Our old pal Sonic has returned to our screens just a little bit before the release of his third movie, and this time, it’s in the form of a remaster that also brings Shadow along for the ride in an all-new campaign with Sonic X Shadow Generations.
Straight out of the gate, I will say the value proposition here is superb. For £30, you are getting abundant content with so many areas and levels to play that you’ll easily have enough to keep you going until the new movie comes out.
This review will examine each game on its own merits and then tie it all back together to say whether it will make for a solid stocking filler for the event at the end of December.
Sonic Generations
Let us start with the chunkier of the two in this collection. Barring the updated visuals and slight tweaks to the level design, Sonic Generations is as good as you’ll ever remember it being. The blend of the 2D and 3D levels is fantastic, and they play incredibly similar but different games. It reminds me of that quote in The Interview: “Same-same but different”.
I won’t delve too much into the story of what is now a 13-year-old title, but let’s just say the titular speedy hedgehog and his buddy, Tails, must work through nine classic Sonic game levels to restore colour to the land and live happily ever after (that is as simplistic an explanation as I can give).
The boss encounters are as you would expect, a little basic, and annoyingly, the game does pad out the run time with collect boss keys levels, but thankfully, these are not long enough to become anything more than tedious.
The other thing that I would say puts this game up there in terms of the best value-for-money package you can buy is due to the overall replayability of the levels. As you progress through the campaign, Sonic will unlock new abilities that make levels you have previously completed almost feel fresh by just how you’ll complete them.
There is only one new thing added to Sonic Generations in the form of a new collectible. Each level has two collectable Chao creatures to collect. While this does add something new to fore when you’re speeding through the levels, as I think you should in Sonic, you don’t really want to slow down to hunt for more things to collect.
If you have never picked up a Sonic title before, then I think this is the perfect game to do that with. This was, at the time it was originally released, a love letter to all things Sonic, and given the updated visuals and the finesse the developers have added to the overall package, it is well worth your time.
Shadows Generations
Onto what is actually new. Shadow Generations runs parallel to what is happening in Sonic Generations. Shadow faces off against his old foe, Black Doom, and treads back over some of his classic levels from old games.
There are lovely new cutscenes that connect Shadow’s adventure to what is going on in the other universe, and as always, the action is just superb.
Like on the Sonic side, you get some cool powers as you beat bosses and complete levels, which adds an extra way to complete levels and go back over previous arenas to try and achieve the coveted S ranking.
Another cool part of both of these games is the amazing soundtrack, which really does fit the fast-paced action brilliantly and makes the game even more fun when you’re playing with headphones.
Unfortunately, and this is probably my only real negative for the overall package, is that Shadow’s side of the combo deal does feel incredibly short. I finished Shadow’s campaign in around five hours, which is about half the time it took me to finish Sonic’s. While I know the reason you pick up a Sonic game is to play as Sonic, if you are going to give his more gritty version his own storyline and cutscenes, at least make the campaign closer to the eight-hour mark.
This negative, however, does not detract from the overall experience. Shadow Generations is a good palette cleanser from the more cutesy tone that Sonic has, and as I previously mentioned, it makes the overall package brimming with content.
Conclusion
I think in my recent review of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 where I mention that there isn’t a better value for money package out there at the moment, I was very wrong. Sonic X Shadow Generations is the best £30 you will ever spend.
The levels from the classic game are as good as they are ever going to get, and the added touches here and there make them worth replaying, even if you have already played them several times. On the Shadow side, while the campaign is a little short for my liking, it still does enough to justify being its own standalone inclusion in this package.
Essentially, what I am saying is if you are a Sonic fan, then this is a must-buy. Why haven’t you already bought it if you’re a true fan? Also, if you have a Sonic fan in your life and you’re scratching around for a Christmas present for them, then this is the easiest win you’ll have this holiday season.
Developer: Sonic Team
Publishers: Sega, Sega Europe Limited, SEGA of America
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Release Date: 22nd October 2024
Gaming Respawn’s copy of Sonic X Shadow Generations was provided by the publisher.
