Sonic X Shadow Generations Review: The Best of Both Worlds

by

As a longtime Sonic fan who’s spent countless hours racing through Green Hill Zone and battling Robotnik, I can confidently say that Sonic X Shadow Generations is a game that truly resonates with my childhood memories. This double-pack of nostalgia offers an impressive value for money, rivaling some of the best AAA titles released in 2024.

After spending several years mostly inactive, Sonic the Hedgehog appears to be experiencing a significant resurgence. The unexpected unveiling of “Sonic X Shadow Generations” during Sony’s January 2024 State of Play broadcast means that fans have received three new Sonic games in as many years – quite different from the 5-year gap between “Sonic Mania” and “Sonic Frontiers”. However, while “Sonic Frontiers” from 2022 experimented with fresh ideas for the 3D Sonic format and “Sonic Superstars” from 2023 took players on a nostalgic journey recalling classic Sonic adventures, neither managed to create a major impact, leaving fans curious about where “Sonic X Shadow Generations” will fit among the recent titles starring the “Blue Blur”.

In essence, Sonic X Shadow Generations isn’t quite up there with the best games in the series, but it’s a heartfelt tribute to every era of Sonic’s history. For the most part, it checks all the boxes that fans would expect from a Sonic game. The game presents an intriguing contrast between its two halves, drawing influences from throughout the Sonic franchise to create an experience reminiscent of a “greatest hits” compilation drawn from Sonic’s almost 35-year journey. Despite some minor irritations, Sonic X Shadow Generations could be considered the best of the modern trilogy of Sonic games and a must-play for fans of the franchise.

Sonic X Shadow Generations’ Twin Halves Take Characters on a Time-Traveling Adventure

Starting up the game titled “Sonic X Shadow Generations” offers players two distinct modes: “Sonic Generations” and “Shadow Generations”. While these sections function independently as separate games, they are united by a time-travel narrative that serves as both a plot device and an explanation for why characters like Sonic and Shadow the Hedgehog are traversing iconic stages from various Sonic series. Players can opt to begin with either half of this combo, seamlessly transitioning between them using simple button commands. Notably, the “Sonic Generations” section effectively establishes foundational plot elements that enhance the coherence of Shadow’s narrative.

In the festive opening of “Generations”, Sonic and his comrades from various Sonic series gather for a birthday bash. But, their joy is cut short when an antagonist named “Time Eater” appears, transporting them to a timeless abyss. Within this eternal void, Sonic can traverse locations from numerous Sonic games. Each Zone is divided into two parts, Act 1 and Act 2. Unlike usual Sonic gameplay, each Act follows a distinct era of “Sonic the Hedgehog”. Act 1 stages are traditional side-scrolling levels, whereas Act 2 presents fully three-dimensional stages similar to those encountered in the “Sonic Adventure” games (complete with some iconic stages from both these Dreamcast classics).

In this setup, Sonic traverses a central, pristine world that regains its vitality and vibrancy as he progresses through zones and saves his companions. This hub is structured like a typical 2D Sonic level, boasting loops and dash areas, and it expands as players conquer an engaging sequence of boss fights. To access each boss, the player must first surmount Challenge Gates for every Zone, which demand completion of specific tasks.

In each Zone, there are various collectibles like hidden Chao in every act and Red Star Rings, in addition to the opportunity to climb higher rankings in both acts and Challenge Gates. This means there’s plenty to explore beyond just defeating bosses and completing the main story. Finishing a stage with a high ranking awards points that players can use at the new Skill Shop to acquire useful in-game abilities. Sonic has the option to customize five unique loadouts for his character, which he can name, equip, and even designate for Act 1 or Act 2 stages, providing flexibility in how players tackle the levels within the Sonic portion of Generations.

In essence, the Shadow segment of Generations largely adheres to the same fundamental structure, with only a few key differences. For one, there are fewer Zones in the Shadow part of Generations, yet each Zone (with the exception of the final one) is still divided into two Acts. Interestingly, these Acts reverse the layout of stages from the Sonic half, making Act 1 resemble Sonic Adventure and Act 2 adopt a side-scrolling perspective.

