Sonic Adventure 2

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 132 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 95 out of 132
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 132
  3. Negative: 15 out of 132

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  1. Edork
    Dec 17, 2012
    10
    What can I honestly say? If you're just getting into the series or want to relive your childhood, this game is totally worth it. Fingers crossed for a Sonic Adventure 3 :)
  2. Plaidman86
    Nov 12, 2012
    9
    I don't know why everyone keeps bashing this game. It's still the same Sonic Adventure 2 that was released in 2001 but with a nice facelift. In my opinion it's the last great Sonic game made and one of the greatest, final games of the Dreamcast. Yeah it would'a been nice if they fixed issues with controls, the camera, and the sound/music volumes but it's SA2 just as I remember it for goodI don't know why everyone keeps bashing this game. It's still the same Sonic Adventure 2 that was released in 2001 but with a nice facelift. In my opinion it's the last great Sonic game made and one of the greatest, final games of the Dreamcast. Yeah it would'a been nice if they fixed issues with controls, the camera, and the sound/music volumes but it's SA2 just as I remember it for good and for bad. This is one very fun game and great tour down memory lane.… Expand
  3. ashthedragon
    Jun 9, 2013
    10
    The best 3D sonic game, on a good port including widescreen and the Battle addon content. I wish Sonic games were back like this, althought the muliple characters gameplay is not the best, I like it. At least, they are playable, not like in actual sonic games where you can only play as Sonic.
  4. LoogiMan12
    Jul 1, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This. Game. Is. Amazing. whether your escaping the government jamming out to City Escape, or finding emerald pieces in Wild Canyon, this game is top-notch. For 10$ and a 3$ DLC to get the full experience, that is a bang for your buck.… Expand
  5. SaturnPhoenix
    Nov 19, 2012
    9
    This much expected re-release of this game plays just as it should, it doesn't feature any new weird & frustrating glitches (unlike the re-release of Sonic Adventure), it plays just like you remember & it actually supports full widescreen HD (again, unlike the re-release of Sonic Adventure). This game also features downloadable content which adds the enhanced Battle Mode from the GameCubeThis much expected re-release of this game plays just as it should, it doesn't feature any new weird & frustrating glitches (unlike the re-release of Sonic Adventure), it plays just like you remember & it actually supports full widescreen HD (again, unlike the re-release of Sonic Adventure). This game also features downloadable content which adds the enhanced Battle Mode from the GameCube version of the game, and it's completely worth getting, especially if you have anyone to play with or against. For only $10 to $13 for this re-release, it's well worth it.… Expand
  6. SuperKurzacz
    Jan 2, 2013
    10
    Sonic has gone so far and had so made I think this is the best!
  7. Zero_Dozer
    Oct 3, 2012
    8
    So, Sonic Adventure 2 is back. We finally have it up on the XBox Live. For what I've seen, I must say that it didn't get to be the same error as the port of the first Adventure was earlier. This note is quite based on the comparation with experience we've seen with the First Adventure on the PSN/XBLA and Sonic Heroes, that came after the original Adventure 2. Can't say this game is waySo, Sonic Adventure 2 is back. We finally have it up on the XBox Live. For what I've seen, I must say that it didn't get to be the same error as the port of the first Adventure was earlier. This note is quite based on the comparation with experience we've seen with the First Adventure on the PSN/XBLA and Sonic Heroes, that came after the original Adventure 2. Can't say this game is way better or fixed than it was before, but it's a relief to see that this one has not been nerfed in terms of quality like the first Adventure. So, we have HD graphics, trophies (yes, finally a good reason to A-Rank all stages and missions)... But this is all to be there. We got no big news beside the chance to mix the best of the original Dreamcast version with the best of the Gamecube version via DLC. Nonetheless, it did not made the same mistake of becoming the bugmass the first Adventure had become on the PSN/XBLA version.… Expand
  8. JuicieJ
    Oct 27, 2012
    7
    This game has a ridiculous nostalgia factor for me, so it's insanely hard to try and judge this game objectively. However, I've done as good as I possibly can to remove myself from any kind of bias, and I think I can accurately say that this game still holds up decently well today. Nothing spectacular, but still an enjoyable ride. Most games back in the day Sonic Adventure 2 came out wouldThis game has a ridiculous nostalgia factor for me, so it's insanely hard to try and judge this game objectively. However, I've done as good as I possibly can to remove myself from any kind of bias, and I think I can accurately say that this game still holds up decently well today. Nothing spectacular, but still an enjoyable ride. Most games back in the day Sonic Adventure 2 came out would be borderline unplayable today, though, so at least it has that going for it. Still, the camera is really bad, and the controls are slightly clunky & occasionally unresponsive. I think this game would have benefited from an actual HD remake rather than a port. The character models would look better, and the camera/control issues would (most likely) not be an issue. A minor one at most. If you didn't play Sonic Adventure 2 back in the day, this isn't by an means a must-have. If you did, however, and you want to take a trip down memory lane, I highly recommend picking this up. Roll around at the speed of sound until you see those unforgettable words, "Rest easy, heroes."… Expand
  9. X-fushion
    Oct 14, 2012
    7
    Let´s get to the point the only thing worthy of this game are Sonic/Shadow high-speed platforming stages and the racing versus mode the other modes aren´t that enjoyable, the tails/eggman stages are just mindless shooting and Knuckles/Rogue stages are just boring, you basically run around a stage to search emerald shard, and the story of the game is just terrible but theLet´s get to the point the only thing worthy of this game are Sonic/Shadow high-speed platforming stages and the racing versus mode the other modes aren´t that enjoyable, the tails/eggman stages are just mindless shooting and Knuckles/Rogue stages are just boring, you basically run around a stage to search emerald shard, and the story of the game is just terrible but the gameplay for Sonic and Shadow it´s great and really addicting and the racing versus mode it´s really fun. In conclusion get this game if you are a Sonic fan or like me you play it back in the dreamcast (or Game Cube) and you want it back.… Expand
  10. TheBlueBadger
    Oct 4, 2012
    5
    Sonic Adventure 2 has hardly aged like fine wine. It's always been the game with the best story in my eyes, and the soundtrack, while cheesy, is solid and a good listen. However in the gameplay aspect, the bad really outweighs the good, and it actually feels like a downgrade from the first Sonic Adventure in most aspects. The Sonic/Shadow levels are alright. They're fun enough but seem toSonic Adventure 2 has hardly aged like fine wine. It's always been the game with the best story in my eyes, and the soundtrack, while cheesy, is solid and a good listen. However in the gameplay aspect, the bad really outweighs the good, and it actually feels like a downgrade from the first Sonic Adventure in most aspects. The Sonic/Shadow levels are alright. They're fun enough but seem to be based more on homing attacks, grinding and other events that might as well be scripted than the first. The mecha stages, are again, alright, but they really seem to drag on, especially towards the end of the game. And the treasure hunting is an absolute chore to suffer through and one can only wonder what it's doing in a game where the original selling point was fast paced gameplay. Wandering around the same area for ages until you hear a beeping sound and follow it is hardly fun. And these areas are so huge it's even more of a chore than the at least tolerable SA1 treasure stages. IDK, if you're very patient, or just a diehard Sonic fan, go for it. I'm sure you'll at least get enjoyment from the plot, the Sonic/Shadow stages and the cracking soundtrack… Expand
  11. Fuzzymeatloaf
    Oct 11, 2012
    10
    This game is GREAT. If you like SA1 then you will like this one. The only problem is that there is no onliine 2 player and knuckles radar is a downgrade. Other than that perfect! The graphics and everything. It might be hard at first but after a while it will start to be fun!
  12. lexgamer
    Oct 4, 2012
    10
    Still one of the best Sonic games, recent Sonic games have gotten better, but they are good in a new and different way, this is easily the best of the classic Sonic games, must have for big fans!
  13. youlouz
    Nov 11, 2014
    10
    PROS
    -Outstanding graphics
    -Amazing gameplay
    -Best music a game could have
    -Story flows well
    - Can cause great memories
    -Always something to do

