Sonic Adventure 2

Sonic Adventure 2 is a 2001 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. It was released for the Dreamcast in North America on June 19, 2001, and in Japan on June 23, shortly before Sega discontinued the console. The game was later expanded and reissued as Sonic Adventure 2: Battle for Nintendo GameCube in 2002. That version added multiplayer battle modes and became the basis for later digital releases on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows. The story is divided between Hero and Dark campaigns. Sonic is falsely accused of robbing a bank after the military organization G.U.N. mistakes him for Shadow the Hedgehog, a black-and-red hedgehog created fifty years earlier aboard the ARK space colony. While escaping G.U.N., Sonic meets Shadow, who claims he can use the seven Chaos Emeralds to conquer the world. Dr. Eggman recruits Shadow and Rouge the Bat, a treasure hunter and government agent, to find the Emeralds and activate the Eclipse Cannon aboard the ARK. Sonic teams with Tails and Knuckles. Tails pilots his mech, the Cyclone, while Knuckles searches for fragments of the shattered Master Emerald after Eggman destroys it. Rouge competes with Knuckles for the fragments, particularly because she seeks the Master Emerald’s jewels. Amy Rose is also involved after she is arrested while trying to help Sonic. She later persuades Shadow to reconsider his plan by reminding him of Maria Robotnik. Shadow’s past drives the game’s conflict. Professor Gerald Robotnik, Eggman’s grandfather, created Shadow as the “Ultimate Life Form” while researching a cure for Maria, Gerald’s granddaughter. G.U.N. raided the ARK, Maria was killed during Shadow’s escape, and Gerald was imprisoned. Before his execution, Gerald programmed the ARK to crash into Earth if the Chaos Emeralds were gathered. Eggman initially uses the Eclipse Cannon to split the moon, demonstrating its power, but the heroes and villains ultimately learn that the ARK is on a collision course with the planet. Gameplay alternates among three styles. Sonic and Shadow race through high-speed action stages; Tails and Eggman use walkers in shooting-focused stages; and Knuckles and Rouge explore large areas to locate Emerald fragments. Each playable character has distinct levels and missions, with emblems awarded for completing objectives. The final story becomes available after both campaigns are completed. Sonic and Shadow transform into Super Sonic and Super Shadow using the Chaos Emeralds, then stop the ARK with Chaos Control. Shadow falls toward Earth afterward, leaving his survival uncertain. The game’s soundtrack includes “Live & Learn,” performed by Crush 40, which plays during the final battle.