Sonic X Shadow Generations Review: Gameplay Impressions, Videos and Top Features

Sonic X Shadow Generations from developer Sonic Team speeds into the spotlight, bringing along a great bit of the past with it while adding to it in a way that paves the way for the future of the beloved character and friends, too.

Actually a bundle deal, the game includes a remaster of the 2011 hit Sonic Generations and the brand new Shadow Generations.

While the former comes to life with new updates and says hello to a new generation of players in impressive ways, the latter is a Shadow-based romp that offers all sorts of interesting new wrinkles to the mix.

The result is one of the most interesting pre-launch outlooks for a game this year and with it arrives the chance for the characters and universe to really take a meaningful next step.

Graphics and Gameplay

It was a little easy before release to handwave this Sonic effort off as a paltry middle sort of entry that visually upgraded a classic and provided a small extra campaign on top.

That couldn't be further from the truth.

Generations is visually impressive to match the modern times. Fans of the original from 2011 (or any Sonic game, for that matter) know the drill—locales are diverse and colorful, the bopping tunes fit the theme and the sense of speed is impressive.

But Generations doesn't just flex visuals to match modern horsepower and sprinkle in new tunes that players will find themselves humming throughout the day.

No, like the 2011 version, this offering's new components expertly switch between side-scrolling and 3D during gameplay in interesting ways. As always, controls are tight and snappy, with plenty of precision required to really drum up high scores or take down some of the harder challenges.

Along the way, players will use all manner of Sonicisms to progress, be it springs, boost pads, curves, slopes, loops, etc. while grabbing up the rings and avoiding things like pits and enemies.

While the Blue Blur himself remains much the same here, Shadow gets some new abilities that really move things in interesting ways.

Shadow's Chaos Control means players can freeze time or objects and even opens new paths. Some of the Doom Powers are unique and specific to certain areas, like the ability to simply surf across water. It's fun to use them in each stage, especially when crafty players figure out they can freeze literal game timers, too.

Unlike Sonic, Shadow actually keeps all of his powers for the 2D stages, too, making them feel faster and unique. This feels like another natural progression of the formula, yet remains true to the spirit of the franchise.

Kudos especially go to the Shadow 3D stages for their fantastic level design. It feels like player feedback and sheer smart decisions went into each, with it truly a representation of what the 3D space should feel like at its peak for the franchise.

It's not just an endless grind tackling stage after stage and challenges, either. Players can also go to a hub world called White Space, with players who enjoyed the open-ended space from Sonic Frontiers sure to feel right at home. While it isn't huge, it is dense with things to discover.

Story, Multiplayer and More

A time-traveling greatest hits of sorts, Generations blends the narrative in interesting ways.

The events of Shadow Generations span the same plot as the 2011 Sonic Generations story. There, Shadow must tackle Black Doom, leader of the Black Arms army while the Sonic Generations story remains the same.

If nothing else, it's nice to have further context to the overarching world—and just nice in general to see Shadow command such a spotlight. But it sure doesn't hurt that some of the writing is earnest and heartfelt, making it easy to get invested in the characters and happenings.

Each level splits into two acts between the different perspectives, side-scrolling and 3D. Challenges in both dictate whether players can confront bosses and actually complete the story.

There are, of course, even bigger challenges to tackle at a later time should players want to really test their skills, but the overall pace feels great. Some, like completing an act with just a single ring, are still annoyingly difficult at times, but in a way that makes success feel super rewarding.

Besides general progression, there are fun pieces of side content to tackle, too, such as finding Chao in each level and playing pinball, to name a few.

The game does an amazing job of making sure players feel rewarded by exploring. It's super generous with cool collectibles like backstory, art and music selections.

On modern hardware, Generations, of course, runs smoothly, with plenty of options for players to weak in the settings, too. The former is true on the Nintendo Switch's handheld mode, too.

Conclusion

As a whole, this isn't the definitive Sonic the Hedgehog game. But that's not a knock—rather, it's a testament to just how great Frontiers and Superstars were in their own ways.

But it is the definitive Shadow the Hedgehog game.

The entire package is a blast for all ages, with some appreciable challenges in there for players who want to test themselves. From an industry-meta perspective, it's also a remaster done exceptionally well, both in bringing the old content forward and adding loads of new stuff for good measure.

Perhaps more important than all, Generations is a love letter of sorts to the franchise. If this is where Sonic and Co. are going from here, it's going to be fun to hop on the ride.