Sonic X Shadow Generations review: Sega finally lives and learns

How tin we study from our past mistakes if we’re each excessively frightened to face them?

That’s been nan communicative of nan Sonic nan Hedgehog series for respective decades now. Anytime nan bid has deed a roadblock, its developers person refused to pump nan brakes. It’s a patient strategy successful immoderate regards, 1 that reflects nan “never springiness up” cognition of nan Blue Blur himself. But that refusal to extremity and bespeak connected our mistakes, study from our harshest critics, and accelerate again tin beryllium harmful too. You don’t ever clear a Sonic shape connected your first try; it’s only done failing that you study to ace a level pinch panache.

With its latest game, Sonic X Shadow Generations, Sega models nan value of that process — moreover if it’s inadvertent. The package contains a remastered type of 2011’s Sonic Generations, a nostalgic, though imperfect, triumph thigh that came erstwhile nan bid needed it nan most. It was reasonably well-received astatine nan time, giving Sonic nan momentum he needed to commencement a 2nd act. Rather than pursuing that up pinch a fine-tuned sequel aliases spinoff that took criticisms to heart, Sega would alternatively stumble done different tumultuous decade of forward-focused experiments while its loyal fanbase only became much combative toward its perceived haters.

Now, Sega has yet delivered nan fine-tuned sequel we should person gotten a decade agone acknowledgment to Shadow Generations, a caller crippled that turns nan postulation into a double feature. It’s a revelation placed adjacent to nan comparatively shallow Sonic Generations, and 1 that will almost make you angry that it took truthful agelong for Sega to return honorable feedback to heart. It’s a postulation that should service arsenic a reminder astir really past mistakes tin pave a way to nan early if we’re consenting to slow down and reflect.

Revisiting Sonic Generations

To understand why Shadow Generations feels for illustration specified a measurement forward, we request to group nan clip instrumentality successful reverse. The first privilege of nan package is to particulate disconnected Sonic Generations, a crippled that astatine 1 clip felt for illustration it would beryllium a turning constituent for nan series. Like galore installments astir that era, Generations had a gimmick, but it was a bully one: Sonic teams up pinch his past aforesaid and jumps done a top hits postulation of levels from Sonic nan Hedgehog to Sonic Colors. It was an ingenious thought successful which aged schoolhouse Sonic would complete a 2D type of nan stage, while modern Sonic would tackle it successful nan 3D look of nan time. It was a awesome thought successful 2011 and it’s still a awesome thought today, but now pinch cleaner visuals and much accordant performance.

The early stages of Sonic Generations waste that thought incredibly well. We commencement successful a acquainted recreation of Green Hill Zone only to person that abstraction wholly reimagined arsenic nan 3D gauntlet fans ever dreamed of. The aforesaid is existent successful reverse erstwhile aged Sonic gets to dash done 2D versions of levels from nan Dreamcast era onward. Sonic Adventure 2’s iconic motortruck chase makes for a awesome retro thrill ride, arsenic Sonic nabs skateboard power-ups to flight a motortruck that rampages successful from nan background. The champion levels — connected some sides of nan coin — are thoughtful creation experiments that really deliberation astir really a caller position shapes levels.

Sega

A batch of nan systems and group dressing astir nan stages themselves pump up nan idea. In nan 2D stages, I’m bouncing connected enemies and utilizing my trusty aged rotation dash. In nan 3D ones, I get to hone onto enemies and boost truthful agelong arsenic I person capable energy. I get to consciousness nan nonstop quality betwixt those creation philosophies and study really they work, making it nan cleanable crippled for Sonic historians. At its best, Generations is simply a playable museum, complete pinch classical songs (and fantabulous remixes), collectible art, and nods to each awesome characteristic successful nan franchise’s history.

But Sonic Generations is not without immoderate defects, immoderate of which were called retired by critics astatine nan clip and others that are much evident complete a decade later. It features a shallow communicative that makes it consciousness astir arsenic important arsenic a clip show. Its stages are surgery up by mostly awkward leader fights that are a nightmare to control. Its later levels are its weakest ones, culminating successful an arduous 2D Sonic Colors level that grinds nan momentum to a halt astatine nan decorativeness line. Even its glut of situation stages person plentifulness of misses that waste and acquisition successful nan guidelines adventure’s accelerated action for character-based gimmicks that slow levels to a crawl.

The remaster doesn’t do overmuch to hole it up, but I’m gladsome that it didn’t.

Its bigger issues, though, are each excessively acquainted to personification for illustration maine who has been live for nan franchise’s full history. The thrill of Sonic’s early adventures comes from their non-stop speed. The bid is astatine its champion erstwhile it feels much for illustration a racing crippled than a platformer. Any crippled that has dared to deny that truth has learned this nan difficult way. While Sonic Generations is still 1 of nan amended modern Sonic games post-Adventure, it still struggles to consistently travel its aureate rule. My velocity is perpetually surgery up by slow platforming segments that only summation successful wave arsenic nan stages spell on. My boost fastener successful 3D mode doubles arsenic a termination button; pressing it excessively often sends maine veering disconnected nan course. The much I request to slow down, nan little power I consciousness I have.

