Playing the Hero side of the story felt a little lacking and it didn't really feel like a follow up to the first game. It just didn't feel like an "Adventure" game without the Adventure Fields connecting all the stages together, and I preferred the character select of the first game. The story was also the generic stop Eggman again, which isn't necessarily bad but I do think they should have sprinkled in some things about Gerald and his plans, maybe Tails could have decrypted files or maybe them commenting on the Artificial Chaos'? Cause Heroes story alone felt a bit disconnected from the rest of the game.
All that being said though, my opinion started to change as soon as I started Dark side of the story. It's actually where most of if not all of the plot picks up. And I understand that's by design, you don't get to see the villains thoughts and motives while playing as the heroes. But I still think more could have been done/hinted in Heroes side to connect it without spoiling what you eventually fully learn in Dark and Final stories. And I understand why it's probably more streamlined then the first game, with only 3 gameplay modes and no Adventure Field, they probably couldn't fit all that on a disc and wanting to focus more on the story rather then cutting it up from 6 different points of view. With the lack of Adventure Field they should have used the map the stage select post game has in the story to show how the characters are moving from one place to another to give the sense of connection. But overall I did really enjoy the game!
I do think G.U.N. was underutilized, outside of the intro where they arrest Sonic they don't really feel like an actual presence in the game beyond the generic robots you destroy. Which is surprising with how important they were to the backstory behind the events of the game. I do know/think they do more in later games like "Shadow the Hedgehog", but as their debut it was a little underwhelming.
The Chao Garden was also really improved from the first game! I still think more interactivity and minigames would make it better, but what there is was still really nice. (gonna be a little sad the Chao Gardens don't return in future games)
Oh and one last random thing, the Halloween stage was so funny and out of place lmao. Every other stage is normal and makes sense, a city, a prison, a jungle, a dessert, and then a random Halloween themed area in the middle of all that lol.
All that being said though, my opinion started to change as soon as I started Dark side of the story. It's actually where most of if not all of the plot picks up. And I understand that's by design, you don't get to see the villains thoughts and motives while playing as the heroes. But I still think more could have been done/hinted in Heroes side to connect it without spoiling what you eventually fully learn in Dark and Final stories. And I understand why it's probably more streamlined then the first game, with only 3 gameplay modes and no Adventure Field, they probably couldn't fit all that on a disc and wanting to focus more on the story rather then cutting it up from 6 different points of view. With the lack of Adventure Field they should have used the map the stage select post game has in the story to show how the characters are moving from one place to another to give the sense of connection. But overall I did really enjoy the game!
I do think G.U.N. was underutilized, outside of the intro where they arrest Sonic they don't really feel like an actual presence in the game beyond the generic robots you destroy. Which is surprising with how important they were to the backstory behind the events of the game. I do know/think they do more in later games like "Shadow the Hedgehog", but as their debut it was a little underwhelming.
The Chao Garden was also really improved from the first game! I still think more interactivity and minigames would make it better, but what there is was still really nice. (gonna be a little sad the Chao Gardens don't return in future games)
Oh and one last random thing, the Halloween stage was so funny and out of place lmao. Every other stage is normal and makes sense, a city, a prison, a jungle, a dessert, and then a random Halloween themed area in the middle of all that lol.