Sonic Advance

The blue hedgehog finally defects to enemy territory. Sonic Advance was Sonic's first adventure on a Nintendo console, and after years of a fierce console war it was an almost unthinkable event. What's more, it turned out great: this is a fast, colorful and truly Sonic-worthy platformer.

The gameplay stays faithful to the classic 2D entries from the Sega Mega Drive. You hurtle through levels full of loops, springs and steep slopes, collect golden rings that protect you from harm, and try to blast through the levels as fast as possible. Four playable characters are available: besides Sonic, also Tails, Knuckles and Amy, each controlling a little differently and having their own abilities, which gives a reason to play through the game repeatedly.

Development was handled by Dimps in collaboration with Sonic Team, and the game came out in 2001, at a time when Sega had just abandoned making its own hardware and become a publisher on other platforms. Sonic Advance thus symbolically launched a new era in which Sega's famous mascot began appearing on the devices of its former archrival. For fans it was a small miracle.

Visually the game elegantly transfers the classic Sonic style to a smaller screen, with fluid animation and a brisk pace that the GBA hardware handles without a stumble. Special stages hidden behind collecting rings and Chaos Emeralds add a challenge for those who want to see the true ending and get everything out of the game.

Sonic Advance received a warm reception as proof that classic 2D Sonic still has something to offer, and it spawned two direct sequels. For many players it was a return to the roots of the series at a time when 3D Sonic was still finding its footing. It's a lovely reminder of why the blue hedgehog once became an icon.

Why play: A fast and faithful 2D platformer that brings classic Sonic to a handheld Nintendo and offers four distinct playable characters.