Sega has announced that Sonic X Shadow Generations has sold 2 million copies across all platforms since it launched in October. That means the expanded platforming remaster has sold another 500,000 units over the course of the last two months, maintaining solid momentum. Sega released a DLC pack for the title in December that added a new level and featured voice acting for Shadow by Keanu Reeves, which may have helped bump up the sales.

In our review of the game, we awarded it a score of 8/10, saying, “With an enhanced version of one of the series’ best 3D outings to date, as well as a legitimately great brand-new adventure starring a returning fan-favourite, Sonic X Shadow Generations is well worth a look for fans of Sega’s platforming franchise.” Read the full review through here.

Sonic X Shadow Generations is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Announced by Sega’s official Southeast Asia Facebook page, Sonic X Shadow Generations has now sold 1.5 million units worldwide. Upon its launch late last month, the game sold a million units on the day of its release, which means it has sold an additional half a million units in the time since then.

The expanded remaster is also set to receive DLC in December that will add a new level for Shadow Generations based on the upcoming movie Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and, just like the movie, will also star Keanu Reeves as Shadow.

In our review of Sonic X Shadow Generations, we awarded it a score of 8/10, saying, “With an enhanced version of one of the series’ best 3D outings to date, as well as a legitimately great brand-new adventure starring a returning fan-favourite, Sonic X Shadow Generations is well worth a look for fans of Sega’s platforming franchise.” Read the full review through here.

Sonic X Shadow Generations is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The trailer showcases the two central conflicts in the compilation – Classic and Modern Sonic fighting the Time Eater in Sonic Generations and Shadow facing Black Doom in Shadow Generations. While the former launched in 2011, the latter is a brand new title, where Shadow faces off against threats from his past.

Aside from Black Doom, the Metal Overlord from Sonic Heroes, Biolizard from Sonic Adventure 2, and even Mephiles the Dark from Sonic ’06 must be dealt with. Fortunately, Shadow obtains new Doom Powers, from projectiles to wings, to traverse levels and take down the bosses.

Check out our review of Sonic X Shadow Generations here – we gave it an eight of ten, praising the levels and feel of Shadow’s new campaign. Despite launching today, the game has already crossed one million units sold.

On top of a remastered version of the acclaimed 2011 platformer Sonic Generations, the newly released title also includes a brand-new standalone game in the form of Shadow Generations. Sega will also be releasing DLC for the game in December that will include a new level and voice acting for Shadow performed by Keanu Reeves, who also plays the character in the upcoming movie Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

In our review of Sonic X Shadow Generations, we awarded it a score of 8/10, saying, “With an enhanced version of one of the series’ best 3D outings to date, as well as a legitimately great brand-new adventure starring a returning fan-favourite, Sonic X Shadow Generations is well worth a look for fans of Sega’s platforming franchise.” Read the full review through here.

The platformer is the latest in a long line of successful releases for Sega. The publisher has launched a number of major titles in 2024 that have all enjoyed critical and commercial success, with Metaphor: ReFantazio, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Persona 3 Reload, Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance, and Unicorn Overlord.

Sonic X Shadow Generations is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that the remastered form of Sonic Generations is not worth experiencing. The original 2011 title is widely regarded is one of Sonic’s best 3D outings, and rightly so. In fact, when playing as Modern Sonic – which is when Sonic Generations takes you through 2.5D and 3D renditions of its levels – Sonic Generations is still an absolute blast, boasting layered level design and adrenaline-fueled, momentum-building movement mechanics. On paper, that’s true when you’re playing as Classic Sonic as well – which sees all levels being presented as 2D, sidescrolling courses – but not only do levels feel much less interactive here, the movement also doesn’t quite as precise or responsive as it does when you’re playing as Modern Sonic.

"When playing as Modern Sonic – which is when Sonic Generations takes you through 2.5D and 3D renditions of its levels – Sonic Generations is still an absolute blast, boasting layered level design and adrenaline-fueled, momentum-building movement mechanics."

I suppose that’s partly down to the fact that the last few years have been quite good for 2D Sonic fans in general, all things considered. Sonic Mania and Sonic Mania Plus delivered some of the best 2D Sonic content of all time, while with Sonic Origins, we had the opportunity to dive back into the series’ earliest – and best – sidescrolling outings. With the memory of those excellent 2D Sonic games so fresh in memory, Generations’ 2D half lacks the novelty that it boasted back when the game first launched in 2011, which was a time when the franchise hadn’t seen a good 2D Sonic game on a console in what felt like forever. Meanwhile, purely on a moment-to-moment level, Generations’ 2D levels also feel much floatier and less precise than the dreamlike controls of something like Sonic Mania.

