Sonic Rivals 2
| Sonic Rivals 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Backbone Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation Portable |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Action, Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
Sonic Rivals 2 is the sequel to Sonic Rivals, developed by Backbone Entertainment, exclusively for the Playstation Portable handheld videogame console. Sonic Rivals 2 was released on November 13th, 2007 in North America.
Plot
The Chao have gone missing and Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles "Tails" Prower immediately get on the case to find them. It turns out that Eggman Nega (once again masquerading as Eggman), has stolen the Chao and hidden them inside a haunted mansion. His plan is to feed them to an inter dimensional beast called the "Ifrit" who needs to eat them to become invincible. After that, he plans to release the Ifrit into the world in order to destroy it. However, to open the portal to Ifrit's world, the seven Chaos Emeralds are required. Eggman Nega thusly hires Rouge the Bat to collect the Chaos Emeralds. The Master Emerald has also gone missing (again) and Knuckles the Echidna teams up with Rouge to find it.
Meanwhile, Silver the Hedgehog has returned from a now ruined future caused by the Ifrit. In order to make a new future, he steals the Chao that are left in order to hide them. He crosses paths with Espio the Chameleon, who is also on the case of the missing Chao, and they work together to save the world. The real Dr. Eggman sends Metal Sonic to find Shadow the Hedgehog, and lets them know of Nega's plans. Nega has learned of the Ifrit by accessing Professor Gerald Robotnik's journals, and Shadow and Metal set out to get the Chaos Emeralds before he does. Eggman uses Metal Sonic as a communication device to aid Shadow along the way.
All of the teams meet up at the Mystic Haunt Zone where the portal to Ifrit's wold is. Despite Rouge only collecting six of the Emeralds, the portal opens anyway and Nega dispatches his new Metal Sonic version 3.0 to awaken the Ifrit. Despite possessing Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Rouge, the Ifrit is defeated by the other teams. Shadow and Metal Sonic close the portal and seal themselves and Eggman Nega in Ifrit's dimension. Metal Sonic reveals that the seventh Emerald was stored in his chassis and he and Shadow use Chaos Control to exit that world. Nega is left trapped under some rubble.
Sonic and Tails take all the Chao to a Chao Garden, and Knuckles find the Master Emerald in the Emerald Detector he and Rouge stole from Eggman Nega. Rouge steals the Master Emerald and runs, and Silver returns to what he hopes is a happy future. Espio has to answer to Vector the Crocodile who has spent their client's advanced payment on late rental fees.
Characters
Sonic Rivals 2 has the same original five characters from the original game and adds three new ones. All characters use Homing Attack and Spin Dash to move through the levels. Each character can also use a "Signature Move" by collecting Rings, or killing enemies to fill the "Signature Meter" (formerly the Star item in the first game).
Playable Characters
- Sonic the Hedgehog: The World's Fastest Hedgehog, Sonic works with Tails to investigate the Chao disappearances.
Sonic's Signature Move is "Sonic Boom". This allows him to break the sound barrier in an instant and take off at high speeds. This move also destroys enemies and damages opponents.
- Miles "Tails" Prower: Sonic's Friendly Sidekick, Tails assists in finding the missing Chao.
Tails's Signature Move is "Tail Copter". He can quickly cover short distances and large gaps by flying.
- Knuckles the Echidna: The Guardian of the Master Emerald, Knuckles teams up with Rouge to find it once it goes missing.
Knuckles's Signature Move is his "Knuckle Slam". Knuckles punches the ground and sends out a force field damaging anything in a close range of himself.
- Rouge the Bat: A Government Spy with a great desire for jewels, Rouge teams up with Knuckles to find the Master Emerald.
Rouge's Signature Move is "Bat Guard". A swarm of bats circle her and act as a damaging shield to other players. She can also launch the bats one by one to attack enemies and players.
- Shadow the Hedgehog: The "Ultimate Life Form", Shadow works with Metal Sonic to stop Eggman Nega's plans.
Shadow's Signature Move is "Chaos Control". This slows down the other player's movement for a few seconds.
- Metal Sonic: Sonic's Robot doppleganger, Metal Sonic is sent by Eggman to work with Shadow.
Metal Sonic's Signature Move is "Copycat". This allows him to copy the Signature Move of the other player. In the event that Metal Sonic is playing against Metal Sonic 3.0, or there is no opponent, Metal Sonic's Signature Move defaults to "Sonic Boom".
