Multiplayer Mode (SA2/SA2B)
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[edit] Action Race
The objective of Action Race is simple. There is a Goal Ring at the end of a linear Stage, and you, my friend, have to make it there before your opponent does.
[edit] Characters
There are four characters playable in the game. The game does apply its own ratings to each individual character (from one to five stars) - however, the two 'non-story' characters are greatly different from the two 'story' characters, so experiment with them to see who suits you best. And remember - it's not about who's the 'coolest', it's about who's the best for you.
[edit] Sonic
The Blue Blur is, logically, the central character of the main game, and indeed of the Action Race Mode. Equal to Shadow in every gameplay-related way in this mode, Sonic is the "Mr. Average" of the mode. With a blend of speed and power, Sonic should be used moderately strategically. Speed ahead when you need to, but never forget to use your special attacks when necessary.
[edit] Shadow
Darker, colder and strangely fluffier than Sonic, Shadow is, as far as this mode goes, Sonic's equal. Exactly equal to Sonic in everything other than appearance and the colours of his attacks, Shadow can be played exactly as you would play Sonic. Note that although Sonic gains a couple of abilities with Shadow cannot use in the Story Mode, he cannot use them in Multiplayer Mode. Strategies: As with Sonic, Shadow mixes speed with power, and should be with a moderate level of strategy. Speed ahead when you need to, but never forget to use your special attacks when necessary.
[edit] Amy Rose
Much as in the Sonic Advance series, Amy isn't quick, but she packs a massive punch. Experienced Amy players will be playing a much more strategic game than any of the male hedgehogs, and using Amy's low-cost abilities at the correct times can really give her the upper hand. She isn't particularly good when there aren't many Rings available or when there isn't much room to mess around with the stage (Pyramid Race is the bane of her existence!), but on longer stages, she can really mess her opponents up. She may seem like the obligatory 'beginner' character, but she is deadly in the correct hands.
[edit] Metal Sonic
Silent and programmed to kill, Metal Sonic is ready to show the organic hedgehogs just what a speed-crazy machine can do when he sets his processor to it! If you've played as Metal Sonic in Sonic R, you may know what to expect from Metal Sonic in terms of his movement speed - he's absolutely ridiculously fast. He may be programmed to be a merciless, emotionless killing machine, but Metal Sonic's unique factor is his lack of any special attacks whatsoever! His only unique ability is 'Black Shield', which is triggered by repeatedly pressing the B button. On the other hand, Metal Sonic is unbelievably fast, and can beat anyone else with ease on courses with few Rings or few opportunities to mess around with the stage. However, his lack of special attacks really works against him in higher level stages, where long straightaways are rare and Rings are everywhere.
[edit] General Tips
Play 'in-character'. Metal Sonic is built for pure speed, Amy is best off playing strategically, and Sonic and Shadow are best off using a combination of speed and strategy.
It's the easiest, cheapest and most irritating trick in the big book of multiplayer games, but hey, it works! Glance at your opponent's half of the screen every now and again to see where they are. When they're flying off a rail and showing off with their super-brilliant-amazing-nearly-impossible-to-do air trick and you're a few seconds behind them, launch off your special attack and watch them helplessy be paralysed as they fall into oblivion. Just make sure you get past wherever they were when you did that to them before they revive, otherwise they may well do the same to you!
Save your special attacks for when you need them. While time freezing abilities can be used at any time, it's best to wait for your opponent to be in mid-air first, then fire it off. This will hopefully cause their button-mashing to work against them when they can move again! Purely offensive attacks are best used in a situation when the opponent is in mid-air (see above), and confusion-inducing attacks can be used just about anywhere (especially if the opponent is trying to switch rails in the Pyramid Race!).
If you're really lagging behind your opponent or you just don't like a certain part of the Stage, hang back. When they pass through a checkpoint (or just beforehand), intentionally die and you will revive at that checkpoint! However, be aware that you can catch someone out if they try to use this trick against you, by jumping OVER the checkpoint as they jump to their deaths on your approach to it. Follow this trick up with a good time freeze against the opponent who unwittingly helped you through the Stage, and watch them go ballistic in frustration!
Similar to the above trick, try this one. Note that this is especially cruel, and should not be attempted against a good friend. It is, however, very good for over-confident opponents who claim that they are so good that they can defeat you without having to pass through any checkpoints. Oh yes... If the opponent is a full length between two checkpoints ahead of you but they have somehow missed a checkpoint somewhere, wait until they have passed through a later checkpoint, then pass through the earlier one. Then, just before they reach the next checkpoint (or the Goal Ring!), use an attack to send them falling into oblivion. Miss the checkpoint which they were approaching if you've caught up sufficiently, and they will have a LOT of catching up to do!
