RPGamers Network > Reviews > Game Reviews > Sonic Adventure DX Director's Cut

Game Stats
Genre Adventure
Platform GameCube
Format GD-ROM
# of Players 1
Released Jap 06.19.2003
Released US 06.18.2003
Released EU 06.27.2003
Aprox. Length 30 hrs.
Reviewer Rankings
Battle System 9.0
Gameplay 9.0
Music 9.0
Originality 9.0
Plot 8.0
Replay Value 8.0
Sound 9.0
Visuals 8.0
Difficulty Varies
Overall
8.6

Sonic Adventure DX Director's Cut

By: Sega

Reviewed By: Kie

Before I begin, I note that I am basing the review not on how good or bad the GameCube version is compared to the Dreamcast version, but on the game in general. I say this because people tend to give less praise for re-releases and for some reason, the score is lower (eg, GameSpot, GameRankings and other reviewing sites) even though the game usually has more than the original, but anyway, on we go. Sonic Adventure DX is basically the GameCube port of the Dreamcast version, with a few differences, including the 12 mini-games from game gear and 60 Missions to do. The game itself focuses on Dr Robotnik (aka Dr Eggman for some reason) and his evil ploy to unleash a creature called Chaos on the world via collection of the chaos emeralds. The story is set in the world that Sonic and co. got transported to after sonic destroyed chaos control (at the start of the tv series Sonic X). Anywho, might as well get into the game itself.

The graphics in the game are pretty niiiice, with, at times, very impressive and traditional fast moments through a level. However it varies from character to character. You can play as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, E-102 and Big the Cat. Usually it's Sonic and Tails with the spekky graphics on their side however. The levels are well designed, though while I'm on the topic, i make note on the game's tenancy to glitch in levels and resulting in an untimely and annoying demise (there's a fairly detailed annoying glitch guide that i did on the SAlaughingX forum at GameTalk, to show how much they affected my playing), but we get past that smile Back to the levels, fully rendered 3D areas as per usual, and most things you'll find you can interact with in some way. Explosions are pretty decent, and the game easily keeps up with the speed you go at sometimes. One point though, the camera also interacts with everything, so it gets stuck behind walls and goes walkabouts every now and then tongue

Gameplay is brilliant, barring glitches and cameras. It keeps you going for ages, and isn't that hard, unless you wish to finish everything, then it'll take you in excess of 35 hours to finish. I'm taking a stab at sites that reviewed the GameCube version much worse than the DC version here, because the GameCube version does have 100% more lastability, as you have a sort of incentive to grab all the emblems and finish all missions. I'm talking here about the 12 Game gear mini-games you get for the emblems and missions: Sonic 1 and 2, Sonic Chaos, Sonic Triple Trouble, Sonic Spinball, Sonic Blast, Sonic Labyrinth, Sonic Drift 1 and 2, Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, Tails' Adventure and Tails' Sky Patrol. As good a reason as any to keep playing and trying to finish everything. There are a few real challenges that'll keep you trying for hours no doubt, such as the 2 snowboard missions and the A rank Red Canyon. Besides that, some of the sonic levels in particular are really fun to play over and over. I forgot to mention sub games actually. These include the Ice Cap Snowboarding, sandboarding, twinkle park circuit (racing), air battles with the tornado and a bop-the-hedgehog game with a hammer. You get emblems for doing well in these also.

My hat's off to Jun Senoue, Fumie Kumatani, Masaru Setsumaru, Kenichi Tokoi and all those at the helm of the game's soundtrack. I was close to giving it a 10, pretty close. A wide variety of high quality instruments and sounds are used in this game, as well as old favourite "traditional" sonic sounds like the jumping and ring collecting. However, the reason i didn't give it a perfect was because a few of the tracks are a little dull, boring and repetitive, but the majority are well composed. The vocal tracks are awesome as well, and praise goes to the singers who stay in VGM instead of being stars in Hollywood for their voices.

I touched on plot earlier on, but as far as each character's storyline goes, it's not bad, but not brilliant either. I recognize that each storyline ties in with everyone elses somehow and so the plot is very solid but it doesn't have a great deal of depth, it's just very simple Although i did really enjoy the super sonic storyline at the end, which is why it got an 8. But yeah, decent story, could've done with a touch-up for the Cube version.

All in all, a very solid performance by Sega. I'm a huge sonic fan personally, my 2nd favourite game is sonic and knuckles with sonic 3, so i might be biased towards it a little, but sonic liking apart, it is really worth getting. Great stuff.

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