Sonic X Shadow Generations Review
Sonic X Shadow Generations
Publisher: SEGA
Developer: Sonic Team
Genre:
PEGI: 7
Comments:
When I was told that Sonic Generations was the weakest part of this package, I let out an audible sigh. SEGA remasters are always met with these kinds of comments. I still feel the reactions to the Shenmue set. And yet the truth is Sonic X Shadow Generations really does prove that the best of the Blue Blue is ahead of him… and it took a game starring Shadow to prove it.
Sonic Frontiers was brilliant, especially after all the additional content was added at no cost. It showed, at least in concept, that Sonic worked well in an open world. Shadow Generations takes that concept and builds on it, fixing the level design and offering even more side content to look through. All this while never straying from what made Sonic Generations special.
The original Generations was a celebrations of everything the series had done up until that point. Recreated stages from across the mainline franchise, reimagined in 2D and 3D for a new set of fans. Nothing has really changed. It’s still a pleasure to revisit those classic levels. It’s just this time, it feels like the start of something new instead of a terrible full stop.
Because after Generations Sonic hit a brick wall and didn’t come back properly for the best part of a decade. Boom, Forces and Lost World saw the franchise struggle to find its place in the modern gaming world. Thanks to Frontiers and Shadow Generations, they’ve found it. And I’m more excited than ever for what comes next.
But before we look to the future, let’s look to the past… and to Green Hill Zone.
Sonic Generations
If you’ve played this game before, you can skip to the next section. Not nearly enough has been added to justify this part of the game if you already own it. As I’ve said before, this seems to be part of the genre of remasters aimed at getting old games onto new consoles. Which is wonderful if you can only access those consoles where it isn’t available. Here, Switch and PlayStation 5 owners benefit greatly from a 4k and a more stable 60fps. Xbox and PC owners get nothing.
Well, that’s not entirely true. You’ll get some new chaos to collect in each stage – and they can be a real pain, let me tell you. You’ll also get a slightly smoother experience. You can see the giant fish in the first stage without everything coming to a standstill now. You also have access to the drop dash, a wonderful move that isn’t really given the space it’s needed because the game wasn’t built around it existing. A bonus, but that’s it.
If you enjoyed the original Generations or if you’ve never played it, this is the way to go. It’s the most near-perfect package yet. The levels are still brilliant, representing some of the best Sonic has to offer. The controls are a little floaty at times, but you’ll get used to it fast enough. The graphics don’t look nearly 15 years old, and on my OLED I’ve frequently been impressed by how pretty it still is.
Sonic Generations is still a fantastic game. A love letter to the first twenty years of one of the most important franchises in gaming. But you know what? People are right. Sonic Generations serves only to show what a big leap Shadow Generations is over its predecessor.
Shadow Generations
It’s always been a surprise to me that Sonic Generations didn’t get proper DLC. It’s a system literally made for pumping new levels into it, and there’s no shortage of things to pick from. The 3DS version of the game has completely different levels, and while they wouldn’t port easily, they might make the basis for what came next. But it never happened. Until Shadow Generations.
Like Sonic Generations, the game has you revisiting recreated areas of previous games. This time you play as Shadow, everybody’s favourite alien fake hedgehog. With that comes a host of powers that make the second to second gameplay feel sharper, heavier and faster. That last point is helped by 120FPS on PC, something the original game isn’t capable of.
Controls are massively improved, although those playing both games simultaneously be warned. Things have been remapped, and it can take a few goes to get used to the new layout. It works better though, and Shadow’s momentum feels perfect.
The level design is incredible too. Revisiting moments from Sonic The Hedgehog 06 and Sonic Forces, it proves that the problem with those games was never their concepts. The levels are fun to play and S Rank. On the latter point, there’s enough challenge across the board to keep everybody happy.
The set-up is much like Generations. You’re in a white world, only this time it’s 3D. There’s far more to do in the overworld, mostly finding collectables. Each of the game’s six stages has challenge gates to really put your skills to the test. You might have seen some comments that Shadow is short. It’s only short if you race through the 12 acts, plus boss fights. There’s easily ten or more hours of content here.
Beating the Blue Blue
There’s no doubt that Shadow Generations is the better of the two parts, and it’s not just because it’s the latest thing. The controls are tighter, the levels are overall better designed and the overworld adds more to see and do. The original game is still worth playing. Nothing about the new one takes away from that. If anything, it simply highlights that Generations maybe need a little more TLC. The final boss, for those in the know, has remained exactly the same, annoying voice lines and all.
It’s extra annoying because both games have absolutely brilliant soundtracks, again celebrating everything that came before. The voice work is excellent, including in Generations where some small changes have been made to the script here and there. It just all still culminates in one of the worst boss fights of all time, a problem that SEGA didn’t make twice. Shadow Generations is a rollercoaster from beginning to end.
Sonic X Shadow Generations – Conclusion
Should you buy this package? I’ve had nearly 30 hours with it so far, with stuff still to do. I’d have happily bought Shadow Generations on its own (although maybe not at full price), and so the remaster feels like something of an extra. Like how you got Assassin’s Creed 3 for buying the Odyssey season pass. Do I wish a little more was done with it? Absolutely. But I’m still holding out hope for more DLC in the future. Wouldn’t that be something in 2025?
Shadow is undoubtedly the star here. For the first time since Sonic Adventure 2, it feels like he’s back on track. This game proves what I’ve said since I first loaded up Sonic Frontiers: the next mainline game is going to be something to behold. If Generations was a celebration of the past, Shadow is a celebration of the past and future. And man, I’m here for it.
Trailer
Article By Mat Growcott
Mat Growcott has been a long-time member of the gaming press. He's written two books and a web series, and doesn't have nearly enough time to play the games he writes about.
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