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Sonic Advance gba Game Reviews
Sonic Advance
Critic Score
Metascore: 87 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.5 out of 10
based on 22 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 4 votes
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Rate this game

The spunky hedgehog rolls, jumps and flies through the game at break-neck speed. With an insane selection of locomotive devices such as spring boards, bumpers and zip-cords, every level presents new challenges. For Sonic fans, it will come as no surprise to learn that Sonic's main goal in this game is to spoil the wicked plans of Dr. Eggman (also known as Dr. Robotnik). As in previous games, the bad doctor has created an army of robotic enemies who would love nothing more than to present a bruised hedgehog to their master. Sonic Advance is much more than a classic Sonic side-scroller. In addition to Sonic, players can also progress through the game playing as Knuckles, Tails or Amy. Since each character has different abilities, the gameplay experience changes depending on which character you choose to control. [Nintendo]

PUBLISHER: THQ / Sega
DEVELOPER: Sonic Team
GENRE(S): Action, Platform
PLAYERS: 4
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE: February 5, 2002

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
Cinescape
The best Sonic game released since "Sonic CD."
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100
Nintendophiles
What really shines, even on top of the great graphics and sound and gameplay, is the replay value.
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100
Yahoo! Games
It's the fluid and perfectly measured pace of Sonic Team's new game that makes it so good...Absolutely superb stuff.
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95
Pocket Games
It looks, sounds and plays like a cartoon, and most importantly, it's just damend fun. [Spring 2002, p.30]
92
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
Despite the 12 years since his debut, it's as captivating, exciting and, more importantly, as fun as it ever was - but of Sega, we'd expect no less. [GamesMaster]
Read Full Review
91
Gaming Maxx
Overall, I was very happy with Sonic and kept me playing longer than Sonic on NeoGeo Pocket Color did.
Read Full Review
91
IGN
It's graphically excellent, it sounds great, it puts the link cable features to outstanding use, and its GameCube connectivity opens up potential never before available.
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90
Nintendojo
The game is great, through and through, albeit short.
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90
Hot Games
The things that made Sonic a hit back in the old days make it a classic now - fast game play, interesting intricate levels, and detailed and colorful graphics.
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90
Electric Playground
Fun is the operative word here and this game delivers the brand of entertainment that gamers have come to expect from Sega and the Game Boy Advance.
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90
Gamer.tv
Why don't they make games like this for home consoles anymore? More fun than a small, spiky mammal with blue skin and a number of dysfunctional woodland friends has any right to be.
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88
GameSpy
Everything that a side-scrolling platform loving fan could ask for. It's got all the great, tried and true, fast-paced Sonic action of the old Genesis series, looks fine, plays excellently, and offers some fun multiplayer action.
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85
Game Informer
It's too bad the single-player mode is a bit short, or this would have been darn near perfect. [Apr 2002, p.89]
85
GamerWeb Nintendo
This game is packed with extras and most importantly, actually allows you to play as Sonic through the entire game, something sorely lacking from the Sonic Adventure series.
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84
Nintendo Power
The different characters change the game play so much it's almost like adding levels to the game. [Feb 2002, p.152]
80
G4 TV
Simply experiencing the old-school "Sonic" gameplay again after so many years of 3D titles makes the title a must-have for longtime "Sonic" fans.
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80
All Game Guide
Although it doesn't bring anything new to the table, Sonic Advance is an enjoyable 2D platformer that will meet players' expectations.
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80
GamePro
A simple, tried-and-true blast from the past, faithfully recapturing the ’hog’s legacy and reigning in just enough characters and elements from the “new” to satiate anyone craving more from their marsupials than just movin’ to the right at really high speeds.
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80
GamePen
The best Sonic game in years.
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79
GameSpot
While the game is slightly flawed due to some imbalances in its gameplay, it's ultimately a satisfying experience thanks to a mix of classic Sonic 2D gameplay, a familiar cast of characters, and new technology.
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78
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Sonic and pals have never looked better in 2D. Still, I could've done without Knuckles and Amy. [Mar 2002, p.146]
75
GameCritics
This game managed to do something its 3-D counterparts never could: catch my interest and hold on to it. I spent a lot of time simply looking around each level, experimenting with each character and attempting to find the various chao emeralds.
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Hamish B. gave it a6:
This game could have been excellent, but it is completely ruined by levels that are too long and too frustrating. It's totally unbalanced. You can't have sudden bits of precision platforming in a game that encourages you to zoom around at high speeds!!! You'll constantly die from things that weren't your fault and there's nothing more annoying in a video game than that. Do Sonic Team even test their games anymore? Former Sonic games have always just about managed to stay on the right side of this little misdemeanour, like running into enemies that suddenly appear as your hurtling at breakneck speed. But this oversteps that line completely, it's a nightmare. And as for the number of blind jumps? It's totally unacceptable.

Kaine C. gave it a10:
It's the best like all of them.

Karl A. gave it a 10:
Sonic advance is cool. with cool music, characters and backgrounds.

Andrew C. gave it an 8:
The levels are excellent, but raising chao is pretty much pointless unless you buy Sonic Adventure 2. With SA2 it's excellent!

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