Twitter user @AstroSeedP has recovered a pretty cool piece of Sonic history: a Sonic the Hedgehog 10th-anniversary press kit aimed at publications in Spain. The press kit is mainly to advertise Sonic Adventure 2’s release, but it also includes high-resolution renders, artwork, and Photoshop files of both the first Sonic Adventure and its sequel.
With the press kit also came a booklet which mostly details Sonic’s and Sonic Team’s history up until that point, but also comes with a story introduction and character bios for the then upcoming Sonic Adventure 2, including some rare artwork beside them.
Introduction
Console: DreamcastTM
Genre: Action/Adventure
Release Date: June 23, 2001
The world’s most famous blue hedgehog celebrates his tenth anniversary with the global release on June 23, 2001, of “Sonic Adventure 2” on Dreamcast.
This new title that Sonic stars in on Dreamcast is the continuation of the acclaimed “Sonic Adventure” and offers new challenges, new characters, new levels, and new moves. Additionally, a split-screen challenge has been included for two players. In “Sonic Adventure 2”, the blue hero and his companions Knuckles and Tails will race at fascinating speeds through three-dimensional environments to thwart the diabolical plans of Doctor Robotnik and his two mysterious allies, Shadow and Rouge.
Sonic Team, led by Yuji Naka, is the Sega development team responsible for shaping this new Sonic adventure, which surpasses everything seen before: fascinating graphics, over 30 continuous action levels, stages set in modern cities, fortresses, mountainous areas, or ancient ruins. Additionally, “Sonic Adventure 2” develops a complex storyline that invites players to immerse themselves in a universe of heroes and villains, where they can choose to save the world or conquer it. Six characters make up the cast of this title: Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails are the heroes while Rouge, Shadow, and Dr. Robotnik will attempt to conquer the world…
The Story
This story began 50 years ago. It was then when Professor Gerald, internationally recognized for his achievements in various fields, concluded a revolutionary space colony called “ARK.”
Professor Gerald was considered a genius educated in many fields, such as Architecture, Sciences, and Astrology… but above all, he was known for his discoveries in the field of Biology. Precisely aboard the “ARK” colony, the Professor was secretly working on a very dangerous experiment aimed at unraveling the mysteries of life itself. Gerald sought the secret of immortality to create the ultimate lifeform… This secret project had the code name “Shadow.”
Professor Gerald enjoyed the tranquility of the “ARK” colony, as it provided him with the necessary peace to carry out his work and, at the same time, take care of his granddaughter Maria, a weak and sickly child in need of constant attention. Maria meant everything to the Professor, to the extent that much of his research arose from trying to alleviate his granddaughter’s weakened state.
After many years of effort and intense research, Professor Gerald managed to create the first prototype of the uçtimate lifeform: “Shadow.” But the danger and the efforts of the investigation were increasingly insurmountable every day… Somehow, the military forces discovered the Professor’s studies and stormed the colony to seize the only existing prototype.
Aware of the danger looming over them, Professor Gerald wanted to save Maria and Shadow by giving them instructions to escape from the colony. They had to reach a space capsule and flee to Earth. But something went wrong… and Maria was killed while helping Shadow get into the escape vehicle. Gerald’s granddaughter disappeared forever, but her memory remained recorded in Shadow’s memory…
Meanwhile, a military command captured Professor Gerald and transferred him to Prison Island, where they forced him to continue his experiments under strict surveillance. This same command had intercepted the capsule in which Shadow was traveling and transported him to Prison Island so that the Professor could continue his research. Until that moment, Professor Gerald was at ease thinking that his granddaughter had managed to escape, but upon discovering that she had been assassinated, he became furious and went mad. Blinded by fury, he vowed to avenge Maria’s death and, while pretending to cooperate with his captors, continued working on “Project Shadow,” secretly planning his revenge against the world.
The military forces were unaware that the space colony ARK hid within its deepest structure a powerful weapon called the Eclipse Cannon, which Professor Gerald had managed to reprogram and conceal. Driven by his thirst for vengeance, he wanted to use the energy of the Chaos Emeralds to unleash the power of the weapon against Earth. At the same time, he took advantage of his research to implant his revenge in Shadow and ensure that, come what may, nothing and no one would thwart his plans for avenging the disappearance of his beloved granddaughter.
Shortly thereafter, the fearful military forces fearing Professor Gerald’s reaction decided to imprison him until the end of his days and abandon “Project Shadow.” The research remained forgotten… until Dr. Robotnik found his grandfather’s diary.
Following Professor Gerald’s death, Dr. Robotnik (alias Eggman) hurried to his grandfather’s old laboratory to review all his findings. In this way, the diabolical Robotnik found the laboratory diary containing all the information about his grandfather’s work: the experiments with Shadow and his plans to destroy the Earth in search of vengeance for his beloved granddaughter’s death. Thus, Eggman became obsessed with finding Shadow to enlist his help in making his own plans to dominate the world a reality.
And the adventure continues…
Characters
Sonic
Sonic, as restless and swift as the wind, will once again have to face his arch-enemy Robotnik. So far, he has always emerged victorious, but… who knows what might happen this time?
For him, saving the world is not a novelty, and besides, he’s always willing to help the less fortunate. Additionally, he hates routine and is always ready for new adventures.
