Title: Sonic Adventure 2 Battle
Console(s): Nintendo GameCube
Developer: Sonic Team
US Release Date: February 12, 2002
European Release Date: May 3, 2002
Japanese Release Date: December 20, 2001
Genre: Platformer
Players: 1-2
Rating: E
 
  The Story:
Hero: It was another ordinary day... Until Sonic, hero of justice, is accosted by a secret military force code-named G.U.N. Escaping the confines of a high security helicopter, Sonic leaps down into the city streets in an effort to from his captors. Suddenly, a mysterious black hedgehog appears in front of him, grasping a Chaos Emerald in his hands. Meanwhile, across the globe, unexplained incidents occur following the declaration of world conquest by Eggman himself. Once aware of the connection between Shadow and Eggman, Sonic begins his quest to stop their evil plan, helped along the way by his old friends: Tails and Knuckles.

Dark: While searching for a top secret weapon known only as "Shadow," the evil genius, Dr. Eggman, penetrates the security of a high-level military base. Deep inside the compound, Dr. Eggman discovers that the weapon is actually a black hedgehog claiming himself as the "Ultimate life form," a creature as "Shadow." Shadow invites Dr. Eggman to Space Colony ARK and reveals the Eclipse Cannon-an enormous weapon capable of destroying the world, more than enough to entice the evil genius to help out Shadow in his quest to conquer the world. Just as they begun to revel in their plan for destruction, the villians are startled by a menacing bat named Rouge who offers her help as well. Thus the plot to conquer the world begins...
 
  The Gameplay:
There is lots of little changes from Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, but nothing too noticable, thats why I have used most of the SA2 information below. The biggest difference from SA and SA2 is the adventure fields being taken out. Instead of choosing which character you want to play as,you must choose Hero or Dark Story mode. Hero being Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. Dark being Eggman, Shadow, and Rouge. Each time you win a stage, there's a video sequence in between.

Each character has its own gameplay type. Sonic/Shadow stages are more for speed and completing the level as fast as you can. Tails/Eggman stages are a shooter type of gameplay and destroying all the enemies to go to the next area. Finally, Knuckles/Rouge gameplay is more of a treasure hunting type of gameplay, though it can be very annoying trying to find all the Master Emerald pieces.

Boss fights aren't too difficult. The object is to find your opponents weakness, which would be a point in its body or something around you. When you fight another game character, like Shadow, the fight is just a braw. When fighting an original opponent, the battle is completed by finding the opponents weakness.

Remember the 130 Emblems you needed to get in SA, well now there's 180. But this time, your actually getting something for your hard work. Collect all 180 and you'll get a 3D version of the Green Hill Zone from the original Sonic The Hedgehog for Genesis. Its a 3D version of the stage with original Badniks and classic music.

To get each Emblem,you must follow all the missions of each stage, here's what each mission might look like:
Mission 1: Stage Specific Goal - basically get to the end of the level.
Mission 2: Collect 100 Rings!
Mission 3: Find the lost Chao!/Don't hit other cars!
Mission 4: Reach the Goal within [Time Limit]!/Don't hit any walls!
Mission 5: Clear Hard Mode!
Depending on what stage you are playing, your mission directives may change during the Story.
 
  Extra Stuff in SA2:Battle

In SA2: Battle the Vs. mode is more in-depth then in SA2. You can race, shoot, or treasure hunt your way through almost all of the games levels. There's also the many secret characters from SA2 to control and other little additions added.

The most additions to SA2: B from SA2 is all the new things put into the Chao section of the game. When raising your Chao, you can see what each thing you feed them does to their abilities. Other new features would be stuff like the Black Market Chao which you can pay it rings to buy rare fruits or items to help your Chao, each collection of rings you get in the end of each level can be used there. Probably the biggest addition to SA2: B's Chao section would be the link-up of GBA to Gamecube, where you can transfer a Chao from Gamecube to the Game Boy Advance's Sonic Advance Tiny Chao Garden. Maybe if your going for a long car ride you can take care of your Chao, then transfer them back to the Gamecube. There's also a game you can upload to your GBA's RAM which's a mini training game, then after you've trained you can send the Chao back into the Gamecube.

Small Extra's:
-FMV Sequence in the beginning.
-Changing the option menu themes without being online.
-Secret characters and vehicles in Kart Racing.
-Different background music in some areas.
-Small improvement in game textures.
 
  There are many other modes to play instead of the story mode:

Kart Race: You must clear Hero or Dark to play in this as 1 Player or both as 2 Player. You race as one of the 6 selectable characters. If you want, you can download more tracks on the SA2 Homepage when connected online with your DC.

Boss: There's 3 modes: Hero, Dark, and fight all the bosses. You need to fight all the bosses in Hero to play Hero and same if playing Dark.

Extra - Tutorial: OmoChao will explain controls and how to play.

Extra - Emblem Results: You can view what Emblems you've collected and what you need to get.
 
  The Chaos are back as well, with a bunch of cool new features:

Chao Gardens
Hatching
Chaos Drives
Food
Chao Evolution
Chao Kindergarten
Chao Garden Types
Chao Races
Transporting to VMU
Animal Effects

Chao Adventure 2:
Getting Started
Flying Fists Battle
Adventure Goals
Menu Screen

See other Sonic Adventure 2: Battle Sections

<--GO BACK