Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast)/Version Differences

This is a sub-page of Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast).

To do: According to PkR, some of the SET layouts were modified between the U.S. 1.0 and later versions. Find the differences and compare them.

While Sonic Adventure was being localized during the nine-month gap between the Japanese and worldwide releases, Sonic Team fixed certain programming errors and added some unimplemented features, resulting in a slightly more refined version of the game. This version was brought to Japan under the title Sonic Adventure International, with minimal differences besides the title screen. International would also be used as the basis for subsequent ports. Build dates are listed below, extracted from IP.BIN:

• Japan: December 10, 1998
• U.S. 1.0: August 12, 1999
• Europe: September 9, 1999
• International: September 20, 1999
• U.S. 1.1: October 5, 1999

Graphical Differences

Title Screen

The title screen went through four different iterations; the original Japanese and US 1.0 release was just a static image that didn't have a fade in. The US 1.1/European version added a ripple effect to the background and shine to the foreground, and the International included its subtitle.

Japanese	US 1.0
Europe/US 1.1	Sonic Adventure International

Sonic's Running Animation

Japanese	International

In the original Japanese releases only, Sonic's running animation in top speed has a unique blurring "wheel" effect akin to the classic games. It is subtle and similar to the blurs used for Tails' tails and spin jumps. However, this can only be seen when Sonic runs at absolute maximum speed, coming off of a spin dash or dash pad (simply running in one direction is insufficient). All Dreamcast versions of Sonic Adventure distort Sonic's feet at this speed, but only the original Japanese version blurs it. It was probably removed due to being very difficult to see during regular gameplay. A similar effect would only surface 15 years later in Sonic Lost World.

It should be noted that the distortion effect can only be seen with Sonic's regular shoes - with the Light Speed Shoes, Sonic's feet won't distort at all.

Casinopolis

Japanese	International

One of the more infamous and well-documented changes from the original 1998 Japanese version would be the stylized cowgirl billboard that possibly is inspired by the real life Vegas Vickie sign and waves a 3D martini glass in the Casinopolis action stage, which made suggestive moans whenever it was attacked or jumped on. It was replaced by an innocuous Casinopolis decoration.

Japanese	International

In addition, the pinball boards in Casinopolis can now be shaken to adjust Sonic's trajectory, and there is a new ball counter during its gameplay.

Hedgehog Hammer

Even though it was already in English, the Hedgehog Hammer screen was updated. The text scrolls faster (which makes it begin to loop), and the default high score (or "hi score" in the original version) now has the name Doctor Robotnik rather than Eggman:

Japanese	International

Furthermore, the text for winning was changed to fix Engrish:

Japanese	International
HISCORE GET FIGHTERS FEATHER GET LONG HAMMER GET	YOU GOT THE HIGH SCORE. YOU GET THE WARRIOR FEATHER. YOU GET THE LONG HAMMER.

Camera Differences

Station Square

The camera at the starting point for Station Square was changed for later releases:

Japanese	International

The camera in front of the hotel is also different. However, the old angle can still be seen briefly while entering the hotel.

Japanese	International

The camera above the entrance to the sewer zooms out much more in the original Japanese version:

Japanese	International

The shop in the City Hall area of Station Square also has very different camera angles:

Exterior:

Japanese	International

Interior:

Japanese	International

Mystic Ruins

The camera angle when starting at the train in the Mystic Ruins in the original Japanese version is closer than the other versions.

Japanese	International

Twinkle Park

The camera at the bowling area is higher in the Japanese version:

Japanese	International

Lost World

The camera angle when following the trail of rings at the end of the dark room was changed:

Japanese	International

Final Egg

The camera in the small areas before the long running sections is viewed from the point of the item box in the Japanese version:

Japanese	International

Chao Gardens

The camera in the Japanese version's Chao Gardens is actually offset slightly in front of the player - which can easily be seen when fully zoomed in. The camera was adjusted to center the player in later versions.

Japanese	International

Cutscene Differences

Sonic

The camera that focuses on Tails in the cutscene where Sonic sees him crash into Emerald Coast was changed in later versions to be further away from Tails:

Japanese	International

A small part of the scene where Sonic and Tails are ambushed by Eggman outside Casinopolis was changed in later versions:

Japanese	International

• The scene in Sky Chase where Eggman destroys the Tornado is a lot faster in the Japanese version.

The scene after Sky Chase as Sonic uses completely different cameras:

Japanese	International

One of the cameras in the scene after Sonic and Tails land on the Egg Carrier was changed, likely due to the pool building being out of range:

Japanese	International

The camera in the scene where Sonic talks about transforming the Egg Carrier back into its original shape overshoots a little in the Japanese version:

Japanese	International

Tails

A camera in the scene where Tails encounters Big was changed:

Japanese	International

Furthermore, later versions extended the scene to add a part where Tails runs in the direction of his workshop:

Japanese	International

In the scene where Tails arrives at Station Square with Amy, one of the cameras was repositioned slightly to center on Tails:

Japanese	International

Knuckles

One of the cameras in the scene where Knuckles witnesses a moment between Tikal and her father was changed:

Japanese	International

• The scene where Knuckles arrives at the Mystic Ruins after Chaos 2 plays Tikal's theme in the Japanese version. In other versions, it plays the regular Mystic Ruins music.

