Summary
Sonic X Shadow Generationsis promising to be more than just a remaster ofSonic Generations. The upcoming release is set to shine a spotlight on Sonic’s rival Shadow the Hedgehog, afterSonic X Shadow Generationswas announced during the January 31 State of Play. Shadow the Hedgehog is getting his own story, alongside the newer version ofSonic Generations. There’s more to this “all-new collection featuring two unique experiences,” though, with “bonus content” being teased on store pages for the newer release. Even though there’s more coming toSonic X Shadow Generationsthan just an extra campaign, not much is known about what will be added.
Compared to the rest of the franchise’s plans for 2024 aSonic Generationsremaster seems a bit out of left field. Even thoughKnuckles the Echidnacelebrates his 30th anniversary this year, Shadow is getting an entirely new side campaign instead of him; likely to coincide with the black hedgehog’s silver screen debut inSonic the Hedgehog 3. Even if the reason behindSonic X Shadow Generationsis to just market the hedgehog duo in response to the movie, the extra content found in the new release may bring its original story full circle.
Sonic Generations Celebrates the Past and the Present, Sonic x Shadow Generations Could Celebrate the Future
How Sonic’s History is Integral to Sonic Generations
Sonic Generationsis a unique anniversary title in that the anniversary itself is tied into the plot of the game itself, with the story dealing with a being called the Time Eater literally crashing Sonic’s birthday party. True to the villain’s name, time and space are torn asunder, and Sonic wakes up in White Space; a reality filled with colorless areas from specific points of Sonic’s life. WhileSonic Generationsisn’t a perfect experience, it offers stages based on 19 years of Sonic releases in the style of the boost mechanics fromSonic Unleashedthat many fans enjoy.
Generationswas a very popular game when it was first released, and it continues to still make a fair bit of sales on Steam where the game can be played on many up-to-date gaming PCs with few issues. However, due to bothSonic Generations' existence as specifically the 20th anniversary title, with the premise dealing with Sonic’s birthday, it’s fair to say thatGenerationsaccidentally makes itself a bit dated. However, this can easily be used to the game’s benefit withits new features and Shadow side storyover 10 years later.
Sonic’s Future Should Be Inclusive to the Whole Series
Because of how long it’s been since the original game was released, there’s a very strong chance that the current direction of the franchise can keepSonic X Shadow Generationsfrom limiting itself, and help take its premise even further instead.Sonic Generationswas designed to be a celebration of everything the series has to offer, shoving references and allusions to as many games as it possibly could, which means that this remaster has plenty of space to includeSonic ForcesorSonic Frontiers.
IfSonic x Shadow Generationstakes this approach, however, it could range anywhere from extra levels to new story content for either Shadow or Sonic himself. With the position that theSonicseries is in these days, it wouldn’t be hard for these games to be included inGenerationsthanks to how Sonic and Shadow’s voice actors are still playing the characters to this day, and howSonic Frontiers' writer Ian Flynn has been brought on for at least Shadow’s new campaign, if not any other content for the remaster.
Even ifForcesandFrontiersare left out inSonic X Shadow Generations, the number of games found inGenerationsis still being extendedwithShadow the Hedgehogplaying an important rolein Shadow’s story in itself.
Sonic Superstars
WHERE TO PLAY
Inspired by the franchise’s 2D heyday, Sega’s Sonic Superstars is a co-op platformer that features Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and Amy as playable characters.
