This page is for the original 2004 port. For the 2011 version, see Sonic Adventure DX (2011). For the Steam version, see Sonic Adventure DX (Steam).
Warnings
- SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see Availability for affected versions).
Key points
- This port, as well as the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and later PC versions, was based on the GameCube version, which saw a multitude of changes that differ from the original Dreamcast version; see this blog for details. Mods can either restore the missing/altered elements from the Dreamcast version, or enhance the features of the GameCube version in this port.
- Includes the unlockable Game Gear games that are missing from later re-releases.
- Poor quality PC port with inferior visual and sound quality compared to previous versions, broken windowed mode, lacks keyboard remapping, and a camera spinning bug with controllers, among other issues; see TCRF for details. A majority of these issues can be resolved with mods.
General information
- Sonic News Network - A massive wiki for the Sonic the Hedgehog universe.
- Sonic Retro - A huge fan site for everything Sonic the Hedgehog. Mods for all the series can also be found here.
Availability
Source |
DRM |
Notes |
Keys |
OS |
Retail |
|
Original European release uses SecuROM 5 DRM. The Sold Out Software re-release uses SafeDisc 4 DRM[Note 1]. The version in the "Sonic PC Collection" bundle, as well as the North American version, uses disc check but no DRM middleware. Use SADX Mod Loader to bypass disc check. |
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- SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
- A demo is available.
- The default desktop icon used by the executable has issues with improper usage of transparency. A fixed version of the icon can be found in the Files section.
Essential improvements
- A mod/patching tool that offers bleeding-edge mod updates, downgrading the later PC re-releases to the 2004 port, advanced and beginner-friendly options for installing mods, multiple mod presets (Dreamcast, Enhanced SADX, Minimal), install necessary dependencies, apply compatibility fixes, and configure SADX Mod Loader's settings before installation.
- Provides a custom configuration tool to customize game settings as well as keyboard and controller bindings.
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
- If using SADX Mod Loader, its configuration file is
SADXModLoader.ini
found under <path-to-game>\mods
. The Input Mod's configuration files are config.ini
and gamecontrollerdb.txt
found under <path-to-game>\mods\sadx-input-mod
.
Save game data location
Video
General settings from external configuration launcher.
Advanced settings from external configuration launcher.
Input
In-game controller remapping from the pause menu.
Audio
In-game language settings.
Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
Separate volume controls |
|
Background muisc, Sound effects/Voice. Both options has individual sliders and can be muted. |
Surround sound |
|
Up to 7.0 output with DirectSound3D restoration software. |
Subtitles |
|
On by default. |
Closed captions |
|
Idle Chatter mod does not use captions. |
Mute on focus lost |
|
|
EAX support |
|
DirectSound3D.[5] |
Localizations
Issues resolved
Broken windowed mode
- The game's windowed mode does not function properly and causes the game to be stretched out to 1434x730, regardless of resolution selected from the game's configuration tool, resulting in grainy and distorted graphics.
Controller causes camera to spin uncontrollably
- Certain controllers may cause the game's camera to spin around and cannot be stopped unless constantly holding down the Whistle button.
Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
Direct3D |
9 |
|
Shader Model support |
2.0a |
|
Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows |
|
|
|
Middleware
Modifications
- This section assumes that you have already patched Sonic Adventure DX with SADX Mod Installer. The later re-releases needs to be downgraded first before modding the game.
- SADX Mod Loader, included with SADX Mod Installer, eases installation of mods without replacing files, as well as configuring game settings and mod options (if available).
Featured websites
Featured mods
Included with SADX Mod Installer (varies by mod presets):
- SADX: Fixed Edition - A suite of bugfixes and minor enhancements for Sonic Adventure DX.
- Input Mod - Replaces the game's DirectInput polls with SDL2 while offering various controller tweaks and keyboard remapping via Virtual Key Codes.
- Smooth Cam - Makes the first-person camera full range and variable speed instead of 8-directional fixed speed.
- Frame Limit - A precise frame rate limiter for the PC version.
- Onion Blur - Reimplements the psuedo-motion blur effect from the Japanese version of Sonic Adventure.
