Sonic Advance

About Sonic Advance

Sonic Advance dropped on December 20, 2001 from developer Dimps and publisher THQ for the Game Boy Advance. This title holds a weird spot in history as the first Sonic game released on a Nintendo console despite Sega and Nintendo being fierce rivals back then. You can also play this version on Android and Wii U today. The game brings the classic 16-bit speed into the modern era with updated character art from the Dreamcast days. It features four playable heroes racing through zones to stop Dr. Eggman. You get multiplayer modes and mini-games alongside the main campaign. This is a straight port of that blue blur formula adapted for handheld play without losing the core identity.

Gameplay

You run at high speeds collecting rings while dodging spikes and robots. The controls feel tight as you navigate loops and checkered platforms. Each character offers distinct movement traits. Sonic uses his splice shield, Tails flies, and Knuckles glides or climbs walls. Amy Rose makes her 2D debut here but lacks the spin dash. She relies entirely on a hammer attack for defense. New grind rails appear in certain stages requiring precise timing. You can also unlock a cheat code to play as Sonic with CPU-controlled Tails following behind you just like in the original Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The game includes four playable characters and adds melee attacks to the standard moveset. Sessions involve grinding through levels quickly or engaging in multiplayer battles between friends.

What Players Think

PlayPile data shows this title has strong backing from critics with an OpenCritic score of 87 out of 100 and a recommendation rate of 96.67 percent. Reviewers from TheSixthAxis and Eurogamer gave it perfect marks calling the experience a beautiful rewrite of 16-bit classics. IGDB lists 128 ratings averaging 74.9 points overall. Community moods lean heavily toward nostalgia with players praising the faithful adaptation of Genesis mechanics. Average playtime hovers around four to six hours for a full completion. Achievement hunters note that unlocking all characters and mini-games requires multiple playthroughs. The community remains active on forums discussing speedrun strategies and secret codes for dual character modes.

PlayPile's Take

This game is worth playing if you want fast-paced platforming without complex mechanics. It costs very little compared to modern releases and offers plenty of replay value through different characters and multiplayer modes. You will find 100 achievements scattered across the campaign and bonus stages. The price point makes it an easy buy for fans of the series. Not every level hits as hard as the original Genesis titles but the speed remains satisfying. Grab this on your handheld or emulator to see why critics loved it so much. It is a solid entry that respects its roots while adding new tricks.

Storyline

The game follows Sonic and his friends as they travel through various zones in order to stop Dr. Eggman from taking over South Island. The game features four playable characters; Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy. Each character has the same moveset as they did in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, with the addition of a melee attack. Each character has a special ability, such as Sonic's splice shield, Tails' flight and Knuckles' gliding and climbing abilities. In her playable 2D debut, Amy cannot perform the Spin Dash or get into ball form when jumping like the others, and must rely on her Piko Piko Hammer to defend herself, making her unique amongst the characters. Grind rails first introduced in Sonic Adventure 2 also make their first 2D appearance. Sonic and Tails can also be used at the same time during the story by inputting a cheat code at the character selection screen. When playing as both characters, the gameplay is similar to that of Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The player can only control Sonic and a CPU-controlled Tails follows him.