The astir important portion of a platformer for illustration this comes down to spot falls. You person to cognize that if you spell launching disconnected a ramp that nan designers will drawback you. Sonic Generations excessively often fails that test, conditioning maine to move done its stages astatine a overmuch slower gait than I’d like. For each its strengths, it’s still a platformer that was ever successful request of immoderate fine-tuning. The remaster doesn’t do overmuch to hole it up, but I’m gladsome that it didn’t. That conscionable makes its 2nd half each nan much triumphant.

Enter Shadow Generations

By nan clip I vanished Sonic Generations‘ nosy but almost patronizingly nostalgic story, I was skeptical that Shadow Generations would beryllium overmuch different. I expected a crippled that felt astir nan aforesaid and utilized nan aforesaid hollow storytelling to present a greatest-hits postulation centered astir nan series’ antihero to pump up his prima powerfulness up of his large surface quality successful Sonic nan Hedgehog 3.

I tin not show you really happy I was to beryllium proven wrong.

Shadow Generations, without hyperbole, is nan champion Sonic crippled since its Dreamcast days. There are immoderate instantly evident ways it accomplishes that. For one, it’s much superior astir really to style a meaningful communicative astir its self-reflective premise. We’re not revisiting celebrated levels conscionable to observe an anniversary; we’re pursuing Shadow done a therapy session. The communicative has him confronting his tragic backstory — kid execution and each — and grappling pinch his fearfulness that he doesn’t person a future. The retreads done levels from Shadow nan Hedgehog, Sonic Frontiers, and yes, moreover Sonic’s infamous 2006 outing person thematic weight to them arsenic they’re a measurement for Shadow to straight look his demons.

Shadow Generations yet feels for illustration nan early of nan series.

The 2D/3D twist is still retained here, but nan level creation is importantly much thrilling. These are certified roller coaster rides that warp clip and space. Buildings twist and move arsenic if they’re pulled from a Doctor Strange movie. The speed-based platforming is nan same, but it’s often happening done spectacular, cinematic moments that consciousness for illustration they were inspired by Sonic’s successful move to Hollywood. Even nan position is simply a awesome measurement up complete Sonic’s communicative (as it should beryllium aft complete a decade), pinch much play loaded into cutscenes that consciousness for illustration they were pulled from top-shelf anime.

In general, everything conscionable feels much cohesive. Sonic Generations is simply a structurally loose game, pinch levels, collectibles, and challenges each benignant of mashed together. All of nan aforesaid basal ideas are there, for illustration collecting keys to unlock leader doors, but everything is organized into an explorable hub that takes cues from different fantabulous remaster pack-in, Super Mario 3D World’s fantabulous Bowser’s Fury. That hub is conscionable arsenic nosy to research arsenic nan levels themselves, arsenic it’s packed pinch collectible art, coin-collecting challenges, and small platforming gauntlets that I’m capable to complete arsenic I unlock abilities.

Sega

All of this is great, but it’s not really why Shadow Generations stands retired arsenic overmuch arsenic it does. The existent logic is overmuch simpler: Sonic Team yet figured retired really these games should feel. I very seldom person to slow down during a level. The spot falls salary off, nan activity is tighter, and levels are built to support my momentum going. Even further twists for illustration my time-slowing Chaos Control powerfulness aliases my spear ne'er inquire maine to extremity truthful I tin usage them. Compare that to nan caller Sonic Superstars, which implements powers via an awkward radial instrumentality that’s virtually intolerable to usage while running. I tin execute that split-second precision I want from a Sonic crippled pinch much confidence.

Though location are still immoderate hiccups present and there, Shadow Generations ne'er loses its measurement for long. Its levels only escalate successful velocity while remaining complex, thing that Sonic’s A-side struggles with. It’s nan activity strategy and level creation that I’ve ever wanted from a modern Sonic crippled afloat realized successful a sleek, blockbuster escapade that leaves maine really wanting to dive backmost successful and hunt for collectibles. More than immoderate Sonic crippled that’s ever travel earlier it, Shadow Generations yet feels for illustration nan early of nan series.

And if I’m being honest, it’s a small infuriating.

Live and learn

Nothing that Shadow Generations gets correct comes arsenic overmuch of a surprise. For decades, fans and critics alike person fixed Sega plentifulness of feedback to activity with. Complaints astir nan series’ momentum-halting creation decisions are truthful aged now that they tin astir apt ballot successful nan upcoming 2024 U.S. election. Its riveting leader fights aren’t conscionable a important measurement up for Sonic Generations, but miles beyond nan frustrating battles of nan very caller Frontiers and Superstars too. Even nan very thought of giving Shadow a caller solo escapade has been a petition from those who saw imaginable successful nan characteristic contempt his failed, gun-toting solo outing.

This is nan Sonic Generations sequel 1 would expect a developer for illustration Sega to merchandise successful 2014. So why successful God’s sanction are we only getting it now?

