16 reviews
- jagdtigernova
- May 7, 2022
- Permalink
You are all wrong. Sonic Adventure HAS held up well. Critics often cite the game's multiple gameplay styles, graphics, and story as things that bring down its quality, but nothing could be further from the truth. Released in 1998, Sonic Adventure was not only a game-changer for the Sonic the Hedgehog series, but a game changer for 3D platforms in general, and, in a way, the video games as a whole, pushing the boundaries of what fans thought were possible further than ever before.
One of the biggest reasons the Dreamcast failed to sell well is because it was too ahead of its time. For example, it was the first console to have internet access, but few had internet at home at the time the console launched. However, this is also one of the reasons the console has held up better than most of its competitors. What Sega knew ahead of time was that in order to market a futuristic console, they would need a futuristic game, and that is exactly what Sonic Adventure was, and in fact, still is. Using the Dreamcast's own software as its engine, Sonic Adventure took advantage of the console's entire functionality, using six different characters, complete with their own campaigns, to demonstrate just how advanced this mega-system truly was.
The most fondly remembered and impactful of the gameplay styles in this game is, of course, Sonic's. In a way, the blue blur's gameplay in Sonic Adventure does feel like a 3D translation of the 2D platforming gameplay on the Genesis that made him famous in the first place, but on the other hand, it seems completely different. The stages are large, ambitious, and long in duration, with tons of hidden areas and room to explore. But, different or similar, the gameplay suits no one else more than Sonic the Hedgehog. Both Tails and Amy's gameplay are modified versions of Sonic's gameplay, with the gimmicks of racing and escaping added as well as level design that better suits their abilities, but the remaining three characters have gameplay that is completely different than anything the series had seen prior to this game. Knuckles, has been known to be a skilled treasure hunter since his debut in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles four years prior, so they gave him a gameplay style that took advantage of this character trait and required players to search for pieces of the Master Emerald in large, open areas without sacrificing the flow and momentum of the other gameplay styles. The new character E-102 Gamma uses a very unique gameplay style that combines platforming and shooting, creating this unique third-person multidirectional shooter that surprisingly works in a Sonic game. The only gameplay style that is not remembered fondly is that of Big the Cat, but it seems like a way to demonstrate the technology used in Sega Bass Fishing. And that isn't even it. Between levels, there are hub worlds known as 'adventure fields,' which are not the ambitious hub-worlds of Sonic Frontiers, but do provide simple missions to keep players active between levels, and a more real-seeming environment.
The icing on the cake is the story. Ambitious enough to have come from a blockbuster movie (but still fitting in a video game), Sonic Adventure's story hits in so many different areas. It expands on the echidna lore hinted at in the manual of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, gives each character an important place in the story, and even features more mature themes like sacrifice in E-102 Gamma's story. Basically, Sonic Adventure is made up of a jumble of different stories, but they come together in the end quite snuggly, making for quite an epic series of events that were brilliantly crafted and connected by writer Akinori Nishiyama. Sonic Adventure was a major step for the Sonic series, turning it from cartoonish game series with minimal context applied to the games to a complex, lore-rich series with a strong canon. This was also groundbreaking for platform games in general, and showed that they were more than just alternatives to other genres for younger audiences. Despite being labeled as 'E' for everyone by the ESRB, Sonic Adventure is for smart players - players with big enough brains to handle so much story information at a time without getting tired or confused.
The only parts of Sonic Adventure that still feel lost in the late '90s are its plasticy graphics and choppy voice acting. But then again, in an era where Mario still communicated with minimal dialogue, it was groundbreaking that Sonic Adventure even had full dialogue, and it was quite impressive that the Dreamcast had more realistic graphics with rounded edges and fully rendered environments when the graphics of the Nintendo 64 and the original PlayStation were still quite blocky. Sonic Adventure does not get credit where credit is due. It is a breakthrough for the Sonic the Hedgehog series and the world of 3D platformers in general. It was one of the most game-changing platform games ever made as well as one of the most maximalist, paving the way for other video game franchises to go big or go home. If they look past the otutdated graphics and dialogue, players should have just as good of a time with Sonic Adventure in 2024 as they did all the way back in 1998.