- Silver the Hedgehog: A Psychokinetic Hedgehog from the future, Silver works with Espio to rescue the missing Chao.
Silver's Signature Move is "ESP". He temporarily alters the other player's controls (Often causing them to go backwards or look around).
- Espio the Chameleon: A Ninja Detective, Espio works with Silver to solve the case of the missing Chao.
Espio's Signature Move is "Chroma-Cammo". He cannot be seen by enemies or other players, and gains a speed boost.
Non-Playable Characters
- Eggman Nega: A cruel and evil villain from the future, Eggman Nega plans to feed several innocent Chao to an inter-dimensional beast called the Ifrit. He sends Rouge to collect the Seven Chaos Emeralds and poses as Dr. Eggman so the rivals don't get in his way.
- Dr. Eggman: The greatest scientific mind in the world, Eggman was once again imprisoned by his counterpart, who battles the rivals posing as him. He sends Metal Sonic out to Shadow in order to have the two stop Nega's plans.
- Vector the Crocodile: A master detective and leader of the Chaotix, Vector sends Espio to investigate the case of the missing Chao.
- Metal Sonic version 3.0: Eggman Nega's personal Metal Sonic copy. He appears in the Chaotic Inferno Zone to impede the player's progress. Metal Sonic can unlock a costume with his colors. (If the player copy's all of the other rivals Signature moves.)
- Ifrit: A beast from another dimension that Eggman Nega hopes to unleash onto the world. He tries to feed it Chao to become invincible and use the seven Chaos Emeralds to open the portal to its world. It is the final boss in the game.
Game Modes
Single Player
Sonic Rivals 2 has four main Single Player modes. Story Mode is the main single player mode. Players will go through each of the game's battle modes (listed below) and levels to advance the plot. Each zone has three acts and a boss, with the exception of the final zone. The characters are divided into four teams (Sonic and Tails, Shadow and Metal Sonic, Silver and Espio, Knuckles and Rouge) and each character has their own story.
The game introduces a new mode called Free Play In this single player mode, players can choose any one of the eight characters and play through the zones in traditional 2D Sonic fashion. They can also try Time Attacking, or finding the ten hidden Chao in the levels. There are no opponents for this mode. This is a first for many of the characters featured.
In addition, players can also try the Cup Circuit and Single Event modes. Races and battle can be customized in every aspect, and players can try to earn cards by completing challenges. There are 150 different cards to collect, and each is tied to a certain achievement. For example, getting an S Rank in Knockout Mode unlocks a card of Mephiles the Dark.
The cards themselves contain art from various older Sonic games, and can unlock things such as alternate suits for the characters. Unlike the first game, only one card is needed to unlock a suit; and each character has four suits instead of the original three. The cards also unlock the Cup Circuits, and Chao Detectors for the Zones.
Multiplayer
Sonic Rivals 2 boasts a new "Battle Mode" with six different types of competition in addition to the main race mode. These modes are also worked into the story. The lengths of the battles can be set though the selection menus.
- Knockout: Each player starts with three rings. Players must knock all of the rings out of their opponent and then attack them to win. First player to the set number of knockouts wins.
- Rings Battle: Players have a set time to collect as many rings as possible. The player with the most rings at the end of the time limit wins.
- Capture the Chao: A Sonic themed version of Capture the Flag. Players must steal a set number of Chao from their opponent's base and bring them back to their own base with their own Chao still there to win.
- Laps Race: The first player complete a set number of laps around the track wins.
- King of the Hill: An Omochao is stationed at the top of the level with a light beam. Players earn points by simply standing under it. The first player to the set number of points wins.
- Tag: A Sonic themed cross between Hot Potato and Tag. Each player has a time limit that drops when they hold the bomb. Players pass the bomb by tagging the other player. The first player to have their time limit expire loses.
Stages
- Blue Coast Zone
- Sunset Forest Zone
- Neon Palace Zone
- Frontier Canyon Zone
- Mystic Haunt Zone
- Chaotic Inferno Zone
Gameplay videos also reveal that each stage will feature three acts, as opposed to two.[1]
Music
It was revealed on Jun Senoue's (SEGA music producer) official website that he had worked together with Ted Poley on the game's theme song "Race To Win". This is not the first time Ted Poley and Jun Senoue have worked together; the previous times being in the video games Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Heroes. The rest of the game's music is composed by Chris Rezanson.
English Cast
References
- ^ "Sega of America Sonic Rivals 2 Minisite" (HTML). Retrieved 2007-07-19.