Sonic Adventure DX (2011)

This page is for 2011 version. For the original 2003/2004 port, see Sonic Adventure DX.

Sonic Adventure DX

Developers
	Sonic Team
Windows	Sega of China
Publishers
	Sega
Release dates
Windows	February 22, 2011
Taxonomy
Monetization	One-time game purchase
Microtransactions	None
Modes	Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing	Real-time
Perspectives	Third-person
Controls	Direct control
Genres	Action, Adventure, Platform
Sports	Fishing
Vehicles	Flight
Art styles	Cartoon
Themes	Contemporary
Series	Sonic Adventure, Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic Adventure
Subseries of Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic Adventure DX	2003
Sonic Adventure DX (2011)	2011
Sonic Adventure 2	2012

Sonic Adventure DX (2011) is a cartoon third-person platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. It is a PC port of the 2010 Xbox 360 version of Sonic Adventure DX, which itself is based on the 2003/2004 PC port.

This version of Sonic Adventure DX was released as part of the Dreamcast Collection on February 22, 2011. This version of Sonic Adventure DX addresses some of the issues with the previous 2003/2004 PC release, but notably removes the unlockable Sega Game Gear games present in that version.

The 2011 version of the game version must be converted to the 2003/2004 PC port for compatibility with community modifications. Initially, CheakFreak's BetterSADX was widely considered the standard package for converting the 2011 release and installing mods; however, it has since been succeeded in popularity by SADX Mod Installer due to its increased modularity, updates, and additional features.

General information

Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		Part of Dreamcast Collection. StarForce 5.70 DRM.
Humble Store
Steam		DRM-free if Steam is not installed or by creating a steam_appid.txt file containing its Steam App ID number 71250 in <path-to-game>.
GamersGate (unavailable)
Games for Windows Marketplace (unavailable)		Part of Dreamcast Collection.

StarForce DRM for this game may not work on modern versions of Windows (see above for affected releases).

A faithful higher resolution desktop icon can be downloaded from the Files section; it can also be applied to the game's executable with SADX Mod Installer.

Version differences

The Steam version received an update on September 15, 2014, adding native Vsync and FXAA support, achievements, and fixing issues with input and the configuration tool. However it also introduced unique issues, such as the game's frame-rate intermittently reducing from 60 FPS to 40 FPS.

Monetization

Type	Notes
One-time game purchase	The game requires an upfront purchase to access.

Microtransactions

Type	Notes
No microtransactions	None

Essential improvements

SADX Mod Installer

A modding and patching tool that features both advanced and beginner-friendly options for installing mods, in addition to coming pre-installed with mod presets, necessary dependencies, and compatibility fixes.

Downgrades the game to the 2004 PC port, which is required for mod support.

Provides a custom configuration tool to customize game settings as well as keyboard and controller bindings.

Recommended enhancement mods

Improvement Mods that are not bundled with the SADX Mod Installer.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\Documents\SEGA\Sonic Adventure DX\config.ini %USERPROFILE%\Documents\SEGA\Dreamcast Collection\Sonic Adventure DX\config.ini
Steam	<path-to-game>\*.xml
Steam Play (Linux)	<SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/71250/pfx/

SADX Mod Installer moves the game's configuration file to <path-to-game> and the current version of SA Mod Manager moves its related files to %localappdata%\SAManager\SADX.

The configuration tool for non-Steam versions has problems with saving settings. See here for details.

Save game data location

System	Location
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\Documents\SEGA\Sonic Adventure DX\SAVEDATA %USERPROFILE%\Documents\SEGA\Dreamcast Collection\Sonic Adventure DX\SAVEDATA
Steam Play (Linux)	<SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/71250/pfx/

SonicAdventure##.snc is the game's save data for each save slot. Up to 10 save slots are available.

SonicAdventureChaoGarden.snc is the game's Chao Garden save data.

Older versions of SADX Mod Installer move the save files to <path-to-game>\SAVEDATA.

Save files can be converted to be compatible with the 2004 PC port with SADX Mod Installer.

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
OneDrive		Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers.
Steam Cloud

Video

External configuration launcher settings (non-Steam versions).

Graphics tab from external configuration tool (Steam version).

