I really did not intend to play a Sonic game any time soon. Those who know me know that I have a love-hate relationship with the franchise. I will play almost any Sonic game, yet I complain endlessly about them all! But I just can’t help myself. With the release of the new Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer, I felt the need for speed. I decided to look into a quick game I hadn’t played much before. And so I settled on Sonic Advance for the Game Boy Advance, one of the first Sonic games that Sega released for a Nintendo console.
Sonic Advance gives players the option of controlling one of four characters: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, or Amy Rose. I appreciate the variety in gameplay between the four. It makes for unique experiences if you choose to play the game multiple times. Of course, though, I chose Knuckles for this playthrough. Beyond that, the game plays pretty faithfully to the original Sonic the Hedgehog games for Sega Genesis. As always, the goal of the game pretty much boils down to one solid principle: gotta go fast! And fast I went. I breezed through the game in one night. However, in true Sonic fashion (for myself at least), I did not collect any Chaos Emeralds. I just sped through level after level until the credits rolled.
So, what did I, the self-proclaimed Sonic critic think of Sonic Advance? Honestly? It was not half bad! I am the first to trash Sega’s loveable blue mascot. But Sonic Advance actually does a decent job of capturing the magic that first made the franchise a hit! Admittedly, the game is quite short. Each Zone only has two acts instead of the three found in older Sonic titles. And I never once even got a whiff of a special level to gain a Chaos Emerald. The game definitely has its imperfections, but for Sega’s first foray into their old rival’s playground, the results speak for themselves.
Overall, I had an enjoyable evening playing a game where I didn’t have to think too much. Sometimes, that’s the exact vibe I’m going for. With so many deep, emotional games out there, having a few hours to just hold right and enjoy some good music hits differently. Perhaps the next time I’m feeling a bit burned out from other games, I’ll take a look into Sonic Advance 2 or Sonic Advance 3 to fill the void.
Sonic Advance is not a terribly expensive game. It sold well on the Game Boy Advance back in its day. Generally, the game sells used for around $22. It is definitely well worth checking out if you’re a Sonic fan of any sort.
