Sonic Adventure DX

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 10,620 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Sonic Adventure DX Game Cover
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Sonic Adventure DX is a thrilling 3D platformer game featuring the beloved blue hedgehog, Sonic, and his friends. The game offers diverse gameplay with six characters, each having unique abilities and storylines. Explore and race through various levels, fight bosses, collect Chaos Emeralds, and stop the evil plans of Dr. Robotnik in this enhanced version of the original Sonic Adventure.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 10,620 reviews
story650 positive mentions
stability510 negative mentions
  • story2,294 mentions

    The story of *Sonic Adventure DX* is a multi-faceted narrative that intertwines the journeys of six playable characters—Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Big, and E-102 Gamma—each with their own unique gameplay styles and perspectives. While the overarching plot revolves around stopping Dr. Eggman and the creature Chaos from wreaking havoc, the storytelling is often criticized for its cheesy dialogue, awkward voice acting, and convoluted presentation, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, many players appreciate the emotional depth of Gamma's story and the nostalgic charm of the game, making it a beloved entry in the Sonic franchise.

    • “The plot is pretty interesting with each character telling their version of the story and leads to a climactic ending.”
    • “The game itself is very cohesive, with each story beat from each perspective impacting the beat from another character's perspective in some way.”
    • “Gamma's story is amazing and never fails to make me feel something whenever I reach the end, just seeing Gamma sacrifice himself in order to save the flicky inside him is a real tearjerker.”
    • “The dialogue and story is absolute garbage - this is my first Sonic game I've properly played - as of yet I'm currently stuck at a boss fight against Eggman - legit all I need to press is one button but my character keeps glitching and failing the last part - been at it for 45 mins.”
    • “The story at its core is fairly bland and formulaic.”
    • “The story is non-existent, things just happen because why not - I mean could the developers not think of a better way to guide players than an unexplained, out of place, glowing red demon fairy that just tells you what to do?????”
  • gameplay1,325 mentions

    The gameplay of Sonic Adventure DX is a mixed bag, showcasing a variety of styles across six playable characters, each with unique mechanics. While Sonic's high-speed platforming is generally well-received, other characters like Big the Cat and Amy Rose are often criticized for their slower, less engaging gameplay. Despite its charm and nostalgic appeal, the game suffers from camera issues, glitches, and some dated mechanics, making it a fun yet flawed experience that may require mods for an optimal playthrough.

    • “It's my first time playing this game and yet it still makes me feel like a kid again with the music, story, gameplay, and how cool of a character Sonic is.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and fluid and feels great, but aesthetically, it hasn't aged the best, especially in the animation & voice acting departments.”
    • “The gameplay is fast and kinetic.”
    • “If you've experienced this game's atrocious, outright malicious camera, you have seen some of the worst and most frustrating and swear-inducing gameplay ever.”
    • “Gameplay is repetitive and certain scenes did make me slightly dizzy as if I were on the sea.”
    • “The gameplay is a mixed bag, with Sonic's gameplay being great, albeit a bit janky, Tails' being decent, Knuckles' being okay, Amy and Gamma's being mediocre, and Big's being terrible.”
  • music855 mentions

    The music in "Sonic Adventure DX" is widely praised as one of the game's standout features, with many reviewers highlighting its energetic and memorable soundtrack, primarily composed by Crush 40. Tracks like "Open Your Heart" and various character themes are noted for their catchiness and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, evoking nostalgia for long-time fans. While some critiques mention issues with sound mixing and the occasional lack of variety, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack remains iconic and a significant draw for players.

    • “The music is amazing, the voice acting is alright.”
    • “The soundtrack, composed by Jun Senoue and his team, including the epic performances of Crush 40, blends rock, techno, and orchestral melodies, creating a memorable sonic accompaniment that perfectly complements the game's action.”
    • “The music is one of the best things in this game; it's so catchy.”
    • “The music is terrible.”
    • “The whole OST is worse than mid save for a handful of exceptions.”
    • “The iconic soundtrack, which was one of the highlights of the original game, sounds muffled and distorted in this port.”
  • graphics711 mentions

    The graphics of *Sonic Adventure DX* have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they were impressive for their time, they have not aged well. The game suffers from various graphical issues, including glitches and inconsistent quality between character models and environments, particularly when compared to the original Dreamcast version. However, players recommend using mods like "BetterSADX" to restore the original aesthetics and improve the overall visual experience, making it more enjoyable for both new and returning fans.