Modern Sonic is definitely the highlight of the experience as far as Sonic Generations alone is concerned. For starters, it’s always a joy to see levels recontextualized and presented through an entirely different perspective after having already run through them in sidescrolling form (though the game doesn’t really force you to play in any particular order), while there’s also a much greater level of interactivity, freedom of movement, and emphasis on skillful platforming. Meanwhile, thanks to movement feeling much better, the 3D levels also achieve a much greater sense of speed and momentum, which is obviously a crucial part of any Sonic experience (or any good Sonic experience, at least).

The game’s inherent strengths, meanwhile, are also uplifted by Sega’s solid (if conservative) remastering efforts. As an upgrade of the 2011 original, the Sonic half of Sonic X Shadow Generations isn’t terribly ambitious, but pretty much by default, it does pan out as the best way to play a fan favourite. New controls allow the game to feel more modern (and more in line with 2022’s Frontiers, though you do also have the option to switch to classic controls), while the game also looks and runs much better (with my experience having been hampered by little to no performance issues thus far).

"As an upgrade of the 2011 original, the Sonic half of Sonic X Shadow Generations isn’t terribly ambitious, but pretty much by default, it does pan out as the best way to play a fan favourite."

The highlight of this double pack, however, is Shadow Generations, which is a standalone new game starring the titular hedgehog- and with an entire new campaign to run through, Sonic Generations’ more conservative remastering becomes much easier to forgive. It helps, of course, that Shadow Generations is as good as it is- and it is really, really good, to the point where I wouldn’t be surprised if many end up liking it better even than Sonic’s own campaign.

Shadow Generations sees the Ultimate Lifeform having to come face-to-face with his traumatic past once again as he sets off on a new journey to foil the plans of his archnemesis, Black Doom, who is back once more to try and take over the world. Like Sonic Generations, Shadow’s new campaign allows players to run through levels in two different forms, though as you’d expect from Shadow – who has never had any 2D games – things are somewhat altered here. The default version of each level is one that sees you running through it from a 3D perspective, while after you’ve cleared it once, you can run through it again in 2.5D form, rather than as a fully sidescrolling 2D level.

Some will definitely be disappointed by Shadow Generations lacking that variety in levels compared to Sonic Generations, but the 2.5D levels do feel different enough to ultimately end up achieving the same effect, even if they’re not actual sidescrolling levels. It also helps that the levels also boast consistently strong design that holds up well no matter which version you’re playing, which means multiple runs of the same level across different perspectives don’t soon lose their charm, which is exactly what you want in a Sonic game.

Shadow Generations also improves on Sonic Generations’ hub world. Like Sonic, Shadow has a White Space hub location that he returns to between levels, and that expansion also continues to expand bit by bit throughout the experience. Unlike Sonic’s sidescrolling hub, however, Shadow Generations’ White Space is fully open-ended and inspired by the open zone design of Sonic Frontiers. Movement feels excellent, exploration feels rewarding, and there’s just a lot more to do outside of levels. Not having fully sidescrolling levels might be something that some might be bothered by, but you do get an open world hub, so things end up balancing out in the end.

"Shadow Generations is really, really good, to the point where I wouldn’t be surprised if many end up liking it better even than Sonic’s own campaign."

Shadow Generations also feels much better and tighter to control than Sonic Generations on a moment-to-moment level. Though the latter still runs on its original Hedgehog Engine even in remastered form, Shadow Generations is instead built from the ground up on Hedgehog Engine 2, which is what Frontiers was built on, and you can definitely feel the difference in how the two games play, with Shadow’s campaign boasting much snappier and more responsive controls. Shadow also touts a more aggressive moveset in general, of course, which is very much built into his whole character and gives him an automatic leg up over Sonic in terms of game feel- but even the most basic actions feel much tighter in Shadow Generations than in the base Sonic game.

First-time players and returning fans alike are going to find plenty to like in Sonic X Shadow Generations. The former half of the experience comes with some flaws in the dated aspects of its 2D offerings, but by and large, the 2011 platformer retains most of its strengths, and in remastered form, it still is very much a solid platformer worth checking out (or checking out again, as the case may be). The real star of the show, meanwhile, is everyone’s favourite edgelord, Shadow, who stars in a brand-new campaign that boasts well-designed levels, excellent platforming action, and a bunch of adrenaline-fueled set-pieces. Sonic X Shadow Generations is a great way to both honour a beloved 3D Sonic entry and help bring a fan favourite character in Shadow the Hedgehog back to the forefront.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Sega’s famous blue hedgehog has been seeing lots of ups and downs over the years, but 2017 proved to be a year that was, without a doubt, a success for the platforming mascot. Sonic Mania was a true-blooded traditional Sonic title, pure in its brilliance, and perceived widely as a return to form. As per the developers, the next big year for Sonic, in vein of 2017, is coming up- and it’s going to be 2021.

While speaking with Game Informer, Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka mentioned that 2021, Sonic’s 30th anniversary, is going to be the series’ next big year, implying that the next mainline Sonic title, which was recently confirmed to be in development, will be launching in a couple of years.