One of the biggest reasons the Dreamcast failed to sell well is because it was too ahead of its time. For example, it was the first console to have internet access, but few had internet at home at the time the console launched. However, this is also one of the reasons the console has held up better than most of its competitors. What Sega knew ahead of time was that in order to market a futuristic console, they would need a futuristic game, and that is exactly what Sonic Adventure was, and in fact, still is. Using the Dreamcast's own software as its engine, Sonic Adventure took advantage of the console's entire functionality, using six different characters, complete with their own campaigns, to demonstrate just how advanced this mega-system truly was.
The most fondly remembered and impactful of the gameplay styles in this game is, of course, Sonic's. In a way, the blue blur's gameplay in Sonic Adventure does feel like a 3D translation of the 2D platforming gameplay on the Genesis that made him famous in the first place, but on the other hand, it seems completely different. The stages are large, ambitious, and long in duration, with tons of hidden areas and room to explore. But, different or similar, the gameplay suits no one else more than Sonic the Hedgehog. Both Tails and Amy's gameplay are modified versions of Sonic's gameplay, with the gimmicks of racing and escaping added as well as level design that better suits their abilities, but the remaining three characters have gameplay that is completely different than anything the series had seen prior to this game. Knuckles, has been known to be a skilled treasure hunter since his debut in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles four years prior, so they gave him a gameplay style that took advantage of this character trait and required players to search for pieces of the Master Emerald in large, open areas without sacrificing the flow and momentum of the other gameplay styles. The new character E-102 Gamma uses a very unique gameplay style that combines platforming and shooting, creating this unique third-person multidirectional shooter that surprisingly works in a Sonic game. The only gameplay style that is not remembered fondly is that of Big the Cat, but it seems like a way to demonstrate the technology used in Sega Bass Fishing. And that isn't even it. Between levels, there are hub worlds known as 'adventure fields,' which are not the ambitious hub-worlds of Sonic Frontiers, but do provide simple missions to keep players active between levels, and a more real-seeming environment.
The icing on the cake is the story. Ambitious enough to have come from a blockbuster movie (but still fitting in a video game), Sonic Adventure's story hits in so many different areas. It expands on the echidna lore hinted at in the manual of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, gives each character an important place in the story, and even features more mature themes like sacrifice in E-102 Gamma's story. Basically, Sonic Adventure is made up of a jumble of different stories, but they come together in the end quite snuggly, making for quite an epic series of events that were brilliantly crafted and connected by writer Akinori Nishiyama. Sonic Adventure was a major step for the Sonic series, turning it from cartoonish game series with minimal context applied to the games to a complex, lore-rich series with a strong canon. This was also groundbreaking for platform games in general, and showed that they were more than just alternatives to other genres for younger audiences. Despite being labeled as 'E' for everyone by the ESRB, Sonic Adventure is for smart players - players with big enough brains to handle so much story information at a time without getting tired or confused.
The only parts of Sonic Adventure that still feel lost in the late '90s are its plasticy graphics and choppy voice acting. But then again, in an era where Mario still communicated with minimal dialogue, it was groundbreaking that Sonic Adventure even had full dialogue, and it was quite impressive that the Dreamcast had more realistic graphics with rounded edges and fully rendered environments when the graphics of the Nintendo 64 and the original PlayStation were still quite blocky. Sonic Adventure does not get credit where credit is due. It is a breakthrough for the Sonic the Hedgehog series and the world of 3D platformers in general. It was one of the most game-changing platform games ever made as well as one of the most maximalist, paving the way for other video game franchises to go big or go home. If they look past the otutdated graphics and dialogue, players should have just as good of a time with Sonic Adventure in 2024 as they did all the way back in 1998.
- seymouradorland
- Jan 15, 2024
- Permalink
Sonic Adventure is a landmark title for the Dreamcast and a beloved classic that solidified Sonic's place in the 3D gaming world. Offering an exciting mix of high-speed platforming, engaging storylines, and a vibrant world to explore, it set a new standard for the series while maintaining the essence of what made Sonic so iconic.