    CONS
    -A little glitchy
  14. FreedomFighters
    Feb 25, 2018
    6
    Much like "Sonic Adventure" that came before it, "Sonic Adventure 2" was one of the bigger games in my childhood. Being one of my first introductions to the character, I really enjoyed the game a lot and, as a kid, I could never decide whether or not I enjoyed "Sonic Adventure" or "Sonic Adventure 2" more (I had both of them on the GameCube, by the way). Upon revisiting (and finallyMuch like "Sonic Adventure" that came before it, "Sonic Adventure 2" was one of the bigger games in my childhood. Being one of my first introductions to the character, I really enjoyed the game a lot and, as a kid, I could never decide whether or not I enjoyed "Sonic Adventure" or "Sonic Adventure 2" more (I had both of them on the GameCube, by the way). Upon revisiting (and finally beating) both of them, I can give a more firm answer as to whether "Sonic Adventure 2" is better than its predecessor: no. Don't get me wrong, it's still a decent game, but it's a flawed one.
    "Sonic Adventure 2" is visually solid, and the HD facelift provided by the re-release (this time with no stupid square borders) helps bring out the colorfulness of the gameplay visuals. The game is also very fun, especially if you are playing the Speed sections (though the Master Emerald hunts can be very fun as well), In fact, the Speed sections alone are far and away the best part of the game, and they boost the game's final score a bit. And while I personally don't find as many of the songs in the game as memorable as those in "Sonic Adventure" (I'm not as into songs like "Live and Learn" or "City Escape" because they just aren't my thing), the music is still well-composed and well-performed. The story also has some heart and the game has decent variety and a good length, while also having a ton of replay value, meaning you'll almost always have something to do in the game.
    All that said, "Sonic Adventure 2" suffers from quite a few flaws. Despite having a slightly more ambitious story than other Sonic games, the game doesn't execute that well enough, and it tends to fall flat. And while I mentioned that it has some heart, the game's story is hard to take seriously when you're too busy laughing at the hilariously bad facial models (whose lips don't match their words), cheesy voice acting, overly-loud music and line cutoffs. Beyond that, the controls and camera are poor, and the Mech sections are absolutely atrocious and boring.
    It sounds like I'm really hating on "Sonic Adventure 2," and the truth is, it's not a bad game at all. It's actually pretty fun to play and it's considerably memorable. It's just that playing it in 2017 shows some of its age, and once you really get into the game, you start noticing its flaws. With all those flaws on display, it might be shocking to hear me say this, but "Sonic Adventure 2" is actually a solid game that's worth playing through at least once to see what it's like. Even so, as badly as I want to call it "good," I can't sit here and objectively call "Sonic Adventure 2" a GOOD game ("Good" to me starts at 7 out of 10) when I find this many flaws. So, to conclude, I had fun playing "Sonic Adventure 2" and I'm sure you'll probably enjoy it, but objectively, it's just a decent Sonic game that's worth it if you can find it for a reasonable price.
    Final rating: 6 out of 10 "Decent"    … Expand
  15. TPN
    May 20, 2016
    4
    I played the GBC version when I was younger, but I refuse to let nostalgia blind me. I'll admit, the HD looks good. They fixed a couple bugs, too! Only the fun ones. I spent days completing the story, which could have just taken a couple hours, if not for the truly frustrating glitches and broken game play. Some levels are really good, and the chao garden is the best part of the game, byI played the GBC version when I was younger, but I refuse to let nostalgia blind me. I'll admit, the HD looks good. They fixed a couple bugs, too! Only the fun ones. I spent days completing the story, which could have just taken a couple hours, if not for the truly frustrating glitches and broken game play. Some levels are really good, and the chao garden is the best part of the game, by far. But with this 360 re-release removes favorite, but expected to not have, features of the chao garden. I think it was absolutely stupid to release the SA2B version as DLC. No, that doesn't just have the battle mode. It's literally the GBC version of the game!! Why couldn't you just release the GBC version by itself without selling an HD version of the Dreamcast release?? Oh, yeah. Money.

