Sonic Advance

 Game Boy Advance
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Feb 3, 2002
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 131 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 89 out of 131
  2. Mixed: 35 out of 131
  3. Negative: 7 out of 131
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  1. HamishB.
    Jul 26, 2005
    6
    This game could have been excellent, but it is completely ruined by levels that are too long and too frustrating. It's totally unbalanced. You can't have sudden bits of precision platforming in a game that encourages you to zoom around at high speeds!!! You'll constantly die from things that weren't your fault and there's nothing more annoying in a video game than This game could have been excellent, but it is completely ruined by levels that are too long and too frustrating. It's totally unbalanced. You can't have sudden bits of precision platforming in a game that encourages you to zoom around at high speeds!!! You'll constantly die from things that weren't your fault and there's nothing more annoying in a video game than that. Do Sonic Team even test their games anymore? Former Sonic games have always just about managed to stay on the right side of this little misdemeanour, like running into enemies that suddenly appear as your hurtling at breakneck speed. But this oversteps that line completely, it's a nightmare. And as for the number of blind jumps? It's totally unacceptable.… Expand
  2. Luigibarqs
    Jan 7, 2013
    7
    Sonic Advance is the first game in the Sonic Advance series and, ironically, is for the most part better than the two sequels that followed it. The first Sonic Advance doesn't contain poorly implemented team gimmicks and brokenly convoluted level designs from Sonic Advanced 3, nor does it have the hurling a million miles an hour through bland empty levels filled with cheaply placedSonic Advance is the first game in the Sonic Advance series and, ironically, is for the most part better than the two sequels that followed it. The first Sonic Advance doesn't contain poorly implemented team gimmicks and brokenly convoluted level designs from Sonic Advanced 3, nor does it have the hurling a million miles an hour through bland empty levels filled with cheaply placed bottomless pits and obnoxious enemy placement from Sonic Advance 2. Sonic Advanced instead borrows from the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Sonic trilogy game roots for inspiration. There is a nice balance between platforming segments and speedy segments in all of the levels, going out of your way to slow down and explore your surroundings is rewarded with new routes, unique springs that lead to Special Stages and various kinds of power-ups. the boss battles are very creative and are a decently difficult without feeling too cheap. There are multiple playable characters each with unique controls and abilities to make the experience playing with each character different. The level design is kind of both good and bad, although it does borrow amazing concepts from the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Sonic trilogy, it kind of plays too safe for the most part leading to only very few truly new objects or concepts to explore, another problem is that the level design from the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Sonic trilogy is designed for a larger screen resolution and when converted to the screen resolution of the Gameboy Advance, doesn't work as well as it could have unless you where able to see farther ahead of yourself and therefore more of your surroundings, it would make enemies and traps like spikes much easier to avoid due to more visibility giving the player more reaction time. The music is decent with both classic sonic music from the Genesis/Mega Drive games and music completely original to this game both coexisting, and doing a pretty decent job at it. For those that like other things to do, you have a Mini Chao Garden, Time Trials and a Multiplayer VS mode to mess around with. overall, the game is decent and a nice tribute to the classic games in the series of old from the early 1990s, it has it flaws, sure but it is a fun game that is easily superior to the absolute wrecks that where the two sequels, Sonic Advance 2 and Sonic Advance 3.… Expand
  3. Tokyochuchu
    Jun 18, 2012
    7
    Sonic Advance is a great title that places more focus on precision platforming and less focus on the speedier elements of Sonic's gameplay. It feels nicely old-school as a result and comes the closest to the original trilogy of the more recent 2D games. There are a few annoying faults that restrain it from true classic status, though. These would be the game's cruel placement of spikesSonic Advance is a great title that places more focus on precision platforming and less focus on the speedier elements of Sonic's gameplay. It feels nicely old-school as a result and comes the closest to the original trilogy of the more recent 2D games. There are a few annoying faults that restrain it from true classic status, though. These would be the game's cruel placement of spikes (usually waiting at the end of an 'autopilot' ramp jump) and the way that the enemies always fire their projectiles either while they're off screen or as soon as they appear on it. Basically speaking, both those obstacles are neigh on impossible to avoid, ninja reflexes notwithstanding. The final boss also deserves a mention for being a huge disappointment, requiring more luck than skill. Sonic Advance is a great game in the franchise but it doesn't quite rank up there among the best.… Expand
  4. Weslapootayn
    Jul 22, 2017
    7