The game features multiple playable characters, each with their own unique gameplay styles. Whether you're dashing through levels as Sonic, solving puzzles as Tails, or exploring the environment as Knuckles, each character brings something fresh to the table, ensuring that the gameplay never feels monotonous. This variety is one of Sonic Adventure's strengths, as it keeps the game dynamic and allows for a range of playstyles, from fast-paced action to exploration and treasure hunting.
The level design in Sonic Adventure is fantastic. The stages are varied, with vibrant environments ranging from futuristic cities to lush forests, and each offers its own set of challenges, secrets, and pathways to discover. The levels are well-constructed, with excellent pacing that encourages replayability. Sonic's stages, in particular, excel in speed, allowing for thrilling, rollercoaster-like experiences that make the most of the character's trademark velocity.
The visuals were stunning for their time, with beautifully rendered backgrounds, lively animations, and some of the most colorful environments in gaming. While the graphics may seem dated by today's standards, the game's art direction still shines through, giving it a timeless charm. The soundtrack is equally memorable, with upbeat, energetic tracks that complement the game's fast-paced action and emotional beats.
The story in Sonic Adventure is surprisingly engaging, with multiple story arcs that intertwine as each character's journey progresses. Though it's not overly complex, it provides a solid backdrop for the action and introduces some memorable new characters like Big the Cat and the villainous Chaos, who adds depth to the narrative.
The controls, though intuitive, can occasionally feel a little stiff, particularly when navigating more intricate platforming segments or controlling some of the secondary characters. This slight inconsistency, however, doesn't detract too much from the overall experience, as the game's sense of speed and excitement more than makes up for it.
While Sonic Adventure does have a few rough edges, particularly with some camera issues and occasional jarring difficulty spikes, it's a game that delivers a great sense of adventure and thrills. The sheer amount of content, from multiple playable characters to hidden secrets, ensures that it remains a highly replayable and enjoyable experience.
In conclusion, Sonic Adventure is a fantastic 3D entry in the Sonic series that helped define the character's transition into the 3D era. Its fast-paced action, engaging level design, and memorable soundtrack make it a game that remains a standout classic. Despite a few minor flaws, it's a must-play for Sonic fans and anyone looking to experience one of the Dreamcast's best titles.
The game features multiple playable characters, each with their own unique gameplay styles. Whether you're dashing through levels as Sonic, solving puzzles as Tails, or exploring the environment as Knuckles, each character brings something fresh to the table, ensuring that the gameplay never feels monotonous. This variety is one of Sonic Adventure's strengths, as it keeps the game dynamic and allows for a range of playstyles, from fast-paced action to exploration and treasure hunting.
The level design in Sonic Adventure is fantastic. The stages are varied, with vibrant environments ranging from futuristic cities to lush forests, and each offers its own set of challenges, secrets, and pathways to discover. The levels are well-constructed, with excellent pacing that encourages replayability. Sonic's stages, in particular, excel in speed, allowing for thrilling, rollercoaster-like experiences that make the most of the character's trademark velocity.
The visuals were stunning for their time, with beautifully rendered backgrounds, lively animations, and some of the most colorful environments in gaming. While the graphics may seem dated by today's standards, the game's art direction still shines through, giving it a timeless charm. The soundtrack is equally memorable, with upbeat, energetic tracks that complement the game's fast-paced action and emotional beats.
The story in Sonic Adventure is surprisingly engaging, with multiple story arcs that intertwine as each character's journey progresses. Though it's not overly complex, it provides a solid backdrop for the action and introduces some memorable new characters like Big the Cat and the villainous Chaos, who adds depth to the narrative.
The controls, though intuitive, can occasionally feel a little stiff, particularly when navigating more intricate platforming segments or controlling some of the secondary characters. This slight inconsistency, however, doesn't detract too much from the overall experience, as the game's sense of speed and excitement more than makes up for it.
While Sonic Adventure does have a few rough edges, particularly with some camera issues and occasional jarring difficulty spikes, it's a game that delivers a great sense of adventure and thrills. The sheer amount of content, from multiple playable characters to hidden secrets, ensures that it remains a highly replayable and enjoyable experience.
