Sonic the Hedgehog: Pocket Adventure

"Sonic Pocket Adventure makes the Neo Geo Pocker Color worth while"

Genre: 2D action / adventure

Opening:
Sonic Pocket Adventure is Sonic 2 all over again, though the stials of graphics have been changed, the game remains nearly the same. There is now a save feature ^_^ , and a puzzle mode (more on that later). If you didn't like Sonic 2 that much, there is nothing here to bring you back. And if your a long time Sonic fan -like me- you won't wanna pass this one up.

Game Play: 8/10
Sonic Pocket Adventure is the type of game you can play for hours on end, like Pac-Man or TETRIS. The areas are divided into "zones", and zones are divided into "acts", each "act" is basically just a normal level like from any other game (just with a different name). The levels vary from being fast paced running, to the slow act of jump from platform to platform. The boss fights can sometimes get annoying but thats rare, there mostly easy and fun. In each level you collect gold rings, if you are hit by an enemy you lose all your rings, if you are hit by an enemy and you do not have rings you die. Sonic Pocket Adventure also includes a "puzzle mode". In each level there are hidden puzzle pieces, when you get enough puzzle pieces you can put them together to make a picture (something good happens when you make all of the puzzles).

Entertainment Value: 9/10
Sonic Pocket Adventure is very fun. Each level is unique and each have there own challenges that you must face. Most of the levels are difficult enough to keep you on your toes, but easy enough to keep you from getting frustrated. Sonic Pocket Adventure may not be the funniest game ever, but it's definitely one of the funnier games out there.

Level Layout: 9/10
The level layout for this game is great. The levels are fun yet difficult in there own way. They are not boring and each present there own unique challenges. Only a few people will be disappointed with the level layout of this game.

Graphics: 8/10
The graphics in Sonic Pocket Adventure are far different from the graphics of Sonic 2. There are a lot less different colors, so the areas look a LOT more "cartoonish". Plus Sonic, himself, looks a bit different. The FPS (frame-per-second) is kinda low, so when your running really fast the game skips a lot. Plus the areas aren't very detailed, there's a lot less stuff in the back ground (or rather not much at all). Sonic Pocket Adventure has great graphics for a hand held game, but it's still nothing compared to the GBA (game boy advanced).

Sound: 8/10
The sound in this game could have used some improvement but it's still pretty good. The sound is kinda fuzzy, but not too fuzzy. The sound effects are like most people would expect from a Sonic game, when you jump, you hear a "boing" sound, and when you charge "spin dash" (Sonic can become like a ball and spin in place) you hear a loud "ZZZIP ZZZIP ZZZIP". When you destroy an enemy you hear a simple "bakooosh". The music is very good and fun to listen to, but sadly, it's EXTREMELY repetitive. The overall sound in Sonic Pocket Adventure -even with it's flaws-deserves a strong eight out of ten.

Replay Value: 8/10
The kicks won't last forever, but they do last a good while. The areas are very fun to play around in, but they don't have many secrets. Clearing the game once will take your average gamer around a week, and a hard core Sonic fan a day or two (more if you don't have much time to play). After you clear the game there are only two things left to do. 1. find the seven chaos emeralds and (can't say more or I might ruin a suprise). And, 2. Collect and assemble the puzzles and there pieces. Unfortunately collecting the chaos emeralds can be very difficult, so most people will give up on that. Overall Sonic Pocket Adventure has a good replay value.

Overview: 9/10
This isn't the greatest Sonic game out there, but it's differently one of the better ones. The graphics are simple, but they get the job done (you can tell what everything is). The sound effects are good, but VERY typical for a Sonic title. The music is very good, but unfortunately it's extremely repetitive. The level layout is wonderfully done. And the game is flat out fun. And there are a couple of things to make you want to play the game even after you've cleared the game. Sonic Pocket Adventure for the Neo Geo Pocket Color is a great game that deserves a solid nine out of ten.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/03/05