    • “For its time, Sonic Adventure featured stunning graphics that showcased the Dreamcast's capabilities.”
    • “The vibrant and colorful environments are brought to life with enhanced graphics, making the game a visual treat.”
    • “The graphics hold up well, and the overall art style and presentation retain their charm and nostalgia.”
    • “Um… the graphics—well, for 2006, it’s, uh, ambitious, but some textures just don’t hold up.”
    • “The graphics, though okay for their time, are terrible but the gameplay is fun and my favorite part has always been raising the little chao.”
    • “The graphics haven't aged well, but its dreamcast/gcn graphics so it's going to age, plus it, the dialogue, the characters, and the gameplay are actually pretty memorable.”
  • stability520 mentions

    The stability of Sonic Adventure DX is widely criticized, with numerous reviews highlighting its significant bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay. Many players report frequent issues such as collision errors, camera problems, and graphical glitches, which can lead to frustrating experiences. However, some users suggest that installing mods like BetterSADX can alleviate many of these issues, making the game more enjoyable despite its inherent instability.

    • “Runs great on deck!”
    • “I am a grown woman and was almost brought to tears seeing a game so integral to my childhood just as I remembered it, but now crisp and clean and not the buggy mess of the DX port.”
    • “It runs great, very smooth.”
    • “I've been stuck on it for almost three years because it’s so buggy, and the controls on PC are just plain crazy.”
    • “It's buggy, the models and textures are somehow worse, and the lighting is downright awful and ruins the atmosphere.”
    • “The game is very buggy, has worse physics, and looks graphically worse on this downgraded port, so if you want the best experience download mods to improve the game and make it closer to the original version.”
  • humor202 mentions

    The humor in the game is often described as unintentionally hilarious, stemming from awkward voice acting, exaggerated character animations, and campy cutscenes that have become iconic for their charm. Players find joy in the absurdity of the characters and situations, particularly with Big the Cat's storyline and the overall jankiness of the gameplay, which adds to the comedic experience. While some aspects may frustrate players, the game's quirky humor and nostalgic appeal make it a memorable and entertaining adventure.

    • “I always found the exaggerated expressions, screams, and dialogues of the characters hilariously entertaining, which now have become iconic memes on the internet.”
    • “The facial animation is hilarious, and not intentionally; it is definitely dated and questionable as to why the character's entire face moves along with the mouth, sometimes obscuring the iris lol.”
    • “The cutscenes are hilarious in all the wrong ways, the graphics still hold up pretty darn well, and it's just fun to play.”
    • “The humor in the game falls flat and often feels forced, making it hard to enjoy.”
    • “I expected a lot more laughs, but the jokes are stale and unoriginal.”
    • “The attempts at humor are cringeworthy and detract from the overall experience.”
  • replayability94 mentions

    Sonic Adventure is praised for its high replayability, driven by diverse character missions, multiple objectives in levels, and the beloved Chao Garden feature. Players appreciate the variety of gameplay experiences, challenges, and the ability to master levels, making it a game that encourages repeated playthroughs. While some aspects may feel dated, the overall charm and engaging mechanics contribute to its lasting appeal.

    • “The diversity between the characters and their missions makes it easy not to tire of the game and offers good replay value.”
    • “It has a great variety of stages, seven playable campaigns with a surprisingly ambitious story for the time, an incredible soundtrack, and a massive amount of replay value thanks to multiple stage objectives, a mission mode, minigames, and the first version of the iconic and addicting chao garden.”
    • “All of the levels are replayable, and the ranking system encourages replaying levels heavily, as every time you complete the level, you get a new objective to complete next time around.”
    • “All of the levels are replayable, and the ranking system encourages replaying levels heavily, as every time you complete the level, you get a new objective to complete next time around, usually in the order of 'C rank: complete the level normally, B rank: complete the level with 50 rings, and A rank: complete the level under a time limit.'”
    • “The optional upgrades and missions provide further replay value, as the ways to fish become more varied and invite a player to master them all in the pursuit of baiting for and catching fish.”
    • “You unlock the extra characters by playing through Sonic's main story, and the extra characters' levels are just rehashes of the same levels, so it's just there to add replay value.”
  • grinding84 mentions

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game can be excessively tedious, particularly in modes involving character-specific tasks like Big the Cat's fishing missions and the Chao Garden, which require significant time investment for completion. Many players found the mission mode and emblem hunting to be frustratingly repetitive, often necessitating external guides to navigate confusing objectives. While some aspects of the game are enjoyable, the overall experience is marred by the grindy nature of achieving 100% completion.

    • “This game is so great if you aren't grinding all 130 emblems.”
    • “The playable characters are all unique and different, and it makes traversing the stages shared among each character not tedious.”
    • “The game gets super repetitive very fast and pretty tedious because you need to play every level at least three times.”
    • “Big's missions are just aggravating; you have to catch a 2000-gram fish before catching Froggy, which is so tedious because fish upwards of about 1700 grams put up a really good fight and take forever to get caught.”
    • “However, if you take it at face value, nearly the entire thing is a stupidly easy, tedious sack of rotting cabbage.”
  • optimization70 mentions

    The optimization of Sonic Adventure DX on PC has been widely criticized, with many users reporting significant performance issues, including inconsistent frame rates, stuttering, and poor controller support. The graphics and animations have not aged well, and the lack of widescreen support further detracts from the experience. Most reviewers recommend using mods, such as the BetterSADX mod, to improve performance and restore features from the original Dreamcast version, as the base game is considered poorly optimized for modern hardware.