In conclusion, Sonic Adventure is a fantastic 3D entry in the Sonic series that helped define the character's transition into the 3D era. Its fast-paced action, engaging level design, and memorable soundtrack make it a game that remains a standout classic. Despite a few minor flaws, it's a must-play for Sonic fans and anyone looking to experience one of the Dreamcast's best titles.
- reviewgundam
- Nov 11, 2024
- Permalink
This was the first game of the new Dream cast system and it stars none other than the best known Sega character, Sonic the Hedgehog. The plot is rather complex because there are six playable characters with different stories. Each character has it's good points and bad points. It's a very fun and challenging game with secrets and bad guys lurking all over. The graphics are amazing and there is good voice work. This game rocks!
I am a huge Sonic fan, and after all the fun Genesis games came out, I thought that they couldn't possibly get any better. I was wrong. The debut of 128 bits of graphics on the Sega Dreamcast was the greatest.
The action stages were amazing and I loved the fact that they had adventure fields, so I could run around and talk to people just for the hell of it. There were also different objectives for different characters in the action stages, which made it that much more interesting. Also, the story lines conflict with each other perfectly.
One huge drawback is Big the Cat. His story was awful. His missions included fishing for his friend, Froggy. The fishing was tough and not much fun. Another thing that bothered me a little was that every character (not including sonic) had only 5 action stages or less. They were fun as hell, but I wish that they were longer.
Overall, I recommend this game. If you don't have it, you are missing out on one of the greatest Sonic games ever to be made. I've gone through it five times and it's been loads of fun every time. I give it a 9.5/10 (Only reason it's not 10/10 is because of Big and the fishing)
The action stages were amazing and I loved the fact that they had adventure fields, so I could run around and talk to people just for the hell of it. There were also different objectives for different characters in the action stages, which made it that much more interesting. Also, the story lines conflict with each other perfectly.
One huge drawback is Big the Cat. His story was awful. His missions included fishing for his friend, Froggy. The fishing was tough and not much fun. Another thing that bothered me a little was that every character (not including sonic) had only 5 action stages or less. They were fun as hell, but I wish that they were longer.
Overall, I recommend this game. If you don't have it, you are missing out on one of the greatest Sonic games ever to be made. I've gone through it five times and it's been loads of fun every time. I give it a 9.5/10 (Only reason it's not 10/10 is because of Big and the fishing)
In 1996 Mario 64 was released a Sega bleed a little, with Saturns inferior 3D graphic hardware and the cancellation of Sonic Xtreme, it left Sega in a state of shock. But with the impressive specs of they're upcoming Dreamcast system, the Sonic Team was full able to utilize its hardware. Considered the be the best, not only in sales, game in the Dreamcast library, it helped set the graphical standard years ahead of its time. This game, sales rivaling that of Halo, was popular enough to spawn a sequel, a TV series (sonicX) and a soundtrack. My friends are still fooled by its graphics, they think this game was made recently.It still is and will always be my favorite game.
Sonic Adventure brings back Sonic and his friends to save Earth once again from the evil Doctor Eggman and his Transparent H20 Friend Chaos, now this game isn't just fun this game is full of surprises this game is like a movie to me, you as the player gets to set the scene and you get to play over a variety of levels and play different characters, the game is full of HARDCORE ACTION! and SUSPENSE!!!, and the Music made for each character is truly incredible being composed by Jun senoue of course, the game is really fun you'll be able to fight villains and stuff, so if you HAVEN'T Played sonic adventure then WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
- tomasito-contreras
- Feb 24, 2012
- Permalink
No one will ever change my mind, this game made my childhood and I'll never forget how great it is.
The story is so interesting, the different character plots each leading up to Super Sonic is fantastic.
Chaos is one of my favourite Sonic bosses.
So nostalgic. 100/10.
The story is so interesting, the different character plots each leading up to Super Sonic is fantastic.
Chaos is one of my favourite Sonic bosses.
So nostalgic. 100/10.
- fountasalexander
- Mar 17, 2022
- Permalink
After actually playing the game through multiple times, I have come to say this is easily one of my favorite games of all time. Is it perfect? No. Is it flawed? Yes. But honestly I do not care. Even in 2021, I still find this game, at least the original Dreamcast version, to be insanely fun.