“2017 was a big year for Sonic,” said Iizuka. “The next big year for Sonic is 2021. That’s the 30-year anniversary for Sonic. We are now preparing.”

Though 2021 is going to be his “next big year”, Sonic is still pretty active right now. Team Sonic Racing launched recently, while next year will see the release of the Sonic the Hedgehog movie.

"With Sonic Forces, developers Team Sonic have taken another stab at a 3D game, with a dash of 2D thrown in as well, and while improvements have definitely been made over some of the more recent entries in the series, the overall package is disappointingly unremarkable."

As far as improvement goes, credit has to be given where it is due. Sonic Forces’ 3D levels have improved massively over what we’ve seen in the past. Of these 3D levels, Sonic Forces features a few types. One type has you controller Modern Sonic, one puts you in the shoes of a custom made avatar, while another has you alternating between both of them. Though that distinction should make for a higher variety of levels across the two different playable characters – at least on paper – that is unfortunately not the case.

Level design itself isn’t spectacular per se, but it’s still solid, with very little moments of frustration where you feel you had no control over the situation due to poor level design. Some of the levels really ramp up the momentum of gameplay, and these fast paced romps are among the highlights of the experience. In addition to that, the unique abilities you possess while playing as the custom made character can often open up new ways to play, which is definitely a bonus. In fact, some of the stages dedicated only to the custom character are the best in the game with a few unique gimmicks and ideas.

Modern Sonic is equipped with all the moves we’ve seen from him in past games, such as sliding, stomping and boosting, as well as his signature homing attack. The custom made character has access to all of that as well, in addition to being equipped Wispon weapons and grapple points. These Wispon weapons can be all manner of weapons, from a flamethrower to an electric whip, and each of them comes with a unique ability that you can use for traversal as well. These moments can allow you to access paths and areas which were previous unaccessible, encouraging experimentation.

"Level design itself isn’t spectacular per se, but it’s still solid, with very little moments of frustration where you feel you had no control over the situation due to poor level design."

That experimentation, sadly enough, hardly ever bears any fruit worth caring about. There is usually not much incentive to explore and find hidden areas besides a few extra rings. Even in levels that have branching paths, it’s hard to care about exploration, and you’ll usually want to blast through at full pace to the finish line. As far as character creation itself goes, there isn’t much scope for customization, with not many options to choose from, and them being cosmetic in nature as well. That comes in with equipping Wispons, but though experimentation with that in gameplay can be mildly enjoyable, you can easily beat the entire game without having done so.

Also disappointing is the fact that the controls themselves in these levels can be quite frustrating. At many moments in my playtime, the controls felt unresponsive and imprecise, which conflicted with the generally fast-paced nature of these 3D levels. It has to be admitted that these controls are an improvement over previous 3D Sonic games, and as such any gripes are much less pronounced than they have been in the past- but they do still exist.

Surprisingly enough, Sonic Forces falters most in its 2D stages. These levels are seriously lacking in the momentum that characterizes much of the 3D sections of the game, and are also marred by level design that is unremarkable and decent at best and uninspired and choppy at worst. What’s worse is that the controls in these sections feel even more slippery and imprecise than they do in the 3D levels, making areas that require precise platforming (of which there are a lot more in the 2D levels) more of a chore than anything else. For a series that has always excelled at 2D side-scrolling level design, and did so quite recently with Sonic Mania as well, it’s surprising to see it struggling with the same here.

"Surprisingly enough, Sonic Forces falters most in its 2D stages."

Another major flaw that lets down Sonic Forces is the fact that the game hardly ever provides a challenge. That, combined with levels that are well built and yet hardly memorable makes for moments that can work just fine while you’re playing them, but don’t really make an attempt to stand out. Not only are the levels unchallenging, they’re all also incredibly short, and you can easily beat the game in a handful of hours. Sadly enough, there’s not much incentive to come back beyond that either. There are admittedly SOS missions that occasionally pop up, but it’s hard to care for them too, since the game doesn’t really give you much of an incentive to go through them.

One area where Sonic Forces has to be commended is the visuals department. 3D levels are ripe with detail and excellent environments, which are complemented by fluid animations. The 2D levels too look quite crisp, with detailed and great looking backgrounds. The fact that the game manages to consistently run at a frame rate of 60 frames per second is also commendable.

Sonic Forces is not the next big step we all hoped the series would take after having taken such a major one so recently with Sonic Mania. Though it looks great and though it makes significant improvements over its predecessors in terms of 3D level design, it surprisingly falters on the 2D side. Additionally, much of what it tries to do is unremarkable and unmemorable at best. If you’re a fan of the series and want to enjoy yet another decent yet flawed experience, Sonic Forces can be recommended to you. Beyond that, your money is best saved for something else.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.