They're a lot different than the Genesis games and Sonic Rush. They're faster than Genesis games without relying on the stupid boost mechanics of future games in the franchise. They rely more on gaining and keeping momentum. They have roller coaster-like level design instead of the more exploration level design of the Genesis games. They have the best air control (SAdv2) of any Sonic game because of the tricks, which accomplishes the nearly impossible feat of making the game blindingly fast, yet keep you feeling like you're in complete control. No homing attack, which literally destroys momentum and is the worst addition to the Sonic franchise, at all because it's not needed. Great and simple character roster. All they need to be are Sonic reskins with special traits. Then there's breaking the sound barrier, which is the best kinesthetic reward for precise platforming in any Sonic game. Oh, and Sonic shut's the fuck up in this one. I love Sonic's newest voice actor, but Sonic was at his best when he was silent. His impatient glare was all the personality he needed. Worst thing SAdv3 did was add voice clips to everyone.

Sorry lol Sonic Advance 2 is literally my favorite Sonic game. So under appreciated. If they just made a 3D Sonic game based off those principals, it would be spectacular. Sonic Lost World came the closest, but they just kept shoe horning unessesary and honestly inferior 2D stages on top of stupid stage gimmicks. The tube level design was genious. Everything else wasn't. 

Right? I wish he'd post more...

I loved Sonic Adventure 2 when it released. I probably beat it like 5 times on Dreamcast. I also have a Gamecube copy and I bought it digitally on Xbox 360.

I played a good amount of Sonic 3 and S&K back in the Genesis days, but I was a bigger fan of Sonic Adventure games.

How much did you like the Genesis games?

I can't vote for SA so I'll just stick with SA2.

I haven't played S3&K but I did play SA2 a couple of years ago. Honestly, I'm not into Sonic games and SA2 did not really convince me. I didn't think much of the story but the soundtrack was great. I loved the Sonic and Shadow levels but I found the Tails/Eggman levels to be mediocre. But I absolutely hated Knuckles/Rogue's stages, they were so big and the hints barely helped at all. I remember the level with the pumpkins and the space level for Knuckles took me forever and I hated the one with Rogue where you only had like 3 minutes.

Overall, outside of the Sonic/Shadow levels, I don't think SA2 is a good game at all. But that's just me, again I'm not into Sonic games so I probably just suck at them. I'm sure there are plenty of people that had no problems with the treasure hunting stages but hey, opinions!

Sonic and Knuckles is one of my favorite platformers ever, both the Adventure games were mediocre garbage that only held up because of how awful the later 3D entries got.

I completed Sonic 1 and 2 many times. I had a Sega CD and played a many hours of Sonic CD. I played a lot of Sonic 3 and S&K but my interest in the series dissipated by 1994.

The Sonic Adventure games got me excited about Sonic games again. But the games that after...

I'm not biased or anything but SA2: Battle was the first game I got for the Gamecube, the Second System I had owned following the 64. I played S3K on the Xbox via Sonic Mega Collection much later...I think after Shenmue.

Well, seeing as how i own all 3 games, I can say Sonic 3 & Knuckles, because I don't like the Tails and Knuckles stages in Sonic Adventure 2.

Nintentacle said:

Yeah. Lots of people say it was the last good Sonic game and ask for SA3. 

That, or they're just a vocal minority.

It was the last good sonic game.  I own all the genesis titles on an actual genesis, and Sonic Adventure 2 on dreamcast.  But just because it's the last good one doesn't make it the best.  I hated generations so much.  Sonic controlled so weirdly in that game that I couldn't even justify getting it.  Sonic 4 was just a rehash of old ideas, and 4 short stages.

If those knuckles and tails stages didn't suck so bad, sonic adventure 2 would be better.  But you don't see anyone saying unleashed was the greatest... except for the night stages...

I don't even care if the game focused on speed, or platforming, just as long as it's worthwhile.  The sonic and shadow stages of SA2 can't hold up the entire game...  And even some of the Sonic stages in that game were boring too or even stupid.  I haven't touched the game in ages, so forgive me for forgetting the name, but, why can you skip so much of the last platforming stage in sonic adventure 2, by letting yourself miss the rails?

And while I'm complaining, I may as well complain about sonic 3.  Why is it so hard to unlock super tails?  Why isn't there a hyper tails?  And, why can't you choose tails or have him around in Sonic & Knuckles?  Sandopolis... The most boring stage in that game, followed by Marble Zone.  Those are the only down points for me.