Review: Sonic x Shadow Generations - Dynamic, fun, but lacks Challenge

Sonic x Shadow Generations has just come out of the oven. SEGA's newest game is an improved version of the original 2011 game. However, it’s not a simple remaster of the classic content, but also a new campaign developed from scratch, starring Shadow, adding a new gameplay experience, and greater depth to the game's plot.

Personally, I was very excited about the announcement of this release. Coincidentally, it happened while I was immersed in a series of Sonic gameplays, starting with Sonic Origins, which features the Mega Drive classics, and more recently Sonic Mania, released in 2017, but following the same 2D/Pixel Art footprint as the classics, simply a perfect game.

Developer: Sonic Team, SEGA

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One and PC

Genre: Action, Adventure

Release: October 22, 2024*

The graphical improvements compared to the original game are subtle but noticeable. Although Sonic Generations' visuals were already beautiful, there are now small improvements to both the in-game visuals and animations. However, the real graphical highlight is in the stages and scenarios created for Shadow Generations, which are absolutely spectacular.

SEGA managed to maintain and exceed the level of visual quality. However, despite some changes to dialogue and scenes, the dated look of the original animation cutscenes still conveys the feeling that they could have received more attention to align with the excellence of the new cinematics.

SEGA could have chosen to release an exclusive Shadow game, but they saw an opportunity to improve the story told back in 2011, and this was a great decision. The plot created for the new game fits very well with the events of the original, enriching it in an organic way. Furthermore, the timing is perfect, presenting Shadow's origin just before the release of the third movie in theaters, which only strengthens the connection between both media and increases fans' expectations.

And SEGA didn't stop there. Recently, they announced that the game will receive a new stage inspired by the movie, as part of an additional content update. Although few details have been revealed, the update should feature a special appearance by Keanu Reeves and is scheduled for December 12th.

The gameplay of the original game also received some small changes, the main one being the addition of Drop Dash, introduced in Sonic Mania (2017). This ability allows Sonic to perform a Spin Dash in the air, that is, he hits the ground while rolling and maintaining high speed.

It’s worth noting that, although this ability is extremely useful in the classic version of Sonic, it was also included in modern Sonic. However, in this case, its usefulness is more symbolic, as the boost ability makes more sense for this version of the character.

Regarding Shadow, he has an arsenal of skills due to the use of one of the Chaos Emeralds and the influence of a type of Slime that was joined to him by Black Doom. These skills are acquired throughout the campaign and allow the introduction of new challenges, making the experience more dynamic and fun. These new capabilities include surfing in water, growing wings to fly, among others.

Shadow's stages structure remains the same as the original game, with actions in 2D and 3D. The difference is that I felt the 2D gameplay was very fluid for Shadow, even without having a Classic chubby Shadow, the developers got it right here.

Another interesting point is the HUB of stages in Shadow Generations which is very different from the 2D linear area of ​​the original game. White Space is an “open zone” similar to what we saw in Sonic Frontiers (2022). I, personally, liked the 3D experience more, although I recognize that it can be a little more confusing. Some improvements could be made to make the map displayed on the pause screen more intuitive, for example. But honestly, considering the size of this open world, this isn't a problem.

Another significant change was the transformation of the life system, which is now optional. By default, the game does not impose a life limit as occurred in previous versions, a common trend in modern games that seek to avoid difficulty based on the number of lives available. I believe this was a wise decision, similar to what was done in Crash Bandicoot 4, for example.

The Generations Formula: We are aware of the challenge that SEGA faces in pleasing Sonic fans, as there is a big divide between the style of gameplay preferred by each one. For that reason, I think it was a safe decision to bet on the successful structure that features 2D and 3D stages with longer and more balanced durations, in addition to short and quick, but fun and varied Challenges.

Duration: I spent a little over five hours playing through Shadow's campaign to its conclusion. Although it’s not a long game, if we consider the new stages inspired by the movie that will be released in December and the length of the original game, it ends up offering a fair duration.

Localization: Unlike the original game, the remaster now has subtitles in Portuguese, making the experience more accessible.

Shadow Campaign: The new game delivers a result worthy of the current generation, with engaging gameplay, a good story and quality graphics.

Soundtrack: The producers managed to maintain the high level of the franchise, and the soundtrack is excellent. Furthermore, if you don't like or get tired of the songs, there is the option to change tracks during the stages, offering a personalized experience.

Story and Cinematics from the Original Game: Despite the changes in animations and dialogues, which improve the experience compared to the original game, the way in which the story of Sonic's campaign is told ends up seeming simpler and less elaborate compared to Shadow’s. Furthermore, some inconsistencies were generated in the scenes, resulting from altered dialogues without appropriate modifications to the animations.

The Physics of Classic Sonic: I had the impression that classic Sonic is still a little heavy, something that some players already pointed out in 2011. I may have felt this more intensely because I played Sonic Mania recently and still needed time to readapt to Sonic's gameplay in Generations.

Boss Difficulty: Boss battles are visually impressive, fun and creative, but lacks enough challenge. Overall, they are very calm, and I feel like they could have challenged players more.

Sonic x Shadow Generations was, without a doubt, a game that I really enjoyed. Everything is beautiful, dynamic and fun. The cons are just details that did not significantly impact my experience. I highly recommend the game, both for those who have already played the 2011 version and for new players, especially for those who, like me, don't know much about Shadow.

Sonic x Shadow Generations is a game that will be remembered fondly by fans and which can serve as a reference for the franchise to follow a good path in the future.