Graphics feature	State	WSGF	Notes
Widescreen resolution			The game is pillarboxed to 4:3 in widescreen resolutions. Use SA Mod Manager included with SADX Mod Installer and disable Force 4:3 Aspect Ratio under its graphics settings for widescreen support.
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen			Use SA Mod Manager included with SADX Mod Installer for 21:9 widescreen.
4K Ultra HD			Non-Steam versions are limited to 1280x720 only. Use SA Mod Manager included with SADX Mod Installer for 4K resolution.
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
Borderless fullscreen windowed		Steam version only. Use SADX Mod Installer, then enable Borderless and Fullscreen under SA Mod Manager's graphics settings.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)		Steam version only. Use SADX Mod Installer, then enable Force Mipmapping in SA Mod Manager's graphics settings and force anisotropic filtering via GPU control panel.
Anti-aliasing (AA)		FXAA on/off for the Steam version. See Anti-aliasing (AA).
Vertical sync (Vsync)		No option in the 2011 version, but is always on by default. If using SADX Mod Installer, check Enable V-sync in SA Mod Manager's graphics settings or force it via GPU control panel.
60 FPS		In-engine cutscenes are capped at 30 FPS. While they can be switched to 60 FPS via a cheat in the SA Mod Manager after downgrading to the 2004 port, they will play at double the speed.
120+ FPS		Gameplay is capped to 60 FPS.
High dynamic range display (HDR)		See the glossary page for potential alternatives.
Ray tracing (RT)		The Sonic Adventure Remix mod implements real-time path tracing using Nvidia RTX Remix tools. The mod can be installed with the installer exe, and requires the Dreamcast Conversion mod; which is included in the also-required SADX Mod Installer. Make sure the preinstalled "Lantern Engine" mod is disabled.
Color blind mode		See the glossary page for potential workarounds.

Anti-aliasing (AA)

Use Nvidia Profile Inspector (Nvidia only)

Create an application profile. Add Sonic Adventure DX.exe to the profile that was just created; for the Dreamcast Collection version, also add Sonic.exe. Change the value of Antialiasing compatibility to 0x000000C1. Notes This fix allows MSAA, SGSSAA, OGSSAA, or OGSSAA-based HSAA (with or without SGSSAA) to be forced through Nvidia Profile Inspector. If using the Dreamcast Collection version for this fix, forced anti-aliasing will only work when the display resolution for the game is set to 640x480.

Use SADX Mod Installer and force anti-aliasing through GPU control panel

Input

Keyboard remapping from external configuration tool (Steam version).

Controller remapping from external configuration tool (Steam version).

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse acceleration
Mouse input in menus
Keyboard and mouse prompts
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Full controller support
Controller remapping		For non-Steam versions, the Start button is hardcoded to Button 8 and the Right Stick camera axes cannot be remapped.
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion

Controller types

XInput-compatible controllers		The D-pad is not supported in the Steam version. Use the Input Mod included with SADX Mod Installer for improved XInput support.
Xbox button prompts		Non-Steam versions only use keyboard prompts; the Steam version uses Xbox 360 prompts with XInput controllers. Use SADX Mod Installer then install either the Xbox 360 Prompts or Xbox One Prompts mods.
Impulse Trigger support

DirectInput-compatible controllers

PlayStation controllers		DualShock 4 Although the game recognizes DualShock 4 controllers as a generic DirectInput controller, the extra trigger axes causes uncontrollable camera spinning similarly to the 2003/2004 PC port, which cannot be remapped in this version. Use the Input Mod included with SADX Mod Installer for improved DualShock 4 support, however, its configuration tool does have an issue with remapping controls (see here).
PlayStation button prompts		Use SADX Mod Installer, then install the DualShock 3 Prompts or PlayStation 4 Prompts mod.
Motion sensors support
Light bar support
Adaptive trigger support
DualSense haptic feedback support
Connection modes	Wired, Wireless (Bluetooth) V2 tested.

Nintendo controllers

Other controller(s)		Some DirectInput controllers may not work properly with this game.
Additional button prompts		No controller prompts whatsoever.

