What parents need to know
Sonic X Shadow Generations is the compilation of 2 games: Sonic Generations released in 2011, one of the best 3D Sonic games released, and Shadow Generations a new episode that completes the game by offering to play as Shadow, Sonic’s evil double. Both games are action/adventure games mixing 2D and 3D platforming phases constantly. Sonic Generations offers to oscillate between “Classic Sonic” and to go through the levels in 2D like in the Genesis/MegaDrive era, and “Modern Sonic” and to go through a 2nd version of the levels but this time in 3D most of the time like in the games Sonic Adventure, Heroes, Unleashed… The levels offered are a best-of of the levels offered among the games released between 1991 and 2011. The remake is very similar to the original. The graphics have been adapted to today’s consoles and computers. Classic and modern Sonic now have the possibility (skipped at will) to perform a Drop Dash like in Sonic Mania. It’s just a Spin Dash that launches from a jump, when you press the jump a 2nd time in the air and that allows a sudden acceleration when you land. The life system seems to be gone, but the skills that allow you to get more are strangely still present in the skill store, and therefore are useless. Last notable change, there are now 3 Chao to find and collect in the levels, a bit like the red coins already present. I haven’t yet understood the usefulness of the Chao. Shadow Generations is therefore brand new and also offers other levels based on the story of Shadow who first appeared in Sonic Adventure 2 in 2001. There are a lot of references to this first appearance but also levels from Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), Shadow The Hedgehog. This game or additional content is selectable from the start, from the main menu, in the manner of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury. Just like Sonic Generations, Shadow Generations has a hub, a level that allows you to choose the other levels and access various settings. This time it is in 3D and is very much inspired by Sonic Frontiers. So you will be able to find power-ups, mini-games, get powers for Shadow from this open world. If in theory this is a good idea, in practice, neither the camera nor the hero’s movements are not adapted to 3D exploration. Shadow is constantly slipping, and goes further than necessary. And that’s normal because they’re adapted to linear levels that force our character to go at full speed. In addition, the architecture of the hub makes no sense, there are rails, and trampolines everywhere that go in all directions. When trying to reach certain specific areas, there is no clear way to understand how to get there. You have to try all the trampolines around to hope to find the one that will take you to the right place. After a period of adaptation, you can still do pretty much what you want. As soon as a new power is acquired, the same problems arise again.
The character goes too fast, and in the walls, and the camera doesn’t show what is needed. We still manage to get out of it as we go along. The game doesn’t punish us in this level.
The game was provided by the publisher for review. This does not influence our opinion.
Details
Level of experience required
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Evaluation
Local game modes
A mode to play the Sonic Generations
story A mode to play the Shadow Generations story
Online Game Modes
Each of the 2 games allows you to play in Time Attack on the levels played and unlocked in the story mode, in order to compare your time against other players online.
Time Attack (called Online Mode) cannot be accessed without an internet connection.
Expansions/Add-ons (DLC)
There are some bonuses in the Digital Deluxe Edition such as a Terios skin (Shadow prototype) for Shadow, and a digital artbook and OST. Nothing is essential in this. You can enjoy the game without it, There was also a Sonic Jam skin for classic Sonic obtainable by signing up for SEGA’s newsletter for a limited time.
Finally, Limited Run released physical collector’s editions of the game with many goodies for a limited time and in limited edition of course. It’s also dedicated to the biggest fans of black and blue hedgehogs.
Our opinion
Both games are excellent and very entertaining. Sonic Generations remains one of my favorite Sonic games, it’s the 3rd time I’ve finished it (PC, Xbox Series, PS5). Shadow Generations is also very nice. Nevertheless, they are not without flaws. You have to constantly stay on the “rails” of the levels, you can’t go back, you can’t explore, otherwise you’ll fall into the void. If you make a mistake during a phase where the character moves automatically, you fall into the void. Shadow’s flying powers are not well implemented and quite rare in their use fortunately. It is not easy to control at that moment, and any obstacle makes us fall… into the void. In fact, unlike a Mario platformer, where everything is calibrated, and contained in the game world, and it’s hard to do something that isn’t planned. With Sonic and Shadow it’s just the opposite, nothing is planned by the developers except the path they want us to take. And everything is prone to mistakenly leaving the world and falling into the void. When players are not used to this, it makes the game very unpleasant and frustrating. If you understand that each level is like a musical score and that you have to learn by heart, the positioning of the different elements and obstacles, the game becomes exhilarating. Indeed, the game rewards the good execution of the score, the performance performed and the speed at which you go through each level. Despite this, there are still levels and boss fights that are just badly done, especially towards the end of the 2 games, and it’s a shame. The story is rudimentary and worthy of a classic cartoon, good guy against bad guy, bad guy who realizes he’s good guy and faces the big bad guy. I’m a big fan of Sonic’s franchise, and this episode is one of the best, and will satisfy many fans, nevertheless as a fan you always want it to be better, and it could easily be.