    Now, onto the game itself. The graphics are clear, but expect nothing more. They didn't remaster the game, but they made it widescreen, and it looks great! They fixed a lot of fun glitches, but left out some bad ones. 90% of the levels are garbage. 10% are amazing.
    City escape, metal harbor, and the knuckles stages are my favorite ones. Not really much else to say.

    Overall, if you have the GBC version and you really don't care about widescreen, then don't get this. It's a waste of time and money.    … Expand
  16. Captiosus
    Oct 5, 2012
    5
    Anyone who gives this game higher than a 5 or 6 is looking at the game through rose colored lenses of nostalgia. I get it. I was one of those people. I had half a dozen Dreamcast VMUs dedicated solely to leveling up my Chao back in those days. However, THIS version is nothing more than another hackjob port by Sonic Team designed, specifically, to cash in on nostalgia. ||| Let's start withAnyone who gives this game higher than a 5 or 6 is looking at the game through rose colored lenses of nostalgia. I get it. I was one of those people. I had half a dozen Dreamcast VMUs dedicated solely to leveling up my Chao back in those days. However, THIS version is nothing more than another hackjob port by Sonic Team designed, specifically, to cash in on nostalgia. ||| Let's start with graphics. Contrary to what some have said, this game hasn't actually been remastered. The graphics have merely been stretched to accommodate 720p widescreen (and upscaled 1080p widescreen) and had a light coat - emphasis on light - of anti-aliasing applied to make the stretching tolerable. For those familiar with the original, the graphics will be somewhat jarring. For those unfamiliar, the graphics may be passable but still somewhat of an eyesore. ||| The controls are terrible, which is surprising given the gaming history between the Dreamcast and the Xbox and the fact that the Xbox basically aped the Dreamcast's controller. Yet, despite the fact that the controller should have worked almost natively, the analog dead zone is atrocious and the button press detection is inconsistent. Given that the game often goes fast (at least in the Sonic and Shadow stages), inconsistency with controls leads to frustrating gameplay. ||| Honestly, this was a good game for its time but it has aged poorly and Sonic Team's shoddy port didn't do the game any favors. Had they really remastered it to true HD and taken the time to work out some of the quirks over a decade old and ensured control consistency, it might have been worth it. They did not, however, so I'd recommend saving your $10.… Expand
  17. gstiker5
    Apr 16, 2013
    10
    eat Game worth the 800 MSP No 1040 MSP (Battle DLC) Good Great Graphics Good Story Great Sonic and Shadow Gameplay Addictive Chao Garden
    Good Controls
    Introduces Shadow Well My Fave Sonic Character Bad Tails and Eggman levels are so slow Knuckles and Rouges Gameplay is a total abomination Some Terrible Levels (Crazy Gadget, Mad Space) Overpowered Bosses (2nd Tails Boss on ARK    eat Game worth the 800 MSP No 1040 MSP (Battle DLC) Good Great Graphics Good Story Great Sonic and Shadow Gameplay Addictive Chao Garden
    Good Controls
    Introduces Shadow Well My Fave Sonic Character
    Bad
    Tails and Eggman levels are so slow
    Knuckles and Rouges Gameplay is a total abomination
    Some Terrible Levels (Crazy Gadget, Mad Space)
    Overpowered Bosses (2nd Tails Boss on ARK

