Sonic Advance is a remake of the classic Game Boy Advance platform game for Java phones. It features all the same levels and great gameplay of the original.
Faithful to the original
As with the original Sonic Advance game, you play the part of Sonic the Hedgehog, a blue critter with lightning fast pace. You need to run, roll, jump and avoid the obstacles in order to progress through each of the long levels. There are eight levels in Sonic Advance, divided among four worlds: Neo Green Hill, Secret Base, Angel Island and Paradise Casino.
The graphics in this version of Sonic Advance are exceptional and the Java game recaptures the look, as well as the feel, of the original. The soundtrack is just like the original too, meaning that fans of the game will feel right at home.
Problems with Sonic Advance for phones
The porting of Sonic Advance to mobile phone format does have some disadvantages, however. Depending on your device, the controls can be quite fiddly. There's a lot of fast switching between the run and jump buttons needed, and this is problematic if your keypad or directional buttons are too close together, as they are on the Nokia N85 we tested with.
If your phone is rocking an older, slower processor then you may also experience some lag. Sonic Advance for Java ran well on a Nokia C7, for example, but jerked on occasions on the N85.
Overall though, Sonic Advance is a faithful and highly enjoyable recreation of one of the great Game Boy Advance games.
