Sonic x Shadow Generations Review - Old Game, New Experiences

 

Sonic X Shadow Generations launches today on the Xbox Series X, PS5 and Nintendo Switch if you own the Digital Deluxe Edition. If you are planning to pick up a physical copy, that would be released on 25th October worldwide. I picked up the Digital Deluxe edition, and have been playing it for a little while.
Unlike many, I refused to look at the leaks and spoilers which I am thankful for as the new Shadow experience side was a complete surprise to me. I think I only saw the gameplay footage of the Biolizard battle a couple of months ago and that was it.

How does Sonic X Shadow Generations hold up to the previous title?

What is old is new again

This is an interesting remaster, as not only does it include 2011's Sonic Generations, it includes a brand new 2024 campaign called Shadow Generations, which expands Shadow the Hedgehog's original backstory in a much needed single player experience. Fans have been demanding Sega to bring back Shadow for a while lately and they finally listened to us, as this year is also the Year of Shadow according to Sonic Team boss Takashi Iizuka. Also, the third Sonic The Hedgehog movie is expected to be released in December 2024, which features Shadow heavily in the new film.

I remember when Sonic Generations came out back in 2011 and it was a huge deal. I also really enjoyed the very underrated 3DS version, which had different levels than the Xbox 360 and PS3 version. 

I had pretty much a fun time again on the new Sonic Generations side, but there are some questionable changes. For a start, the dialogue seems to be re-written and re-recorded. I think that's a little bit unnecessary as some of the lines were altered or sound different. Extra value to the new remaster, I guess. But some differences are questionable. Especially the control changes too. For example, Sonic's homing attack has changed from A+A to A+X, similar to Sonic Unleashed. If you use A+A Sonic uses the highly elitist move Drop Dash instead of a homing attack. And you can't change the controls back to A+A for homing attack, it won't let you. Also, RT is now the preferred Spin Dash for whatever reason. Although I got used to this quite quickly. 

Fresh Coat Of Paint 

I do have to say the newly remastered colouring does look really nice in Sonic Generations '2024. The original game was pretty impressive looking back in 2011, things seem more sharper now than ever before. I was playing this on Xbox Series X. I also have the physical PS5 version coming up, so I would like to see how it looks on that too. I'm not sure what the frame rate is docked on the Switch. The background and graphics on the Shadow Generations side is also really nice. There are no 'pop-in graphics' like what 2022's Sonic Frontiers had in the hub world for Shadow Generations. 

On the new consoles, it plays fine. But I mostly had some slight control and momentum issues with Classic Sonic who is highly elitist. But that's ok because classic Sonic sucks. Classic Sonic had a few momentum glitches especially when trying to run up certain hills or loop-de-loops. Here's hoping an upcoming patch can fix some of these already known issues. Other than that, I had no problem with Modern Sonic or Shadow in the Shadow Generations side. However I did find opening the doors in the Space Colony Ark level to be a bit annoying and repetitive. Act 1 was great though.

Classic Or Modern?

Even back when Sonic Generations first launched in 2011, I was never really a fan of the Classic Sonic stages. They seemed to be slower and relied too much on backtracking than modern Sonic's stages were. Modern Sonic's stages were exciting, and you can burst through so much more stuff in the 3D stages. The same is applied for the Shadow stages. I enjoy the 3D modern Shadow levels more. I played through Green Hill, Chemical Plant and Sky Sanctuary on both Modern and Classic Sonic. Those levels are highly elitist. It was time for me to try out Shadow Generations!

 

Longer Levels Return

I played a couple levels from Shadow Generations and was really pleased that they were longer than 1 1/2 minutes. In Sonic games these past couple of years Sega have been annoyingly focused on short 'bite sized' stages, this is evident in games such as 2017's Sonic Forces and 2022's Sonic Frontiers. However, Shadow Generations brings the Sonic levels back to Adventure-era length sometimes being over 5 minutes long (depending on how good you are or not at them) which is a much welcome re-addition. Apparently, the Shadow Generations side is just as long as the main base game of Sonic Generations, which is pretty cool.

 

Musical Melodies 

Sonic music veteran Jun Senoue returns to create new tracks and remixes for Sonic x Shadow Generations and also does a good job providing homages to the 2005 game Shadow The Hedgehog. While i'm a fan of the heavy stuff, I do get annoyed at the EDM style music. When you start the game, you're greeted to a Sonic Generations title screen with the worst ear-piercing possible synth sound ever over good guitar tracks. I really dislike the choice of the synth they used for the intro. But the remixed tracks are very good, despite having a few annoying EDM parts, some that even get a bit over the top and confusing  making you forget what level you're actually listening too in the new tunes. Most of the soundtrack is still pretty good. I did find the Rail Canyon remix to be a bit lacking and more organ-than guitar focused, which was a bit annoying. But I guess I could get used to it.

Final Verdict

Sonic x Shadow Generations is a really fun remaster and pays great dedication to the beloved Shadow The Hedgehog character we have all been yearning to see again. It may not be a full length Shadow The Hedgehog sequel, but provides extra value with a new remaster of Sonic Generations along with brand new Shadow Generations. It may not be a full length Sonic Adventure 1 or 2 remake but the game does pay tribute to both games in special ways. For example, there are a few Sonic Adventure 2 levels in Shadow Generations. The DLC includes the 'Terios' skin which was going to be Shadow's original design, and on the Sonic Generations side there is a new Sonic Adventure skin for modern Sonic that does look really nice. This is Sonic Generations better than before. I'd love to see Sega do more Sonic remasters like this for Xbox, PS5 and Switch in the future. The newly added content is much welcomed, and there is more coming, with a 'Movie Shadow' DLC pack in December, which has Keanu Reeves voicing Shadow in that upcoming content. It's a great time to be a Sonic, or Shadow fan. 

PROS:

- It's Sonic Generations. A newly remastered game that any modern or classic fan can enjoy.

- Newly added campaign Shadow Generations side provides a lot of new gameplay and good value
- Levels are back to being long and well detailed after a dry spell of short Sonic levels in previous games

- Polished graphics and frame rate

- Great soundtrack (Despite the odd ear-piercing synths)

- Additional content like character skins, and Movie Shadow DLC coming proves there is more love for Shadow to come

- Chao make a cameo appearance in this game, although there is no new Chao garden

- Shadow fans everywhere will be really pleased with this collection

 

CONS:

- Classic Sonic still sucks, with highly elitist gameplay and somewhat janky controls, that i'm hopeful a patch would fix.

- Some minor glitches on Classic Sonic's side including momentum and physics issues can knock him off the stage at some points or struggle to run up hills or loop de- loops

- Questionable storyline changes in Sonic Generations thanks to Ian Flynn 

- The voice cast re-recording the lines in Sonic Generations seems unnecessary 

- 'Digital Deluxe Mini Soundtrack' does not contain any music from Shadow Generations, is more of a 'Best of' compilation album which is really weird

 

Rating: 8/10