    Anyway this remake of my best Sonic game ever is still great today. I'm putting up the score it's the best Sonic Game Ever and I'm Hopinb SA3 is coming soon    … Expand
  18. loil90
    Oct 7, 2012
    3
    I am truly disappointed with this game, Sonic Adventure (the first one) for the Xbox 360 was perfect in my opinion but this is bad. The story I can't hear at all because the music just drowns it out. The controls are TERRIBLE mostly on the Tail's stages. It seems everything great about the first one on the Xbox 360 was just tore apart and built from scratch on the second one. One thing II am truly disappointed with this game, Sonic Adventure (the first one) for the Xbox 360 was perfect in my opinion but this is bad. The story I can't hear at all because the music just drowns it out. The controls are TERRIBLE mostly on the Tail's stages. It seems everything great about the first one on the Xbox 360 was just tore apart and built from scratch on the second one. One thing I did like is the Sonic stages as I felt they were better than the first Sonic Adventure. Don't get this game on Xbox 360, get it on the Gamecube instead.… Expand
  19. bonnin40
    Feb 16, 2013
    8
    This game is a direct port of the GC version of sonic adventure 2, minus the extra multiplayer battle mode, which is downloadable content. the game still has an amazing soundtrack, good story, great level design, and still has some camera and control issues, that are more prominent in this version, however the game is still very enjoyable even with the forementioned bugs and issues. thisThis game is a direct port of the GC version of sonic adventure 2, minus the extra multiplayer battle mode, which is downloadable content. the game still has an amazing soundtrack, good story, great level design, and still has some camera and control issues, that are more prominent in this version, however the game is still very enjoyable even with the forementioned bugs and issues. this is basically a straight up port, no more, no less. i still reccomend the dreamcast version, or even the gamecube version, but the dreamcast versions prices are up there, and getting this game on the xbox live arcade saves the hastle of pulling out the gamecube, for basically the same experience. a reallty great 3d platforming game that, while not as good as sonic adventure 1 (in my opinion) is still an amazing game. The game hasnt aged that well, but is still very enjoyable. i recomend it to any and all sonic fans, and any lover of 3d platformers.… Expand
  20. MrSonicFan
    Nov 3, 2013
    6
    This game is the most OVERRATED Sonic title ever, this is considered as the not only the best 3D sonic title, but the best game in the franchise by most fans, but I... Just don't get it, The level design is really cheap, the story sucks, and the treasure hunting and shooting stages from SA1 have been seriously butchered, the shooting stages control is bloody horrendous, and the treasureThis game is the most OVERRATED Sonic title ever, this is considered as the not only the best 3D sonic title, but the best game in the franchise by most fans, but I... Just don't get it, The level design is really cheap, the story sucks, and the treasure hunting and shooting stages from SA1 have been seriously butchered, the shooting stages control is bloody horrendous, and the treasure hunting stages are way, WAY, to big. The only things worth playing in this game is the Sonic and Shadow stages, Which were great for the most part due to the great control and level design, but they were done better in SA1, overall it's still a decent game, but SA1 is much better.… Expand
  21. Mr-X
    Feb 22, 2016
    5
    Only one third of the game is passable. Brutally awkward controls, the action commands all being stacked on the b button causes needless death, and the ever constant glitch really gets under my skin.
  22. Alexzombie145
    May 6, 2014
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Im A Fan Of The Sonic Series I Anticipated Playing This On My Xbox 360 What Do I Think Let's Find Out

