Sonic News Network:Sonic Level Tournament/Week 6

Today begins the sixth week of the Ultimate Sonic Level Tournament! Inspired by the Sonic News Network's extremely popular Ultimate Sonic Character Tournament held in 2010, the Sonic Level Tournament has chosen a total of 256 stages, and you, the judges, will narrow down the competition until only one stage is crowned the most popular stage in the Sonic the Hedgehog series!

This week features Sonic Adventure 2 duel between Hero and Dark. Please think through your decision before casting a vote. Note that each stage represents every appearance they have had in the entire Sonic the Hedgehog series. Please vote accordingly.

You have one week! Vote below!



Metal Harbor is the fourth level of the Hero story in Sonic Adventure 2 and the second level of that story where Sonic is playable. As the name implies, it is the harbo of Prison Island located in the sea, meaning that there are lots of platmorms to jump on which are all seperated by water. It has lots of rails to grind on, G.U.N robots patrolling the area and jets that try to launch missiles at Sonic. It is the first level in the Hero story where an important Upgrade can be found. This Upgrade is the Light Speed Shoes from Sonic Adventure, which allow Sonic to dash through lines of rings. Unlike Sonic Adventure, Sonic doesn't need to charge up this time. In the story, Amy just managed to free Sonic from his cell, and now Sonic has to race to the nerby forest to escape the G.U.N. robots and escape with Tails and Amy. Sonic manages to make it by hanging on to a launching rocket. When he arives, however, he encouters Shadow again, resulting in a battle between the two hedgehogs who think the other is a faker.

Weapons Bed is the seventh level of the Dark story of Sonic Adventure 2 and the fourth level Dr. Eggman goes through. The level takes place on the carrier fleet of the G.U.N. military on Prison Island. In the story, Shadow, Rouge and Eggman all come to the island to work together to steal the three Chaos Emeralds. The first part of Eggman's plan is for him to go around the carrier and destroy all of the robotic forces of G.U.N. in order to distract them while Shadow and Rouge sneak in to do their own parts on different levels. That is basically the goal of the level. To reach the end while shooting everything in sight. Dr. Eggman while also need his new Upgrade from the previous level to hover from platform to platform. Speaking of Upgrades, the one in this level is the Large Cannon, an optional Upgrade that deals more damage than the regular cannon and can break steel containers. After beating this level, Eggman encounters Amy, which leads into a fight with Tails and his Cyclone.

Which is the better stage? Metal Harbor Weapons Bed



The fifth stage of the Hero Mode in Sonic Adventure 2, Green Forest is a natural forest level located on Prison Island that is played with Sonic the Hedgehog. In the level, Sonic encounters Shadow the Hedgehog a second time, but after beating Shadow, Dr. Eggman alerts the black hedgehog that the island will blow up in exactly eight minutes. Hearing this makes Sonic worried, and thus he must save Tails and Amy before the island blows up. With a level that must be completed within eight minutes, this level is out to give you a ride. Not only that, but the pre-battle with Shadow the Hedgehog is a battle that no one should ever forget!

The ninth level in the Dark Mode story of Sonic Adventure 2, White Jungle is, like its Hero Mode counterpart, a jungle stage located on Prison Island. Played by Shadow the Hedgehog, the stage first starts off with a fight between Shadow and Sonic himself! However, after Dr. Eggman tells Shadow a bomb will explode the island within less than ten minutes, he decides to rescue Rouge the Bat and the Chaos Emeralds (who are stuck inside the Security Hall level) from ultimate destruction! White Jungle, however, is not actually white.

Which is the better stage? Green Forest White Jungle



Pumpkin Hill is Knuckles' 2nd stage in the Hero story of SA2. It's a stage with a Halloween theme, as there are ghosts everywhere. This stage also contains 3 main areas: Pumpkin Mountain contains lots of pumpkins (obviously) and fire breathing skulls that can impede the player in their quest in finding the pieces of the master emerald. Church Mountain has a church on its summit. There is also tombstones resembling a cemetery. And Ghost Train Mountain contains several different trains with many rails and a turntable. The Shovel Claws found here are mandatory, because there is at least one emerald shard buried underground. This can be one spooky stage. Watch out, or the ghosts will say "BOO!!"

Sky Rail is the 11th stage of the dark story of SA2, and is played by Shadow. This stage has plenty of rails to grind on, and there is an area that can be hard to see for many players. This stage also bears a strong resemblance to Pumpkin Hill, only it's played in the daytime. The Bounce Spinner can be used to take the player to high places when the homing attack is used. Dust off your Soap shoes and get ready to grind on this awesome stage!

Which is the better stage? Pumpkin Hill Sky Rail



Death Chamber is a level playable only for Knuckles in Sonic Adventure 2. It is the twelth stage for Hero Story amd the fourth stage for Knuckles. Sonic and his friends have finnaly found Eggman's base, and now know where the rocket to get to the Space Collony Ark is. The only problem is that they can not get through the base without the keys to open the locked doors. Sonic pursuads Knuckles to go look for them. In this level, instead of finding the master emerald pieces like usual, you are looking for 3 keys. The stage has three different kind of stages that are almost identical to each other, but may not have the keys in the same places. The sections are labeled as blue, yellow, and red. Knuckles can find the hammer gloves upgrade which allows him to now destroy metal crates. After this level, Knuckles inconfronted by King Boo Boom and must defeat him. Once Knuckles has done so, Sonic and his friends run into Eggman. He sends out his Egg Golem which must be defeated by Sonic.

