Sonic games, none have managed to quite capture the frantic essence of speed and style like this does.
  16. AceGamez
    80
    People looking for a good side-scrolling game will enjoy it and Sonic fans everywhere will be delighted at another chance to return to the old-school roots that made Sonic so great back in the day.
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  17. GameZone
    80
    While this game is a great improvement from the last one, Sonic Advance 2 does run out of steam pretty quickly. You’ll feel as though you played this game before.
  18. Cheat Code Central
    80
    Offers plenty of déjà vu for Sonic fans. That can be either good or bad depending on what you expect from the spiky-haired hedgehog.
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  19. GameSpy
    79
    I was taken with it, I wanted to play it, I wanted to look at it. But it's sometimes frustrating and its boss battles are totally irritating.
  20. Game Informer
    75
    Lacking in serious challenge, Sonic 2 does feature decent level design, imaginative graphics, and impressive velocity. [May 2003, p.94]
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  21. GamePro
    70
    Digital déjà vu. Your brain knows that it’s a brand-new game…but you never quite shake the feeling that you’ve played it all before.
  22. GameCritics
    65
    Sonic is fast alright. Yet here's a game that openly discourages Sonic and his friends from fully embracing the thing that made the Sega's mascot so popular in the first place: raw, uncontrolled speed.
  23. Yahoo!
    60
    There are no surprises in Sonic Advance 2... The lower your expectations, the more you'll enjoy this game.
  24. All Game Guide
    50
    What it doesn't have is originality or depth, making this sequel more subsonic than supersonic.

Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best Game Boy Advance Game of 2003
10
#10 Most Discussed Game Boy Advance Game of 2003
7
#7 Most Shared Game Boy Advance Game of 2003

User Reviews

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User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 104 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 104
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 104
  3. Negative: 9 out of 104
  1. rhaynes7
    Nov 23, 2013
    9
    After making the excellent Sonic Advance, how on Earth would they make Sonic Advance 2 better. Well, in almost every way. The music andAfter making the excellent Sonic Advance, how on Earth would they make Sonic Advance 2 better. Well, in almost every way. The music and sound quality is better. There's little animations before you start your zone that make the game feel more lively as well. With new tricks added to grinding, ramps, and bumpers, it adds a new layer of precision to objects that used to fling you around where you had no input while you were flying by.

    This game is better, stronger, and faster than the first Sonic Advance. It leads the game to feel more epic and thrilling, and the running boss fights are an excellent addition, but also quite challenging.

    Probably the only thing that has always bugged me was how difficult finding the special rings are. It's particularly difficult as you will likely fly past one without realizing, and you must make a certain path to each one. Some are intuitive to find, but others are so far off the beaten path. I've spent hours in a zone searching, and that's just not fun. Still, the extra boss is great and was worth the torment.

    Overall, this game builds upon the first and makes it much better. On the other hand, must won't see the whole game through because of how difficult finding those special rings are.    … Full Review »
  2. ohaiKendyl
    May 20, 2011
    9
    The fastest of the Sonic Advance trio, and arguably the best. Pros: Excellent graphics, control, and sound; witty level design; lots of newThe fastest of the Sonic Advance trio, and arguably the best. Pros: Excellent graphics, control, and sound; witty level design; lots of new moves and characters to play. Cons: Bad boss battles; secondary multiplayer.… Full Review »
  3. MetalReviewer
    Mar 7, 2022
    4
    A god-awful excuse for a sequel with no substance. Sonic Advance 2 takes the first game, and throws out any of the good parts and invites someA god-awful excuse for a sequel with no substance. Sonic Advance 2 takes the first game, and throws out any of the good parts and invites some of the worse parts in. "Hold right to win" has never applied more than here, this one is a miserable waste. Skip it.… Full Review »
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