Sonic X Shadow Generations review: a fine addition to the Sonic Generations saga

With 2024 being dubbed by Sega as the 'Year of Shadow' and a highly anticipated Sonic the Hedgehog sequel set to hit the big screen this December, it makes sense the publisher has gone back and remastered one of the best games in the series.

Sonic Generations, a 2011 platformer that saw both classic and modern versions of Sonic the Hedgehog teaming up to celebrate the series' 20th anniversary, is getting a new lease on life with Sonic X Shadow Generations, a remaster that adds a Shadow the Hedgehog-led campaign to the mix. While the Sonic Generations portion of the package remains largely unchanged, it's still a great game, especially now that it runs at a smooth 60fps on PC and modern consoles. The new Shadow Generations campaign, on the other hand, is a bit hit-or-miss. It's certainly meatier than your average piece of DLC, but it can also be beaten in one sitting. Still, it's a fun addition to the Sonic Generations package, especially for fans of Shadow the Hedgehog.

Here's our full Sonic X Shadow Generations review.

Sonic X Shadow Generations is a two-in-one package that includes both Sonic Generations and a new Shadow the Hedgehog-led campaign. The Sonic Generations portion of the package is largely unchanged from the original 2011 game, which is both a good and a bad thing. On the one hand, Sonic Generations is still a great game, especially now that it runs at a smooth 60fps on PC and modern consoles. The levels are well-designed, the music is catchy, and the story is surprisingly heartwarming. On the other hand, the original game's flaws are still present in this remaster. The cutscenes, in particular, look dated, and the Nintendo 3DS levels are noticeably absent.

Overall, the Sonic Generations portion of Sonic X Shadow Generations is still a great game, even if it's showing its age in some areas. However, it's still a lot of fun to play, especially if you're a fan of the Sonic the Hedgehog series.

The Shadow Generations campaign, on the other hand, is a bit more hit-or-miss. It's certainly meatier than your average piece of DLC, with its own hub world, story, and batch of remixed levels. However, it can also be beaten in one sitting, and its difficulty spikes wildly at times.

The campaign begins with Shadow being sucked into the White Space just like Sonic in the main game, but it's handled in a far different manner. As your main hub, traversing the White Space now plays out in full 3D, with the area littered with collectibles to seek out and purchase using tokens collected throughout this side campaign’s batch of levels. This one choice alone gives Shadow Generations a more premiere and sizeable feel than I was initially expecting.

Shadow Generations sees the titular dark hedgehog sucked into the White Space just as Sonic is in the main game, but it's handled in a far different manner. As your main hub, traversing the White Space now plays out in full 3D, with the area full of collectibles to seek out and purchase using tokens collected throughout this side campaign’s batch of levels. This one choice alone gives Shadow Generations a more premiere and sizeable feel than I was initially expecting; a fact that further hit home after witnessing all the subtle yet cool ways the events of Shadow’s story intersects with the base game. It would have been easy for Sega to tack on a string of Shadow-themed levels and call it a day, but it mirrors the approach seen in Sonic Generations and iterates upon it, in more ways than one.

One of the biggest ways Shadow Generations does this is by giving each remixed level both an Act 1 and an Act 2. This might seem strange considering that Shadow the Hedgehog was introduced long after the series had already transitioned to 3D, but the folks over at Sonic Team have fun with this premise and find a way to make it work. Rather than play out in totally 2D fashion as seen in Sonic Generations, Shadow’s versions play out across a more isometric perspective, paying tribute to the franchise’s side-scrolling origins while still making it feel new. Act 1 levels play out in more traditional 3D fashion, by comparison, but all are equally as thrilling to watch and run through – whether it involves Shadow grinding on a rail through collapsed buildings or sprouting wings to take on a boss through the air.

One of the biggest ways Shadow Generations does this is by giving each remixed level both an Act 1 and an Act 2. This might seem strange considering that Shadow the Hedgehog was introduced long after the series had already transitioned to 3D, but the folks over at Sonic Team have fun with this premise and find a way to make it work. Rather than play out in totally 2D fashion as seen in Sonic Generations, Shadow’s versions play out across a more isometric perspective, paying tribute to the franchise’s side-scrolling origins while still making it feel new. Act 1 levels play out in more traditional 3D fashion, by comparison, but all are equally as thrilling to watch and run through –