Sonic Rivals 2
"Sonic Rivals 2" is a platform game with 2D gameplay set in a 3D environment, in which—just like in the first game—you race against another character to the finish line of each level. The characters continue to collect various power-ups throughout the stage to attack their rivals. The boss stages also remain unchanged: you must defeat the boss before your rival does. Players continue to collect cards as they complete various challenges. The selection of playable characters includes all the characters from the previous game (Sonic, Knuckles, Shadow, Silver, and Metal Sonic) as well as the new additions Tails, Espio the Chameleon, and Rouge the Bat. There’s a new Freeplay mode where you can play levels you’ve already completed without having to compete against another character. There were several new additions to the multiplayer challenges, including the game modes “Knockout,” “Ring Battle,” “Race,” “King of the Hill,” “Capture the Chao,” and “Tag.”
Story
The Chao have disappeared, and Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles “Tails” Prower immediately set out to find them. It turns out that Eggman Nega (who is once again posing as Doctor Eggman) has stolen the Chao and hidden them in a haunted house. His plan is to feed them to an interdimensional beast named “Ifrit,” which must devour them to become invincible. Afterward, he intends to unleash Ifrit upon the world to destroy it. However, the seven Chaos Emeralds are needed to open the portal to Ifrit’s world. Eggman Nega secretly tasks Rouge the Bat with gathering the Chaos Emeralds. The Master Emerald has also (once again) gone missing, and Knuckles the Echidna teams up with Rouge to find it. Meanwhile, Silver the Hedgehog has returned from a future destroyed by the Ifrit. To create a happier future, he searches for the remaining Chao and steals them to hide them away. At first, Espio thought Silver was hiding the Chao with evil intentions, but then Espio discovers that Silver is trying to save the world. They then work together to save the world. The real Dr. Eggman sends Metal Sonic to find Shadow and tells him about Nega’s plans. Nega has learned about the Ifrit by accessing Professor Gerald Robotnik’s diaries, and Shadow and Metal Sonic set out to recover the Chaos Emeralds before he does. Eggman uses Metal Sonic as a communication device to assist Shadow on his journey. All the teams meet in the “Mystic Haunt Zone,” where the portal to the world of Ifrit is located. Although Rouge has collected only six of the Emeralds, the portal opens anyway, and Nega sends his new copy of Metal Sonic—Metal Sonic 3.0—to awaken the Ifrit. Although the Ifrit unites the minds of Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Rouge (depending on who the player is controlling), it is defeated by the other teams. Shadow and Metal Sonic defeat the Ifrit and close the portal, but they and Eggman Nega are trapped in the Ifrit’s dimension. Metal Sonic, however, rips open his chassis and reveals the 7th Chaos Emerald. Shadow uses the emerald to beam himself back with Metal Sonic. Nega is left trapped beneath the rubble. Sonic and Tails rescue all the Chao and take them to a Chao Garden, where they rest, while Knuckles finds the Master Emerald in the Emerald Detector that he and Rouge stole from Eggman Nega. Rouge steals the Master Emerald and runs off, and Silver returns to what he hopes will be a happy future. Espio has to answer to Vector the Crocodile, who spent their client’s advance payment on overdue rent.