Sonic X Shadow Generations NS2 Review
Summary: Bringing the best of past Sonic games into the modern gaming world with familiar yet fresh and striking levels.
4.6
Solid Sonic!
Sonic X Shadow Generations gets another new life on Nintendo’s latest console, making it a new way to experience Sonic’s remastered adventures on this shiny new device. Whether you’re speeding through levels in tablet mode on the go or kicking back in TV mode for a full cinematic experience, it’s the best of both worlds! What exactly is Generations? At its core, Sonic X Shadow Generations takes classic Sonic and modern Sonic and remasters a collection of iconic 2D and 3D levels, then, just to keep that sense of speed going it throws in a completely new stand-alone Shadow campaign. As a result, fans of the original games will find the game familiar yet also fresh and it’s perfect for all gamers that love arcade fun.
In terms of story and a great way to bridge the classics, Sonic and his friends have been scattered through space and time. In order to restore their timeline to normal, classic and modern Sonic will have to team up to defeat the cause of this chaos… (obviously) Dr Eggman, past Dr Eggman and the Mysterious Time Eater.
Revisiting these classic levels presents players with updated visuals like on the PS5 and XSX, the ability to use a Drop Dash for classic Sonic and reworked cinematics plus other fun updates. It’s a great way of bringing a touch of nostalgia but blending it with the power of modern gaming and the levels do indeed look familiar but gorgeous and ground that was previously just blocks of colour now have lush grass and other details giving real visual splendour.
This enhanced version also takes full advantage of the Switch 2’s upgraded hardware, delivering higher resolution visuals and smoother performance, allowing classic and modern Sonic to race through stunning environments with unparalleled speed. As a result, it’s definitely one of the more fun games available for the NS2.
Further, the LCD screen in tablet mode makes those vibrant, remastered levels pop with deep colors and crisp details, while TV mode ensures the action remains breathtaking on the big screen. This really adds to the overall experience and when you’re grinding rails or dodging obstacles, every frame feels fluid thanks to the console’s high refresh rate and processing power. Of course, speed is everything, and with the Switch 2’s quick load times, there’s barely a pause between intense moments of gameplay. Whether you’re zipping through levels on your morning commute in tablet mode or replaying them at home in TV mode, the Switch 2 ensures Sonic’s world is always within reach.
As you play through the remastered levels and free your friends, they will then be able to provide you clues before you take on their level again… things such as hinting at what portion of a stage a special item might be found or a different path to take. As you gather all the bonus items you accrue more and more bonus content, class tunes, concept art etc – Sonic X Shadow Generations gives the whole package a lot of depth and works wonderfully for bringing people up to speed with what is going on.
Being able to play a level as either classic or modern Sonic also gives a decent amount of replayability as they can each use their strengths in the levels and one might be able to achieve things the other can’t and vice versa. Shadow’s campaign is basically the natural progression of the previous games, taking on the classic side scrolling and mixing in behind the character perspective sections to provide variety. There are the obvious rings to collect but there are plenty of other challenges on each level to provide reason to go back and see what else you can find. The NS2 also uses HD Rumble 2 and advanced haptic feedback of the new Pro Controller allows players to feel every impact and acceleration as you dash through enemies and obstacles. Just be warned, Pro Controller… and… NS2 rage will come out for those stages that require precise movements in those high-speed areas.
Final Thoughts?
For Sonic fans, Sonic X Shadow Generations on the Nintendo Switch 2 is an incredible way to experience classic levels with modern enhancements. The flexibility of handheld and docked play, combined with improved visuals, smoother performance and enhanced controller features, makes this a must-play for both longtime fans and newcomers alike. Whether you’re playing on the couch or sprinting through Green Hill Zone on the go—this is Sonic at his best.
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