One of the cameras in the scene where Knuckles threatens Sonic was also repositioned slightly:

Japanese	International

Amy

The camera after Amy finishes her intro cutscene was changed:

Japanese	International

When Amy goes to Twinkle Park, Sonic disappears when she leaves the elevator. This was fixed in other versions of the game:

Japanese	International

Gamma

Gamma's last line (where he declares he must save his friends) was given a new camera that shows him landing, rather than flying into the ground.

Japanese	International

After Windy Valley, the wall to Angel Island will open. In the Japanese version, Gamma is mistakenly placed next to the train with an odd camera. Gamma was correctly moved to the entrance of Windy Valley in other versions:

Japanese	International

Super Sonic

The positions of the Chaos Emeralds during the intro cutscene with Knuckles are different:

Japanese	International

• In the Japanese version, Chaos can be heard making Chao sounds when appearing and transforming in Tikal's flashback. This was removed in later versions.

Menu Differences

There are more options available, such as a complete English voice track added alongside the original Japanese. The in-game text can be selected in five different languages: English, Japanese, German, French and Spanish. Other languages tend to follow the English script rather than the Japanese one (for example, references to Dr. Robotnik).

Japanese	International

The original Japanese version also has no Emblem Results option in the Trial menu.

Japanese	International

All the levels in trial mode are sorted by their internal IDs rather than the order the selected character plays them in. Despite this, the stage list is still shown in the proper order in the Japanese manual.

Japanese	International

For an example, this is the full level list for Sonic:

Japanese	International
Emerald Coast Windy Valley Twinkle Park Speed Highway Red Mountain Sky Deck Lost World Icecap Casinopolis Final Egg	Emerald Coast Windy Valley Casinopolis Icecap Twinkle Park Speed Highway Red Mountain Sky Deck Lost World Final Egg

The stage list on the hidden level select can only be seen in the Japanese version and the original US version. In all versions with an animated title screen the list is blank, though the stages can still be selected.

Japanese/US 1.0	Europe/US 1.1/International

The VMU screen that appears upon selecting the internet option is different depending on which version of the game is used:

Japanese	Europe	Sonic Adventure International

Object Differences

Twinkle Park Platform

A platform was added at the end of the rollercoaster in Act 2 as Sonic:

Japanese	International

Twinkle Park Item Box

A Shield box was changed into a Speed shoes box in Amy's Twinkle Park. (The speed shoes don't actually affect Amy's speed though, rendering them useless.)

Japanese	International

Sky Deck Life

A Life box was added near the beginning of Sky Deck:

Japanese	International

Lost World Spikes

The falling spike traps in Lost World were significantly changed in later versions to fall as a synchronised bar, rather than individual segments:

Japanese	International

Lost World Capsule

The capsule at the end of Lost World was centered in later versions:

Japanese	International

Final Egg Springs

A set of springs in Final Egg 2 were changed to be located on the ground, rather than on the wall. Sonic's running path is altered to accommodate for this change:

Japanese	International

Hot Shelter Hint Box

A hint box in Big's Hot Shelter was moved for the western release. However, it wasn't correctly rotated to match up with its new location - the player moves through the wall slightly trying to read the box. The nearby glass was also lowered slightly.

Japanese	International

Egg Carrier Doors

A green barrier was added over doors inside the Egg Carrier when they're locked while playing through Gamma's story.

Japanese	International

Chao Stadium Omochao

The two Omochaos in the Chao Stadium were changed to be closer to the walls:

Japanese	International

Other Differences

• The identifying strings within the game's normal save files were changed, making them incompatible with the previous version unless a save editor is used to alter the region settings. The A-Life files, however, are completely identical and are interchangeable between the two.
• In later versions of the game it is impossible to stand on the head of the Burger man.
• Much of the game's collision was updated and minor bugs were fixed. Notably, a glitch that allowed Sonic to enter Big's sewer area was fixed in International.
• The Japanese version always starts the game in Japanese due to lacking other languages. Other versions always start in English unless the Dreamcast's BIOS language is set to Japanese.
• Optional rumble support was added in later versions.
• There were also more robust features on the internet for those who had their Dreamcasts online, with a functional Black Market exclusively on Japanese servers.
• The characters' standing poses are more animated while holding an object in the Japanese version. In the western release, they stand still while holding an object.
• There are fewer voice clips played in the Japanese version, such as the lack of an announcer for the train station and Twinkle Park. Other notable voices include Gamma having very few sounds and certain Tikal hints being silent.
  • Characters who are idle for a long period of time are silent in the original Japanese version. In other versions, they make a comment based on their surroundings.
• The target for Froggy is always shown in the Japanese version when fighting Chaos 6 as Big. In other versions, it only appears when Froggy moves around.
• In the Japanese version's trial mode, after a stage's title card is displayed the player is able to move before the screen finishes fading in. In later versions (and if you die or restart the stage) there's a noticeable delay before the player gains control.
• Music tracks are 44100hz in the Japanese release, while international releases downsampled them to 22050hz to make room for the English dub.