Sonic follows his own rules, unconcerned about what others think or say about him, and always lets himself be guided by his desires and whims. Sonic was born to run, and he loves to run long distances at great speed. Sonic knows how to maintain calm and always remains breezy in any situation… and never loses his smile.
Amy Rose
Amy Rose’s universe revolves around one thing: Sonic and everything around him. All her thoughts are for the blue hedgehog. She is a very impatient and overly stubborn young girl! Although Sonic desperately tries to avoid her, this young lady is relentless when she sets her mind to something.
She is the one who motivates others to do things, always for her own benefit, of course. It’s very difficult to get her to change her mind, and she has a strong will. Now she believes she must save Sonic, who has been captured by the army and is imprisoned on Prison Island in the southern seas. Her feelings are intense and sincere. Sometimes Sonic considers Amy a nuisance, but he holds a very special place for her in his heart.
Miles “Tails” Prower
This young fox has a special ability for building things. His genius is comparable to that of Robotnik, although he has not yet fully developed his potential with inventions. Sonic has always taken care of Tails and considers him like a little brother. Now Tails wants to show Sonic what he’s capable of and that he can rely on him.
In addition to his natural ability to fly with the help of his twin tails, Tails has become an expert pilot thanks to his latest creation: the “Cyclone” aircraft. Moreover, Tails’ natural talent for building ingenious inventions is of great help to Sonic in this new adventure.
Knuckles
If Sonic is as swift and stealthy as the wind, Knuckles is as tenacious and strong as a rock.
Knuckles was created to protect the Master Emerald on Angel Island, and that has become his sole purpose. He is wild, brave, and with an unbreakable determination. Knuckles considers Sonic a rival, but he often envies his action-packed lifestyle full of adventures and the subsequent recognition that accompanies it. He is a prestigious treasure hunter, an expert in martial arts, and since the Master Emerald was destroyed, his mission has been to gather each and every one of its pieces.
Dr. Robotnik,
also known as “Eggman”He is a portly and deformed scientist with an intelligence quotient of 300.
There is no doubt that he is a true genius, but his childish attitude leads him to believe that taking over the world is a piece of cake. Although he is always convinced of the infallibility of his plans, he never quite figures out how to carry them out.
Sonic and his friends mock Dr. Robotnik for the egg-shaped body he has and they call him Eggman. Additionally, Eggman sees Sonic as a bitter enemy who always manages to ruin his plans for world conquest. However, deep down in his heart, he admires Sonic’s determination and feels a certain sympathy for him.
Omochao
These cute mechanical toys will assist you throughout Sonic’s second adventure. They have also been programmed to teach you how to use many of the game’s new features.
If you follow their advice wisely, you’ll discover that they will become your faithful Chao friends and allies!
He was created by the world’s most brilliant scientist, Professor Gerald. He is the living image of Sonic, except for the black color of his body. Shadow, who enjoys eternal youth and immortality, has the ability to use the power of the Chaos Emeralds to alter time and space.
He is very intelligent, finding no barriers to achieving his goals and always willing to take risks. The young girl he grew up with and was very close to was brutally murdered before his eyes. In her last words, she asked Shadow to save the world… but Professor Gerald genetically modified him to carry out his personal revenge and destroy the world.
Rouge is mysterious, daring, and very, very sexy. She is a treasure hunter, known worldwide for her passion for jewels. Her services were hired to gather information about the mysterious “Project Shadow.”
She is an intrepid and seductive bat in her own right and knows how to get whatever she wants. Nothing stops her from fulfilling her missions and achieving her goals, especially if there are jewels involved. Although she pretends that nothing interests her, she is always plotting something… and whenever she embarks on a new mission, she is driven by her mercenary spirit.
Professor Gerald Robotnik
Also known as the Alchemist Gerald, this genius is the grandfather of Dr. Robotnik. He is the most brilliant scientist of all time and has been trained in many fields of science, from genetics to astrophysics, to robotics… he’s a Da Vinci of the modern era.
He was the creator of the first space colony, which he named “ARK,” and among his brilliant creations are multiple machines to harness the energy of the Chaos Emeralds.
The professor was captured by the military to continue with his project, although this time focused on military purposes. The professor’s hope to escape the space colony was shattered when his beloved granddaughter Maria failed to escape… and she died in his captivity.
Maria Robotnik
Appearing fragile but full of life… Maria is the granddaughter of Professor Gerald and cousin of Dr. Robotnik. She has always been the apple of Professor Gerald’s eye.
Born and raised on the space colony “ARK” alongside Shadow, whom she considers a brother. She has a strong desire to visit Earth, as she has always observed it with great interest from the solitude of the ARK colony.
To improve her health, the Professor began the search for the ultimate lifeform. But the tragic events that changed the fate of the space colony cost her life. Her death unleashed the madness of Gerald and his descent into vengeance…
While this press kit doesn’t give us any new info, it serves as a time capsule containing a bit of Sonic history, with high-quality files, making its preservation all that more important.
If you want to download the disc yourself and check out its contents, you can download it from the Internet Archive.
Stay tuned to Sonic City for more Sonic Adventure 2 News and Updates!
