The GHZ Forum

I tried to kill myself twice and it didn't work, obviously. So, I figured as long as I was still alive and apparently helpless to do anything about it, I'd update the Sonic Adventure pages. I have made it halfway through this arduous task and it occurs to me that I'm missing vital information for Sonic Adventure 2, information that would be in the Japanese strategy guide which is the only one missing from my collection.

SO.

I was wondering if any of you poo mongrels has the Japanese SA2 or SA2 Battle guides. I need scans for the sake of posterity.

I have to ask what exactly the vital information you're missing is. And it's obviously not that of the topic title, because the answer to that's still no.

I do have a strategy guide. I think it was produced by Famitsu. I picked it up on a 100 yen whim when I bought the SA2 birthday pack. If this is the one you want, I can help.

There were only 2 guides I think, one from Softbank and one from Famitsu. I think the Softbank guide is the official one, but the Famitsu version probably still has alot of the same information, so I might be able to use that.

What I need specifically is the enemy list, item list, and Chao item list. I wouldst be most grateful for this information.


Also, both Sonic Adventure pages are in need of new screenshots. The old ones are so low quality I don't even really think they're worth having on there.

These are my demands. And a sugar cookie. With vanilla milk.

Technically all Japanese guides are official. Whenever a game has two strategy guides it is because Sega has produced one through their in house publishing company (Aspect), while Sonic Team has developed one externally (usually through Softbank or Shogakukan).

However, after the release of Sonic Heroes, Aspect regained its independence and so is no longer involved with the Sonic series.

With Sonic Adventure 2, two strategy guides were produced: One by Softbank and the other by Famitsu. According to this page, Sonic Team was involved with both of them. The Famitsu guide is apparently where the back story for Shadow (in the form of Rouge’s report) came from.

Shogakukan released a separate guide for Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. This supposedly contained an abridged version of Rouge’s report.

You should get screencaps from the PC version of SA:DX; this would easily produce the clearest results.

Yeah, but I can't use those for the main article because there are too many graphical differences between the Dreamcast and PC versions.

Chankast runs on my computer at a good speed, but of course it hasn't been updated in 2 years and I don't know how compatible it is with Sonic Adventure. I don't know where to find the image anyway, and I have no way to rip my own copies.

Hey, getting Chankast to run more than the BIOS is a step farther than <i>I</i> ever got.

I'll be in the same place as my Dreamcast the week after next; I can probably get better screenshots if you need them. I'd be doing it through RCA cables through a TV card, which is quality-limiting in itself, but if I capture them full-res they shouldn't be too bad.

There's a newer Dreamcast emulator called NullDC that apparently has better compatibility and speed than Chankast. Might want to check into that; I think I've got it on my hard drive somewhere.

Here's the first page of the enemy list.

I'm just testing the waters here to make sure everything's to your liking. I put it in grayscale so I could fit it on Imageshack, but if you need better clarency or color, lemme know. Also suggest someplace that will host larger files, 'cause I've never bothered to look.

If everything's cool I can continue. A few questions, though: Do you need the boss pages too? Should the item list include everything that you can find in stages, from crates to shields to chaos drives, and/or the character level up items? Should the chao list include everything you can throw in the garden, like animals, skulls, etc., or just prizes?

Odd that there's a 100 point listing for spring beetles. I thought those were indestructible, and rightly so.

Actually, for the enemy pages, if the enemies are against a clear background (as it appears from that image), it would be better to have them in color. That way I can extract the pictures. Everything else is just as well in grayscale - I just need to be able to read it.

As far as items, I'm looking for absolutely everything, in-stage items and permanent upgrades. Likewise with the Chao list. Basically, if the guide includes a list of anything, I want it. I also need a list of animals and character special moves.

If Imageshack is a hassle, you can just email the files directly to me and then I can upload them here for others to peruse.

MERCY BOOKOO.

There's a newer Dreamcast emulator called NullDC that apparently has better compatibility and speed than Chankast.

I'd still need the image file, though. As I understand it, these emulators won't play games directly from the disc because of the weird format and you need some crazy equipment to even rip them.

