Sonic Adventure DX Director's Cut

"Well, could have been improved, but it was still a good idea."

I may be a diehard Sonic fan, but I think this game was pretty good. First of all...

Introduction: Sonic Adventure was released on the Dreamcast in 1999. Heck, even in 1998 in Japan. Never played the Dreamcast version, but I heard a lot about it and even saw LOTS of screenshots. Recently it was ported to Gamecube with few improvements, but were many really needed?

Gameplay: The game is structured by playing as six different characters, then unlocking an extra level by beating the game as all of them. There's levels, and there's adventure fields you go through to get to the levels. Kinda interesting, but kinda unnecessary too.

The game is variably easy, the main game is easy to complete as Sonic, Tails, E-102, and maybe Knuckles, despite that the levels get slightly harder as you move forward in the game. However, unlocking the extra level (Which I have yet to achieve) is pretty tricky because there seems to be something wrong with the second level as Big. (The frog won't take the bait) I dunno if this is another glitch... oh yeah that reminds me glitches.

The camerawork I gotta admit is pretty bad, but at least you could use a C-Stick which you obviously couldn't in the Dreamcast version since Dreamcast has no C-Stick. The camera mode sometimes switches on its own though, and that can be annoying. There are a few clipping glitches too, and they get annoying after a while. It's still pretty fun to play, probably not as fun as Sonic Heroes or Sonic Adventure 2 Battle in my opinion, but it's still pretty good.

I also think Sonic Team should've made some improvements to the clipping problems and camera problems. They also should have removed HAVING to beat the fishing stages to unlock the extra level. But oh well, some people actually like those levels. Yeah, hard to believe, but so what?

Story: The most story depth in any new Sonic game except for maybe Sonic Adventure 2 Battle. Heck, I haven't even unlocked the extra level and I heard it adds a LOT to the story... ok I won't spoil it to you other than to say... who said the idea of a Sonic RPG would have worked so well? Well, an RPG-STYLE Sonic game, from what I've heard in an interview. It's just such a pitty Sonic Team never bothered to add a feature to re-watch cutscenes.

Graphics/Sound: The music and scenery is pretty good. On the back of the Dreamcast version it said "Jaw-dropping 3-D graphics with unbelievable detail and speed" and that was pretty accurate. Heck, the graphics were even souped up a bit for the Gamecube version. The music sounds good, and it's quality is high. They never thought of adding lyrics to the levels (Unless you count the non-constant singing in one of the levels, the few words that are hard to figure out what they are in one of the adventure fields, and the main theme being used in the extra level from what I've heard, and constant screaming in the actual BGM to one of the levels ^_^) but anyway, some of the sub-sections to some of the levels are particularily good. I think it's OK for the system, but this isn't exactly the best part of the game.

Replayability: This game sure lasts long. Even if you beat the game as all characters with over 30 levels, you also get another level, then you have virtual pet mini-games and many other video games, including those you HAVE to go through in Adventure Mode. Not enough? Most likely you'll find yourself wanting to replay all the levels anyway, even after THREE separate goals are finished. When you have gone through the stages, mini-games, ect... enough to get the star/shine equivalent of Sonic games, called the emblems, you will unlock the game gear games and play them. When you beat the game as one character, you can play mission mode as that character. There are 60 missions, but they're pretty tough. You unlock game gear games then too. It's a lot like in Mega Collection. In fact, I'd call this Sonic Adventure meets Mega Collection. Funny how I played this game long before playing Mega Collection. Replay value is the main place where this game shines.

Final Recommendation: Like Gamespot said, if you have the Dreamcast version, you're better off sticking with that. However, what are the odds of most people having the Dreamcast version? The missions definitely aren't worth another purchase, though to the diehard Sonic fan who's got lots of money to spend, you might want to rent the game and quickly beat it as Tails (After unlocking him as Sonic) and try the missions and/or Game Gear games if you manage before it's due back, but the new graphics may be worth the rental if, like I said, you've got lots of money to spend. In that case, maybe even a second rental.

For those who don't have the Dreamcast version, try renting the Gamecube version at a time frame close to Sonic Adventure 2 Battle and Sonic Heroes. Sonic Adventure DX doesn't improve much as you play it, nor is it any better than SA2B and SH in my opinion. However, your opinion may vary, so if you actually like it enough when you rent it, then I slightly recommend buying it. Again, only if you've got lots of money to spend and/or are a diehard Sonic fan. Actually, I got it without renting it, but I'm a really diehard Sonic fan and STILL resent my decision. I should have gotten Sonic Adventure 2 Battle and Sonic Heroes, but it isn't too late to make others more careful than I was. Well, it could have been improved, but it was still a good idea.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 08/05/04