Sonic X Shadow Generations Review – A Nostalgic Platformer That Shines Through Shadow (PS5)

Sonic’s past has been riddled by more lows than highs. With only a few games standing out over the last couple of decades, fans have learned to keep their expectations in check. After all, chances were the Blue Blur would disappoint yet again.

With Sonic X Shadow Generations, SEGA picked up one of the franchise’s best titles — and made it better. It’s a remaster of the original 2011 Sonic Generations. But with a brand-new campaign for Shadow the Hedgehog, it has been elevated to new heights.

While the Sonic Generations part of the game does a fantastic job of bringing the original to modern devices, the game’s highlight is the section dedicated to Shadow. Bringing unique levels, various abilities, and a heartfelt story, it’s Shadow that lets this game shine.

Sonic X Shadow Generations is out now on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Sonic X Shadow Generations is a 2-in-1 experience, letting you slide into the running shoes of our beloved and well-known Blue Blur and his much underappreciated darker counterpart, Shadow.

When you boot up the game, you get the option to either jump into Sonic’s colorful Green Hills, or travel to the edgier world Shadow calls his home.

This Shadow Shines Bright

I embarked on Shadow’s adventures first and was immediately enthralled. The hours just zoomed by as I ran, jumped, slid, boosted, and flew through the masterfully designed levels.

SEGA didn’t just revamp Sonic’s tried and tested stages but created a new world for Shadow in Sonic X Shadow Generations. From neon-lit cityscapes that defy the laws of physics to lush scenery with majestic eagles, each level has a unique atmosphere.

With tons of paths and various skills, the replayability value is incredibly high. Different Doom abilities get introduced as you progress, each of which adds new layers and different ways of tackling challenges.

This switches up the gameplay, meaning you can’t just keep your finger on the boost button and zoom through each stage without thinking, as different enemies and platforms will ask you to pick your abilities wisely.

From slowing down time and hurling enemies through the air to riding a manta and turning into a Symbiote-esque squid, using these abilities in tandem keeps the levels fresh and exhilarating throughout.

The story underlying this high-octane action adds an unexpected level of depth and pulls at your heartstrings in a way no other Sonic game ever has.

Sonic X Shadow Generations Boasts a Large Dose of Nostalgia

The remaster of the 2011 original makes up the other half of Sonic X Shadow Generations. I should have probably played this part first, as after coming from Shadow’s world back to Green Hills, I couldn’t help but be disappointed by Sonic’s lack of abilities.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t variety. Each of the stages can be played as either the Classic Sonic with 2D-style gameplay or as Modern Sonic boasting a mix of 2D and 3D perspectives.

It’s a great homage to the decade-old game that is packed to the brim with nostalgia. The graphics have been tremendously improved, with carefully designed details, shadows and lighting effects, and a fluid frame rate creating a visually impressive experience.

The switching between the different perspectives, however, oftentimes felt unintuitive and confusing, leaving me flying off platforms that should have been easy to navigate.

My biggest gripe with the Blue Blur’s part in Sonic X Shadow Generations was that I oftentimes didn’t know what I was supposed to do. Obtuse challenges with no clear objectives and clunky game mechanics left me frustrated a lot.

A Hub World to Explore Freely

The White Space acts as a hub in which you can enter the different stages, challenge levels, and boss arenas. While the main stages just require you to make it through the finish line, you’ll have to complete challenges with various objectives to obtain the keys that unlock boss arenas.

In both games, the White Space felt more like a painstakingly slow interruption to the fast-paced levels. However, collectors will likely enjoy Shadow’s Sonic Frontiers-style open-world White Space with large areas to explore and collectibles to pick up.

This is where you’ll find things like art pieces and music, the latter of which can be used to change the soundtrack of each of the levels — a nice touch, especially for someone like me with a very specific taste in music.

You can even equip different types of passive skills that will increase the characters’ speed or defenses. It’s a fun gimmick, but the game doesn’t change much if you ignore this feature completely.

Now, how do you rate a game that’s actually two games in one, each similar at its core but widely different in its execution?

The Blue Blur’s part in Sonic X Shadow Generations is a nostalgia-filled treat for Sonic fans, albeit with some frustrating gameplay decisions. Meanwhile, Shadow’s campaign lifts this game up to new spheres, making it not just a great Sonic game, but an impressive platformer at large.