ANNOUNCER: Today is a very special day. Today is the 10th review from THE DETECTIVE LIBRARIAN!!!!!!!!!! And now, here’s your favorite reviewer/critic, “The Detective Librarian!!!!!!!!”

CROWD: *applause and clapping and cheering*

Okay thank you everyone. Hello I’m The Detective Librarian and today I’m going to start my tenth review. I would to thank all of my supporters for giving me a good start to my blog after all this time after a month and a 1/2. In order to celebrate, I’m going to review the best (and hardest) “Sonic” game of all time………..”SONIC ADVENTURE 2 (:BATTLE)”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, “Sonic Adventure 2 (:Battle)” was the last Sonic game to be released for the Sega Dreamcast when it was released in June 23, 2001. That same year, the Sega Dreamcast was discontinued and it was the final console SEGA made before they continued making their new games on the Arcade and other home consoles with handheld consoles. Nearly a year later, the game was re-released on the Nintendo Gamecube in early 2002. It was re-titled “Sonic Adventure 2: Battle.” This game was absolutely well received by reviewers and fans alike. This marks the first appearance of everyone’s favorite black hedgehog and arch-rival of Sonic, not to mention one of my favorite Sonic characters, Shadow the Hedgehog, along with Knuckles’ rival, G.U.N. agent, and secret crush, Rouge the Bat, etc…..

This game includes two stories this time, which are “Hero” and “Dark” stories so it doesn’t really matter which one you play, but you have to beat both stories in order to unlock the final story of the game just like the last “Sonic Adventure” game. The game chronologically begins with Eggman breaking into Prison Island, a military base on an island which is a more of a government version of Alcatraz Prison Island off the coast of San Francisco, California. Why? Eggman’s late grandfather, Professor Gerald Robotnik, created a top secret military weapon and the military (G.U.N.) shut down the experiment due to fears of destruction. The first level of the Dark story begins with the first level, “Iron Gate” when Eggman breaks into the security on the base and gets to the weapon.

After this, Eggman enters the password, M-A-R-I-A. Take a note of the word “Maria” because it’s sudden foreshadowing. He also places a Chaos Emerald into the console. That opens a mysterious figure inside, and yes like everyone else, Eggman mistakens him for Sonic until he finds out he’s not Sonic, since he’s black with red markings, gloves, ring cuffs, red things on his black, white, and red skaters and gloves instead of blue. His name is Shadow and gives him one wish.

PATRICK STAR: Just like a genie!!!!!!!

Yeah Patrick, that’s kinda a major leap in comparison and logic, but Shadow’s wish is to make Egg-head witness the power Shadow possesses. Shadow goes up against one of the machines in the game known as “HOT SHOT” and destroys it as the first boss in Dark story. Eggman praises him and realizes that Shadow’s the military’s confidential weapon and Shadow’s wish actually is to bring more Chaos Emeralds to the Space Colony ARK. Meanwhile, we get more back to back parts involving Sonic being arrested because of double face-palm for being mistaken for Shadow since someone must’ve been color blind or something. Not to mention Knuckles and Rouge arguing about the Master Emerald and getting it (heh heh) accidentally broken.

Well you know that means, another: “IN A NUTSHELL!!!!” Tails transforming Tornado into a mech, battling Eggman, Knuckie and Rougie finding stuff and Master Emerald pieces with songs playing in the background, Shadow VS. Sonic, Amy being a damsel in distress, Rouge and Eggman being partners along with Shadow, Prison Island’s blow up, Sonic bailing out of jail, Knuxouge moments, etc….

Throughout the game, we get flashbacks of Shadow’s past. It turns out the Space Colony ARK was created 50 years ago along with Shadow by Professor Gerald Robotnik. Gerald and his granddaughter, Maria Robotnik, were killed when the ARK was shut down. Maria got shot and helped Shadow escaped through a glass escape pod. Sadly, the military took Gerald and executed him for believing that the ARK was a threat due to it’s weapon powered by Chaos Emeralds, “The Eclipse Cannon.” Shadow got captured as well and was trapped for 50 years and was haunted by Maria and was wondering about why he was created ever since. But, Shadow decides that Maria promised him revenge on all of humanity.

After Eggman places the final Chaos Emerald into the Eclipse Cannon, much to his surprise, it shows video messages of Gerald’s execution and creating a theory that after all the Chaos Emeralds are collected, the Colony will be set to crash and destroy Earth in 27 minutes and 53 seconds. The theory comes true when it’s set to impact Earth and the cannon is now highly reactive and explosive. Our heroes confront Eggman and we get an explanation of everything after Eggman hands Rouge Gerald’s diary. It turns out that the ARK was shut down due to an accident 50 years ago and many scientists died during that time, Maria was one of them. Gerald went insane and had thoughts of avenging Maria and claiming that Shadow was created and you can release him if you wish to fill the world with destruction.

So that’s why Eggman went through all the trouble of breaking into Prison Island and freeing Shadow. Our heroes decide to team up with Eggman to stop the ARK from destroying the Earth and use the Master Emerald because earlier, Knuckles mentioned that the Master Emerald has the power to stop the Chaos Emeralds. All of the playable characters in the story mode (except for Shadow) use the short cut into the Cannon’s Core since the power has moved there. This is one of the hardest stages in the game due to so many hours, days, and months of blood, sweat, tears, turmoil, and frustation. Almost……..

