Nostalgic trips down a major brand’s history are nothing new. But weren’t a big focus back in 2011. That’s when Sonic Generations originally released, being a celebration of twenty years of Sonic the Hedgehog’s history. Thirteen years later, in an era where nostalgia has a lot of influence over all forms of media, it may seem odd to remaster Sonic Generations for modern consoles. But clearly, that wasn’t the main selling point for Sonic x Shadow Generations, which released recently for PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series X & S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The main selling point was the newer game packaged along, that being Shadow Generations. This new expansion focuses on Sonic’s rival Shadow the Hedgehog, as he takes his own trip down memory lane. And much like how Sonic Generations was the series’ best game in years back in 2011, Shadow Generations hits with similar results in 2024.
Sonic Generations, Remastered for a New Generation
When it comes to this writer, I enjoy this series quite a bit. Sonic Generations has been my favorite game in the franchise, and it still makes a strong case to be a top-tier platformer as it did over a decade ago. When it comes to being “remastered,” it kind of does the bare minimum. But that’s not a bad thing, especially since the game holds up exceptionally well and thankfully looks and plays the exact same. While being the same game that released back then there are a few new things, namely new collectibles and redubbed cutscenes. For people unfamiliar with the original game, the game focuses on Sonic teaming up with his younger self (Classic Sonic) and racing through various levels from his past adventures. It’s split between the 2D platforming of Classic Sonic and boosting through spectacle-driven levels as Modern Sonic, and both gameplay styles are great. Classic Sonic is a faithful recreation of Sonic’s early adventures, and Modern Sonic perfectly pays tribute to the 3D outings, which have varied in reception over the years. Even if the game is somewhat short and doesn’t really have a story, it still serves as both a celebration for longtime fans and a brilliant introduction for new fans just as it did in the past.
Shadow Generations: The Return of Shadow
The Sonic series is a lot different than it was back in 2011. Following a string of disappointments (Sonic Mania being the exception), the movie adaptations breathed new life to the series. Soon after, Sonic Frontiers would release and shift the series into an open-world direction which proved to be a step in the right direction. While it wasn’t perfect and needed improvement, it was still good. Two years later, enter Shadow Generations. Taking place during the events of Sonic Generations, Shadow the Hedgehog finds himself on his own time-traveling adventure taking on his old foe Black Doom (from the panned Shadow the Hedgehog game) and revisiting levels from both games before and after Sonic Generations released. This game is the main focus of the Sonic x Shadow Generations package, and it does not disappoint.
Shadow Generations, while using the same formula as its bluer counterpart, is significantly different in terms of gameplay. Shadow’s moves and controls are more similar to Sonic Frontiers, as well as the graphics also being a step up from the original Generations (and Frontiers for that matter). He also has key differences, as his homing attack shows him teleporting to attack enemies rather than dashing into them like Sonic and using a projectile attack to stun enemies and activate switches. When defeating enemies, he fills a gauge that when full, can stop time completely. Known as Chaos Control, this is useful for finding new pathways or getting out of tight situations. It’s also perfect to help with speedruns, since it stops the game timer as well. Shadow also gets several new moves by collecting gears, which are obtained during progression of the main campaign. Those include an upgrade to the previously mentioned projectile attack, wings for gliding, a way to traverse through water, an attack to launch enemies to higher places, and a literal squid that moves through purple goop. They all introduce fun mechanics and are all used in creative ways. Stages and boss battles only get better with these power-ups, and help you traverse the open-world hub to complete challenges and obtain collectibles. The game as a whole is exceptionally designed and reaches new heights that gives Sonic Generations serious competition as my favorite Sonic game. There’s also more of a story, and it ends up being a compelling look into Shadow as a character and his dark past. No spoilers here, but it surprisingly strikes an emotional chord by the end which will be especially rewarding for longtime fans of both the series overall and Shadow himself.
The Verdict: Worth The Price
Sonic x Shadow Generations is what you get when you package an excellent game with a remastered version of an excellent game. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in either platformers or the Sonic series itself, with two fast-paced experiences that you won’t regret playing!
The Official EHS Rating: 9.5/10
