Sonic X Shadow Generations thread, movie level out now

But we already know that Doom will ambush you with corrupted Radical Highway segments in at least one case, so it's just as possible that it doesn't even have a traditional level gate.

 

I'm thinking that either a Shadow 05 level is the final level and they simply don't want to spoil it, or the Shadow 05 level is the Digital Deluxe DLC level coming later.

The theory in my head is that Shadow Gens ends with a cliffhanger and the DLC level is set on the Black Comet where you finally take out Black Doom.

 

Can't wait for the DLC level to be SA2's Green Hill Zone.

 

Personally I've been wondering if the DLC stage could be some sort of cross-promotion for the upcoming movie - it's scheduled for "Holiday 2024" which very much fits with the movie's release date, and comes with an additional skin for Shadow, which could easily be a movie-styled Shadow skin for use with a movie-themed stage.

Hoping I'm wrong though, as I'd much prefer it to be something which adds something to the story set up in the main game of Shadow Generations rather than some sort of promotional tie-in.

 

My prediction is that we are going to get one of the following levels to represent Shadow 05: Digital Circuit, Cryptic Castle, or Circus Park.

Since a clip of Sonic and the Black Knight was played in Shadow’s tails tube I think we may also get 1 level from that game.

 

If we get a level from Shadow 05, I'd be surprised if it wasn't the Black Comet.

 

If we can find the computer room in SxSG, I'm dropping cash on this boy

 

To think 19 years ago Shadow's game was seen as a complete laughing stock on a purely conceptual level, yet here we are today.

Wait, I just realized. 19 years? Makes me wonder why they didn't wait one more year. Not that I'm complaining of course.

 

I think this timing is motivated by the upcoming movie, largely.

 

SEGA have done an impeccable job training Sonic fans to expect anniversary games nonstop lmfao

 

Yeah, I distinctly remember people outright hating the very concept of Black Arms aliens, yet, now all I see is people getting hype at Shadow facing Black Doom once more. The fact that Shadow is part alien has been mostly ignored ever since his... "controversial" 2005 game, only for SEGA to suddenly turn around and going full on "oh yeah, Shadow's an eldritch abomination, let's give him creepy-cool 'doom' abilities". And the crowds actually cheer at this blatant edginess (not that I'm complaining, I think this is unironically awesome).

Though I do notice that one thing SEGA so far isn't bringing back is the gun-play.

 

It's really a case of what section of the Sonic fandom is becoming nostalgic. In the 2010's that was classic fans, but the well of using Green Hill and surface level stories has ran dry. They're recognizing that fans of the 2000's games have grown up and are being vocal for their fondness of titles once critically panned 10 years ago, and Sonic Team is taking advantage of it. No doubt by 2030 the fandom will be saying they're tired of edgier themes, and we'll loop back around to classic pandering.

 

Yeah, admittedly I was very young when Shadow the Hedgehog came out, and over the years I've just decided to ignore it, but now being older I'm actually quite fond of the concepts. Granted, there are still things I can't, with a straight face, praise like Black Doom being a complete idiot (though that's more of a gameplay issue and a problem with how the game itself is structured), Shadow laughing like a stereotypical cartoon villain in the dark endings, the GUN commander's motivation, and to this day I still think "This is like taking candy from a baby, which is fine by me" is the stupidest line spoken in any of these games outside of Colors. Still though, I'm willing to be more positive about it.

 

"Edgy" can be hella of cool if the execution can be done right. And it certaily wasn't in 2005 Shadow the Hedgehog.

 

I don't think any of the concepts introduced in Shadow's game were necessarily bad, just extremely poorly executed. You can tell that they really didn't wanna fully commit to the bit by adding all of the Sonic cast at the time even though almost none of them really fit with the game's tone.

So I kind of appreciate that they're going all in on Shadow being a weird eldritch alien, as opposed to just looking like every other character despite that. Millenials get their 2000s edge that they've been denied for decades and Classic fans just got Superstars (and will definitely be getting other games) so they can safely just ignore this game and go about their business.

I think Sega finally figured out they can just make games that cater to each side... just keep Classic out of Modern and we'll be good.

 

The only thing that's actually cringe and shouldn't be attempted again was the use of guns, and Shadow Generations addresses that brilliantly.

Shadow having a deeper backstory, dealing with an alien invasion, dealing with amnesia, choosing a side, even the darker tone, they are all fine ideas, but they probably shouldn't have all been in one game and definitely should've been executed better.

I especially want to see a game tackle an alien invasion again. The series always does Eggman teaming up with the heroes at the third act. I want a game where they're forced to work together from the start, or one where Eggman remains a separate but consistent threat.

I just remembered Lost World but Eggman doesn't really do anything after he teams up with Sonic; I want him to be an active player with his own agenda and not simply fail to control the other party and swoop in at the last second.

 

I, for one, am deeply disappointed by the lack of guns in Shadow Generations. I won't be buying it until we get a guns mod for PC, sorry Sonic Team.

 

The handling of Shadow's past use of guns has been great as of late. Iizuka dropping the hard ass line of "Shadow doesn't need a weapon, he is a weapon" in a random interview is just so right. Guns are cringey, and Shadow doesn't need it with his powers.

 

There are a significant number of fans who unironically enjoy Sonic being moody, melodramatic, and dark largely because they grew up with those games. It is almost always about potential and concepts because people don't want to admit they largely project their own fandom, childhood memories and fantasies in place of what these games actually are. In ten years time people would have told us that Rise of Lyric actually has great gameplay potential and tells a conceptually compelling story but sadly no one brought a Wii U. Would have loved to see those discussions.

I also like moody and dark Sonic but I'm aware the games are clearly melodramatic, easy to make fun of, and are far outclassed by other games and art forms which take similar approaches. I like Shadow using Doom powers but I'm aware it is utterly ridiculous and silly. I just wish a lot of people had that level of self awareness about this kind of stuff. And it isn't just Sonic either or 'low' entertainment. I love Undertaie but you could make very similar charges against that game.