Sonic X Shadow Generations Review (Switch) - Shadow Finally Gets His Due

I will never forget when Sonic Generations was first released in 2011. A good friend and I were invited to the E3 “Sonic Boom” event and got to try out the game for the first time. From concept to execution, I absolutely loved Sonic Generations, and I’m puzzled as to how it’s taken so long for SEGA to revisit the concept, especially since they teased a sequel several years ago. While Sonic X Shadow Generations isn’t exactly the sequel that I hoped for, it most certainly does deliver in the gameplay and fan-service departments, with a whole new Shadow-focused campaign as well as minor improvements to the original title.

With 2024 being the official ‘Fearless: Year of Shadow’, culminating with the third Sonic the Hedgehog film in December, Sonic Team really went all-out for this game. There are pre-order bonuses such as a physical edition of Gerald Robotnik’s diary, multiple hand-sculpted figures, sneakers, LEGO sets, free Shadow DLC for Sonic Superstars, and even extra skins for Shadow in Shadow Generations including a “Telios” skin based off of the character’s original design in Sonic Adventure 2, plus one inspired by the upcoming film and voiced by Keanu Reeves, among other nifty products. They have also released an animated short film tie-in called “Shadow the Hedgehog: Dark Beginnings”. There’s even an upcoming DLC level set in Tokyo that’s based on the upcoming film. SEGA bet hard on this game, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a good year to be a Shadow fan, but does the game itself deliver?

Out of the shadows, a hero rises

The story in Shadow Generations takes place parallel to that of Sonic Generations. While Sonic and his friends are at his birthday party, Shadow is absent, as he’s been tasked with checking out an anomaly at the Space Colony ARK. While there, he’s confronted by none other than Black Doom, who speaks to him through Doom’s Eye, informing Shadow that he survived their last encounter and is determined to ‘perfect’ Shadow, then defeat him, so as to use him to take over the world once again. After the trippy first two Acts, Shadow appears in a Sonic Frontiers-inspired hub world. There, he’ll traverse obstacles, encounter old friends, uncover secrets, and unlock new areas and abilities.

While the original Sonic Generations was a love letter to Sonic fans of every age, with adapted and reimagined Acts from various eras in the blue blur’s history, Shadow Generations takes us via its excellent hub into six of Shadow’s most iconic levels, but completely reworks them with new mechanics, to the point where the levels feel completely fresh, just with familiar elements and branching pathways that you can see coming (because the game’s field of view adjusts so precisely). For instance, the reimagined Kingdom Valley from Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) not only delivers on ideas that weren’t fully realized, but provides some of the most fresh and memorable Sonic-type levels in recent memory. This game even takes elements from Radical Highway from Sonic Adventure 2 and turns its two Acts into a lengthy, high-speed platforming gauntlet that easily makes two of the best-realized speed stages in any 3D Sonic game.

Each of the levels has not just the two Acts, but multiple Key challenges (shorter challenge levels) that are necessary to beat in order to progress to the next level or boss. Each of the Acts and challenge levels feature hidden coins to collect. These coins function as keys to unlock chests which are scattered about the overworld and contain bits of lore, art, or songs that can be viewed at any time via a pause menu gallery. As per usual, you’ll receive a letter grade from each Act depending on your performance. I don’t normally hunt for S-ranks in Sonic titles, but Shadow Generations’ levels are so good, I just might take that challenge on. 

Shadow’s Unique Toolset Changes the Game

Navigating the central hub is a game in itself, as it puts Shadow’s abilities to the test, and there are plenty of optional platforming challenge courses that lead to chests or unlockable items. The hub is heavily inspired by Sonic Frontiers, and at times traversing it feels like playing Super Mario 3D World: Bowser’s Fury (which, interestingly enough, this game seems to take inspiration from, down to the opening menu).

As far as gameplay and abilities go, Shadow has Sonic Frontiers controls by default (old-school controls are optional). He can also do a little double jump for precision. While his gameplay is sans firearms or motorcycles this time around, he does have his Chaos powers, such as Chaos Control, which stops time and allows him to beat super-fast missiles, obstacles, and platforms. He also uses Chaos Snap to attack enemies instead of Sonic’s homing attack, allowing him to traverse obstacles while combo-ing foes and even launch himself along with them and teleport.  

Shadow will also unlock Doom Powers, which are put to use both in the hub and within the levels themselves. For instance, after unlocking the Doom Surf ability, Shadow will automatically surf on a manta ray while on water and can spin to destroy or fling objects. With Doom Spear, Shadow can lock onto up to five objects at once and release spears of electrical energy, which can stun enemies or activate switches. Doom Morph lets Shadow swim and swing between globs of black goo. The final ability, Doom Wing, allows Shadow to glide at high speeds.