    The Story Starts With Dr.Eggman Infiltrating The G.U.N Base To Find A Project His Grandfather's Creation Titled Project Shadow After Mistaking Him For Sonic Project Shadow Decides To Help Eggman Destroy The Earth With A Laser On The Space Colony Ark It Instead Attempts To Crash Into The Earth Sonic And Shadow Go Super And Stop The Ark From Crashing And Shadow Crashing To Earth Overall The Story Is Ok Not Too Bad

    The Gameplay Is Like Sonic Adventure 1 But Updated With Gamma's Gameplay With Tails And Eggman
    Sonic With Obviously Sonic And Shadow And Treasure Hunting With Knuckles And Rouge Also There's A Multiplayer Mode,Racing Mode,Chao Race,Etc Also The Chao Garden Returns With Now A Chao School And Chao Karate

    The HD Graphics Are Good But The Audio/Voice Acting Is Terrible Cause Most Of The Time No One Can Hear What The Characters Are Saying This Was Fixed On The Gamecube Port But Not On The Xbox 360 Or PS3 Version What The Hell And The Music Is Great Except Live And Learn

    Story 7/10
    Gameplay 8/10
    Graphics 9/10
    Audio/Voice Acting 6/10
    Music 8/10
    Overall 6/10    … Expand
  23. how_are_u
    Aug 20, 2014
    5
    Me, my brother and sister had a lot of fun with this game when we were little, but in my opinion, it doesn't hold up very well. Bad control and camera angle along with stupid level design would give this game a 2/10, but 3 points are added for the awesome choa garden and choa mini-games. The green hill zone and city escape levels are fun, but city escape is too easy and the amount ofMe, my brother and sister had a lot of fun with this game when we were little, but in my opinion, it doesn't hold up very well. Bad control and camera angle along with stupid level design would give this game a 2/10, but 3 points are added for the awesome choa garden and choa mini-games. The green hill zone and city escape levels are fun, but city escape is too easy and the amount of emblems required to unlock green hill is unbelievably high. Why get all the emblems in every stage, just to unlock another stage? Seems dumb to me.… Expand
  24. Bat-Gamer-Guy
    May 6, 2016
    8
    Sonic Adventure 2. The game most Sonic the Hedgehog fans call the greatest Sonic game of all time. Many people still replay this game to this day. People say that if it wasn't Sonic the Hedgehog 2 that got people into the Sonic series, it was this very game. So, let's take a look at it, shall we?
    Released 15 years ago on the short-lived SEGA Dreamcast, Sonic Adventure 2 is a sequel to    Sonic Adventure 2. The game most Sonic the Hedgehog fans call the greatest Sonic game of all time. Many people still replay this game to this day. People say that if it wasn't Sonic the Hedgehog 2 that got people into the Sonic series, it was this very game. So, let's take a look at it, shall we?
    Released 15 years ago on the short-lived SEGA Dreamcast, Sonic Adventure 2 is a sequel to Sonic Adventure, a Dreamcast launch title. It is, for the most part, very similar to Adventure in terms of gameplay. There's three gameplay styles, unlike SA, which had six. The three returning gameplay styles are speedy platforming (starring Sonic and Shadow), shooting (starring Eggman and Tails), and treasure hunting (starring Knuckles and Rouge). The hedgehog levels are amazing, in fact, they're the best levels of the game. They're so memorable, that's why people replay SA2. Shooting stages are meh. Eggman's are, at best, good and sorta fun. Tails's levels are terribly designed since he was put into the game late and was an Eggman clone, that's why you can't fly with him like in SA. Knuckles's levels can be alright, but for some reason I hate Rouge's level design more than Knuckles's, especially Mad Space. Remember the radar system from SA's treasure hunting stages? That radar is dumbed down here. You can only find one emerald piece at a time, and emeralds are always placed randomly, so having a good time in these stages are luck-based.
    The story is great. It's one of the many darker Sonic stories. I won't spoil this one. Experience it for yourself. Let's just say there's a hero side and a dark side of the story.
    The soundtrack here is just amazing. It is one of the best Sonic soundtracks to listen to while doing something, like typing a review for a game. This soundtrack ties at number one with Generations.
    Since this isn't the Dreamcast version (in fact, it's an Xbox 360 re-release), there's dlc here (I know the Dreamcast had dlc, but you'll see what I mean here). The re-release dlc includes SA2 Battle from the GameCube port, the one that probably got people into the series, as SEGA's consoles were dying and Nintendo was still going strong. Battle just gives more multiplayer options and a few other extra stuff, but it's not like Sonic Adventure DX.
    I really do love this game. Everything about it is great. Still, this game is pretty old, and some frustrating and cheap things could occasionally happen like glitches. Still, I highly recommend this title. I see why everyone loves it. If you got an old Dreamcast or GameCube, get this game. If you have access to the Internet on PSN, Xbox Live, or even Steam, download this game. You gotta live and learn.    … Expand
  25. LordOsyrys
    Oct 25, 2020
    9
    It's pretty unfair for Metacritic to have such a harsh grade for a port of a game that had an excellent score, when it's the same game. Still not quite as good as Sonic Adventure, but 2 is still a lot of fun. They changed a few things that mess it up from the first one, like Knuckles/Rouge's levels being more linear, and having way too many levels with Tails/Eggman that are slow andIt's pretty unfair for Metacritic to have such a harsh grade for a port of a game that had an excellent score, when it's the same game. Still not quite as good as Sonic Adventure, but 2 is still a lot of fun. They changed a few things that mess it up from the first one, like Knuckles/Rouge's levels being more linear, and having way too many levels with Tails/Eggman that are slow and clunky, but overall it is still a great game and has some of the best levels in any Sonic game ever, such as Radical Highway and Metal Harbor. They still haven't made a game even close to this good since.… Expand
  26. monkeysaru
    Feb 27, 2020
    4
    Let's be real here: Sonic Adventure 2 is an awful game, and if this game was released today, it would be trashed to kingdom come. This isn't just because of things that have aged badly either. As painful as this is for me to say, Sonic Adventure 2 was never a good game.