Sonic's levels are well designed and a blast to play. Tails levels are more or less the same as Sonic for me, very fun to play through and speedrun. Knuckles' stages, while not perfect, are still really well laid out and the mechanics were intuitive, especially at the time. And E102 Gamma's stages aren't amazing but are really fun to just run and gun through. Amy and Big's stages still suck tho, however there's still a little bit of fun to be had even in the worst sections.
Overall this game is an easy 10/10 for me, however, it may not be for you, and that's completely okay. I'll still leave my old review up so you can see how my opinions changed.
Old review:
I don't really love this game, but don't hate it. I found the Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles portions to be fine, but Amy's gameplay sucked, and I haven't tried Bigs or E-102 Gamma's levels yet. This game is pretty flawed in my opinion, but there is still some fun to had here. Plus it has a good soundtrack. Just listen to "Open Your Heart," the games main theme. While it's not amazing, as it stands, this game is a solid 5/10 for me.
Sonic's levels are well designed and a blast to play. Tails levels are more or less the same as Sonic for me, very fun to play through and speedrun. Knuckles' stages, while not perfect, are still really well laid out and the mechanics were intuitive, especially at the time. And E102 Gamma's stages aren't amazing but are really fun to just run and gun through. Amy and Big's stages still suck tho, however there's still a little bit of fun to be had even in the worst sections.
Overall this game is an easy 10/10 for me, however, it may not be for you, and that's completely okay. I'll still leave my old review up so you can see how my opinions changed.
Old review:
I don't really love this game, but don't hate it. I found the Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles portions to be fine, but Amy's gameplay sucked, and I haven't tried Bigs or E-102 Gamma's levels yet. This game is pretty flawed in my opinion, but there is still some fun to had here. Plus it has a good soundtrack. Just listen to "Open Your Heart," the games main theme. While it's not amazing, as it stands, this game is a solid 5/10 for me.
- DonaldFagen06
- Jun 29, 2020
- Permalink
All here is perfect. Gameplay, music, graphics, voices and levels. Voices can be strange but enjoyable. All in 1998, amazing. The dedication is really big in this game. THE BEST SONIC GAME, SIRS.
- diegolightyear
- Apr 20, 2022
- Permalink
Cringe-inducing, awkward, repetitive dialogue including forced exposition.
Bad conveyance. Just gonna say it: Navï rip-off.
Horrendous frame-rate issues.
The music had me rolling my eyes for two reasons: You hear it over the unbearable dialogue (Which I now realize is probably a positive, because despite how bad the music is, I can at least laugh at it. The dialogue, not so much.), and each one was uninspired. Some of them even sounded like they were made up by the artist as they went along.
Annoying characters.
Poor camera.
Unthreatening villain.
The gameplay is either nauseating, frustrating, or boring, or all three at once.
The voice acting is awful but that's not the actors' fault. They received direction over the phone from people who barely spoke English.
Embarrassing glitches.
I can get some ironic enjoyment out of the hilariously awkward animation and crappy music.
Bad conveyance. Just gonna say it: Navï rip-off.
Horrendous frame-rate issues.
The music had me rolling my eyes for two reasons: You hear it over the unbearable dialogue (Which I now realize is probably a positive, because despite how bad the music is, I can at least laugh at it. The dialogue, not so much.), and each one was uninspired. Some of them even sounded like they were made up by the artist as they went along.
Annoying characters.
Poor camera.
Unthreatening villain.
The gameplay is either nauseating, frustrating, or boring, or all three at once.
The voice acting is awful but that's not the actors' fault. They received direction over the phone from people who barely spoke English.
Embarrassing glitches.
I can get some ironic enjoyment out of the hilariously awkward animation and crappy music.
- troy-daniel-bush
- Mar 23, 2021
- Permalink
Sonic Adventure is the classic 2D side-scroller come to life in full 360° 3D. It is still the best of the three games from the Sonic Adventure series. The other two are Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Heroes, both of which fall short of this near perfect fan favorite. Sonic Adventure will go down in history as the game that introduced us to this generation of 3D gaming. It is so impressive because this threshold can never be crossed again. Every generation to follow will only increase the number of polygons that can be displayed on the screen at one time, but the difference will never be as noticeable and as shocking as when Sonic Adventure was unveiled. It is one of the most memorable games of all time.
