Highlights
- Sega is remastering the 2011 game Sonic Generations into Sonic x Shadow Generations, with upgraded visuals and 60 FPS gameplay, and giving Shadow his own story campaign.
- Shadow's campaign will run parallel to Sonic's story, exploring his dark and troubled past and his motivations as an anti-hero.
- The remastered game may serve as a way for new fans to catch up on Shadow's backstory before his upcoming debut in the third Sonic film.
Sega recently explained how Shadow's new levels and story mode in the upcoming Sonic x Shadow Generations will tie into the original game. Fans were given a big surprise during the January 2024 PlayStation State of Play with a trailer for Sonic x Shadow Generations. It is a remaster of the 2011 original that has upgraded visuals and runs at 60 FPS. On top of that, Shadow gets his own story campaign, which takes place from his perspective.
In the original Sonic Generations, Shadow was featured as a rival boss fought in the game, modeled after the same iconic confrontation from Sonic Adventure 2. While this was a nostalgic fight for longtime fans of the franchise, many felt that Shadow's presence in the actual story of Sonic Generations was pretty light. With Shadow getting his own story campaign in Sonic x Shadow Generations, Sega teases fans about how the two plots will connect.
Sonic Superstars Getting New Costume to Celebrate Sonic x Shadow Generations Reveal
To celebrate the recently revealed Sonic x Shadow Generations remaster, Sonic Superstars is adding a special free costume for players to wear.
In a recent PlayStation Blog post, Sega details what to expect with Shadow's campaign in Sonic x Shadow Generations, stating that this journey will be "parallel" to Sonic's. This means the two stories are taking place concurrently. This campaign will be diving into Shadow's dark and troubled past, with players learning about his motivations and why he became the iconic anti-hero he is today. "With Shadow’s portion of the title, players will get to know him more as a character and understand his motivations," says Sonic Team Creative Officer, Takashi Iizuka. "It will create the ultimate celebration of Classic Sonic, Modern Sonic, and Shadow gameplay that all fans will surely enjoy."
What is in Sonic x Shadow Generations' Story?
This focus on Shadow the Hedgehog's tragic past is appropriate, considering Sonic Generations' main premise was revisiting nostalgic levels from across the series' lineup, as the game's villain, the Time Eater, was tearing holes in history. While it's unclear how the two incidents are related as of now, Shadow seemingly experiences something similar, as he faces off against a villain from his past, Black Doom. Due to the time-travel nature of the original Sonic Generations' plot, some fans theorize that the Black Doom seen in the trailer is a time-displaced version of the character, who is trying to prevent his own defeat at Shadow's hands.
With Shadow’s portion of the title, players will get to know him more as a character and understand his motivations. It will create the ultimate celebration of Classic Sonic, Modern Sonic, and Shadow gameplay that all fans will surely enjoy.
Most fans have also speculated that Sonic x Shadow Generations' new campaign will be used as a vehicle for new fans to catch up on Shadow's complex backstory without needing to play his contentious solo spin-off game. This theory is based on Shadow's upcoming debut in the third Sonic film, and having a way to play a truncated version of his backstory would be a good way to get new fans interested in the character before it premieres. For the time being, longtime fans are waiting to see how Shadow ends up getting involved with Generations' plot and how Sega will retell the iconic rival's story.
Sonic Generations
Released for the 20th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, players run through iconic stages and levels as both Modern and Classic Sonic.A remaster, Sonic x Shadow Generations, will be launching in Autumn 2024, featuring remastered visuals and a new playable campaign starring Shadow the Hedgehog.