    * The gameplay For starters, only 1/3 of the game is actually fun, the treasure hunting sections are abysmally    Let's be real here: Sonic Adventure 2 is an awful game, and if this game was released today, it would be trashed to kingdom come. This isn't just because of things that have aged badly either. As painful as this is for me to say, Sonic Adventure 2 was never a good game.

    * The gameplay

    For starters, only 1/3 of the game is actually fun, the treasure hunting sections are abysmally clunky and have awful level design. Why they felt the need to make the emerald tracker only show you the location of one of the emeralds at a time, instead of any of the three emeralds, like in the first Sonic Adventure, is something that still boggles my mind, all these years later. The mech levels with Tails & Eggman are less clunky and well programmed, but are incredibly dull, and involves some extremely overly simplistic lock-onto-enemies gameplay. As for the only truly fun sections, the speed sections, even these sections are far from perfect. They're glitched to kingdom come, and honestly, playing through them in 2020 really demonstrates to me just how badly this game has aged.

    * The story

    The plot is fine as far as the actual story is concerned. However, the bizarre mismatched tone to the rest of the Sonic franchise makes the entire thing feel, at best, awkward, and at worst, downright awful. On the one hand, it's interesting to see them deal with more mature themes, but on the one hand...did we really need a sonic storyline involving a government conspiracy, a "sexy" government agent bat, and the shooting of someone's granddaughter? I'm sorry, but the story is cringe-worthy in the context of the Sonic universe.

    * The voice acting

    For the most part, the voice acting leaves a lot to be desired. Although I won't say it's "bad", per say, it sure as heck isn't good. Far too many lines fall flat, and sound like they were being read off a script. I don't blame the voice actors for this though, because it seems more like it was a problem with directing. It's honestly the type of voice acting I'd expect to get if you hired a robot who doesn't understand human emotions as the voice director.

    * The sound mixing

    Sweet jumping jacksticks is the sound mixing ABYSMAL. As in, objectively incompetently broken. This isn't an aspect of the game that's just "aged". This is not something they couldn't have gotten right at the time of the game's release. This is just bad, plain and simple. There is no excuse for how awful the sound mixing of this game is. Characters talk over each other, the music is often WAY too loud and drowns out the voices...it's just a total mess in places. I don't know if this was some problem with the voice dubbing from Japanese into English, or if there was some other kind of problem, but there is NO excuse for it being this atrocious.

    * The new characters

    Shadow, as "brooding", as he is, is an interesting character. And while he gets worse after this game, turning into a dumb proxy for "cool edgy 12 year olds", this isn't the fault of Sonic Adventure 2, so overall, I have no issues with Shadow's role here. Rouge, on the other hand, is a character that I find silly. Who on Earth thought it was a good idea to put a archetypal sex-appeal character into a game for children...who happens to be a bat, at that. Did the Sonic series really need a sexy bat? Rouge definitely isn't a bad character, far from it, but that she even exists as a concept just boggles my mind. The Sonic series tends to ignore the entire sex-appeal side of Rogue's character through her appearances, which makes sense, but it just begs the question of why they made her that way in the first place. I want to empathise here, this isn't some type of complaint about female sexualization. I simply don't think Rouge's character ever fit with the Sonic series. With her "sex-appeal" aspect never being used or even brought up in-universe, all it is is an out-of-universe gimmick for the players who like the idea of a sexy bat...in which case, yeah, that's just a little bit weird. Never got it, but again, like I say, she's not a BAD character. Over all, the new characters are all utilised as well as they could be in their debut, and aid to the Sonic cast's diverse range. Not necessarily in a good way following SA2, though, as future releases unfortunately demonstrate.

