Sonic Adventure DX Director's Cut

Despite claims of improved graphics, this still looks very much like a Dreamcast game. Sega have added new lighting and a few other special effects but unfortunately the frame rate and draw distance are all distinctly 1998. Most irritatingly, the camera still hasn't been sorted out; this really does impact on the enjoyment to be had in the otherwise well-designed action levels.

Indeed, as a so-called "director's cut" this is a bit of a failure--except when it comes to the hidden extras, which include over 60 bonus games and all 12 Sonic titles for the Game Gear (Sega's powerful but short-lived answer to the Game Boy). The fact that it's so time-consuming to unlock most of these extras is highly frustrating and means that only hardcore Sonic fans are going to get the best out of a re-release that has missed opportunities. --David Jenkins

In all honesty, this is a direct port of the old Dreamcast smash hit no matter what it's called... 'DX' or not. The story is the same, and there aren't any new characters to play with. But look a little closer and you'll see the differences.

For starters, the graphical resolution has been increased dramatically. The characters have also been given new models, making them look more 'Gamecube' rather than looking 'Dreamcast'. The draw distance has been perfected, so we don't get mountains appearing from nowhere.

The sound is taken straight from the Dreamcast version, but Sonic Team have encoded Dolby Pro-Logic II support into the audio so you can enjoy the game in surround sound. The soundtrack to this game is awesome. Every tune has been orchestrated perfectly, and the whole thing is an 80's rock fan's dream!

The game consists of 'adventue fields', which are the central points of the game. You can wander freely around these sections and have fun for hours. However, they do actually allow access to the 'action stages' which are to levels that each character plays. And completing each level gives you an emblem. There are 130 emblems in total, and it's a long task collecting them all. Trust me!!!

As far as exclusives go, the 'Cube version has a mission mode. Basically, this involves you finding the missions in the 'adventure fields' and then performing certain tasks in the 'action stages'. There are 60 missions in total, and some of them are really hard to complete. Combine these 60 missions with the 130 emblems you have to get anyway and you've got one big game! But, as a reward you get to unlock all 12 Game Gear games that starred Sonic and his chums. So this game goes great with Sonic Mega COllection! It takes ages and plentyof skill, but it's worth it just to play Tails' Adventure alone. Ahh, those 8-bit memories! Also, you can play as Metal Sonic if you achieve a certain amount of emblems. it's a bit of a let down though, as Metal Sonic is just a second skin for Sonic. There's no new levels, so he's just a novelty really.

Overall, if you owned the Dreamcast game and liked it, it's worth picking up. There may not be enough new extras from the word go for some people. FACT: THE IDEA IS TO EARN BONUSES AS REWARDS!!! Tsk. I ask you...

If you want a Sonic game for your 'Cube I'd get Sonic Adventure 2 Battle for a start, simply because it's more up-to-date if you catch my drift. If you like that get this.


Not Too Bad..................   August 21, 2003
0 out of 4 found this review helpful

Well what can i say i am a sonic veteran and have owned or played almost all of the sonic games and completed everyone of them this game seems to lack some of the sparkle that used to be there but it has been replaced by a new shine which quite frankly does the job well. minor setbacks include; some dodgy camera angles a notoriously difficult boss at the end of sonics adventure but on the whole this game is a shere winner.


IS IT NOT THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL??   August 16, 2003
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

When i first saw this game on the shelf i thought it is a must have game but i was wrong. Maybe im being a bit harsh but to me it is pretty much the exact same as the original Sonic Adventures. OK OK it says theres 60 new stages, but its really only a little task that takes no longer than 10 secs to complete. Dont get me wrong the game is good, but i think its rather annoying how you have to pay 39.99 for the exact same game as the original. Ive not taken it back but i am doing so soon.