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And it's on a Nintendo console.
(But not made by Nintendo, thank god).
The game? Sonic Advance.
Now, I don't actually own a GBA, because for me this IS the only game worth buying one for and I'm short of cash, but with the £100 I have spending money I have in Greece you can garauntee that I'll spend most of it on a cheap Greek GBA, as is customary whenever I go away. But enough of that.
You see, yesterday, it came to my attention yesterday that Katie Marsden (a girl I fancy, BTW), had in her posession this game. In fact, it came as quite a shock to me, so much so I actually said "What?" really quite loudly in the middle of assembly. Needless to say I was quite excitited, especially seeing as the next lesson was English, and my teacher was, as always, late. So, I got in to English, and bouncing in my seat (literally) I turned round and asked Katie if I can borrow her GBA. I switched it on, the game loaded, and...
...the last thing I remember was Ros quite painfully drawing to my attention the fact that Mrs Medway was now in the room and advancing. So, I hastilly returned it to its owner, and awaited break. And lunch. And French. And then they next day (today), when I played it pretty much solidly for 4 hours. Isn't education great?
Anyway, enough waffling, what about the game? Well:
What I liked:
It's pure Sonic
New character!
Tails is cool
The levels are as fast as ever
Not too hard
Not too easy
Seems like there's lots of levels
That excellent Sonic style
Massive replayability
Cool new zones
The spin-rev thingy!
Extra moves
The return of the shield from S+K
It's Sonic!
It's portable!
There are so many things to do!
Sonic baby!
Flickies!
Sonic!
Knuckles returns
Sonic!
Loopy things!
FOR GOD'S SAKE BE EXCITED!!!
Things I didn't:
Tail's tails don't spin enough
Very Sonic-CD
Not much new stuff (good and bad I suppose)
Evil water levels
Amy's pants.
Put simply, Sonic Advance is the cat's nads. It's the best bits of all the old Sonics on new levels, with a new character and a couple of new moves. Sure, it could be better but I haven't played a decent Sonic game in years, apart from setting up my MD and replaying Sonic 3 all the way through. The GBA perfectly handles the speed of the original game in fantastic colour depth, and the level design really lets it show it off as well. It's a Sonic3+S+K clone that you could play anywhere, it is really a fantastically good game.
However...
The crunch is:- is it better than Sonic 3?
No.
Sonic 3 just had more flair, more depth, more new ideas than this. Sonic's all about the image, and Sonic 3 looks much cooler than this incarnation. The artists have done well, but frankly they did better with Sonic 3. Maybe because it was on a telly, I don't know, but (dare I say it) the graphics were certanly better, and it was those graphics which allowed Sonic 3 to be really, really great. Sonic Advance has levels, Sonic 3 had environments. Better luck next time, but I reckon a Sonic Advance 2 could definitely beat the classic Sonic 3 (and I reckon a next-gen 2D version could do much much better).
Smaller crunch:- is it better than MGS2?
Hmm, maybe.
I doubt its longevity. MGS2 could definitely last longerm although no-where near as much replayability. SA is an extrordinarily good game, as is MGS2. I can't decide between them, honestly. Needless to say I *HAVE* to own this game for myself in the near future. It's my a long shot the best game I've ever played on a Nintendo console. Sonic is an institution, as long as it's 2D, it can't fail to be really really good.
Anyway, enough of that. A very big Well Done to the guys at Sonic Team for actually making a good game. I can't wait for them to do pseudo 3D/Klonoa-style Sonic game for one of the next-gen consoles with trippy effects. It would truly rock.
I order you all to play this game. As Radio 1 so eloquently puts is:
You need this in your life.
(But not made by Nintendo, thank god).
The game? Sonic Advance.
Now, I don't actually own a GBA, because for me this IS the only game worth buying one for and I'm short of cash, but with the £100 I have spending money I have in Greece you can garauntee that I'll spend most of it on a cheap Greek GBA, as is customary whenever I go away. But enough of that.
You see, yesterday, it came to my attention yesterday that Katie Marsden (a girl I fancy, BTW), had in her posession this game. In fact, it came as quite a shock to me, so much so I actually said "What?" really quite loudly in the middle of assembly. Needless to say I was quite excitited, especially seeing as the next lesson was English, and my teacher was, as always, late. So, I got in to English, and bouncing in my seat (literally) I turned round and asked Katie if I can borrow her GBA. I switched it on, the game loaded, and...
...the last thing I remember was Ros quite painfully drawing to my attention the fact that Mrs Medway was now in the room and advancing. So, I hastilly returned it to its owner, and awaited break. And lunch. And French. And then they next day (today), when I played it pretty much solidly for 4 hours. Isn't education great?
Anyway, enough waffling, what about the game? Well:
What I liked:
It's pure Sonic
New character!
Tails is cool
The levels are as fast as ever
Not too hard
Not too easy
Seems like there's lots of levels
That excellent Sonic style
Massive replayability
Cool new zones
The spin-rev thingy!
Extra moves
The return of the shield from S+K
It's Sonic!
It's portable!
There are so many things to do!
Sonic baby!
Flickies!
Sonic!
Knuckles returns
Sonic!
Loopy things!
FOR GOD'S SAKE BE EXCITED!!!
Things I didn't:
Tail's tails don't spin enough
Very Sonic-CD
Not much new stuff (good and bad I suppose)
Evil water levels
Amy's pants.
