[Sentai]

*Sentai Reviews Classic Games*

*Sonic Adventure 2: Battle on the Playstation 3*

Once again we have a game I owned twice before. On the Dreamcast, the Gamecube, and now again on the PS3. Sonic Adventure 2 is the sequel to the original Sonic Adventure. But much more refined.

The Game takes place in the same world as Sonic Adventure. But where you could freeroam a Map between missions, in SA2 you do everything through Missions broken up between the six characters. But you don't have to find them this time, which is nice.

The level types are broken up between three main types. Sonic and Shadow are classic Sonic. Rush to the end, collect Rings, save Animals. Rouge and Knuckles are open ended maps, where you search for the Master Emeralds (And sometimes Keys). And Tails and Eggman are typical Levels but you pilot two different kinds of Mecha. Eggman in his Eggcar, and Tails in the transformed Tornado 2.

One thing I'm pleased about is they fixed the Camera. It follows the character perfectly, you can rotate it, and isn't the hinderence it is in SADX. Another is that every character has distinct levels, and you don't repeat like in the first game. At the onset you choose between Hero or Dark, allowing you to either do the Hero Story or the Villian. You go from character to character, moving along through the story, and learning more about Shadow's Past and Eggman's Grandfather. While trying to stop the destruction of Station Square by the Robotnik Cannon in Orbit, hidden inside a large Asteriod.

Once you progress through both stories, there's a Special Mission, where both sides join forces to stop the Final Launch. And you go back and forth between all six characters.

One thing I did enjoy in this, that I never played in the original because it wasn't any good, is the Chao Garden. You're given two eggs at the onset (You can purchase more later in the Chao Kindergarten). And can raise the Chao inside however you want. You can throw them, kick them, love them. And give them various animals you rescue or Chao Power Cores from inside the Guard robots in the game. The tiny virtual pets even evolve given the right attention, opening up two more Gardens. A Hero, which they modeled after a Heaven scene. And Dark, which looks like a cartoon Hell. But that's not all. You can fight your virtual pets with use of the Battle DLC, and pit them in a Karate Tournement. Or Race them against other baby Chao. Both help you unlock toys for the Chao, and give you Badges to use to purhcase rarer items.

One bonus that comes from the game is a free SA2 Theme featuring rotating pictures of Sonic and Shadow. Along with PSHome items through playing the game. A blue SA2 shirt, and Sonic's Grind Shoes, for your Avatar.

This game improves where the first one lagged. It has a more cohesive story, better graphics, better controls, and the camera doesn't beat you. All in All a ver fun game, and a great way to kill an hour.

Sentai gives Sonic Adventure 2 (With Battle DLC): 4/5