Additional information
Controller hotplugging
Input prompt override
Haptic feedback
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Audio

Audio settings tab from external configuration tool (Steam version).

In-game settings.

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls		Sliders for Sound FX, Voice, BGM.
Surround sound
Subtitles		On by default.
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English				Dubtitles only. Use SADX Mod Installer, then install Sonic Adventure Retranslated if playing the game with Japanese voice-overs and English subtitles.
French				Dubtitles only. Use French Retranslation if playing with Japanese audio and French subtitles.
German
Hebrew				Fan translation, download.
Italian				Fan translation, download.
Japanese
Portuguese				Fan translation, download.
Brazilian Portuguese				Fan translation by CEGA Traduções; download.
Russian				Fan translation, download.
Spanish
Latin American Spanish				Fan translation, download.

Network

Multiplayer types

Type	Native	Players	Notes
Local play		4	Co-op Use the Multiplayer mod.
LAN play
Online play		4	Co-op Use the Multiplayer mod.

Issues fixed

Configuration tool does not save settings

The original Steam version of the configuration tool does not save settings properly; Non-Steam versions do not write a new configuration file if one is missing without re-installing the game.

Fixed for the Steam version in the 2014 update.

(Steam version) add missing registry keys through Registry Editor

Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall. Check if a registry key named SEGA exists. If not, right-click on Uninstall, click New, then Key and name it SEGA. Right-click SEGA, click New, then Key and name it Sonic Adventure DX. Right-click the newly created Sonic Adventure DX and click New, then String Value, and name it Sonic Adventure DX. Double-click the Sonic Adventure DX string and change the value to 1.

(Non-Steam versions) create the necessary folders and configuration file manually

Check if a series of folders from %USERPROFILE%\Documents that goes up to SEGA\Dreamcast Collection\Sonic Adventure DX exists. If not, create a new folder in %USERPROFILE%\Documents and name it SEGA. Go into the SEGA, right-click and select New → Folder, and name it Dreamcast Collection. Go into the Dreamcast Collection folder, right-click and select New → Folder, and name it Sonic Adventure DX. Go into the Sonic Adventure DX folder, create a new text file and name it config.ini. Open the config.ini file that was just created with a text editor, and then paste the following into this file: [Sonic Adventure DX] COLOURMODE=1 CONTROL2P_INDEX=1 CONTROL2P_TYPE=3 CONTROL_ATTACK1=1 CONTROL_ATTACK2=2 CONTROL_CAMERA_MINUS=36 CONTROL_CAMERA_PLUS=37 CONTROL_CANCEL=1 CONTROL_CONFIRM=0 CONTROL_DOWN=33 CONTROL_INDEX=0 CONTROL_JUMP=0 CONTROL_LEFT=34 CONTROL_RIGHT=35 CONTROL_TYPE=3 CONTROL_UP=32 CONTROL_WHISTLE=3 FOG=1 FULL_SCREEN=0 LANGUAGE=1 RESOLUTION=4 VOLUMN_BGM=80 VOLUMN_SE=80 VOLUMN_VOICE=80 Save the file (File → Save or Ctrl+S) in this location. The Dreamcast Collection version's configuration tool should be able to read and write the configuration files again.

Low frame rate

Disable in-game FXAA and Vsync and force them through the GPU control panel

Install DXVK

Downgrade to the 2004 PC port using SADX Mod Installer

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
Direct3D	9.0c

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows

Middleware

	Middleware	Notes
Audio	Criware	Uses the poor-quality WMA audio files from the 2003/2004 PC port. The original Dreamcast audio files can be restored with the Sound Overhaul mod included with SADX Mod Installer.
Cutscenes	Criware	Sofdec format FMV files.

System requirements

Windows
	Minimum		Recommended
Operating system (OS)	XP		7
Processor (CPU)	Intel Pentium 4 3.0 GHz		Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz
System memory (RAM)	2 GB
Storage drive (HDD/SSD)	1.8 GB		4 GB
Video card (GPU)	Nvidia GeForce 7300 series ATI Radeon X1600 256 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0c compatible		Nvidia GeForce 8800 series ATI Radeon X1900 512 MB of VRAM Shader model 3.0 support
Sound (audio device)	DirectX 9.0c compatible