Sonic X Shadow Generations Review - The Ultimate Celebration

For long-time enthusiasts of the Blue Blur, the year 2011 marked a significant milestone: the release of Sonic Generations. This title wasn’t merely a game; it was a vibrant and highly successful retrospective, expertly encapsulating two decades of the iconic hedgehog’s adventures. Fast forward to today, and while the 33rd anniversary of Sonic’s debut might not carry the same numerical weight, Sonic Team has honored that groundbreaking legacy with Sonic X Shadow Generations. This release isn’t just a simple polish of existing content; it’s a profound expansion that introduces a thrilling new dimension through a superb second campaign starring Sonic’s most formidable rival, Shadow the Hedgehog. This potent combination creates a package that is not only a worthy successor but a compelling reason to revisit beloved eras of the Sonic universe.

We at Gaming News have delved deep into what Sonic X Shadow Generations offers, and we can confidently state that it stands as a remarkable achievement, a true testament to the enduring appeal of the Sonic franchise. The dedication to both celebrating its rich history and forging a path forward is palpable in every meticulously crafted level and electrifying moment.

Shadow Generations: A Darker, Faster Sonic Experience

The newly introduced Shadow Generations campaign feels intrinsically linked to the original Sonic Generations, masterfully weaving in elements that revisit key stages and pivotal boss encounters from Shadow’s own storied history. This campaign serves as an excellent showcase for the series’ recent evolution, employing various modernizations that breathe new life into familiar locales. Shadow’s stages are characterized by a blistering pace and a diverse array of action sequences, demanding precision and quick reflexes from the player. Given that Shadow first burst onto the scene in Sonic Adventure 2, it’s no surprise that all the stages within Shadow Generations are drawn from the Modern era of Sonic gameplay.

We found ourselves eagerly revisiting iconic environments such as the Space Colony ARK, the treacherous Rail Canyon, and the sprawling Radical Highway. Even Kingdom Valley, a stage from the much-maligned Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), has received an absolutely stellar facelift, fitting seamlessly into the remastered bundle. Furthermore, Sunset Heights from Sonic Forces and the Tokyo DLC stage, inspired by the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie, deliver some of the most awe-inspiring set-piece moments the franchise has ever witnessed. These stages are not just visual upgrades; they are meticulously redesigned to accommodate Shadow’s unique abilities and aggressive playstyle.

Shadow’s Unique Abilities: Doom Powers in Action

Speed remains an absolutely critical element in Shadow Generations, just as it is in any high-octane Sonic game. However, what truly sets Shadow apart is his highly offense-oriented approach, a stark contrast to his blue counterpart. Utilizing his formidable Doom Powers, Shadow exhibits a remarkable versatility. He can target multiple enemies with devastating projectiles, glide effortlessly across the surface of water, and even sprout temporary wings to soar through stages with incredible momentum. While not every single one of these abilities feels as perfectly smooth as we might have hoped, and some are undeniably more situational than others, the sheer joy of unleashing Shadow’s powers never waned.

The standout ability for us was undoubtedly Chaos Control. The ability to freeze objects within the environment, thereby opening up previously inaccessible paths or creating new strategic opportunities, was consistently exhilarating. This mechanic adds a layer of puzzle-solving and environmental interaction that complements the high-speed action brilliantly. It’s a power that not only looks impressive but also fundamentally alters how players approach stage traversal and combat encounters, making Shadow feel truly distinct.

Navigating Shadow’s Warped Realities

Some stages within Shadow Generations hew remarkably close to their original source material, offering a nostalgic and familiar experience. Others, however, plunge players into mind-bending sequences where Shadow navigates a warped version of Radical Highway while simultaneously existing within the context of another, entirely different stage. This seamless flow between disparate levels and the integration of awe-inspiring cinematic moments is a technical and design marvel. It showcases a bold new direction for level design in the Sonic universe.

Furthermore, Shadow Generations introduces several new boss fights that, in our experience, are largely more enjoyable and engaging than many found on the original Sonic Generations side of the package. We had an immense amount of fun utilizing Shadow’s full suite of powers to confront the formidable Metal Overlord from Sonic Heroes, with the iconic anthem “What I’m Made Of” by Crush 40 blaring in the background, no less. While we aim to avoid major spoilers, we must mention that a particular battle against a face unseen in nearly 20 years proved to be an absolute highlight of the entire campaign for us. This encounter was not just a test of skill but a moment of pure fan service, executed with masterful precision and impact.

The Hub World Evolution: Frontier Influence and Refinement

Perhaps the most significant piece of Shadow Generations that truly showcases the franchise’s progression is its innovative hub world. Shadow Generations adopts the clean, all-white aesthetic reminiscent of Sonic Generations’ original level select area. However, instead of presenting these options in a strictly linear, side-scrolling fashion, Shadow Generations ingeniously borrows the open-zone format popularized by Sonic Frontiers. The open-zone design in Sonic Frontiers itself laid a sturdy foundation for this ambitious concept, though it did encounter various navigational and technical speed bumps along the way.

