Oh my god, Sega really did it. After the disappointment of Sound forcethe tangled mess of Ultimate Sonic colorsand the dividing nature of Sonic FrontierThe publisher has delivered a game that is certainly the best 3D Sonic game with Sonic X Dark Generation. It gracefully revisits a beloved modern classic while also introducing an additional campaign that we almost dismissed as an odd bonus but actually becomes the star of the show. submit.
Because some Nintendo fans may not have experienced the 2011 console version yet Sonic Generation (with a limited release for 3DS), the general gist is that the ‘Classic’ and ‘Modern’ versions of Blue Blur team up to take on an entity known as ‘The Time Eater’ after it merged their timelines and trapped them within it. Mysterious ‘white space’. Both get to revisit iconic periods in the series’ history, with Classic Sonic moving along a 2D plane and Modern Sonic pushing his way across 3D environments.
Levels pay homage to the Sonic franchise as a whole and include trusted classics from the early 2D era like Green Hill and Sky Sanctuary, with special attention paid to the 3D games with City Escape, Seaside Hill and Planet Wisp. Revisiting these areas with a fresh coat of paint is a real joy, and Generations has done a great job adapting each stage for both 2D and 3D gameplay; It’s true that Green Hill is overused at this point, but there’s something quite magical about speeding through such a familiar environment in a new way.
Progression is a case of completing two stages from each stage before progressing through a number of challenging levels to unlock boss keys. These challenges offer a variety of missions like racing against your doppelganger, completing a level with just one ring, etc. Some of the challenges can be a bit annoying, but for the most part they are fun, the The main stage plays out very well to make up what could have been a fairly short game.
As for what’s changed from the original Sonic Generations, admittedly not much. There are plenty of Chao hidden throughout the levels that you can collect, but if perhaps you were hoping that this might lead to an unlockable Chao Garden mode, then unfortunately the wait seems As our endless journey continues. Aside from that, yes, there are some changes to the game’s dialogue and cutscenes, but there’s really nothing that will affect your overall opinion of the experience if you’re a Generations veteran. . Classic Sonic’s main levels also use the Drop Dash ability, but this feature is removed for challenges.
However, we suspect that the main attraction for many players will be the addition of Shadow Generations, a brand new five-hour campaign that takes place directly alongside Sonic’s. We’ll say it right away: this is the ultimate 3D Sonic game. It’s clear that Sonic Team has taken some lessons from Frontiers, delivering a tight experience with some of the best 3D stages we’ve ever seen, along with a really fun hub world to explore.
Shadow Generations has a lot in common with its older sibling: you’ll take on several stages based on previous Sonic titles like Radical Highway, Space Colony ARK and Sunset Heights, with progression tied to Full completion of levels, challenges and boss battles with enemies such as Biolizard and Metal Overlord. There are two stages each, and like Sonic’s campaign, they’re designed to feature both 2D and 3D gameplay.
The main difference is in the way Shadow controls. Basic functions such as moving and jumping are largely the same, but Shadow also has access to a growing library of ‘Power of Doom’ along with his trusty ‘Chaos Control’ ability. The second feature essentially allows you to slow down time while maintaining your own speed, allowing Shadow to jump on speeding rockets, rush through crumbling levels, etc. Cool stuff is, during challenges, Chaos Control will also freeze the timer, giving you a much-needed boost if you want to reach S-level.
Meanwhile, Doom Powers will be gained gradually as you move through the game, with each new level including at least one instance where their use is required for success. Soon, you’ll be riding the waves with Doom Surf, soaring through the skies with Doom Wing, and even transform into a bizarre squid-like creature with the Doom Morph ability, allowing you to traverse all-new terrain .
Honestly, Sonic Team could easily completely mess up Doom Powers, adding some new abilities to a franchise that has historically worked best when its core mechanics were kept intact. minimum, but we like using Doom Powers and hope that it will be expanded in the future.
However, despite the welcome gameplay changes, the levels themselves are the real highlight of Shadow Generations. Each is like its own roller coaster ride, with environments often transforming around you in real time as you progress towards the final goal. In a big change to Sonic Generations, the camera has also been moved back a bit, giving you a better view of the world around you. In theory, it sounds like a rather trivial tweak, but the changed view allows you to see incoming threats from a greater distance, giving you more time to react. respond appropriately and maintain critical momentum.
The levels are also quite large and will usually last about five or six minutes the first time you play. Meanwhile, those challenges can be completed in about a minute or two. Now, keep in mind that in most cases, the Cyber levels from Sonic Frontiers can be easily beaten in under a minute; The stages in Shadow Generations (and indeed Sonic Generations) are much longer and, in our opinion, much more interesting.
Similar to the main game, Shadow Generations also includes a ‘White Space’ environment for you to access in each level. However, unlike the 2D presentation in Sonic Generations, this one is a Frontiers-inspired 3D space that you can explore to your heart’s content. It’s a lot smaller in scope than anything you’ll see in Frontiers, but as a result, it’s also a lot denser with things to do, making exploration infinitely more fun. Secret paths will lead to new areas, while locked boxes are scattered around the world, giving you access to music and artwork from Shadow’s history alongside the franchise commerce. Some have likened it to the underworld seen in Bowser’s Wrathand we completely agree with this comparison.
Any concerns about the game’s performance on the Switch can also be brushed aside. Yes, both Sonic and Shadow Generations run at 30fps instead of the 60fps seen on other platforms, but it remains stable throughout with hardly any fluctuations. The visuals are a treat too, with the oversized pop-up feature that plagued Frontiers completely removed here, making both the White Space hub world and main stages a joy to admire. And of course, as always, the music throughout both games is absolutely stellar, remixing the original versions perfectly without losing their compelling nature.
Conclusion
In what can only be described as an epic return for both hedgehogs, Sonic X Shadow Generations combines two excellent campaigns to create the best 3D Sonic game to date. The remastered Generations content is still a lot of fun, taking you through some of the series’ most iconic stages, but the new chapter of Shadow shows off the franchise’s 3D gameplay at its best. It introduces a bunch of cool new abilities while also showcasing some of the most innovative stages we’ve ever seen, and we’re keen to keep replaying to get those all-important S-levels. Alas, there is no Chao Garden yet, but we will always hope and pray for it to be included in the future. The future of 3D Sonic looks bright.