Put simply, Sonic Advance is the cat's nads. It's the best bits of all the old Sonics on new levels, with a new character and a couple of new moves. Sure, it could be better but I haven't played a decent Sonic game in years, apart from setting up my MD and replaying Sonic 3 all the way through. The GBA perfectly handles the speed of the original game in fantastic colour depth, and the level design really lets it show it off as well. It's a Sonic3+S+K clone that you could play anywhere, it is really a fantastically good game.
However...
The crunch is:- is it better than Sonic 3?
No.
Sonic 3 just had more flair, more depth, more new ideas than this. Sonic's all about the image, and Sonic 3 looks much cooler than this incarnation. The artists have done well, but frankly they did better with Sonic 3. Maybe because it was on a telly, I don't know, but (dare I say it) the graphics were certanly better, and it was those graphics which allowed Sonic 3 to be really, really great. Sonic Advance has levels, Sonic 3 had environments. Better luck next time, but I reckon a Sonic Advance 2 could definitely beat the classic Sonic 3 (and I reckon a next-gen 2D version could do much much better).
Smaller crunch:- is it better than MGS2?
Hmm, maybe.
I doubt its longevity. MGS2 could definitely last longerm although no-where near as much replayability. SA is an extrordinarily good game, as is MGS2. I can't decide between them, honestly. Needless to say I *HAVE* to own this game for myself in the near future. It's my a long shot the best game I've ever played on a Nintendo console. Sonic is an institution, as long as it's 2D, it can't fail to be really really good.
Anyway, enough of that. A very big Well Done to the guys at Sonic Team for actually making a good game. I can't wait for them to do pseudo 3D/Klonoa-style Sonic game for one of the next-gen consoles with trippy effects. It would truly rock.
I order you all to play this game. As Radio 1 so eloquently puts is:
You need this in your life.
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Seeing as you're getting a GBA, you could also pick up a certain Pokemon game you'd forgotten you'd like... ;-)
Seriously though, ignor the stupid cards/series/toys that's given the franchise a bad name, just pick up Pokemon Crystal and enjoy it as an enjoyable RPG.
Sure, Sonic will get the most playing time, but there's enough battery power for a little Pokemon catching on the side... :-)
Seriously though, ignor the stupid cards/series/toys that's given the franchise a bad name, just pick up Pokemon Crystal and enjoy it as an enjoyable RPG.
Sure, Sonic will get the most playing time, but there's enough battery power for a little Pokemon catching on the side... :-)
This was the one that won ah? Intresting, it doesn't seem like a Gameaday attempt even now but it has its own charm and so deserves it... well done TBN... shocked but deserved in my eyes anyway.
Congratulations on the win, Turbonutter.
But I'd have to say that...
Mario and Sonic games are both good - I like them both :-)
But I'd have to say that...
Mario and Sonic games are both good - I like them both :-)
Turbonutter wrote:
You sure do. In this case we learn that Dringo is
> really a sarcastic dipstick :-D
Ahhhhhh that made me smile.
You sure do. In this case we learn that Dringo is
> really a sarcastic dipstick :-D
Ahhhhhh that made me smile.
Jonnyson wrote:
> I have never actually played any of the Super Mario Advance games, but every one
> at school says that they're rubbish.
Everyone at school probably says that smoking opium is rubbish too. Don't knock it till you've tried it.
> I have never actually played any of the Super Mario Advance games, but every one
> at school says that they're rubbish.
Everyone at school probably says that smoking opium is rubbish too. Don't knock it till you've tried it.
Dringo wrote:
> Sonic was on
> the SNES????!!?!??!?!?!? wow you learn something new everyday.
You sure do. In this case we learn that Dringo is really a sarcastic dipstick :-D
> Sonic was on
> the SNES????!!?!??!?!?!? wow you learn something new everyday.
You sure do. In this case we learn that Dringo is really a sarcastic dipstick :-D
No - Sonic requires skill and practise to complete, and get the fastest times. It also requires a great amount of thought, and skill, to get ALL the rings on every level.
Turbonutter wrote:
Don't preach to me about Mario games, you know as well as I they're
> all remakes of classic SNES games, as is Sonic.
Sonic was on the SNES????!!?!??!?!?!? wow you learn something new everyday.
Don't preach to me about Mario games, you know as well as I they're
> all remakes of classic SNES games, as is Sonic.
Sonic was on the SNES????!!?!??!?!?!? wow you learn something new everyday.
Jonnyson wrote:
> I have never actually played any of the Super Mario Advance games, but every one
> at school says that they're rubbish.
Mario Advance was a port of Super Mario Brothers 2, good but not spectacular, Mario Advance 2 is a port of Mario World that millions will agree is the best game ever.
Mario requires logical thinking, mixes many brilliant ideas and is huge! Whilst Sonic is a fast paced short game with different backgrounds for variety... a game truly made for 6 year olds as no intellengence is needed in order to complete the game. Good but no mario, Sonic is a childrens game to many extent (Dringo goes and palys Sonic).
> I have never actually played any of the Super Mario Advance games, but every one
> at school says that they're rubbish.
Mario Advance was a port of Super Mario Brothers 2, good but not spectacular, Mario Advance 2 is a port of Mario World that millions will agree is the best game ever.
Mario requires logical thinking, mixes many brilliant ideas and is huge! Whilst Sonic is a fast paced short game with different backgrounds for variety... a game truly made for 6 year olds as no intellengence is needed in order to complete the game. Good but no mario, Sonic is a childrens game to many extent (Dringo goes and palys Sonic).
Read the reviews...Mario advance 2 is miles ahead of Sonic advance. Thats even coming from the neutral sources as well.
If I could have just one of them I'd go for Mario advance 2 everytime.
If I could have just one of them I'd go for Mario advance 2 everytime.
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