As a gamer, I’ve found myself drawn into the expansive playground that is Shadow’s hub area, reminiscent of Sonic Frontiers. While there are Challenge Gates to complete and Boss Keys to earn for further exploration, it’s the acquisition of new abilities that truly transforms my journey. These new skills not only change how I navigate the main hub but also unveil hidden collectibles and fresh challenges. It’s intriguing to witness a Sonic game incorporating Metroidvania elements like ability-gated progression, yet it effectively amplifies the thrill of transitioning from one stage to another, offering an engaging experience I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

In “Sonic X Shadow Generations”, each Zone in both halves is a renowned setting drawn from the vast universe of “Sonic the Hedgehog”. These locations are masterfully recreated using 3D graphics that seamlessly transition between a 2D and 3D viewpoint. Revisiting these past locales doesn’t merely offer repetitions of their initial designs; even timeless zones like Green Hill and Chemical Plant from “Sonic 2” provide fresh excitement for long-time “Sonic” enthusiasts.

In a Sonic game, you can’t miss out on an incredible feeling of swiftness, and Sonic X Shadow Generations certainly lives up to this expectation by offering it throughout both parts of the game. However, during the side-scrolling stages that resemble classic design, the rapidity could sometimes be so intense that the camera would often lose track of Sonic, leading to an unfair death or loss of rings due to off-screen hits. Nevertheless, the swiftness and velocity in the Shadow levels serve as a testament to the fact that few studios can create the smooth, exhilarating arcade-style speed experiences like Sega does.

Controls and Physics Are an Unfortunate Speed Bump on Sonic X Shadow Generations’ Thrill Ride

In the two parts of “Sonic X Shadow Generations”, you’ll find top-notch Sonic gameplay – a delight for fans. However, just like other games in the series, it carries the same minor irritations that have persisted for quite some time. Given its focus on speed and momentum over precise platforming, it’s disappointing to mention that “Sonic X Shadow Generations” experiences some physics issues and control hiccups that detract from an otherwise enjoyable gameplay experience. The most significant issue in this regard is the somewhat unreliable target detection, which can lead to a not insignificant number of unfair deaths when trying to transition quickly between lock-ons at breakneck speeds.

The same gripe applies to boss battles as well. Both Sonic and Shadow’s halves of Generations feature some excellent boss fights that rank as perhaps the best in the series, but the wonky hit detection and floaty physics often result in these encounters boiling down to trial and error. In these instances, what should feel like a triumphant victory over a fun and challenging boss battle instead feels like a relief that you’ll never need to attempt it again. Factor in the need to complete some truly difficult Challenge Gates to even attempt fighting the bosses, and it’s obvious that some more fine-tuning on how both Sonic and Shadow move and control would have gone a long way toward smoothing out some of the few weak points in an otherwise top-notch Sonic game.

Sonic X Shadow Generations Offers Plenty of Bang for the Buck

Despite a few minor technical issues, Sonic X Shadow Generations (2024) stands out with an exceptional value proposition among major AAA releases. By combining two complete games into one, it offers numerous collectibles to discover and gather, extra Challenge Gates to conquer beyond the mandatory ones for Boss Keys, opportunities to earn S-rankings in each stage and Challenge Gate, plus secret activities and more to keep players entertained in both games’ central hubs even after wrapping up the main story. Moreover, each stage is so skillfully crafted and fun that they warrant multiple replays beyond what’s needed to complete either half of the game.

After finishing both parts of Sonic X Shadow Generations, my total playtime added up to 19 hours as per the PlayStation 5’s “Hours Played” counter, and this includes a significant chunk of time spent chasing after collectibles and striving for S Ranks on some of my preferred levels. The second half, which is Shadow, was slightly shorter and took approximately 8 hours to finish, while the first half, Sonic, took longer due to having more stages and bosses to conquer, including some unexpected cameo bosses that were essential for collecting all the Chaos Emeralds.

Sega could have easily released each half of Sonic X Shadow Generations as its own standalone title, but that both experiences are contained within a single product makes it a no-brainer for Sonic fans. An initial playthrough will take anyone 15-20 hours, and that’s without factoring in the potential for dozens of additional hours necessary to obtain all collectibles and reach the highest rank on each stage, Challenge Gate, and boss battle.

In the same year, Sonic Superstars faced the misfortune of debuting alongside Super Mario Wonder, with the latter taking center stage and overshadowing the former. Similarly, the release of Sonic X Shadow Generations comes after the success of Team Asobi’s Astro Bot. This raises the question of how these two significant platformers compare. Despite being launched post-Astro Bot, Sonic X Shadow Generations stands as a powerful testament to the greatness that Sonic and Sega can achieve when they perform at their best. Its abundance of content and top-quality presentation make it a compelling choice, even though it’s not without its flaws.

Read More

2024-10-21 16:05