Meanwhile, Amy is wandering around until she sees Shadow staring off into space. Ba dum tsss…. Amy decides not to be brat but convince Shadow to help our heroes and save Earth. Shadow refuses and Amy gives out a long speech that makes Shadow see the error of his ways.

AMY ROSE: There has to be! I know people fight over the most trivial things. Some people may be selfish like the professor said….. But they’re basically good if they try their best and never give up on their wishes. They always have a reason to be happy. That’s why you should help them out. Saving them is a good thing. Shadow I beg you! Please do it for them!!! Give them a chance!!!!!!

After Amy’s speech and instead of attacking her and refusing, Shadow realizes that Amy is right along that Maria promised him to help all of humanity instead of getting revenge and destroying them before running away to help Sonic and Knuckles. Meanwhile, Sonic and Knuckles have reached the core to find that it’s designed like the shrine of the Master Emerald on Angel Island. Sonic suggests that they designed the core like the shrine to harness the power of the Chaos Emeralds. Just then, we hear flashes of Gerald saying: “All of you ungrateful humans who took everything away from me will hear my loss and despair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

We see the form of a lizard called “The Biolizard.” The Biolizard was supposed to be the original ultimate life form that was supposed to be locked in before the real ultimate life form, Shadow came. Shadow decides to handle the Biolizard while the rest of our heroes/friendly rivals grab the Chaos Emeralds. The Biolizard is defeated for now at least while Knuckles gives the same chant that his tribe uses in the last game to stop the Chaos Emeralds. The Biolizard disappears and is probably due to the powers of the Chaos Emerald known as “Chaos Control.” Time for “LESSON TIME!!!!”

LESSON TIME #1: CHAOS CONTROL (Verb or Noun, I dunno): The power of a Chaos Emerald that allows the person who activated it to travel through time and space and teleport to who knows where. In other words, “THE POWER OF TELEPORTATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

However, the ARK is still having a crash course to Earth because the prototype AKA the Biolizard is still alive and is controlling the Space Colony as it’s falling to Earth and is keeping it on it’s collision course. The two enemies now rivals, Sonic and Shadow, stare at each other and use the Chaos Emeralds to transform into Super Sonic and Super Shadow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They battle the final boss of the game, “The Biolizard” AKA “The Finalhazard.” The prototype dies, but the game isn’t over yet because the ARK is still falling to Earth and our superheroes need to stop it before it destroys Earth. Our heroes stop the ARK using Chaos Control and this is the saddest part of the game. Shadow sacrifices himself, falls into the Earth, and dies. *Sniff, Sniff*….

SHADOW: Maria, this is what you wanted right? This is my promise I made to you……

The Earth is safe and the game ends with the credits rolling along with Sonic returning without Shadow and giving Rouge one of Shadow’s ring cuffs. Rouge still wonders why Shadow was created but we will find out all in good time…….

SONIC: He was what he was….A brave and heroic hedgehog. He gave up his life to save this planet…Shadow the Hedgehog…….

The credits continue with Eggman revealing that during his childhood, Eggman looked up to his grandfather and idolized him that made him his current career and wonders if he really meant to destroy us all. We may never know…Or so we think….. Knuckles and Rouge discuss about looking for something else besides jewels. The game ends with Sonic and the characters going home with the touch quote that Maria said to Shadow before Maria died….

SONIC: Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog……..

Awwwwwww…….

*Sniff Sniff* THE SAD END.

POST-GAME-FOLLOW-UP

I know what your thinking and wondering. Why on Earth was Shadow created and why did he existed in the first place? Well don’t worry, we’ll find out because SPOILER ALTER: Shadow will return in “Sonic Heroes” and is still alive!!!!!!!!!! This game can be extremely difficult with it’s tough and hated levels like “Cannon’s Core,” “Final Rush,” “Final Chase,” etc….. I’m not saying this game is bad, this is still a great game with great soundtrack, solid characters, a solid plot even though it can be confusing, and a nice use of emotion due to Shadow’s tragic back story. Even though there’s one character that I hated in this game, it’s Omachao, our guide to this game. Good grief, is this gal annoying!!!!! She’s like SEGA’s own “Annoying Orange.”

OMACHAO: HEY! HEY TAILS!!!

TAILS: What?

OMACHAO: I’m here to help you.

TAILS: Oh really. Why don’t you just go away OMANNOYING!!!!!

-INSERT FIGHTING SCENE HERE-

OMACHAO: HEY I’LL TELL MY MOM YOU DID THIS!!! YOU’LL BE SORRY!!!!!!

OMACHAO: HEY GUYS!! GUYS!!!!!! HELPING TIME!!!!!!!

UGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But overall, this game is superior to the previous “Sonic Adventure” game. Last game was mostly set up, while this one is the pay off. It features a great soundtrack, characters, etcetera.

I give this game a 8.5/10. I’m The Detective Librarian and Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog. Or that’s what we think……….HAPPY 10TH REVIEW, DETECTIVE LIBRARIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS. The Chao Garden returns and it’s one of the funnest parts of the game. It’s like raising your very own pets or children. So, kudos for that.