Egg Quarters is a stage playable by only Rouge in Sonic Adventure 2. It is the fifth stage in Dark Story and the second level played as Rouge. Instead of trying to find the scattered pieces of the Master Emerald, Rouge is looking for keys in order to advance in Eggman's base. This stage is very similar to Knuckles' Death Chamber because it's set in the same area and in both levels the player is trying to find keys. One main obstacle you should be noted of is the Egg Beetle, which roam around throughout the whole stage. They are virtually indestructible and will attack Rouge at any time she is spotted. One flaw is that these machines can not see in the dark, so it's smart to hide in the shadows of this stage. Rouge can find her pick nails upgrade in this stage which allow her to dig into the ground

Which Stage is better? Death Chamber Egg Quarters



Looks like Tails is going to have to escape from the city in Sonic Adventure 2's Mission Street! In the 7th stage of the Hero's story, blast your way through city streets and high bridges. Destroy the military forces in your way, thy will stop at nothing to end your adventure, even to the point of flash bombing the highyway. The layout of the level is very similar to Radical Highway. It's a nightime, earthquake-filled city street of terror based off of Mission Street, CA.

Make your way through the dark, old, dusty, abandoned Space Colony ARK with Eggman in Sonic Adventure 2's Lost Colony. In the Dark story's 6th level, the ARK is still shut down, and the only thing activated are the guard robots. The only lights are the dim headlights of the Egg Walker, and the explosions from the numerous G.U.N robots. A vital upgrade is found in a dark, maze like corridor, that goes around in circles. Watch out for all the robot's though. While their destruction provides temporary light, their is strength in numbers. This stage is very memorable, the only problem is that you won't be seeing anything to remember!

Which Stage is better? Mission Street Lost Colony



“Let’s Take a Dive, in Aquatic Mine.” Aquatic Mine is the eighth stage in the Hero Story of Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. This stage is only playable as Knuckles. In this stage Knuckles must once again locate 3 more pieces of the master emerald in a haunted sewer, which ironically has music which creates a relaxing ambiance. Both of these things combined gives off a very unsettling vibe. The fact that it’s also a water stage and a chance you may drown getting an important power up, makes this stage more scary then Pumpkin Hill to some. In addition to that there are also 3 switches which control the water level, to pull off necessary things you couldn’t do before, in order to get the emerald shards.Also if your scarred of Big Baddies come to get you,then not to worry, there is no boss to this stage.

“Rouge set the timer for 15 minutes!” Security Hall is Rouge's third stage and the eighth stage in Dark story line. In this stage, Rouge must find 3 chaos emeralds inside a high security vault room in less than 5 minutes (No joke). Now if you’re thinking “Wow that sounds intense” then you’d be right. This stage is heart poundingly intense, challenging you to think outside of the box as quickly and creatively at possible. The music “I’m a Spy” makes it even more intense, with constant build up still with a Rouge vibe to it. Fortunately the stage is not frustrating and just a good spirited challenge. Die a lot or not you cannot deny the over the top intense action feel this stage has. To top all of it off the stage ends with a boss battle against a giant G.U.N robot Rouge must defeat to (supposedly) escape in time.

Which Stage is better? Aquatic Mine Security Hall



Route 101 is the ninth stage in hero story for Sonic Adventure 2. It is playable with Tails only and the player controls Him in his Cyclone but transformed in the form of a race cart. The main goal of the level is to reach the president in his car. The stage is a road in the sky and Tails must navigate through the track. The stage is filled with rings and balloons which can give you ring bonus. After this level or Route 280 (depending on which story you decide to do first) is complete, kart racing will be unlocked and can be played through the start menu. This stage was based off of the U.S. Route 101 which runs through the west side of the U.S.

Route 280 is the tenth stage in Dark Story of Sonic Adventure 2. It is playable by Rouge only and is the dark version of Route 101. She is riding in a race kart and is trying to chase after Tails after discovering that he was rewarded a Chaos Emerald and has one in his possession. It has a lot less rings, balloons, and checkpoints than Route 101. Also, there are many gaps and turns that if fallen into would make you have to start over. Therefore this is a harder stage than Route 101. After completing this level or Route 101 (depending on which story you decided to complete first) you will unlock the kart race which is available from the start menu. This stage was based off of Intersante 280 in San Francisco Bay.

Which Stage is better? Route 101 Route 280



The tenth stage in the Hero Story and Tails' fourth playable stage, Hidden Base is a challenging stage filled surrounded with quicksand and rising platforms, very similar to Eggman's level Sand Ocean, but in the daytime! After the hero gang (Knuckles, Sonic, Tails and Amy) reconcile in Central City, Knuckles leads them to Eggman's secret base in the desert. Finding Rouge there, Knuckles chases after her, concluding that Eggman is in fact in the base. Tails volunteers to find the entrance, ending up in this stage! Make your way through the difficult obstacles and dark pathways, and you'll find Eggman (as well as Tails' Mystic Melody powerup!) in no time!

Pyramid Cave is the eleventh stage in the Hero Story. The player controls Sonic through this topsy-turvy stage inside Eggman's base, running on walls and opening secret passageways via lock and key. Filled with many minor gimmicks, such as hourglass activated doors and giant rings you can go through to gain points, Sonic must make his way through the dimly lit stage to find Eggman. It may seem difficult at first, filled with high ledges that seem almost impossible to overcome, Sonic gains the Bounce Bracelet powerup here, arguably one of the best powerups in the series! Just make sure you don't get scared and attacked by the ghosts here, and you're golden!

Which Stage is better? Hidden Base Pyramid Cave