Sonic x Shadow Generations releases in October, and its very premise is enough to sell itself. It is a remaster of Sonic Generations, but it also introduces a brand new campaign for Shadow the Hedgehog. With Sega deeming it the Year of Shadow and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 releasing in theaters in December, it’s more than fitting to explore even more of Shadow’s story this way.
At Gamescom, Game Rant was able to play a brief demo of Sonic x Shadow Generations. As Sonic, we were able to play Chemical Plant Acts 1 and 2; as Shadow, we played Kingdom Valley Act 1 and the Metal Overlord boss fight. What’s clear from this demo is just how well Sonic and Shadow Generations go hand in hand with each other, yet they are effectively two very different games.
Running through Shadow’s Kingdom Valley was a fantastic zip from key point to key point, with plenty of enemies to demolish as Shadow in-between. The rail grinding, the eagle riding, and everything that emphasizes speed were top-notch, while Shadow feels much more visceral than Sonic. It was important to Sonic Team that both Shadow and Sonic feel distinct from each other, and indeed they do. There’s a weightiness and punch to Shadow that Sonic’s gameplay doesn’t have, while Sonic generally feels faster and more agile. That difference is going to go a long way with the full release.
Kingdom Valley let us flex Shadow’s Doom Powers by surfing through water segments, and the sheer beauty of the level and its water segments was a major highlight. Of note, though, is that this specific level didn’t feel as geared toward Shadow’s Chaos Control as Space Colony Ark Act 1. While we still charged up the ability plenty of times, there were fewer natural places in Kingdom Valley than Space Colony Ark, but there were a few instances where it came in handy. Once mastered, it’s easy to see how Chaos Control can drastically shift how someone approaches Shadow’s levels and gameplay because it has uses in unclear places. Spotting those takes expertise that a demo cannot really showcase. These surfing segments were great preparation for the Metal Overlord boss fight, however.
The Metal Overlord is a returning Sonic boss, with Shadow fighting him in a chase sequence that involves using the water to knock debris at the boss. It’s also important that players dodge attacks as much as possible because the Metal Overlord hits hard, and timing comes in clutch for not just dodging rockets but repelling them at the boss. It was a fast, but weighty gameplay experience that really let Shadow shine. When we jumped into Sonic’s levels, it also became obvious why Sonic Team paired Sonic’s Chemical Plant with these two levels.
Sonic’s Chemical Plant Act 1 and Act 2
Sonic’s Chemical Plant levels feature all the hallmarks of his iconic gameplay, including pulleys, track inversions, warp pipes, and so forth, and it felt as polished as one would expect from a full release, not just a demo. Notably, Chemical Plant also features water sections that impede Sonic’s speed, and that’s why this demo pair these levels. How Sonic and Shadow interact with these water segments is notably and drastically different. Shadow’s powers let him have this glide over water to show his dominance and power, while Sonic’s abilities are impeded by water, encouraging players to interact with it as little as possible to achieve the highest speeds. Put side by side, these water segments are the perfect comparison and contrast for Sonic and Shadow, and it seems likely this approach extends throughout the entire game, including its development.
Sonic x Shadow Generations features two engines: one for Sonic Generations and one for Shadow Generations. The original engine was used for Sonic Generations, with the graphics, gameplay, and overall feel being updated in this remaster. Sonic Team did not want to use an old engine for Shadow Generations, however, and opted instead to use a new and improved one. The result is a powerful combination where the two titles share a similar game feel, but remain distinct—not unlike these two hedgehogs.