People seem to (purposefully) forget that this is a 1998 game, which means it was in development as early as 1996. And for its time, it was perhaps the biggest, most ambitious and graphically advanced 3D game.
The time to experience it properly is long gone, however, and obviously, no 3D game from the infancy of 3D gaming can hold up today. But back then, the exploration and story in particular were fantastic, and the latter even tear jerking (especially if you were a very young child, which I was).
Too bad it's become an easy target for lazy, generic let's players nowadays, but unless you're absolutely a clueless sheep, you'd know better than to let them dictate whether you should make an effort to appreciate a piece of art or not.
The time to experience it properly is long gone, however, and obviously, no 3D game from the infancy of 3D gaming can hold up today. But back then, the exploration and story in particular were fantastic, and the latter even tear jerking (especially if you were a very young child, which I was).
Too bad it's become an easy target for lazy, generic let's players nowadays, but unless you're absolutely a clueless sheep, you'd know better than to let them dictate whether you should make an effort to appreciate a piece of art or not.
- backup-50362
- Dec 31, 2020
- Permalink
This game is awesome. i can't help trying not to say that. It was 1998 and SEGA released the Dreamcast. It was the first 128 bit console. One of the first launch titles was Sonic Adventure. Originally, the game was supposed to be an R.P.G. That idea was eventually scraped. This was the blue blurs first jump into the 3-D world(not counting Sonic 3-D blast or Sonic R) Let's talk about the game. The story is o.k. for what it is, but one problem. There's 6 characters, which means 6 story's and you have to piece them together. speaking of 6 characters, there's sonic, tails, knuckles, new comer Amy, E'102 Gamma and... ugh. Big the cat. O.k. 2 characters are pointless. Big the cat should never have been thought of. Amy, no one likes. If you want to here my opinions, watch Somecallmejohnnys review on youtube. Anyway. The game is super fun.
- Newsgeek13
- Dec 18, 2012
- Permalink
Sonic is back in his 128 bit game. Sonic Adventure, this game was made for the dreamcast in 1999. This game has been turned from a 16 bit (Sega megadrive graphics) to the 128 bit (Sega dreamcast graphics) This game is filled with levels that are new (Mystic Ruins, downtown, red mountains etc:) With new characters including E-102 (Gamma) Big the cat. The game is fun to play.
- rossrobinson
- Aug 29, 2003
- Permalink
Sonic Adventure came out 25 years ago and was considered to be Sonic's successful transition into 3D gaming after Sonic 3D Blast and Sonic R underwhelmed gamers, and Sonic Xtreme was never finished. However, over the years Sonic Adventure's reputation has become mired, mainly due to Sonic 06 and other 3D Sonic games underwhelming many gamers and Sonic Adventure's flaws becoming more obvious as time has gone on. While Sonic fans can appreciate the game or bringing Sonic 3D, and reinventing the characters for a new generation, most common gamers see Sonic Adventure as an unpolished and overly ambitious game which would eventually lead to the disastrous Sonic 06. In fact, on YouTube this game is almost as derided and made fun of as much as the infamous Sonic 06. For those who only like the 2D sonic games, Adventure is seen as the Sonic game where everything started to go all wrong. It also doesn't help that he most available version of Sonic Adventure is the god-awful DX port which not only looks worse, but introduces new bugs not present in the original Dreamcast version.
To be fair, there are quite a few aspects that I don't care for in Sonic Adventure. While they are meme-worthy, the cut-scenes have aged very poorly and the voice acting is not the greatest. While the cut-scenes succeed in telling the story, as the voice actor are not necessary bad since Ryan Drummond was a pretty good voice for Sonic, and Deem Bristow was an excellent Robotnik/Eggman. That said, the janky movement and constant pauses between the speeches makes the cut-scenes a drag to sit through. Also, the various campaigns are very hit and miss, and the fact the you have to play through all six character to unlock the final story makes some game-play feel more like a grind if anything. Big's fishing wouldn't be so bad if it was an optional mini-game instead of a mandatory requirement to complete the game. I never really liked Amy's game-play since her combat always felt clunky and her levels, as few as they are, overstay the welcome and drag on. Also, some other aspects of the game are just plain terrible like Sky Chase and the various Bosses which are sometimes required to play multiple times depending on whose story intersects with who such as Chaos 4 who Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles all have to fight. Lastly, I never like the idea of searching for upgrades required to progress in the game, I would prefer to already to have these abilities from the start with a hint or in-game tutorial.
