Sonic Advance
Sonic Advance

Game Modes

Understand Sonic Advance's various game modes, including Story Mode, Multiplayer, and the unique Chao raising system. Get started with Dr. Eggman.

·Multi-source verified (57/57)

Game Modes

Sonic Advance offers several game modes to keep players engaged, from the core story experience to competitive multiplayer and a unique pet-raising simulation. Understanding each mode and its objectives is key to fully enjoying the game.

Main Game

This is the primary single-player experience where you guide Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, or Amy through various Zones to thwart Dr. Eggman's plans. Each character offers a distinct playstyle, influencing how you approach levels and boss battles.

  • Objective: Complete all seven Zones (Neo Green Hill, Secret Base, Casino Paradise, Ice Mountain, Angel Island, Egg Rocket, Cosmic Angel) and defeat Dr. Eggman.
  • Character Selection:
    • Sonic: The fastest character, ideal for speedrunning and reaching high platforms with his Spin Dash and Insta-Shield.
    • Tails: Can fly for a limited time, making him excellent for bypassing tricky platforming sections and finding hidden paths. His flight also allows him to recover from falls.
    • Knuckles: Can glide and climb walls, opening up unique routes and shortcuts, especially in vertical levels. His powerful punches are also effective against certain enemies.
    • Amy: Wields her Piko Piko Hammer, allowing her to attack enemies directly without rolling. She has a double jump and a powerful hammer jump, which can be used to gain extra height or destroy specific obstacles.
  • Special Stages: To access Special Stages and collect Chaos Emeralds, you must find a large spring hidden within each Zone's Act 1 or Act 2. These springs are often in obscure locations, requiring careful exploration or character-specific abilities to reach. Collecting all seven Chaos Emeralds is necessary to unlock the true ending and Super Sonic.
  • Boss Battles: Each Zone concludes with a boss fight against one of Dr. Eggman's elaborate machines. Learn their attack patterns and exploit their weaknesses. For example, in Neo Green Hill Zone, the Egg Mobile-H is vulnerable after its ground pound attack.

Time Attack

For players who love a challenge and want to test their speed, Time Attack mode allows you to replay any completed Zone and Act with the goal of achieving the fastest possible time.

  • Objective: Complete a selected Act as quickly as possible.
  • Unlocking Levels: Acts become available in Time Attack once you've successfully cleared them in the Main Game.
  • Strategies:
    • Route Optimization: Experiment with different paths. Often, the fastest route isn't the most obvious one. use character-specific abilities (Tails' flight, Knuckles' glide) to skip sections or find shortcuts.
    • Ring Management: While rings aren't strictly necessary for survival in Time Attack (since you're not trying to stay alive indefinitely), collecting them can sometimes lead to faster routes or provide a brief invincibility boost if you hit an enemy.
    • Enemy Avoidance: Focus on bypassing or quickly destroying enemies rather than engaging in prolonged combat, as every second counts.
    • Mastering Momentum: Learn how to maintain speed through slopes, loops, and springs. The Spin Dash is your best friend for quickly accelerating from a standstill.
  • Records: The game saves your best times for each character on each Act, encouraging continuous improvement.

Chao Garden

The Chao Garden is a unique, non-platforming mode where you can raise and interact with your very own Chao creatures. This mode is accessed from the main menu.

  • Objective: Nurture your Chao, help them grow, and participate in races.
  • Collecting Chao Eggs: Chao Eggs are found hidden within the Main Game levels. They are often in secret areas or require specific character abilities to reach. For instance, some might be behind breakable walls only Knuckles can destroy, or on high ledges only Tails can fly to.
  • Raising Chao:
    • Feeding: Give your Chao fruits found in the garden to increase their stats and happiness.
    • Animals: Animals released from defeated Badniks in the Main Game can be given to your Chao. Each animal provides stat boosts (e.g., speed, fly, swim, power) and influences your Chao's appearance and evolution.
    • Petting: Simply interacting with your Chao by touching them increases their affection towards you.
  • Chao Races: Once your Chao has grown sufficiently, you can enter them into races. Success in races depends on your Chao's stats, which are developed through feeding and giving them animals. Winning races can unlock special items or further develop your Chao.
  • Connectivity: While not strictly a game mode within Sonic Advance itself, the Chao Garden can connect with the Tiny Chao Garden in Sonic Adventure 2 Battle on the Nintendo GameCube via the Game Boy Advance link cable, allowing for transfer of Chao and items.

Multiplayer

Sonic Advance features competitive multiplayer modes for up to four players, requiring multiple Game Boy Advance systems, game cartridges, and a GBA Link Cable.

  • Modes:
    • Race: Compete against friends on various tracks to be the first to reach the goal.
    • Chao Race: Pit your nurtured Chao against those of your friends in a head-to-head race.
  • Setup:
    • Ensure all GBA systems are powered off before connecting the Link Cable.
    • Connect the Link Cable to the EXT. port on each GBA.
    • Insert the Sonic Advance cartridge into each GBA.
    • Power on all GBAs.
    • Select "Multiplayer" from the main menu on each system.
    • Follow the on-screen prompts to establish the connection and select your desired multiplayer mode.
  • Strategies:
    • Character Choice: In "Race" mode, choose a character that suits your playstyle and the chosen track. Sonic's speed is great for open areas, while Tails' flight can bypass obstacles, and Knuckles' glide can offer shortcuts.
    • Item Boxes: use item boxes strategically to gain an advantage or hinder opponents. These can contain speed shoes, invincibility, or even bombs.