Sonic Adventure 2 Battle is a re-release of the game Sonic Adventure 2. This adds more to battle mode allowing players to enjoy more Sonic fun within the game. I first came across this gem of a game on the Gamecube and fell in love with it. It’s definitely one of my favorite Sonic games of all time.
Sonic Adventure 2 Battle has a pretty decent story mode. Players get to choose between a Hero and a Villain Story. The Heroes are Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails, while the villains are Shadow, Rouge, and Dr.Eggman. Each of the characters plays similarly to their counterpart and the playstyles are mixed up between the levels.
The gameplay is mixed between, running, treasure hunting, and traveling in a mech. Players will need to get high scores in order to get a high rank on a level. Damage, death, and longer play time can also adversely affect the game score. It definitely gives the player reason to play levels over and over again. Players who get an A Rank in every level are even rewarded to a 3D version of Green Hills Zone.
The first level City Escape is always my favorite and a classic favorite for many who enjoy the game. Shooting out of a plane and snowboarding down the streets of San Francisco is a great way to start off a stellar game. Sonic and Shadows levels are longer than most because of how fast they travel through them. Though they are also probably the most fun of the three because speeding through a level is a trip.
Knuckles and Rouge are after the Chaos Emeralds and need to fly and dig their way to find all three pieces. The pieces are randomly scattered around the level. These levels tend to be the most tedious of the three but are fun in their own right. The music in the Knuckles levels is interesting as they are all raps. These raps correspond to the level themselves and they are often rather good, especially Pumpkin Hill.
Dr.Eggman and Tails are also playable in their own stylized missions. These missions are all about riding in mech suits and taking out loads of enemies. It’s satisfying targeting a whole swathe of foes and taking them out in a barrage of missiles. These levels might be slower but they are all about the points and that matters a lot.
The end of the game has both the Heroes and Villains working together to take down the true villain of the game. It is rather interesting seeing Shadow and Sonic teamed up to take out a large foe after them fighting each other the whole game. The boss helps tie the story together and leaves a certain character in the dust.
This game also has the ever impressive Chao Garden. The Chao Garden is a fun side game that has the player taking care of and raising chaos. I find that this part of the game is often far more entertaining. Players gather animals and colored vials which change the stats of the Chao. The player can even make their Chao look like animals by having them play with them. This customization aspect allows for players to make their Chaos look as zany as they want.
The fun of the Chao Garden doesn’t end there as there is also a preschool where Chao can learn different actions. Players can have their Chao learn instruments or how to dance, and it is rather cute. Players can also buy items and Chao eggs from a shady Chao which is where the rings the player collects are used. Don’t forget to get Chaos checked up at the doctor either. There is even a fortune teller who gives Chao fortunes and lets the player change their names.
The Chao Garden is also home to the two mini-games, Chao Karate, and Chao Race. In a small cave, players can fight their Chaos through a rigorous karate tournament or through a series of races. It’s fun to strengthen the Chao and have them win these events. The chao races are often rather long but having a speedy Chao makes them a cakewalk. The Chao Karate is definitely a lot more fun to watch, and seeing your Chao win is always great.
Chao can be a lot of different colors depending on what egg they come from. They can die and be reborn too, which can be emotional. Chaos can also mate and even evolve into super powerful chaos. Players might even find a Chao that looks like Sonic or Knuckles or Shadow! Chao really do make this game a lot more fun and I always enjoy watching them grow and evolve.
Battle mode is great fun and lets two players fight it out. The levels are similar to the main game and it is often cool seeing who can win levels first. This version adds extra characters like Tikal the Echidna and Chaos from Sonic Adventure. Even the Chao come in their own mechs to wreck the competition. All in all this mode is the icing on the cake for such a weird game.
Looking back at it the game does have some issues. It’s not super polished and sometimes can’t handle the number of enemies or even the inherent speed of Sonic. The music is often too loud, and sometimes the framerate slows to a crawl. Though, these are honestly not big issues as the game is just weird enough that these things work.
Sonic Adventure 2 Battle is a fantastic game and will always have a place in my gaming heart. I will always enjoy jumping back into this game even if it might not be perfect. There is something so thrilling and nostalgic about playing through this story and seeing the levels I loved as a kid. Plus, the Chao garden is the best and I’m hoping they bring it back eventually. Sonic Adventure 2 Battle might be older but it is a game that should definitely be tried out. Sonic and Shadow have stories to tell will the player help them find their endings?