That said, I don't mind playing as Tails, Knuckles, or Gamma. Tails flight controls very well and his stages are repurposed Sonic stages. However, Tails works better in explorations focused levels, Sonic 06 of all games actually found a good way to use Tails in that you would temporary control him to get to a switch so Sonic can proceed forward. Thankfully Knuckles, due to his abilities and story is all about exploration and I like getting to explore areas that Sonic or Tails would just dart past. I actually liked Gamma's game-play of shooting and racking up combos to extend your life.
The main draw of Sonic Adventure is finally being able to control Sonic in 3D and his game-play, despite a few issues, is fantastic. I'll admit that the camera can be a pain sometimes (even the game knows this with the mister Know-it-all telling you to be patient with the camera and there is ability to switch to auto camera), and sometimes Sonic would cling to one side of the road or the ceiling of a tunnel. Those issues aside, Sonic is responsive to control and feels properly weighted in rolling down hills or jumping, not to mention that when the game lets you go full speed, along with some great spectacle in the stages, its easy to see why this game was so impressive 25 years ago and it's still a blast today. Also, the spin dash is at its best in this game allowing you to jump and cover large distances in a few seconds.
Emerald Coast is a fun entry level, Windy Valley is fine albeit too many scripted segments of automated running. Casinopolis is probably my least favorite stage for Sonic because the pinball gets old very quickly and the stage itself drags. Ice Cap is fine, the first half is platforming, and not particularity fast platforming, the second half of the level which is the snowboarding section is far more fun. Twinkle park is fine with its cart segment and the actual castle segment is typical platforming. Speed Highway is fantastic with large stretches allowing you to maintain your momentum. Red Mountain is also great, especially if you use the spin dash and ring dash to skip sections. Sky Deck is fine, but I'll admit that it;s easy to miscalculate your jump and lose a life. Lost World is great but the puzzles with the switches, mirror-lights, and walk-able walls might drag the stage for some. That said, the part the homages Indiana Jones with the boulder is a lot of fun. Final Egg is a solid swansong level for Sonic with speed sections, obstacles to avoid, secret areas, and tougher enemies which only makes sense considering it's Eggman's base.
The final story with Super Sonic is fun with "Open your Heart" playing while you fight Chaos in the destroyed city. The story itself is pretty decent with elements of the previous Sonic games (Chaos Emerald and Master Emerald) given more backstory, mixed with elements taken from popular actions films (the aforementioned Indiana Jones for example). Despite a lot of filler game-play, jank, and sluggish cut-scenes, I enjoy Sonic Adventure and I think it has become an underappreciated game. Despite it's issues, I still mostly enjoyed the game and I'm not even nostalgic for the game since I've only played it within the last year. If anything, I wouldn't mind seeing a remake or remaster that fixes he jank, improves the cut-scenes, gives options like not replaying certain bosses or segments if they were already done in another story, or maybe have it so you aren't required to play all characters to unlock the final story. While that's just a pipe dream at this point, there are mods like Better SADX which improves the Steam version of Sonic Adventure which brings it much closer to the Dreamcast version and can add mods and fixes to your hearts content. While still not perfect, Sonic Adventure with modding is great fun on PC, although I would also recommend playing with a controller since that's how he game was originally meant to be played and playing on keyboard is not as responsive so button sensitivity as a controller.
Not a perfect game by any means, but Sonic's transition to 3D wasn't so rough after all.