    • “You need the SADX mod installer for the game to run smoothly and look more appealing.”
    • “The only way to enjoy this game on PC is to get the better SADX mod, which restores the Dreamcast features and fixes the performance issues.”
    • “Make sure to download the mod, BetterSADX, if you want better performance out of the game.”
    • “The stock version on Steam has absolutely abysmal optimization.”
    • “It's shocking how poorly optimized the game is for modern hardware.”
    • “Another major flaw of Sonic Adventure DX is its complete lack of optimization for modern systems.”
  • emotional50 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt narratives, particularly E-102 Gamma's story, which resonates deeply with players due to its themes of purpose and sacrifice. Many reviewers express nostalgia and joy, recalling their childhood experiences while playing, and appreciate the charming subplots of various NPCs that add depth to the overall narrative. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the game is praised for its ability to evoke strong emotions, ranging from sadness to warmth, making it a memorable experience.

    • “E-102 Gamma’s story, though, is probably the most emotional part of the whole game.”
    • “The story at its heart is incredible, with interwoven character narratives and a plot that's saddening and heartwarming in equal parts.”
    • “Never played a game with gameplay as exhilarating and heartbreaking as Big the Cat's story; I've never cried over characters like I cried over Big and Froggy's relationship.”
    • “Frustrating camera angles, some glitches, boring story, some characters are heaps better than other characters, didn't live up to the hype when it was released and is a product of its time.”
    • “For some odd reason, they decided it was a good idea to put a damn fishing game in here, make it mandatory for unlocking the last story, and making it the shortest and most boring story in this whole game.”
    • “Tails has a pretty boring story overall.”
  • atmosphere26 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its charming and distinct environments, engaging level design, and iconic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. However, others criticize the game's technical issues, such as poor lighting and graphics, which detract from the intended immersive feel. Despite these flaws, many reviewers find the nostalgic and whimsical atmosphere to be a defining feature that captures the essence of the Sonic series.

    • “Just joy, wonder, and atmosphere built on simple shapes and colors.”
    • “With its realistic textures and fantastic use of lighting and colors, Sonic Adventure has an atmosphere unlike anything else I've ever played, and I don't think it will ever be replicated.”
    • “The music doesn’t just fit the atmosphere, it becomes the atmosphere.”
    • “It's buggy, the models and textures are somehow worse, and the lighting is downright awful and ruins the atmosphere.”
    • “I can excuse this game for everything: bad PC port, awkward camera, bugs, and imperfect level design; only because of its charming atmosphere of cartoon for primary school pupils and flashbacks from light-hearted childhood.”
    • “Despite the camera issues, the atmosphere and overall tone of the game are very Sonic.”
  • character development16 mentions

    The character development in the game is widely praised, with players noting the depth and growth of several characters, particularly Tails, Amy, and E-102 Gamma, who stand out for their engaging story arcs. The game effectively utilizes its six playable characters to offer diverse perspectives on the main storyline, enhancing the overall narrative experience. While some characters receive more attention than others, the effort to provide meaningful development and lore is appreciated, contributing to the game's strong storytelling.

    • “Playing through the game's epic storyline and experiencing the character development of Sonic and his friends made me realize how powerful video games can be as a medium for storytelling.”
    • “Character development is incredible, levels are unique, music is fantastic, the story is awesome, even the Chao garden is adorable.”
    • “Most of the characters do get some great moments and some good character development.”
    • “Tails is similar but shorter and adds a bit of character development for him near the end.”
    • “The entire gameplay is rather solid (except for Big and Amy most of the time), story-wise it is one of the better ones in the entire modern Sonic franchise with the most character development.”
    • “But it is admirable that it at least tries to present some character development and lore.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received negative feedback, with users criticizing the lack of microtransactions and labeling the overall experience as reminiscent of outdated cash grabs. Additionally, concerns were raised about unskippable cutscenes and the presence of outdated content, which detracts from the game's value.

    • “Otherwise, unless you've got a thing for late '90s cash grabs, give this one a pass.”
    • “Microtransactions, garbage netcode, unskippable cutscenes, performance-crippling third-party DRM.”
    • “The post-game mission mode feels like a cheap hack at times, especially since parts of it were never updated from the 2004 re-release (no joke, there's an advertisement for Sonic X still in the game).”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

22hMedian play time
27hAverage play time
9-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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