As good now as it was back in 1999!
So a mega flash forward to the future and besides people forgetting about the past 10 years they then started to worry about the year 2012 and how Britain would recover from major economical crisis. However a trouble free would was only 800 Microsoft points (Or 1300 for the Directors Cut) and a push of that big circular button. And then it hits you, and it's better than ever...
The game starts off with you playing as sonic, or unless you've been hiding in a basement for the past 15 years a mysterious blue hedgehog. The city is in chaos and you must travel through different stages before facing doctor egg-man and chaos.
If you're new to the game then you may start the game with a negative feeling. After all the graphics are from about 10 years ago but you should focus on the beauty behind the game. It is a game to think about and look at the bigger picture rather then make a snap judgement.
The music for example is simply phenomenal. Each soundtrack captures each character's uniqueness. The stages feel alive and colourful and the added extras of the choa races and gardens add more content and life.
Adventure fields help immerse you deeper into sonic's world. Starting with the magnificent casino or twinkle park in Station Square. Big's house or Ancient ruins in the Mystic Ruins. Even the Egg Carrier with the Hot Shelter or Sky deck. These iconic locations really added life to the game and made you (The player) feel like you were in this world.
Of course it would be a unfair review to say the game did not have some flaws. The game can often be glitchy (Although this even happened in the dreamcast version I am disappointed it has not been sorted out) and this can decrease the entertainment value. A bit too easy in places, which may suit you gaming style but for me the game was a tad too easy in some places. Dull boss battles (After a while they become the same thing in a different context and consist of button bashing after a certain attack). And the game can be dull in places i.e. Big's levels where the objective was to catch fish until catching froggy.
But like I said people need to look past the flaws (No matter how big or small) and see the game in it's true beauty and grace.
Overall I just wanted to say that I love this game and have since 1999. It's been remastered and recreated just how I remember it and is a true tribute to sega, sonic team and the dreamcast itself. Out of 10 I would have to rate this game 8.5. It would have got a 10 if the bugs and glitches had been fixed but hey were not all perfect.
Thanks for reading this review and I hope you all either purchase the game on xbox live or see it in it's full glory on dreamcast. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did (Now and back in 1999) and hope this review helped.