To be fair, there are quite a few aspects that I don't care for in Sonic Adventure. While they are meme-worthy, the cut-scenes have aged very poorly and the voice acting is not the greatest. While the cut-scenes succeed in telling the story, as the voice actor are not necessary bad since Ryan Drummond was a pretty good voice for Sonic, and Deem Bristow was an excellent Robotnik/Eggman. That said, the janky movement and constant pauses between the speeches makes the cut-scenes a drag to sit through. Also, the various campaigns are very hit and miss, and the fact the you have to play through all six character to unlock the final story makes some game-play feel more like a grind if anything. Big's fishing wouldn't be so bad if it was an optional mini-game instead of a mandatory requirement to complete the game. I never really liked Amy's game-play since her combat always felt clunky and her levels, as few as they are, overstay the welcome and drag on. Also, some other aspects of the game are just plain terrible like Sky Chase and the various Bosses which are sometimes required to play multiple times depending on whose story intersects with who such as Chaos 4 who Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles all have to fight. Lastly, I never like the idea of searching for upgrades required to progress in the game, I would prefer to already to have these abilities from the start with a hint or in-game tutorial.
That said, I don't mind playing as Tails, Knuckles, or Gamma. Tails flight controls very well and his stages are repurposed Sonic stages. However, Tails works better in explorations focused levels, Sonic 06 of all games actually found a good way to use Tails in that you would temporary control him to get to a switch so Sonic can proceed forward. Thankfully Knuckles, due to his abilities and story is all about exploration and I like getting to explore areas that Sonic or Tails would just dart past. I actually liked Gamma's game-play of shooting and racking up combos to extend your life.
The main draw of Sonic Adventure is finally being able to control Sonic in 3D and his game-play, despite a few issues, is fantastic. I'll admit that the camera can be a pain sometimes (even the game knows this with the mister Know-it-all telling you to be patient with the camera and there is ability to switch to auto camera), and sometimes Sonic would cling to one side of the road or the ceiling of a tunnel. Those issues aside, Sonic is responsive to control and feels properly weighted in rolling down hills or jumping, not to mention that when the game lets you go full speed, along with some great spectacle in the stages, its easy to see why this game was so impressive 25 years ago and it's still a blast today. Also, the spin dash is at its best in this game allowing you to jump and cover large distances in a few seconds.
Emerald Coast is a fun entry level, Windy Valley is fine albeit too many scripted segments of automated running. Casinopolis is probably my least favorite stage for Sonic because the pinball gets old very quickly and the stage itself drags. Ice Cap is fine, the first half is platforming, and not particularity fast platforming, the second half of the level which is the snowboarding section is far more fun. Twinkle park is fine with its cart segment and the actual castle segment is typical platforming. Speed Highway is fantastic with large stretches allowing you to maintain your momentum. Red Mountain is also great, especially if you use the spin dash and ring dash to skip sections. Sky Deck is fine, but I'll admit that it;s easy to miscalculate your jump and lose a life. Lost World is great but the puzzles with the switches, mirror-lights, and walk-able walls might drag the stage for some. That said, the part the homages Indiana Jones with the boulder is a lot of fun. Final Egg is a solid swansong level for Sonic with speed sections, obstacles to avoid, secret areas, and tougher enemies which only makes sense considering it's Eggman's base.
The final story with Super Sonic is fun with "Open your Heart" playing while you fight Chaos in the destroyed city. The story itself is pretty decent with elements of the previous Sonic games (Chaos Emerald and Master Emerald) given more backstory, mixed with elements taken from popular actions films (the aforementioned Indiana Jones for example). Despite a lot of filler game-play, jank, and sluggish cut-scenes, I enjoy Sonic Adventure and I think it has become an underappreciated game. Despite it's issues, I still mostly enjoyed the game and I'm not even nostalgic for the game since I've only played it within the last year. If anything, I wouldn't mind seeing a remake or remaster that fixes he jank, improves the cut-scenes, gives options like not replaying certain bosses or segments if they were already done in another story, or maybe have it so you aren't required to play all characters to unlock the final story. While that's just a pipe dream at this point, there are mods like Better SADX which improves the Steam version of Sonic Adventure which brings it much closer to the Dreamcast version and can add mods and fixes to your hearts content. While still not perfect, Sonic Adventure with modding is great fun on PC, although I would also recommend playing with a controller since that's how he game was originally meant to be played and playing on keyboard is not as responsive so button sensitivity as a controller.
Not a perfect game by any means, but Sonic's transition to 3D wasn't so rough after all.