True Area 53 (InstanceTopic, 9)
From Compile Worlds
True Area 53 is the extra zone in Sonic Advance 2. It is home to one of the most annoying and epic battles in the Sonic series. It is unlocked by completing the game as Tails, Knuckles and Cream, and finishing the XX Zone as Sonic with all the Chaos Emeralds (grumble). True Area 53 takes place in outer space, and seems to encompass the space around Earth. Here, the only obstacle is a boss which we shall fondly call the Egg Shrimp. Beating Eggman here unlocks the Good Ending of the game, where Sonic saves Vanilla the Rabbit and the birdies from the desperate clutches of the "good" Doctor. Also notable is the short cutscene that precedes the zone featuring a desperate and tired Eggman recapturing Vanilla, who was just saved moments ago by Cream. This makes Cream cry. Sonic is so infuriated by the sight of his friend crying he goes Super Sonic automagically and proceeds to follow Eggman into space to kick his fat ass.
The Egg Prawn
The Egg Prawn, or was it Egg Shrimp — yeah, that's what we called it earlier — is so named because it resembles a giant shrimp. Why it should be named after a prawn from resembling a shrimp is anyone's guess, but what's certain is that either name is extremely appropriate and time must be wasted rambling about which particular name to go with at any available opportunity. It's also reminiscent of Sonic Adventure's Egg Viper, leading some fans to call it the Egg Viper Mk. 2. Regardless of its name, it is the only boss in the game with a visible cockpit that you cannot see Eggman in. Were it not for Sonic Rush's bosses, this also would have been the only boss in the entire Sonic series with such a cockpit.
Theme
True Area 53 has one of the most epic and awesome musical themes in the Sonic series period. It is made of pure win, and should anyone tell you otherwise, you best go tell them to go die in a fire. It is in the key of B♭. Chao and Keji can both agree it's probably at least one reason it's so frekkin awesome.
Trivia
- This is the second final boss Sonic must make attack itself to win.
- The first was the big Egg ship in the Doomsday zone.
- The Zone's cutscenes contain 4 out of Vanilla's 11 frames in the game.
