GET A-LIFE

How Sonic jumped on the virtual pet boom

one of the more popular diversions in Sonic

Adventure is the ability to raise the small

Chao creatures – a concept that actually has its roots in a previous Sonic team title. “the nightopians (a-life system) in NIGHTS were put in to change the game in areas where there weren’t any obstacles. i think it was very successful in providing a fresh experience every time you play,” explains iizuka. “i created the

Chao Garden as a way of applying the a-life idea to the Sonic universe, to make sure there was some motivation to repeated playing of the same stages. that’s why you get the small animals in the action stages, and that’s why the Chao can be raised and cared for.” the Chao can be found and raised in three Chao Gardens, each of which is connected to an adventure Field. by bringing the small animals you find in regular stages to Chao, they’ll gain statistical boosts and change in appearance, often taking on the characteristics of the animals they meet.

since the game arrived during the height of the tamagotchi craze, it’s also possible to take your Chao out with you on the dreamcast’s vmu, via the minigame Chao adventure. this simple game allows your Chao to encounter sonic and friends and get into fights. in the Gamecube version, the Game boy advance is used to host the more involved tiny Chao Garden. once you’ve got a world-beating Chao, you can take it to the races in the main game and try to win some emblems.