[edit] Shooting Battle
The Shooting Battle is vastly different from the Action Race. While the first level of stages are basically races to the end of a linear course with little interaction between the different players, the second and third levels are single-screen combat zones in which separate machines do battle. The fourth level arenas are secret, but let me tell you, they're something special...
[edit] Characters
[edit] Miles 'Tails' Prower
While Sonic is distracted in one way by Shadow and Knuckles is distracted in more than one way by Rouge, Tails' task this time is to tackle the main villain of the Sonic - Dr. Robotnik himself! With his Tornado II, he is certainly capable of doing that! The average character in this mode, Tails has both speed and power on his side.
[edit] Dr. Eggman (aka Dr. Ivo Robotnik)
The Eggman with the master plan, Ivo is Tails' rival. Determined that you will know his real power, the Doctor is essentially the same as Tails in terms of abilities, only with a few more devilishly evil attack titles. The Doctor's crazy contraption is equal to Tails', and while they may look very different, they both have equal power, speed and collision detection zones.
[edit] Chao Walker
Tails created this adorable machine as a battle armour for the also adorable Chao. It isn't particularly powerful, but it can move very quickly. Its weapons will defend it if necessary, and its speed make it very manoeuvrable. Quick but weak, to sum it up. The Chao Walker is faster than anyone else and is very agile, but takes a while to do much damage to any opponents. It's best to play keep-away with this machine, and get in and out very quickly.
[edit] Dark Chao Walker
Created by Dr. Eggman, the Dark Chao Walker is the pinnacle of Dark Chao engineering and technology. Complete with missile launchers and a built-in death ray as standard, this is one mean and mighty machine! Think of Dark Chao Walker as your obligatory boss opponent - brutally powerful, but slow. This devilish device is more powerful than anyone else, but moves slowly. It functions best in a battle of attrition.
[edit] General Tips
Play 'in-character'. Tails and Eggman are all-rounders, while the Dark Chao Walker is designed to strike slowly but forcefully and the Chao Walker is designed to be quick but at the sacrifice of attack power.
Knocking your opponent over the edge of the arena with a punch attack may seem cheap, but it works!
Special attacks can work against you - even your own! If an opponent dodges your death ray, you are vulnerable to attack. Mash buttons to cancel the attack before they strike...
[edit] Treasure Hunt
Treasure Hunt sees the players exploring vast stages, searching for treasure. Of course, they can attack each other, activate objects, hide in corners and do all manner of other things to prevent their opponents from winning...!
[edit] Characters
[edit] Knuckles
Possibly Sonic's most shaky alliance, Knuckles is often deceived by Dr. Eggman. However, when he is on someone's side, they have a protective and powerful, if not particularly bright, battle partner. Knuckles is both fast and powerful, and his aerial combat skills are very good.
[edit] Rouge
Deceptively clever and strategic, Rouge may not excel when it comes to keeping cover, but she's very good at seeking out jewels. Just don't make her lose her incredibly short temper, because her fangs and feet hurt. This is the only multiplayer mode in which the two main characters differ at all from each other. Rouge isn't quite as fast as Knuckles, but she seems to be better in the air.
[edit] Tikal
A young, female echidna from the ancient days of Knuckles' race, Tikal can call upon the power of the ancients to aid her in combat. Strategies: Tikal is the quickest of the characters, but her radar only starts from 'yellow', and her attacks have a very short range. She is good for waiting for an opponent to come within range of an object, then rush in and take it for herself! Sneaky or what?
[edit] Chaos Zero
The animated blob of H20 returns to the battlefield in the Treasure Hunt mode! Strategies: Chaos Zero isn't particularly quick, but he has a massive attack range. Very good for fighting opponents in small stages, but he is at a disadvantage on the larger stages.
[edit] General Tips
Play 'in-character'. Chaos Zero is designed for melee combat, Tikal excels in speed, and Knuckles and Rouge are good at both, as well as aerial combat.
Try knocking your opponent out of the stage. Just beware of their soon-coming counter-attack...
If someone hits you with a confusion attack, try jumping of the edge of the stage if you're near the starting point. That way, you will be able to counter-attack with a confusion attack of your own!
Regardless of who gets a clue, both players will be able to view them on the pause screen.
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