    And the conclusion:

    Playing Sonic Adventure 2 in 2020 is like watching that one video your parents took of you as a child singing "Who Let the Dogs Out" at your school talent show. You may have the memory of singing like an angel and leaving everyone a gasp, but the video is recorded proof that your singing was awful and everyone was laughing at you. As unfortunate as it is to say, in my opinion, it's about time that people take their nostalgia goggles off and admit that this game is not, and was never, as good as they remember it being.    … Expand
  27. Coletrain128
    Mar 24, 2013
    8
    It's the same title from the dreamcast and gamecube, for better or worse. However, it's somewhat disappointing that the full game isn't include upon initial purchase, meaning that you will have to download the "Battle" DLC if you want full access to multiplayer and Chao Karate for around $3-$4. The soundtrack and story mode are present and so are the many problems with controls and cameraIt's the same title from the dreamcast and gamecube, for better or worse. However, it's somewhat disappointing that the full game isn't include upon initial purchase, meaning that you will have to download the "Battle" DLC if you want full access to multiplayer and Chao Karate for around $3-$4. The soundtrack and story mode are present and so are the many problems with controls and camera which continue to cause many random deaths. You either love it or hate it.… Expand
  28. flametail23
    Mar 1, 2015
    7
    A fun game with some great levels. I still hate the knuckles levels though because they take so long to beat. It's pretty much SA1 but with better level design and no hub world.
    7/10
  29. Daniel_N
    Feb 11, 2021
    7
    Not one of the best SEGA Dreamcast video games, but it’s fun and neat compared to most overall.
  30. MegamanZeroX19
    May 30, 2020
    9
    Un juego de Sonic bastante bueno.
    Sus únicos puntos negativos serían las misiones de Knuckles y Rouge ya que dependen del azar y lo difícil que es obtener las notas A,ya que esto limita tu libertad a la hora de completar los niveles.
    Fuera de eso el juego cumple bastante bien.
  31. theprotagonist
    Jan 25, 2023
    10
    I just recently re-purchased and replayed this on Xbox because my Gamecube copy is at my parent's house. And the experience confirms what I already knew: this is the best Sonic game. Hands down better than Generations. Hands down better than Frontiers. Yes, I originally played it as a child. Yes, I have a huge nostalgia factor. Yes, it has bugs. Yes, the voices in the English dub overlapI just recently re-purchased and replayed this on Xbox because my Gamecube copy is at my parent's house. And the experience confirms what I already knew: this is the best Sonic game. Hands down better than Generations. Hands down better than Frontiers. Yes, I originally played it as a child. Yes, I have a huge nostalgia factor. Yes, it has bugs. Yes, the voices in the English dub overlap each other and are poorly mixed with the music. And yes it is still awesome! Haters can screw themselves. Rolling around at the speed of sound!… Expand
  32. ROTSA2
    Sep 13, 2022
    10
    RATING: 100%

    Filled with content, well-written, well-designed, and extremely replayable, Sonic Adventure 2 is in fact the ultimate Sonic game.
  33. Minusmite
    Oct 10, 2021
    9
    Sonic Adventure 2 is my favorite Sonic game of all time and one of my favorite games in general. It has such a perfect balance of 3 great gameplay styles, a nice (but flawed) story, and an absolutely incredible soundtrack. The stakes are at it's highest in this game, and it also introduces 2 fan-favorite characters (Shadow and Rouge). The main problem with this game is how it's aged, evenSonic Adventure 2 is my favorite Sonic game of all time and one of my favorite games in general. It has such a perfect balance of 3 great gameplay styles, a nice (but flawed) story, and an absolutely incredible soundtrack. The stakes are at it's highest in this game, and it also introduces 2 fan-favorite characters (Shadow and Rouge). The main problem with this game is how it's aged, even with a remaster that adds widescreen and 1080p. But that still doesn't stop me from loving this game, for 10 bucks this game is a steal.… Expand
  34. Nightmare666
    Dec 11, 2022
    4
    Absolutly overrated game with a story that dosen't get explained well. The controls of sonic and shadow sucked rolling, spinndashing, bouncing, light speed dash are all mapet to the same button!!! Why!!!. The light speed dash just dosen't want to work the way it should. Sonic and Shadow hat the only semi good levels. Rouge, Knuckles, Tails and Eggmans stages just suck
  35. ImraanTest
    Dec 31, 2021
    9
    Sonic Adventure 2 was initially released back in 2001 as the swansong for SEGA's Dreamcast and man did the Dreamcast bow out with style.

