Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut
Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut (??????????? ????? Sonikku Adobench? Derakusu?), is a platform game for the GameCube and PC.
The game was released as an enhanced port of the original Sonic Adventure for the Dreamcast, with several additional features added. The PC version was at first released only in Japan and Europe, but later saw a limited North American release. Sonic Adventure DX includes a mission mode, which included 60 missions to complete throughout the adventure fields and action stages. It also contains a minigame collection, which is comprised of twelve Game Gear games featuring Sonic and friends.
Reviews were generally less positive than those of its Sega Dreamcast predecessor, scoring more than 20% lower than the original release.[4]
Unlockable games
The game features many unlockable games previously available on the Game Gear. If the start button of the second controller is pressed, the game screen will split, and two games will play at the same time. Additionally, Gear-to-Gear cable emulation is present, enabling the games that have two-player modes to be played if both players access the proper options within the game. These games were to be included in the Dreamcast version, but were scrapped due to time constraints. The same goes for the reintroduced feature of being able to play as Metal Sonic. A new Game Gear game is unlocked for every 20 Emblems the player gets, up until 100, then every 10 after that, or by completing 20 more of the 60 missions.
Games unlockable (in order):
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Sonic Drift
- Sonic Chaos
- Sonic Labyrinth
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Sonic Spinball
- Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
- Sonic Triple Trouble
- Sonic Drift 2
- Tails' Skypatrol
- Sonic Blast
- Tails Adventure
Changes over the original Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut includes everything that was added to the original version of the game as well as several additions/changes. They include:
- Enhanced graphics: The main characters were re-created with higher polygon counts, resulting in smoother models. Shader technology was also implemented for effects like rippling water (shader effects are not present in the PC version, however).
- The original 60 frame/s frame rate was restored. Unfortunately, due to the unstable nature of the Sonic Adventure engine, the game frequently skips frames, usually in an uneven pattern (causing noticeable choppiness), even in places where few objects are displayed, and/or where the Dreamcast version did not slow down (however, some effects that caused slowdown before do not affect the frame rate in the GameCube version). Cutscenes now run at a lower frame rate, but this seems to have been intended, for cinematic purposes.
- Some sound effects, such as when collecting rings and emblems, are lower in pitch.
- A Camera option was added to the pause menu, allowing the user to select either the original Auto-Camera, the newly added Free Camera; which is usually closer to the character, or the player controlled camera which moves with the C-Stick.
- Changes (mostly minor) were made within the levels themselves in an effort to help solve some of the game's problems concerning collision detection. However, many glitches were not fixed, and some new ones were actually added[citation needed].
- The Internet connection feature was removed. Some of the downloadable content from the Dreamcast version was included with the GameCube port.
- Many changes to the Chao System were made, such as more interaction with the Chao, the ability to see their stats, as well as changes to the Chaos´ appearance. The Chao Adventure VMU minigame was removed (instead replaced with a Game Boy Advance connection feature). The Chao System is overall very similar to the Sonic Adventure 2: Battle Chao System.
- 60 Missions were added for an all-new Mission Mode, which task the player with completing certain goals within the Adventure Fields and Action Stages for Emblems, similar to the Mission Mode found in Sonic Jam's three-dimensional Sonic World.
- Metal Sonic becomes a playable character in Trial mode, as a reward for collecting all the Emblems.
- Cream the Rabbit makes several cameo appearances during the main game and Mission Mode.
- As mentioned above, a Mini Game Collection mode was added allowing access to 12 Sega Game Gear games. This is the first time Sonic Drift and Tails' Skypatrol were released in the US and Europe.
- The ability to skip cutscenes by pushing Start was added.
- A map, found on the pause menu while in Adventure Fields, was added.
- Various other glitches were fixed, while some new ones were added. Some have to do with inconsistency in the port (for example, some windows still reflect the original Dreamcast graphics).
- The train used to transport from Station Square to Mystic Ruins is now blue instead of red as in the Dreamcast version.
- Some voice effects were changed like when Tails begins to fly or when Amy swings her hammer.
