2024 is a big year for Sonic fans as not only will the third live-action movie be released this December, but SEGA also has Sonic X Shadow Generations, the latest mainline entry in the franchise.
This isn’t a totally new entry though as it’s partly a remaster of 2011’s Sonic Generations, meaning fans who missed it during the PS3 and Xbox 360 days (and those who just want to re-experience it) can finally play it on modern consoles. As a remaster, it also comes with enhanced visuals and cutscenes.
If you ask most Sonic fans though, the main highlight of this game is Shadow Generations. Essentially, this is a new game where players take on the role of Shadow the Hedgehog, complete with new levels that should still look familiar to long-time Sonic fans. To traverse these levels, Shadow also has a wide array of abilities that promise to make his levels feel unique compared to the ones in Sonic Generations.
This new Sonic game promises to be a good combination of classic and new, but is it a compelling package for veteran fans and newcomers alike? Here’s what we think.
Sonic Generations is Still Fun
To start, I’ll first talk about Sonic Generations, the remaster of the 2011 game which itself is a remake of various classic Sonic levels. For those who have played the original version, they’ll feel right at home here as this plays basically the same. Of course, the visual updates are noticeable as both the classic 2D and the more modern 3D levels look pretty nice on modern displays. It won’t look like a proper current-gen game, but it still holds up well visually thanks to the lively and colorful look of the original Sonic Generations.
Along with the graphical improvements, the other noteworthy addition here is that there’s a hidden Chao in each level now, meaning even those who have put in plenty of hours in the original have more incentive to explore the Sonic levels. This isn’t exactly a huge addition, but we liked the extra touch as it does add some extra gameplay hours – important given that Sonic Generations is quite a short game. In fact, if you only want to play levels once, you can finish this remaster in 4 to 5 hours. Now, if you’re more of a completionist, your playtime will likely be a bit more substantial.
The length isn’t a big issue if you ask me as I rather like how short and sweet the levels are, not to mention that it’s fun to master these levels, meaning even more hours of play. What I do think has shown its age is the level design in this remaster.
Given that it’s not a full-on remake (though the original already is in some ways), the Sonic Generations remaster part of this package may not be the most exciting, especially if you’re coming from newer Sonic games. The 2D parts have aged a bit better if you ask me as newer 3D Sonic titles play quite differently now compared to the 3D levels of this game.
Even though the game is short and apparent in its age, Sonic Generations is still quite fun to play. Thanks to the enhanced visuals, this is the best way to experience the beloved series entry from 2011 for both veterans and new Sonic fans.
Plus, its issues aren’t big dealbreakers given that Sonic Generations isn’t even the biggest highlight of this package. That’s because Shadow Generations is the main reason that you’d want to give this game a try.
Shadow Generations is Definitely the Highlight
Shadow the Hedgehog has a lot of fans, but his major game appearances are few and far between. His biggest game to date is still the standalone Shadow game from 2005 which isn’t exactly a good game. Now, Shadow is back, and his return couldn’t have been better.
For Shadow Generations, Sonic Team didn’t stray far from the Sonic Generations formula as this game still features 3D and 2D levels. What sets it apart though is Shadow’s various unique abilities.
The biggest ability in Shadow’s kit is Chaos Control which lets him pause time for a couple of seconds. During this time, obstacles will essentially be frozen, meaning players can traverse them without dropping all their rings. This is also useful to access shortcuts which are denoted by glowing green orbs in certain parts of levels. Of course, you won’t be able to abuse this as you’ll need to charge it up before it can be activated.
What you’ll likely use more of is Shadow’s Chaos Spears. With this, Shadow can hit enemies to stun them temporarily. This can also be used to get to certain areas at specific levels, including some of the bosses where this ability is practically a requirement.
Other abilities include Doom Powers which are unlocked as you progress through the story levels. These include abilities that let Shadow grow wings which can be used to fly over large distances, along with the skill to surf in water.
You may get away with using these abilities sparingly in the main story levels as Shadow’s boost and Chaos Snap (his version of Sonic’s Homing Attack) already makes him incredibly mobile. As you progress though, you’ll need to use Shadow’s Chaos and Doom abilities as progression through the story requires you to beat challenges. These challenges are often geared towards specific abilities like Chaos Control or Chaos Spears. What’s more, using these abilities is key if you want to explore every nook and cranny of the story levels and the White Space.
The main levels are the meat of Shadow Generations, and I particularly liked how the 3D and 2D levels feel more connected as compared to Sonic Generations. But what I was also surprised by was the White Space – the game’s open hub world that takes cues from 2022’s Sonic Frontiers.
In between the story levels and challenges, players can explore this hub world. Not only does this hub act as an access point for the levels, but it is also well worth exploring given how many collectibles there are to find. It’s not a requirement to see the story through, but it’s a nice addition for avid completionists, not to mention that it does help break up the action a bit.
What you can’t avoid are the game’s main bosses which include notable foes like the Biolizard and the Metal Overlord. In terms of spectacle, these bosses are quite a sight to see, though mechanically, most of them are fairly simple and easy to take down. While I still enjoyed the fights well enough, I would say that the game’s main levels offer a more exciting experience, especially considering that they also deliver when it comes to visual spectacle.
When it comes to what I enjoyed about Shadow Generations the most, the levels are no doubt at the top spot. This is thanks to their great design that captures the thrilling speedy platforming action that the series is known for, but with some twists in the form of Shadow’s abilities to keep things interesting. In second place is surprisingly the game’s story.
I have to admit that I’m not the biggest Shadow fan (an opinion I share with other members of our team), but Shadow Generations has given me a newfound appreciation for Shadow. A lot of my disinterest in Shadow is how edgy he seemed to be before, especially in his 2005 standalone adventure. Thankfully, the edge is softened here as the game’s story focuses more on his tragic past.
Without getting into spoiler territory, I enjoyed Shadow’s story in this game more than I expected given how well it explores Shadow’s past and his feelings towards it. While some may think that its story doesn’t exactly bring much new to the series, it is still executed well overall.
For the most part, Shadow Generations is a treat to play, though there are things that maybe could have been improved. First is the short length as this new story can be finished in around 5 hours or so. Again, this isn’t a big issue for me, but for those who value playtime, this aspect of the game may leave a lot to be desired.
There’s also the fact that while fun and unique (for Sonic standards), Shadow Generations is still very much a Sonic game. This means players who aren’t into Sonic’s style of platforming action may still not be convinced about this game.
Of course, these are very much nitpicking from my end as Shadow Generations should be a fun time for most players.
Sonic X Shadow Generations Final Verdict – 8.5/10
While the remaster part of this package is good, the new story content of Shadow Generations makes this game a must-play for most Sonic fans. Aside from doing Shadow justice story-wise, the new levels also feature fresh twists on the Sonic formula for a compelling experience.
Even though the Sonic Generations remaster part isn’t the main highlight, it’s nice to see this game finally get a release on modern consoles. It helps that this is a good remaster in terms of visuals.
Overall, Sonic X Shadow Generations is a delightful game. While it’s not the longest game out there, it should offer a great time from start to finish.
[This review was made via a PS5 game code provided by the publisher]