Title: Sonic Advance
Console(s): Nintendo Game Boy Advance
Developer: Dimps/Sonic Team
US Release Date: February 4, 2002
European Release Date: March 23, 2002
Japanese Release Date: December 22, 2001
Genre: Platformer
Players: 1-4
Rating: E
Peripherals: GBA Link Cable
 
  The Story:
The evil scientist, Dr. Eggman, has hatched another dastardly plot. He plans to build a Dr. Eggman Empire by turning all the animals into robots. "If I get all 7 Chao Emeralds, I'll gain imaginable power!" You can't watch your comrades become tools of Dr. Robotnik! Command Sonic as he dashes into action along with his pals Knuckles, Tails, and Amy to stop the evil Dr. Eggman!
 
  The Gameplay:
Sonic's first game on Nintendo's Game Boy Advance isn't a port, its a whole new 2D adventure. The game follows the same action as the older Genesis days, but with new features.

You can control one of 4 characters: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy. All with their own special attacks. Sonic is built on speed, Knuckles on attack and exploration using his gliding, punching, and climbing, Tails on exploration using his flying ability, and Amy on exploration using her mallet.

The level design isn't like it used to be in the Genesis days, but it gets the job done. There are classic enemies all around each level, and tons of hidden areas and secrets to find.

The main goal of a stage is just to get to the end in under 10 minutes or you die. Collecting rings will keep you alive, if you lose them they scatter around. Getting 100 rings gets you an Extra Try. There's 2 acts to each stage, at the end of the 2nd stage you fight its boss, which is usually Dr. Eggman in one of his new machines. To destroy him you must hit him about 6 to 8 times.

A lot of new things to a 2D Sonic game are some new features scattered around the stages. Like the new Grinding poles, trampolines, and so on. The animation is by far the best seen in any Sonic 2D game, and the speed is the most fastest of any as well. By animation I mean, when you look up using Sonic, he searches the sky making it more entertaining.

The Special Stages can be found by jumping on the hidden Springs that are very hard to find. The Special Stages are your character riding on a Board and falling down tube in outer space. To speed up you must press A and to do a special trick that gets you rings easier you must press B at the correct time. To get the Chaos Emerald (or Chao Emerald: What the booklet calls them.) You must get a certian amount of rings, like 90 rings, then 180 or more. You can also get a Chao floating around the Special Stage to gain a continue.

The new addition a 2D Sonic game would be the Chao Garden, which you can take care of Chao's and transfer them to Sonic Adventure 2 Battle using the special link to the Nintendo Gamecube. The Chao Garden is on a slanted screen, where you can do several things to help raise your Chao. By using the L button, you can view all the food to be fed to the Chao, where you the A button to lift it off and give it to your Chao. But you need to collect rings from the game to buy foods and even a Trumpet to feed and entertain your Chao. There's also two matching games to play to earn food and other things for your Chao.
 
  The game items can be found in the SA style boxes, here's a description of each one.

Speed Boots: Gain extra speed for a limited time.
Invincible: Become invincible for a limited time, receiving no damage and destroying enemies merely by touching them.
5 Rings: Pick up 5 rings.
10 Rings: Pick up 10 rings.
? Rings: Pick up a random amount of rings.
Barrier (Shield): Protection for damage for only one hit.
Magnetic Barrier (Electric Shield): Attracts rings to you. Disapears after one hit.
Extra Try: Gain an extra life.
 
  There are 5 options to play in Sonic Advance, here's a guide to all 5.

Game Start: The normal mode of Sonic Advance,choose from one of the 4 characters and go through the game.
VS: Use a Link Cable and hook up GBA's with only one cartridge to play against 4 other friends.
Time Attack: The name says it all,try to run through the stages getting the fastest time you can get.
Options: Obvious.
Tiny Chao Garden: Raise Chaos in this tiny Garden. You can play two mini games to get food to fead these little guys.
 
  Guide to all the Levels:

Neo Green Hill Zone

Just like any first stage in a Sonic game, it's usually a beach side or forest area. This time it's a beach side. There's a lot of hills in this level with roads and a few areas to grind at. This stage isn't too hard, just giving away what the rest of the game will be like.

Boss

Eggman rides a big wheeled car this time, it has a giant mallet stuck to the top of it. I suggest you stay close to him so you won't be hit by the mallet. The peices that hold the mallet and him together won't hurt you, so use that to your advantage.
 
  Secret Base Zone

At first it's a very dark stage in Act 1, in the background is a night time city scape with tall buildings. Large hooks will swing you to the next area, there's a lot of falls so look to the hook. Act 2 is mostly inside which brightens up with lights and colors from inside the building.

Boss

Remember this machine? A robot version of Eggman rode in Sonic Chaos for the Sega Game Gear? Well he decided to give it another try. Eggman uses the giant spring at the bottom to jump high in the air and squish you. All you need to do is beat him when he's on the ground and run around when he leaves the screen from a jump.
 
  Casino Paradise Zone

It's just like the Casino Night Zone from Sonic The Hedgehog 2 on Genesis. It's like a casino maze with a pinball submitted.

Boss

There's tubes for Dr. Eggman and a large spike ball to enter. All you need to do is look to hit Dr. Eggman and dodge the large spikey ball.
 
  Ice Mountain Zone

The name says it all, it's a iced mountain. Most of Act 1 is on the snowy grounds until you get under that into a frozen underwater land. Get the air bubbles are you'll easily stay alive.

Boss

This Eggman fight can be tough at first. Eggman rides in a upside down ceiling hugger and knocks large icycles from the ceiling to the ground. You need to jump on the top of one and smack Dr. Eggman. Make sure you jump up for air as well. Make sure you watch out for the bottom of the icicles.
 
  Angel Island Zone

That's right, it's located on Angel Island. Most of this level is high in the sky, so be careful or you'll fall and go boom. Just like in Sonic & Knuckles stage called Sky Sanctuary Zone, it might even be Sky Sanctuary, another area of it. There's clouds to bounce off of as well. Wheels that you must run on to reach different areas.

Boss

At first you think it's Knuckles, but it isn't. Hit him three times and he'll blow up and show his silver robotic body. The robot Knuckles pulls giant missiles outta no where and shoot them at you. Dodge those and hit him when he's standing and you'll beat him.
 
  Egg Rocket/Cosmic Angel Zone

Tons of falls and upside down gameplay make this the longest Sonic 2D level I have ever played. Take you a good 15 to 20 minutes if this is your first try. Just like the old Death Egg levels, this has some upside down gameplay, Act 2 is much easier then Act 1.

Boss

Dr. Eggman sports an upside down machine with spikes where you stand. Jump on the bouncie ground to make Dr. Eggman fling to your end and knock him out. Make sure you dodge his spikey bottom and the energy balls that he shoots.
 
  X-Zone

Just like the final fight in Sonic & Knuckles,you can see earth in the background. You fight classic Dr. Eggman with his old Egg-O-Matic from Sonic 1 and 2. The first is the first ship with the rock ball at the end and the second is the ground mobile.

Boss

The final boss isn't too tough but is a challenge for the most part. His main attack is to shoot laser fire. Wait until he reveals himself from his shield and attack. Dodge his bombs and large hand and lasers. Besides that you'll win and can enjoy the ending.

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