Sonic X Shadow Generations on PS5
If there’s one mascot you can always count on being inconsistent in gaming, it’s SEGA’s iconic blue blur. It’s no secret that Sonic has had myriad ups and downs over the years – both in and outside of gaming. From the questionable storybook duology to some of the most iconic platformers of all time, it sometimes feels like SEGA and Sonic Team haven’t ever truly settled with Sonic. Perhaps that’s due to an innate need to innovate and push the franchise forward with each new entry, but the need to constantly reinvent often holds the series back from maintaining greatness.
There was, however, a few years of consistently great games from Sonic Team when they first brought the boost formula into 3D Sonic games. Sonic Unleashed, Sonic Colours, and Sonic Generations are widely and rightfully heralded as the best 3D entries in the franchise. It’s fitting, then, that Generations is now remastered for a new swathe of Sonic fans, fit out with an all-new campaign aptly named Sonic X Shadow Generations just in time for Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s theatrical release.
The Sonic part of Sonic X Shadow Generations itself is almost entirely unchanged. Sonic is enjoying his birthday with his friends when they’re suddenly attacked by a mysterious being known as the Time Eater. In its attack on the celebration, the gang is sent hurtling through different time portals, separating them all and leaving Sonic in a dimension known as White Space. Sonic quickly uncovers that White Space has recreated locations from his prior adventures, only tainted by the Time Eater’s powers. It falls to Sonic and his classic counterpart to race through these iconic locales to restore them to normalcy, rescue his friends, and stop the Time Eater’s plans.
It’s a setup that works well to provide context for the greatest hits collection of levels that Sonic Generations is, but lacks the same sharp and witty writing found in Sonic Colours, or the world-ending stakes of Sonic Unleashed. There is something of an attempt to amend the lacking narrative here, but most of the rewrites fall flat and ultimately end up delivering the same uninteresting story.
Aside from that, Sonic Generations is as excellent as it’s always been. This is an incredible assortment of iconic levels, each set pertaining to a different era of Sonic and console generation. The Classic Sonic levels incorporate a sense of speed that’s hard to come by in other 2D entries, while the Modern Sonic levels offer fun interpretations of franchise classics, built for much higher speeds and split-second platforming. The challenge stages are still largely frustrating and boring, though, and their ties to progression feel arbitrary.
It’s always been a game that looks great, but everything is elevated here on modern consoles. Now running at a solid frame rate with higher resolutions, Sonic Generations has never popped off the screen like this. It’s also still one of the best Sonic soundtracks to date, introducing some timeless remixes that are infectiously catchy. Shadow Generations exhibits a similar level of polish when it comes to its production values, also bringing its fantastic score with a lot of tracks from Shadow’s adventures.
Speaking of which, the Shadow portion of Sonic X Shadow Generations is likely the main attraction for returning players, an additional campaign that marks Shadow’s first game as a sole protagonist since 2005’s Shadow the Hedgehog. Taking place at the same time as Sonic’s story in Sonic Generations, Shadow Generations sees Shadow investigating the Space Colony ARK after intercepting a mysterious signal. It’s none other than Black Doom – antagonist of the same 2005 game – brought back by the Time Eater’s meddling.
Where the Sonics get to relive their greatest adventures thanks to the Time Eater’s machinations, Shadow is confronted by his past trauma. If you’re a fan of the character, it’d be a shame to spoil any of it here, but it’s a narrative that understands what made Shadow so interesting when he was introduced in Sonic Adventure 2 all those years ago. He’s always been edgy, sure, but recent stories have failed to capture the true Shadow that hides under that spiny exterior. It’s a simple yet heartfelt plot that fits nicely alongside Sonic Generations, cementing that Shadow is so much more than just a brooding counterpart to Sonic.
This means Shadow Generations also seeks to translate his classic levels into the boost formula. It’s a relatively small assortment of stages, but each is integral to Shadow somehow. It’s a really great collection: From Space Colony ARK to Rail Canyon, there’s something here for every Sonic fan and so much to see for newcomers.
Much like the base game, each stage brings two acts to play through and a collection of challenges to complete once you reach the goal ring. The first act of a stage is almost always 3D, while the second is 2D, also echoing the base game. The key difference is that the way Shadow controls is heavily based on Sonic’s handling in Sonic Frontiers. Not the janky Cyberspace levels, but the actual open world islands. It means Shadow doesn’t move quite as fast as Modern Sonic in Sonic Generations, but that isn’t an issue.
That’s mainly because every single act in Shadow Generations is so expertly designed. It employs the best level design tendencies of Sonic games – multiple pathways, intended skips, and enemy placement that rewards intimate knowledge of stage design. They all feel so replayable in their own right, a few of which are some of my new favourite 3D Sonic stages, that I’ll no doubt revisit frequently. Kingdom Valley is a real highlight, combining a striking aesthetic with fun level mechanics and countless winding paths that reward experimentation and curiosity.
The other reason they work so well is because of Shadow’s newly acquired Doom Powers. As you progress through the story, Shadow unlocks new abilities thanks to his link to Black Doom. They range from the ability to surf on water and fly through the air, to letting Shadow target multiple enemies with his Chaos Spear for swift takedowns. It’s addicting to see how new powers will have you seeing stages in a different light, looking for new routes and shortcuts only accessible now, thanks to your new toys.
These abilities are also used to traverse White Space, which makes a return in Shadow Generations as a fully-fledged hub world ala Sonic Frontiers. This area is full of collectibles and chests to find that unlock art, music, and more that I’m sure any Sonic fan will adore. It’s also just fun to explore in the same way Sonic Frontiers is, providing the player with a playground of sorts to flex their abilities and test out new powers.
Sonic X Shadow Generations takes one of the best 3D Sonic games and packages it with one of the best Shadow experiences in some time. This package has so much value for those who have yet to experience Sonic Generations. Even if you have, Sonic X Shadow Generations is worth the double-dip if you love speeding around in 3D. It isn’t free of some of the original issues that held Generations back all those years ago, but Sonic X Shadow Generations is a confident reminder that 3D Sonic has always had the potential to be genuinely excellent.
Sonic X Shadow Generations is now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
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Summary
One of Sonic’s best 3D platformers is made even better by an equally fantastic Shadow campaign, making for a worthy celebration of the blue blur and his iconic counterpart with Sonic X Shadow Generations.