In Shadow Generations, Sonic Team demonstrates a clear and commendable growth in this design methodology. Elements within the hub world pop in far less frequently than in Frontiers, and we found ourselves significantly less stumped when trying to determine how to reach our next destination. While Sonic Team’s approach to crafting large, open areas still has a few minor wrinkles to iron out, this compact, sophomore effort for the open-zone concept presents highly encouraging signs of mastery and refinement. It’s a clear indication that the developers are listening to feedback and actively improving their methodologies.

Sonic Generations: A Nostalgic Journey Reimagined

Turning our attention to the Sonic Generations side of this impressive package, the original narrative remains intact, serving as a delightful sprint down memory lane for dedicated Sonic fans. The improvements are immediately apparent: an enhanced framerate and increased resolution make this 13-year-old game look remarkably at home alongside Sonic’s most contemporary adventures. Spanning the entirety of Sonic’s history, from the foundational Green Hill Zone of Sonic 1 to the vibrant Planet Wisp from Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations delivers a veritable greatest hits compilation of the franchise’s first two decades.

The gameplay experience is kept incredibly fresh by alternating between playing as Classic Sonic from the traditional side-scrolling perspective and Modern Sonic in full 3D. This dynamic approach ensures that each stage feels engaging and distinct, even as you blast through these expertly modernized versions of classic throwback levels. It’s a clever way to cater to different playstyles and eras of Sonic fandom within a single cohesive experience.

The Evolution of 3D Level Design: Generations’ Impact

Replaying Sonic Generations over a decade after its initial release, we are continually impressed by how it served as a pivotal turning point for Sonic Team’s 3D level design. Following the established convention of the 2D Genesis games, which featured branching paths where player mistakes were often punished not with outright death but with a slower, more enemy-laden route through a stage, Sonic Team truly seemed to masterfully implement that design style for 3D levels with Sonic Generations.

Thanks to this refined approach, the levels are no longer the frustrating deathtraps found in earlier 3D Sonic titles. Instead, they are intelligently designed, branching stages that faithfully carry forward that beloved classic design ethos. This means that players are rewarded for exploration and skillful play, rather than being excessively penalized for minor errors. The ability to choose your own path, taking on greater risks for potentially greater rewards, adds significant replayability and depth to each level.

Lingering Issues and Missed Opportunities

Despite the overall excellence, some stages, particularly Planet Wisp and Crisis City, still possess certain annoying stage design elements that can detract from the otherwise smooth experience. However, for the most part, the Sonic Generations campaign has aged remarkably well. Unfortunately, the boss battles within this campaign remain a point of contention, often feeling like a mix of frustrating controls and awkward routes to victory.

The final boss of Sonic Generations, beyond being an entity notably devoid of personality, was an absolute mess back in 2011, and it unfortunately remains an infuriating, tedious slog that significantly diminishes the impact of the story’s climax. It’s profoundly disappointing that Sonic Team did not seize this remaster opportunity to rectify this particular boss encounter. A well-executed final boss can elevate an entire game, and its current state is a notable blemish.

Furthermore, the decision for Sonic’s campaign to not receive any updated stages from after the original game’s release is also a significant missed opportunity. When Generations initially launched, it had 20 years of game history to draw from; today, that’s an additional 13 years of adventures that Sonic and his friends have embarked upon. While it’s true that some games from that subsequent period did not receive universal acclaim, we would have thoroughly enjoyed the inclusion of some additional content in Sonic’s campaign.

Thankfully, Shadow Generations cleverly works around this gap of new content by incorporating stages from Sonic Forces, where Shadow was exclusively playable through DLC, and Sonic Frontiers, a game from which he was entirely absent. However, we still maintain that we would have preferred to see these new levels appended to the end of Sonic’s story, rather than being relegated to Shadow’s campaign. Given that Sonic Team did modify some cutscenes in Sonic Generations for this particular release, it wouldn’t have been an unreasonable expectation to add these new stages, even if they were presented simply as bonus stages that didn’t necessarily fit into the main narrative flow.

A Unified Celebration: The Best of Both Worlds

The potent combination of Sonic Generations and Shadow Generations undeniably makes a strong case for being considered the best package of 3D Sonic content that we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. It operates on two distinct but equally important levels: it is simultaneously a comprehensive and loving celebration of the series’ illustrious past, while also serving as a clear and exciting hint at the promising future on the horizon for the Blue Blur.

Back in 2011, when Modern Sonic delivered the line to Classic Sonic, “Enjoy your future. It’s gonna be great!” it felt somewhat hollow, given the then-recent state of the franchise, which had seen its share of ups and downs. However, in 2024, the future of the Sonic franchise feels genuinely bright and full of potential. Sonic X Shadow Generations stands as the latest, and arguably the greatest, indicator of this incredibly positive trajectory. It’s a game that respects its history, embraces its evolution, and offers an experience that is both deeply nostalgic and exhilaratingly new.

Score: 8.5

About Game Informer’s review system