    The game has 3 distinct playstyles. Sonic and Shadow have fast paced platforming with lots of corkscrews, tricks and excitement to behold. This gameplay style is more action-packed than it's predecessor, Sonic Adventure 1. These stages are the most fun    Sonic Adventure 2 was initially released back in 2001 as the swansong for SEGA's Dreamcast and man did the Dreamcast bow out with style.

    The game has 3 distinct playstyles. Sonic and Shadow have fast paced platforming with lots of corkscrews, tricks and excitement to behold. This gameplay style is more action-packed than it's predecessor, Sonic Adventure 1. These stages are the most fun part of SA2. The game's level design is exquisite and require you to remain alert. But, these segments aren't perfect, there are a few things holding this playstyle back. The game's controls and collision can feel rather janky and unpolished which can lead to a few unfair deaths. Moveover, the game's lackuster camera occasionally struggles to track the player.

    This problem is most apparent in Knuckles' and Rouge's treasure-hunting stages. These stages require you to locate 3 shards of the master emerald in large 3D environments with a radar and clues to help to find them. This is probably my least favourite playstyle in the game. The radar has been nerfed since SA1 as that game allowed to track multiple items at once, while this game can handle one. This feels like a blatant excuse to increase game time. Other than those quibbles, this gamestyle is rather enjoyable. The level design is just as immaculate as the speed stages and finding the shards can be quite enjoyable.

    Just like how shooting up robots are! This incredible Segway leads us to the game's final playstyle, Tails and Eggman's shooting stages. These stages have you destroying robots and traverse the stages in a mech. These stages can be quite mundane until you acquire upgrades for Tails' and Eggman's mech later in the game. These really spice up their gameplay and the later stages become more frantic, fun as they really utilise these upgrades. And, you can go back to previous stages and utilise these new abilities to find secrets or move through the stages faster. This goes for most of the game's upgrades. For example, Sonic and Shadow's light speed dash has you speeding through a trail of rings at light speed. This utilised well in Metal Habour, Sonic's second stage.

    The Chao garden is an enjoyable extra mode where you raise adorable creatures and have them race and play karate. And the game's 2 player mode sweetens the deal (but there's a catch, read the section with asterisks below).

    As for the things specific to this version of the game, the game has received a decent facelift. It is now in widescreen and runs at a higher resolution. **It requires you spend additional money to get the game's additional features from SA2B. I would have preferred to have everything bundled in.**
    Overall, the game is an enjoyable romp. One of the best 3D Sonic games to date.    … Expand
  36. SonicFan20
    Nov 16, 2022
    8
    Sonic Adventure 2 Is A Spectacular Sonic Game With Amazing Music, Great Storytelling, Great Writing, And Good Graphics For the Time, Amazing Multiplayer, And Way more. The Story Goes As Follows. Sonic Has Been framed for Robbery of A Chaos Emerald, He Does what anyone would do And JUMPS OFF THE PLANE In style With a piece of the plane as a board to Escape from the City. While Eggman hasSonic Adventure 2 Is A Spectacular Sonic Game With Amazing Music, Great Storytelling, Great Writing, And Good Graphics For the Time, Amazing Multiplayer, And Way more. The Story Goes As Follows. Sonic Has Been framed for Robbery of A Chaos Emerald, He Does what anyone would do And JUMPS OFF THE PLANE In style With a piece of the plane as a board to Escape from the City. While Eggman has Broken the Ultimate Lifeform "Shadow The Hedgehog" From Military G.U.N. Newcomer "Rouge The Bat" A Military Agent Sneeks Into To "Help" Dr. Eggman. Gameplay Is So Good, But Its Not Just Sonic You get to play as. Like the First adventure game, You Play as Several Different Characters. Sonic ,Shadow, Tails, Eggman ,Knuckles, And Rouge. Tails And Eggman Are Kinda Like Gamma. Shadow And Sonic Control Like Sonic In Adventure 1. And Knuckles And Rouge Control Like Knuckles In Sonic Adventure 1. All the Characters Are Really Fun But Knuckles Is Nerfed. Overall Very Good Game. The OST is godlike, So Is The Story. Overall 8/10 The Graphics Have Aged But Its Still a fun Game.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2012
45
#45 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. GameCritics
    Mar 20, 2013
    90
    Now that this great title is available with high definition graphics, it's a great way for fans of 3D platformers to spend ten bucks.
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  2. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Dec 5, 2012
    50
    Time to reassess everything about 2001. [Christmas 2012, p.99]
  3. Eurogamer Germany
    Oct 25, 2012
    70
    Minor troubles aside, for about ten bucks you get one of the best Sonic experiences, and one that can and will keep you busy for weeks, if you're really want to see everything. If you can get past the camera issues, some control quibbles and the rather boring search for crystals, this will hook you like in the olden days. This reunion might bring with it some surprises, as your memory seems to play tricks on you, but it's still a worthwhile get together.
    Read full review
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