Sonic X Shadow Generations brings one of the well-liked Sonic video games of the final decade and a half ahead to fashionable consoles. What was basically a “biggest hits” compilation of remade ranges from all through Sonic’s historical past to function a celebration of the Blue Blur’s twentieth anniversary is being remastered for present know-how, however that is not all: As a part of the package deal, gamers can have interaction in a standalone marketing campaign starring Shadow. I went hands-on with two levels of every character to see how the anticipated definitive version of the 2011 title is coming alongside.
I began my playthrough on the Shadow facet of the package deal. I’ve two selectable levels from Sonic Journey 2: Area Colony ARK Act 1 and the Biolizard boss battle. Each do exactly what the Sonic levels did when the bottom sport initially arrived in 2011: They supply high-speed strolls down reminiscence lane however with varied enhancements. Rushing by Area Colony ARK instantly introduced again recollections of my repeated playthroughs of Sonic Journey 2 on Dreamcast, however in Sonic X Shadow Generations, Shadow additionally has new powers at his disposal.
As a part of Shadow’s introduction to gamers at first of Sonic Journey 2, we noticed him use Chaos Management. That energy is at gamers’ disposal in Sonic X Shadow Generations, permitting him to freeze varied stage parts. In the course of the Area Colony ARK stage, Shadow may freeze incoming missiles after which use them as steps to succeed in greater areas. It looks like it’s going to come in useful and assist gamers uncover enjoyable and distinctive methods to find the collection’ trademark branching pathways.
Moreover, halfway by my run by Radical Freeway, Doom’s Eye, part of Black Doom from Shadow the Hedgehog appeared and interrupted the stage. The complete stage morphed round Shadow in what may solely be in comparison with one thing straight out of a Physician Unusual film. I do not know if extra ranges will make the most of this stage-altering characteristic, however I am excited to see what Sonic Group has in retailer.
The Biolizard struggle was a tougher enterprise however equally as enjoyable. The struggle begins off on a round platform the place the lizard chases you with its tail and mouth earlier than blasting power balls at you. In case you can dodge them, you may grind up the rails and hit his core. Then, he grows huge arms, and you must dodge not solely them, however the shockwaves they produce. Lastly, the Biolizard blasts an enormous power ball at Shadow and he should use Chaos Management to freeze the ball and blast it again on the boss, then bounce off a barrage of bubbles to ship the ultimate blow. Shadow performs equally to Sonic however with particular powers and a number of other unique levels highlighting the edgier hedgehog’s historical past; I can not wait to see what this package deal has in retailer.
The Sonic facet is not as compelling because it’s all content material gamers have sped by earlier than, nevertheless it’s nonetheless nice to see it working so easily without having to play the Xbox 360 model with the Xbox Collection X’s FPS enhance. Although I solely had an opportunity to play Inexperienced Hill Zone’s two acts, it felt like a enjoyable homecoming to certainly one of my favourite Sonic video games of that period.
“One of many greatest enhancements for console gamers is with the ability to play an excellent high-speed sport at 60 frames per second as a result of the unique was at 30,” inventive officer Takashi Iizuka says. “For individuals who have performed Sonic Generations earlier than, a cause to replay it’s now we have a Chao Rescue characteristic. Chao are going to be hidden in Sonic Generations and you are going to have to seek out all of them. That is a gameplay characteristic to maintain those that are actually good and know the degrees to go in and discover the Chao.”
Sonic X Shadow Generations is a sport I’ll relish revisiting when it arrives on PlayStation 5, Xbox Collection X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Swap, and PC on October 25.