- Dreamcast Conversion - An overhaul project that aims to restore the original features of the Dreamcast version back into the PC version.
- Dreamcast Character Pack - Replaces the higher-poly DX models and textures with their original Dreamcast counterparts.
- Lantern Engine - Reimplements the Dreamcast's original palette lighting. Requires d3d8to9 wrapper to work.
- Dreamcast DLC - Reimplements the lost downloadable contents from the Dreamcast version and recreates them to work with the PC version.
- Sound Overhaul - An audio overhaul project that replaces the low-quality sound files of the PC version with higher-quality ones from the Dreamcast version.
- HD GUI 2 - Remasters the game's HUD and GUI elements for HD resolutions with SADX Mod Loader's UI scaling feature. Uses Dreamcast controller prompts by default, but add-on variants for other controllers are also available.
- Time of Day - Adds a time of day system when transitioning between hub areas.
- Idle Chatter - Adds the ability to hear what your character has to say about the stage by pressing the in-game Z button.
- Pause Hide - Press X+Y to hide the pause menu like the Dreamcast version.
- Super Sonic - Enables the ability to unlock and play as Super Sonic after completing the game's Last Story.
- Enhanced Emerald Coast - Improves Sonic Adventure DX's version of the Emerald Coast stage. Not compatible with the Dreamcast Conversion.
- Egg Carrier Ocean Music - Plays "The Ocean" music in outside areas of the Egg Carrier after it has sunk.
- Steam Achievements - Restores Steam Achievement functionality after downgrading the Steam version of the game.
- Camera Code Error Fix - A speedrun-friendly mod that fixes problems with the camera. Only available to the "Minimal" mod preset in SADX Mod Installer.
Dreamcast enhancements:
- Fixes, Adds, and Beta Restores - Fixes various issues leftover in the Dreamcast version of the game, while adding and restoring cut beta content into the game.
- Minor Palette Fixes - An extension for the Lantern Engine mod that fixes some objects being lit too brightly in Station Square (Night) and Mystic Ruins Chao Garden (Evening).
- Mimic DC Textures - Replaces the textures of the higher-poly DX character models with ones that closely resemble the original Dreamcast version. Recommended for those using the Dreamcast Conversion and related mods included in SADX Mod Installer.
- AI HD Textures - Dreamcast textures upscaled with Topaz AI Gigapixel neural network.
SADX enhancements:
- GameCube Textures - Replaces the heavily compressed textures with their less compressed (and sometimes higher resolution) GameCube equivalents.
- GameCube Style Lighting - Another extension for the Lantern Engine mod that attempts to recreate the lighting as appeared on the GameCube version.
Miscellaneous:
- Sonic Adventure Retranslated - A fan-translation of the game's Japanese script into English. Recommended when playing with the Japanese voice-overs.
- Uekawa-Accurate Colors - Replaces the playable characters' textures with ones that appear more faithfully to Yuji Uekawa's artwork. Compatible with Dreamcast and DX character models.
- No Gloss - Removes the "shininess" (specular highlights) from character models. Should be loaded last in SADX Mod Loader so it affects custom models as well.
- Chao Spin Swap - Swaps the in-game X and B buttons in the Chao Garden. X is to Spin Dash and B is used to grab your Chao.
- Character Select - Change which character loads by holding buttons on the controller.
- Physics Swap - Allows you to swap characters' physics values to another character's.
- AI HD FMVs - All FMVs upscaled to 1080p with Topaz AI Gigapixel neural network.
SASave utility
- A save game editor that can not only modify the PC version's save files (region independent), but it can also modify the Dreamcast (all regions) and GameCube (all regions) version's save files as well. Can be downloaded here.
System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
98, ME |
2000, XP |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Pentium III 600 MHz AMD Athlon 600 MHz |
Intel Pentium III 800 MHz AMD Athlon 800 MHz |
System memory (RAM) |
128 MB |
256 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
700 MB |
1.4 GB |
Video card (GPU) |
16 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0a compatible
| 32 MB of VRAM |
Notes
References