Shadow Generations also features several major boss battles, which are all excellently realized, with multiple phases. The design philosophy of this game seems to have been to make everything fairly accessible to play, but difficult, though not impossible, to master. There is still a little of the “jank” that Sonic fans have come to expect from the series’ games, but it thankfully feels like these levels have been thoroughly play-tested. By and large, Shadow controls the way you want him to, the timing windows are fair, and if you fall off the level in some odd way, there might just be a spring down there to save you, or you won’t be going back too far. Chaos Control also comes in clutch in many situations.

Short, sweet, and symphonic

Shadow Generations’ story only really kicks into high gear in the back half, when Maria and Gerald Robotnik enter the picture, but with the help of the banger soundtrack, it delivers on all of the emotional catharsis you might expect from such a reunion. The voice actors help to sell it. Rouge the Bat is in a few scenes, and you get to see the Sonic Generations Sonic VS Shadow cut-scene from Shadow’s point-of-view now, though you don’t oddly get to play his part of the duel.

Performance-wise, on the Switch you’re looking at a fixed 30fps, with very occasional dips. This is one of those titles that surely looks better on next-gen systems, but the Switch version is visually very impressive, with trippy background animations, lots of particle effects, and lightning-fast gameplay complete with motion blurring. Aurally, the soundtrack is a welcome mix of catchy electronic and rock tunes.

Perhaps the only arguable negative I can think of for Sonic X Shadow Generations is its length (I say arguable because I would rather have quality over quantity any day). Shadow’s campaign runs between 4 and 6 hours for a first playthrough, depending on your skill level. This number rises as you complete the side-quests and unlock extras, but ultimately most of the new content can be beaten in a weekend. There are a lot of unlockables and secrets in the hub world, and gathering keys from the various Acts and challenge levels will take some doing. But ultimately, what rounds out this package is a remaster of 2011’s Sonic Generations.

Generations remains a timeless classic in the Sonic catalog

For anyone who missed it the first time around, Sonic Generations remains one of the best Sonic games of all time. It recreates two decades of incredible titles, with Acts for both Classic and Modern Sonic in each Zone, including the iconic Chemical Plant Zone and expanding greatly on Sonic 3 & Knuckles’ Sky Sanctuary, which was barely even a level in the original game. In addition to the five red coins to collect, each level hosts three hidden Chao (though unfortunately, no Chao Garden). The soundtrack is also exquisite, and this release now allows you to swap songs before playing any given level, a very welcome addition. You can also swap the controls, and toggle the classic lives system on and off. By default, there are no Game Overs, but as an old-school guy, I appreciate the option.

This was my first time trying out the Casino Night DLC, which offers two pinball boards based off of the classic Sonic the Hedgehog 2 level. These are excellent tables that offer a lot of replay value for pinball aficionados. Overall, the visuals and sound are as crisp as ever. For a future Generations game, I’d love to see some levels from Sonic CD and Sonic Rush make an appearance, as well as Flying Battery Zone from Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

While I lament that Sonic Generations did not come with any new levels, this is a faithful upgrade to the game I played and loved long ago on the Xbox 360, with the exception of a few politically correct cut-scene alterations some fans might consider unnecessary. When experienced back-to-back with Shadow Generations, it’s actually impressive how far the series has come. But the Classic, Dreamcast, and ‘Modern’ eras are immortalized here, and the amount of care that went into the initial game, plus the DLC, is enough to justify a rerelease. You can easily spend twelve hours or so if you’re chasing S-ranks in every level and challenge, and all of the red coins.

Run, don’t walk, to grab this one

Sonic the Hedgehog fans are having a great year. Between all of the new LEGO sets, toys, and a new film on the horizon, this is a franchise that is proving to be evergreen. As established by the recent Sonic Frontiers and Sonic Superstars, SEGA is finally handling the franchise with care. Sonic X Shadow Generations blasts into the stratosphere by delivering a flashy, Shadow-centric epic with high-energy Doom Powers, excellent level design that strikes the right balance between fun and challenge, and a lot of heart in its short story. The fact that the timeless classic Sonic Generations comes with this package is more than just a cherry on top. For the uninitiated, Generations provides an excellent history lesson for the kids, plus a timeless argument for both Classic and Modern/3D Sonic coexisting in harmony.

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Verdict: 4.5 / 5 (Exceptional)

PROS

• Some of, if not the best level design in modern Sonic

• Shadow’s Doom Powers add a lot to the polished gameplay

• Vibrant visuals, a rocking soundtrack, and unobtrusive camera

CONS

• Somewhat short length of the new content

• No new levels for Sonic Generations

What I’ve Played 

• Beat Shadow’s campaign in 5.5 hours, then kept playing

• Got S-ranks in most levels

• Unlocked about 70% of the chests

• Beat Sonic Generations with all 7 chaos emeralds

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