    Sega went back to what actually works in a Sonic game, saw success, and then ran away from it again for some reason. Sonic Advance is a breath of fresh air in a Sonic series that did not do as well in a 3D space as the Mario games had, and brings Sonic back to where he belongs. Despite how good this game is it still suffers from what I would consider to be a cardinal sin in a Sonic game.Sega went back to what actually works in a Sonic game, saw success, and then ran away from it again for some reason. Sonic Advance is a breath of fresh air in a Sonic series that did not do as well in a 3D space as the Mario games had, and brings Sonic back to where he belongs. Despite how good this game is it still suffers from what I would consider to be a cardinal sin in a Sonic game. PIT FALLS. This is a criticism of all three Sonic Advance games really because this is something you wouldn't find in the genesis games. You do not make Sonic run really fast and then throw him into a pit! That's not fair! You're pretty much forced to die at least once in the levels with pitfalls because you can't possibly see it coming the first time.. You spend the first few stages getting through pretty easily, and then BOOM you're falling to your death over and over again. If you're gonna put pitfalls in a Sonic game FINE, but you have to make them obvious! This isn't Mario! You're going fast so you shouldn't be thrown into pits over and over again!! It's maddening! Without the pitfalls the entire Advance series would be a 9 or a 10 for me, but the pitfalls seriously boil my blood and almost ruin the whole experience. I love that they went back to the old style, and I love that Knuckles is a normal character again (screw emerald hunting!) but the pitfalls.. THE PITFALLS!… Expand
  5. Sausage22
    Nov 7, 2017
    7
    In my opinion the best in trilogy, very short, but fun game. I had zero problem with controls and level design seems okey to my tastes. Good graphics for gba and music its ok.
  6. Mutty99
    May 25, 2021
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. While being the most iconic and close to the traditional Sonic games, the first Advance title didn't fully convince me. A few of the stages felt monotone, and didn't capture me quite much; a lot of the bosses were not that well designed too, especially the Zone 4 one because of the water mechanic. In previous titles the drowning timer was disabled in a bossfight; here it's not, thus making the battle too overwhelming and not fun to play.
    Even though the Extra Zone was one of the worst I ever played, I actually enjoyed the Egg Rocket Zone, with the timed sequences, gradually going from Earth to Space. Egg X was a decent final boss as well, with two nostalgic pre-bosses from the Genesis titles.
    Imo not the best Advance game, but it's still worth playing if you like the Sonic series.    … Expand
  7. Luigichief
    Jul 27, 2020
    6
    This game is one of the shortest in the franchise, and level design is one of the worst as well. But the addition to Somersault, Sliding and Backflip gameplay added a lot, in addition to having 4 playable characters with their own abilities, generating a lot of variety. The story is the same as the first game (that is, basically nonexistent).
  8. MetalReviewer
    Mar 7, 2022
    7
    A straight-forward Classic Sonic remake. This one's not gonna shake the earth, but it's alot better than most of the other 2D titles. Check it out, you're likely gonna have a decent ride.
  9. Zachu
    Jun 12, 2022
    5
    This game is the definition of mediocre. There’s nothing in this game that stands out from the Genesis titles that came before it, and the screen crunch is so agonizing you’ll be making numerous blind jumps. This game is perfectly beatable in an afternoon, took me about 3 class periods to finish it up, and the autosave is nice because Egg Rocket will take plenty of your lives due to theThis game is the definition of mediocre. There’s nothing in this game that stands out from the Genesis titles that came before it, and the screen crunch is so agonizing you’ll be making numerous blind jumps. This game is perfectly beatable in an afternoon, took me about 3 class periods to finish it up, and the autosave is nice because Egg Rocket will take plenty of your lives due to the faulty springboards that bounce you into unavoidable bottomless pits. One thing I didn’t really understand was the B button’s roll slide. It doesn’t add anything and I never used it as opposed to the spin dash. Overall the first half was definitely a lot stronger than the second half. The bosses were inventive and fun and there was a noticeable lack of **** in the first couple zones.… Expand
  10. FeelStar
    Nov 25, 2022
    7
    Sonic Advance is a good title that continues the classic Sonic gameplay from the original trilogy in a new 32 bit style with the modern designs. While not as good as those games due to the screen crunch and lack or ports. This game is still remembered by many as the true Sonic 4 and can be enjoyed by most as a good title.
  11. Yojimbo2015
    May 11, 2023
    7
    Fair play to Sega for producing an all-new advance title rather than relying on a lazy port. Fast, colourful and containing all of the elements that made Sonic so popular on the Megadrive although for the faster sections it does feel a little like the game is playing itself. Younger players will love it though.

Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best Game Boy Advance Game of 2002
6
#6 Most Discussed Game Boy Advance Game of 2002
8
#8 Most Shared Game Boy Advance Game of 2002

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Nintendophiles
    100
    What really shines, even on top of the great graphics and sound and gameplay, is the replay value.
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  2. Pocket Games
    95
    It looks, sounds and plays like a cartoon, and most importantly, it's just damend fun. [Spring 2002, p.30]
  3. Games Radar
    92
    Despite the 12 years since his debut, it's as captivating, exciting and, more importantly, as fun as it ever was - but of Sega, we'd expect no less. [GamesMaster]
    Read full review
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