I'm getting the image files for you now, you big baby.

I'd still need the image file, though. As I understand it, these emulators won't play games directly from the disc because of the weird format and you need some crazy equipment to even rip them.

Of course. Unless your computer can read GD-roms, which was the DC's only defense against piracy, you won't be able to play any legitimate game by inserting the disc into your CD drive.

I once tried to get Skies of Arcadia to play on Chankast, but there was this really huge cumbersome list of things to do in order to get it running, so the only game I've managed to successfully run was Marvel vs Capcom 2. I remember trying to hunt down a rip of the Japanese Eternal Arcadia just so I could see Bellena's more revealing clothes and maybe see if the rumors of Vigoro wearing something different when he tried to get it on with Aika were true, but I wasn't able to find an image file.

Did you guys know that the original Japanese version of Sonic Adventure has a neon cowgirl billboard in Casinopolis? It's not in any subsequent iterations, not even International. I can't imagine why they removed it. It didn't seem to affect the framerate. She's holding a wine glass (which Knuckles can actually jump into) so maybe it's got something to do with alcohol reference (even though the glass is empty)? The mind, she boggles.

Okay, the six characters pages, which list moves and upgrade items, should've sent to your mail, GG. They're all in grayscale, so if you need color or anything else, just say the word.

That's all I can do right now. I'll try to get more sent later today.

<a href="/gibbon/Char1.jpg">Sonic</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Char2.jpg">Shadow</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Char3.jpg">Knuckles</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Char4.jpg">Rouge</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Char5.jpg">Tails</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Char6.jpg">Eggman</a>

If you can't get color scans of the enemies, it's no big deal. I'm mainly concerned with the information just now. Pretty pictures can always be added later.

I have an English guide, but I've got little access to a scanner, so even if I get anything up, it'll take ages. Plus, the guide's pretty poor itself. But every bit counts, right?

I was able to squish color copies of the item and chao item lists onto a couple of emails, so you should have those. Color scans of the enemy list will be coming right up.

And the enemy and boss pages are away. If there's anything else, lemme know.

Moochose grassy ass. The only other thing I'd like to know is if the guide lists exactly which enemies and/or animals can be found in each stage. It seems like some of the guides have this information and some don't. It would be a tremendous help here because I can't tell the difference between one damn enemy and the next in SA2.

<a href="/gibbon/Enemy1c.jpg">Enemy 1</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Enemy2c.jpg">Enemy 2</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Enemy3c.jpg">Enemy 3</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Enemy4c.jpg">Enemy 4</a>

<a href="/gibbon/Item1c.jpg">Item 1</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Item2c.jpg">Item 2</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Item3c.jpg">Item 3</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Item4c.jpg">Item 4</a>

<a href="/gibbon/Chao1c.jpg">Chao 1</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Chao2c.jpg">Chao 2</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Chao3c.jpg">Chao 3</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Chao4c.jpg">Chao 4</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Chao5c.jpg">Chao 5</a>

<a href="/gibbon/Boss1c.jpg">Boss 1</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Boss2c.jpg">Boss 2</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Boss3c.jpg">Boss 3</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Boss4c.jpg">Boss 4</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Boss5c.jpg">Boss 5</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Boss6c.jpg">Boss 6</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Boss7c.jpg">Boss 7</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Boss8c.jpg">Boss 8</a>
<a href="/gibbon/Boss9c.jpg">Boss 9</a>

Cool, a Gum Hawk

Your wish has been granted. I sent scans instead of translating the katakana because there are a few kanji thrown in and they are to me what kryptonite is to Superman. Anyway, I suspect you'd rather see the info straight from the horse's mouth.

The book had lists for both the normal and hard versions of each stage, except for the Hunting and Cannon's Core stages. I'm not sure if there isn't a notable difference between the versions or if they just didn't care to include the alternate lists.

Right on, dude. I have no further requests, unless of course there are actually tits. Maria's a bit underformed for my taste (plus I'm pretty sure Shadow's already poked around there, which is just terrifying), but the President's secretary is oddly hot, despite her plastic doll head...