Sega

Let’s backmost up to nan very commencement of this review. On 1 hand, I person thing but respect for nan measurement that Sega has chosen to tackle its bid complete nan years. In this medium, it’s truthful easy to find thing that useful and do it again and again until that once-exciting thought is crushed into a dull grey paste. Nintendo’s apical franchises person maintained their staying powerfulness for decades because of its willingness to zig erstwhile players expect a zag. What if we throw Link successful an unfastened world? What if Mario could possess objects pinch his hat? Those decisions that defy fans expectations are what support these franchises young, and I will ever applaud Sega’s determination to return Sonic to caller places alternatively than delivering Sonic Adventure 3, 4, 5, and 6.

What’s much frustrating, though, is nan measurement that Sonic Team has shrugged disconnected seemingly each disapproval while doing that, including repeated notes astir nan halfway consciousness of nan series. The much fans identified that thing felt disconnected astir nan velocity of these games, nan much Sega seemed to unopen them out. Opinions connected these games only grew much polarizing arsenic a result. That led to an angrier and much protective fanbase that seemed eager to counteract immoderate antagonistic consequence pinch an overabundance of enthusiasm. When Sonic Frontiers launched to an eclectic dispersed of reviews, landing its aggregate people successful nan mid 70s astatine launch, nan fanbase seemingly banded together to reverse-review explosive its Metacritic personification score. They’d spell connected to stuff nan Game Awards’ Player’s Voice Award ballot box successful 2022 — a move that would backfire aft Geoff Keighley was forced to region bots from nan tally, resulting successful a Genshin Impact win.

The much defiant that Sega has become, nan much of an echo enclosure it has built astir itself. Anyone who has thing antagonistic to opportunity astir a Sonic crippled is actively boxed retired by nan patient and fans alike. They are painted arsenic bad-faith haters retired to destruct nan series’ reputation. If you truthful overmuch arsenic mention 1 of nan series’ worst games, moreover successful a discourse that makes sense, you consequence being branded a saboteur. I’d reason that nan other is true; surrounding yourself pinch “yes men” who will cheer connected immoderate determination you make is an enactment of self-sabotage.

I deliberation backmost to Digital Trends’ controversial reappraisal of Sonic Frontiers successful 2022. My workfellow Tomas Franzese, a long-time instrumentality of nan bid who had antecedently fixed Sonic Mania Plus a adjacent cleanable review, conscionable could not find nan nosy successful it. He offered up a dense, elaborate reappraisal that pulled nan crippled isolated down to nan minutiae of really nan joystick functions. It wasn’t an sentiment that he expected everyone to work together with, but his complaints echoed those recovered successful publications for illustration Edge and Slant. Despite that, he was instantly branded an outsider arsenic societal media users distorted his penning to fresh a communicative astir him that simply wasn’t true. To this day, I still drawback fans posting astir really they instantly disregard thing this publication has to opportunity because of 1 harsh but well-reasoned opinion.

I’m not reflecting connected that infinitesimal to aerial soiled laundry aliases telephone retired a strain of toxic fandom that’s slow suffocating this medium. Stories for illustration this explicate precisely really it took truthful agelong for Shadow Generations to instrumentality its landing. Too often, we spot antagonistic opinions connected a crippled we emotion and return it arsenic a individual attack. That’s sometimes by design, arsenic it’s successful a company’s champion liking to mobilize fans into a reputation-guarding army. It’s a move we’ve seen employed pinch superhero movies — and it’s nary astonishment that it has led to diminishing returns for studios for illustration Marvel who are happy to constitute disconnected anyone who dares knock its progressively rushed projects and declining ocular effects.

We do not turn by plugging our ears, moving distant from nan past, and ignoring anyone who doesn’t opportunity precisely what we want to hear.

But honorable disapproval is an enactment of love. When done sincerely, it tin connection artists valuable feedback that tin possibly place an rumor that a bought-in instrumentality whitethorn not bring to nan aboveground successful their full glowing praise. When we knock Sonic Frontiers, it’s because we want nan adjacent 1 to beryllium better, conscionable arsenic those pinch mixed feelings successful 2011 apt hoped would hap pinch a Sonic Generations sequel they wouldn’t really get for 13 agelong years.

Taken arsenic a complete package, Sonic X Shadow Generations paints a afloat image of nan series’ long, difficult journey. I started by dragging my measurement done a nosy but shallow crippled that ne'er rather felt correct and arrived astatine a revelatory thrill that feels for illustration nan genuine early of nan series. The takeaway from each this shouldn’t beryllium to make a 3rd Generations game, put Shadow successful nan starring domiciled much often, aliases to moreover front down to anyone pinch a title — lord knows that past 1 is simply a look for disaster these days. Rather, nan astir affirmative imaginable result is that it will animate a infinitesimal of self-reflection. We do not turn by plugging our ears, moving distant from nan past, and ignoring anyone who doesn’t opportunity precisely what we want to hear. Growing up is astir recognizing our imperfections, and knowing which are worthy embracing and which are really worthy moving on.

We each merit to participate our Shadow era. It doesn’t person to return 13 years to get there.

Sonic X Shadow Generations was tested connected Nintendo Switch OLED pinch a unit transcript of nan game.