After beating all zones and finding all seven Chaos Emeralds with Sonic, an alternate final act is unlocked. Special stages are on a 3D plane, where the character tries to obtain a set number of rings before time runs out in order to collect a Chaos Emerald. The player can also collect seven "special rings" to access special stages, where Chaos Emeralds are found. A character will also lose a life if they fall into a gap, get crushed, or exceed an act's 10-minute limit. If the player is hit by an enemy and has no rings, they lose a life. The player collects rings as a form of health when the player is attacked by an enemy, their rings bounce in all directions. Levels in the game are divided into seven "zones", each consisting of two acts of normal gameplay then a boss battle, where the player fights Doctor Eggman in order to stop Eggman from taking over the world. In the tradition of Sonic games, gameplay consists of moving quickly through levels. Sonic can perform an "insta-shield" that protects him for a brief moment Cream and Tails can fly Knuckles can glide and climb and Amy can destroy enemies using a hammer. Each character has their own unique moves and abilities. A fifth character, Amy Rose, can be unlocked after completing the game with each character. The player controls Sonic the Hedgehog, who can unlock three other playable characters: Cream the Rabbit and her Chao named Cheese, Tails, and Knuckles the Echidna after defeating Doctor Eggman in specific boss battles. Sonic Advance 2 is a side-scrolling platformer similar in gameplay and style to the original Sonic Advance. Gameplay screenshot showing Sonic fighting Doctor Eggman Sonic Advance 2 was re-released for the Wii U's Virtual Console in February 2016. A sequel, Sonic Advance 3, was released in 2004. Some journalists, however, disliked its high difficulty level. Sonic Advance 2 was released to positive reviews critics praised the updates made over the original Advance and its improved replay value in comparison to past games. Sonic Advance 2 was programmed using an updated version of the original's game engine and the team aimed to make the game larger and faster-paced than the original.
After each zone is completed, the player faces Doctor Eggman in a boss battle.ĭevelopment began in February 2002 and lasted eight months. Gameplay consists of the player completing various levels as one of five characters, each with their own unique attributes.
The story follows Sonic as he sets out to save his friends and retrieve the seven magical Chaos Emeralds from series antagonist Doctor Eggman. It is an installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog series and the sequel to 2001's Sonic Advance. Sonic Advance 2 is a 2002 side-scrolling platform video game developed by Dimps for the Game Boy Advance.