Find out exactly how Sonic Adventure 2 Battle and Sonic Advance will interact. Plus: new Japanese release dates for each...before New Year's!
Today Sega sent out a press release with new details on how Sonic Adventure 2 Battle for GameCube and Sonic Advance for GBA will interact. Their marriage revolves around the tiny little Chao creatures, who can be trained and raised on both systems and then raced on the GameCube.
Basically, you can only get certain Chao eggs and powerups in the GameCube version, and others only in the GBA game. A special machine in the SA2B Chao Garden lets you send your Chaos and items to Sonic Advance (you need a GC-GBA link cable, of course). From there you can take the little creatures all over the place while raising them, and then eventually send them back to GameCube to enter the Chao Races. Also interesting is that apparently you can access the GBA features even without the Sonic Advance cartridge, but of course your data won't be saved unless you send it back to the GameCube before severing the connection. If you want to train your Chaos on the road, you'll need Sonic Advance.
In the same press release, Sega announced that both Sonic Adventure 2 Battle and Sonic Advance will be released before this year's end in Japan...December 20, 2001. The GameCube title was previously listed as a first-quarter 2002 release.
Here's the full press release for a couple more details:
SYSTEMS WITH ITS "SONIC THE HEDGEHOG" SERIES
TOKYO - (October 5, 2001) - Sega Corporation today announces that Sega games
for the Nintendo GameCube(tm) and Game Boy® Advance systems, "Sonic
Adventure(tm) 2 Battle" and "Sonic Advance(tm)" respectively, will feature
an interactive link. This is first time software for different formats have
been linked, offering cross-platform feature-sharing. Developed by Sonic
Team under the direction of President and Representative Director Yuji Naka,
the games are to be released December 20, 2001 in Japan.
Unlike previously released linked titles, this announcement makes possible
the data exchange between different games on different platforms, each of
which can be played separately. The core of the data communication will be
the movement of the artificial life form "Chao," which is featured in both
games, from one game to another, broadening the gameplay of the titles.
This announcement reinforces Sega's plans to provide software to all
platforms, utilizing the characters and properties Sega's renown developers
have created over the years. Sega will exhibit the titles at its "Tokyo
Game Show 2001 Autumn" booth October 12 - 14, 2001, at Nihon Convention
Center.
Outline of Linkage
'Chao Garden" in "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle"
- This is the place players can raise Chaos, for instance by giving
them little animals or Chaos Drives obtained in the main game, by cuddling
with them by having them participate in Chao Race.
- If players put Chaos into the Odekake Machine, they can forward them
to 'Chao's Petit Garden' in "Sonic Advance" for Game Boy Advance.
- Players can transfer Chaos brought up in 'Chao's Petit Garden,' or
"tree-fruit" bought there, into 'Chao Garden' in "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle"
for Nintendo GameCube.
'Chao's Petit Garden' in "Sonic Advance"
- According to the number of rings players have obtained in the main
game, it is possible to buy "tree-fruit." Also, players can obtain rings in
mini-games like "Okashi Mekucchao" or "Janken Shoot."
- There are Chao's eggs that can be obtained only in 'Chao's Petit
Garden.'
- Players can transfer Chaos or "tree-fruit" to 'Chao Garden' in
"Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" for Nintendo GameCube
- By saving data to a cartridge, players can raise Chaos, and carry
them around.*
*It is possible to start up the game on Game Boy Advance with no cartridge
inserted, but not possible to save data.
[About Sonic Adventure 2 Battle ]
"Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" is an original game for the Nintendo GameCube
including new elements reinforcing battle aspects, adding to the contents of
the Dreamcast game released in June 2001 in commemoration of the tenth
anniversary of Sonic. It keeps the concept of "HERO & DARK" throughout the
story, with its grand scenario. Players can play from two viewpoints,
including two-player battle, the raising of "Chao," etc.
We have received great reactions from consumers not only on the speediness
of the main games, but also on the raising of the lovely artificial life
form, "Chao," which changes character and appearance in accordance with its
upbringing.
Corresponding Console: Nintendo GameCube
Release Date: December 20, 2001 (TBD)
Price: 6,800 yen
Genre: High Speed 3D Action
Number of Players: 1 - 2 player (s)
[ About "Sonic Advance" ]
"Sonic Advance" is the latest action game in the "Sonic The Hedgehog(tm)"
series with horizontal scrolling gameplay, reminiscent of the first Sonic
title making it particularly suitable for Sonic's tenth anniversary. The
game includes overwhelming speediness, many exciting stages and characters
full of their own individuality.
Up to four players can challenge each other using a network cable, and have
a team battle (two versus two). To play four-player, consumers need just
one game cartridge.
Corresponding Console: Nintendo Game Boy Advance
Release Date: December 20, 2001 (TBD)
Price: 5,800 yen
Genre: Action
Number of Players: 1 - 4 player (s) (Corresponding to 'One Cartridge for
Four Players' - play)