Review of Sonic X Shadow Generations

All rise for the return of one of gaming’s most iconic anti-heroes: Shadow the Hedgehog.

Note: The review of the PlayStation 5 version of the game was penned by Melanie Zawodniak, while John Rairdin provided insights on the Switch port’s technical aspects.

Let me set the stage right away: Sonic X Shadow Generations feels tailor-made for me. Sonic Adventure 2 was the highlight of my childhood gaming experiences, and by the time Shadow the Hedgehog launched in 2005, I was twelve—an age where awareness of the game’s negative reception didn’t quite dampen my enjoyment. To this day, Shadow remains one of my favorite characters in gaming, so seeing him back in the spotlight for a fresh adventure is exhilarating. Sure, it might sound a bit nuts given Shadow hasn’t been featured prominently in a critically acclaimed title in a long time. Yet, my enthusiasm stems from the belief that Sonic X Shadow Generations is not just made for fans like me, but also stands as one of the most polished and boldly executed Sonic titles in years.

Turning the clock back, how does Sonic Generations hold up over a decade since its original release? I’ve always considered it the pinnacle of 3D Sonic games—a sentiment only reinforced over countless repeat plays. The game masterfully splits itself between Classic Sonic, who perfectly captures the essence of those early Genesis outings, and Modern Sonic, whose gameplay follows the streamlined, high-speed style of Sonic Colors. In fact, Sonic Generations kindled my passion for speedrunning, sparking late-night dorm sessions with endless runs through Chemical Plant Zone Act 2 striving for my personal best time (currently 1 minute and 48 seconds, if you’re interested).

However, starting over with a fresh save illuminated an unpleasant truth: as much as I love its stages, I find every moment outside of those sequences rather lacking. The story, for instance, is weak; a thin plot propped up by clunky cutscenes paced with awkward pauses. Even with Ian Flynn’s skillful script enhancements, the unaltered animations limit improvement.

The progression is further hindered by unfinished side missions and irritating boss confrontations that are compulsory if you wish to advance. Despite its faults, Sonic Generations remains an incredible experience for those who cherish replaying levels in pursuit of better times, but anyone who seeks a more extensive adventure in this style will likely find better satisfaction in either its predecessor, Sonic Colors, or its darker counterpart, which ironically shares the same cartridge.

Shadow Generations, marketed as an alternate mode within a Sonic Generations remaster, actually reveals itself as something far beyond. From its opening moments, it’s evident we’re dealing with a completely new sequel—distinct in its own right yet bundled with a remaster of its precursor. While the basis remains a mix between over-the-shoulder and side-scrolling gameplay set in remastered nostalgic stages, Shadow Generations introduces far more than just a skin-change with a handful of new levels. Shadow’s gameplay revitalizes the experience by adding a suite of new powers, providing depth to the well-established 3D Sonic formula.

Most notably, Shadow wields Chaos Control, enabling him to manipulate time and teleport, effectively replacing the homing attack (let the lore discrepancies slide, shall we?). The real game-changer, however, lies in the Doom Powers, gifts from the Black Arms, which allow him to hurl enemies, glide on dark wings, or morph into a sticky blob reminiscent of Spider-Man. This variety breathes new life into platforming challenges, with the glide mechanic alone necessitating separate speedrun rankings based on its use.

Shadow Generations also significantly smooths out the rough edges of Sonic Generations. The hub world between stages is fully fleshed out into an engaging gameplay stage, channeling the exploratory spirit of Sonic Frontiers while refining its imperfections. Gone is the frenetic button-mashing combat, replaced by a more coherent design that makes navigation straightforward and rewarding. While Sonic Frontiers could become tedious to traverse, Shadow’s expansive overworld encourages continuous exploration with its hidden collectibles and challenging platform segments.

Perhaps most surprising is the story, crafted from the ground up by Ian Flynn, offering a richer dive into Shadow’s mysterious background and his connections to Maria and Gerald Robotnik, alongside his origins with Black Doom. Admittedly, interest in this plot may vary—fans who revel in Shadow’s enigmatic cool factor will likely hail it as one of Sonic’s best narratives, while skeptics may find it tough to engage. Nonetheless, the production’s ambition and polish are impressive—far surpassing the storytelling in previous 3D Sonic titles.

Yet, the biggest hurdle Shadow Generations faces is being boxed into Sonic Generations’ structure. Shadow’s stages are split between modern or “classic” acts, maintaining a format that doesn’t fully utilize his talents in purely 2D levels. Additionally, while obligatory side missions still disrupt the flow, they are substantially improved, with fewer but more focused challenges to conquer. Though these elements don’t deliver perfection, they represent significant advancements over the lowest points of Sonic’s journey.

The Switch version provides a largely adequate experience, albeit not without quirks. Sonic Generations performs admirably in terms of image quality but suffers from performance issues. Resolution consistently thrives at 1080p docked and 720p handheld without dips, which is commendable given the hardware limitations. Unfortunately, the 30fps frame rate is plagued by pacing problems, slightly skewing motion consistency despite maintaining the cap.

By contrast, Shadow Generations doesn’t face these frame rate issues. Given its modern design elements reminiscent of Sonic Frontiers, its 30fps cap feels justified. Nonetheless, its ambitious visual features, including support for ambient occlusion and dynamic exploration, necessitate more compromises for the Switch. Docked, resolutions scale between 720p to 540p, while handheld is more variable, hitting lows around 360p particularly during dense scenes. An upscaling technique akin to FSR 2.0 works to mitigate edge jaggedness, but aliasing remains noticeable at lower resolutions.

Overall, the Switch offerings are serviceable within the context of what fans have grown to expect from Sonic on this platform. A patch could potentially resolve Sonic Generations’ frame pacing woes, leaving little else to criticize. Conversely, Shadow Generations’ adjustments are easier to forgive considering the game’s evolution, boasting impressive seamless level transitions on Nintendo’s hardware.

Summing up Sonic X Shadow Generations is a challenge owing to the disparate nature of each game’s experience. As a remaster, Sonic Generations is a stark reminder of its original’s unevenness. While shining in its highs, its lows may only appeal to the most ardent Sonic enthusiasts. Contrastingly, Shadow Generations signifies a leap forward for the Sonic franchise, elevating the formula with a polished touch unrivaled in recent years.

Ultimately, the value of this combined package depends on your expectations of each segment. Personally, I view it as a fresh adventure starring Shadow, accompanied by a nostalgic remaster. From this perspective, Sonic X Shadow Generations is an excellent offering—and though it reflects heavily on the franchise’s past, it’s the most optimistic I’ve been about Sonic’s future in a long time.