Sonic Generations is usually considered to be the best “modern” (as in, post-Dreamcast) Sonic ever released, if you’re not counting Mania, of course. Last year saw the release of an upgraded remaster for the then-current generation of consoles, Sonic X Shadow Generations. With Nintendo finally catching up to hardware specs with the brand new Switch 2, it’s time to see if the system can embrace the improved version of 2011’s Sonic Generations and a twist on old sonic levels with Shadow Generations. There’s even a level based on the movie, if you choose to get the available DLC for the game.

It’s always interesting to see the scale of the world around Sonic.

Sonic X Shadow Generations is split into two parts, the first being a remake of 2011’s Sonic Generations. A fast paced (obviously) mix between side scrolling and 3D adventure. Basically, with this game being released already, it’s mostly a question of how does the Nintendo Switch 2 manage it. The answer is a lot better than I could have even hoped. Everything is crisp and I don’t feel as if I’m straining my vision to play through these levels, especially in handheld mode. I can see why this wasn’t on the original Switch, it would either look absolutely horrendous, or the framerate would give you a headache. Or secret option C: both. It probably has been nearly 14 years since I played Sonic Generations and being able to experience it like this is great.

This just looks cool, I can barely tell you what’s actually happening.

In Shadow Generations, the other half of this game, you’ll experience levels from various different Sonic games through the years. From Sonic Adventure 2 all the way to Sonic Frontiers, all while playing as my second favourite metalhead hedgehog, Shadow. Shadow plays very similarly to Sonic, not exactly retaining his skills from 2005’s Shadow the Hedgehog, so in some ways this is more of just a reskin to experience these levels again. That said, at no point am I going to complain about being able to fight a boss from Shadow the Hedgehog for the first time in 20 years.

Eat your heart out, Tony Hawk.

The main difference between the two sections of the game is the hub world. In Sonic Generations, the hub world is a side-scrolling world the whole way through, while Shadow Generations gives you a full-on 3D hub with a lot to explore, somewhat akin to what Nintendo had done with Bowser’s Fury, the 3D collectathon add-on seen in the Switch version of Super Mario 3D World. There are hidden secrets to be found every and anywhere you explore, so it’s always worth wandering around this hub to find things in between levels, in a curiosity-like manner akin to what Sonic Frontiers had done a few years prior.

Everyone against everyone, chaos!

Of course, the music and voice acting is all great, it pretty much always is in Sonic games, and its quality is definitely not lost in the transition to the Nintendo Switch 2. Honestly, this might be the first time since playing the original Sonic games on my 3DS that playing Sonic handheld has felt so this good, this absolutely polished. Fast-paced levels mixed with being able to play in bursts in handheld mode. This might be a decade-old title, but it’s almost like this game had been originally crafted with the Switch 2 in mind, almost in a savant-like manner..

Sonic X Shadow Generations is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC, Switch and Switch 2.

Reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2.

A copy of Sonic X Shadow Generations was provided by the publisher.