Let’s dive into this entry in the Sonic series with a review of “Sonic X Shadow Generations.” Just a heads-up: I’ve explored it on the Playstation 5, thanks to Melanie Zawodniak, while John Rairdin has the scoop on the Switch version.
Right off the bat, let me confess: Sonic X Shadow Generations feels like it was tailor-made for me. I grew up adoring Sonic Adventure 2 and fondly remember playing 2005’s Shadow the Hedgehog at the tender age of twelve. Sure, critics weren’t kind to it, but my younger self loved it regardless. Shadow has always been one of my top video game alter egos, so seeing him in the spotlight again is a thrill. I know, I might sound irrational given Shadow’s mixed history in gaming, but hear me out. Sonic X Shadow Generations stands as one of the most polished and self-assured entries in the Sonic franchise lately, which offers good reason to give it a chance.
Before we leap into the Shadow segment, how does the original Sonic Generations hold up more than a decade later? Honestly, I’ve always hailed it as the pinnacle of 3D Sonic games. Revisiting it repeatedly over the years has only solidified that view. Generations splits neatly into Classic Sonic, echoing the essence of Sonic’s Genesis days into Modern Sonic’s boost-centric gameplay, a style honed in Sonic Colors. It’s the game that ignited my interest in speedrunning, bringing back memories of my college days spent relentlessly pursuing the fastest time. The core gameplay retains its exhilarating magic, and I managed to reach close to my old best on a fresh attempt, clocking in at a swift 1 minute and 48 seconds.
However, here’s where the freshness of revisiting Generations brought some downsides to light. Starting from scratch, unlocking everything, starkly highlighted the game’s flaws. While speeding through the stages remains a joy, everything else feels somewhat tedious. The storyline is thin, with cutscenes stretching uncomfortably long without much payoff. The script has been given a touch-up by Ian Flynn, famous for his work on Sonic comics, but reanimating the scenes would have amplified his effort.
Gameplay outside core stages slows down with underwhelming side missions and boss fights that feel like chores. Despite this, dedicated fans will find the adrenaline rush of besting their times rewarding. Yet, those seeking a more consistent escapade might look towards Sonic Colors or its edgier counterpart, residing on the same cartridge.
Now, Shadow Generations: it’s advertised as an alternative play mode bundled with Sonic Generations, but it’s so much more. Shadow Generations is essentially a new sequel, featuring a blend of behind-the-back and side-scrolling action within reimagined stages from older titles. But don’t mistake it for just a reskin; Shadow introduces fresh abilities that spice up the familiar 3D Sonic formula.
The most evident new feature is Shadow’s Chaos Control, letting you halt time and warp between foes—a neat twist to the homing attack. However, the real star is the Doom Powers, stemming from his ties to the villainous Black Arms. These nifty tricks allow Shadow to hurl enemies afar, glide on demon wings, and even morph into an ooey-gooey form to swing around like Spidey. The powers energize the game’s challenges, and the glide ability particularly impacts platforming dynamics, earning its special speedrun rankings.
Beyond his new abilities, Shadow Generations addresses some of Sonic Generations’ weaker spots. The in-between stages hub world is now more fully fledged, reminiscent of Sonic Frontiers, but refined. Gone are the button-smashing battles; instead, the game sports architecture that makes navigation more intuitive and engaging. Running around Shadow’s overworld is a blast, constantly uncovering fun platform challenges and stashed treasures.
Ian Flynn returns to pen a superior story diving into Shadow’s tangled past, examining his ties to Maria, Gerald Robotnik, and Black Doom. Depending on how you already view Shadow, this might strike you as either the pinnacle of Sonic storytelling or just another dive into his brooding universe. Yet, undeniably, the care in its presentation marks a notable step up for 3D Sonic tales.
However, despite its many strengths, Shadow Generations is still tethered to Sonic Generation’s game structure. Each Shadow stage splits into modern and classic acts, and while the classic stages aren’t bad, they don’t manage to bring out Shadow’s strengths in 2D design. Thankfully, side missions—though still mandatory—feel improved. Instead of 60 mediocre tasks, there are ten focused, better-crafted challenges. While not perfect, they’re a marked improvement over Sonic’s portions.
Switch users will find the port acceptable, but mixed. Sonic Generations boasts decent image quality but suffers from performance oddities. The resolution remains stable, with 1080p docked and 720p handheld, but a persistent frame pacing issue at its 30fps cap disrupts gameplay fluidity. A patch could solve this, smoothing the experience.
Conversely, Shadow Generations doesn’t encounter such issues. The 30fps cap here feels justified due to its higher demands compared to Sonic Generations. Taking cues from Sonic Frontiers, Shadow’s game showcases modern features like ambient occlusion and screen space reflections, raising its visual demands. This necessitates resolution adjustments for the Switch, with dynamic scaling commonly dropping in the vast hub world to maintain balance.
Both games remain enjoyable on the platform, though fixing Sonic Generations’ frame pacing would erase most complaints. Shadow Generations wisely compromises for content—effortlessly flaunting cool level transitions on the Switch.
Wrapping it all up, judgment on the Sonic X Shadow Generations package might vary, given the starkly different experiences each offers. For a remaster, Sonic Generations oscillates between heights that set a franchise standard and lows that might only appeal to die-hard fans. On the other hand, Shadow Generations boldly propels Sonic forward, enhancing its framework into one of the most polished experiences Sonic’s seen in years.
Ultimately, whether the combo of Sonic and Shadow Generations is worth your time largely depends on your expectations from each. Personally, I see it as a thrilling new adventure with Shadow the Hedgehog, complete with a classic game to revisit, and by that metric, it’s fantastic. Sonic X Shadow Generations not only celebrates the franchise’s heritage but instills a renewed enthusiasm for its future.
