Everybody loves a good protagonist, but sometimes, the anti-heroes end up overshadowing them. Standing in opposition to the traditional noble archetype, they introduce nuanced complexity and moral ambiguity when done right, painting a more realistic and relatable picture of humanity.
Shadow the Hedgehog, hailing from Sega’s long-running Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, is a bit of a special case. The foil to the titular speedster is a fan favourite, but has also proven divisive among the community with inconsistent and stereotypical-leaning characterisation, especially in the later games following his Sonic Adventure 2 debut in 2002. Amid the ups and downs, 2024 presents an opportunity for redemption and more recognition through the “Year of Shadow” campaign, featuring several projects centred on the enigmatic figure, including Sonic X Shadow Generations and the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 feature film.
For the former, which combines a re-release and a brand-new title, the renaissance begins with exploring the relationship between Shadow and his arch-nemesis Black Doom, which while brief, has left an indelible mark on Shadow’s life. For those wondering, Black Doom isn’t Shadow’s father, although they are biologically linked as Shadow was created from Black Doom’s blood. The antagonist’s return to the game is teased in the most recent story trailer where the villainous warlord forcibly imbues the hedgehog with new Doom Powers abilities, setting up the stage to delve deeper into their dynamics.
As shared by producer Shun Nakamura in an interview with select Southeast Asia media during Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2024, this focus forms the bedrock of the upcoming entry, marking a departure from the overall approach. Just like in the original Sonic Generations (2011), there isn’t “necessarily a huge relationship” between Shadow and his respective bosses, with the exception being Black Doom.
“One of the first things that came to us was Shadow’s connection to Black Doom that sort of formed the spine of the game,” he reveals. “There’s a bit of conflict [on] whether Shadow should or should not use these powers, but he’s the kind of character who will accomplish anything by whatever means he has available, and that takes a very key role in the story.”
Sonic X Shadow Generations also marks the first time that fans can play as the broody speedster since 2006 (excluding the DLC for 2017’s Sonic Forces), which calls for some tweaks to the formula. The first are Doom Powers, designed to differentiate between his and Sonic’s gameplay kit, that grants players various abilities, such as launching enhanced Chaos Spears and transforming into a Doom-influenced creature.
The Doom Wing, in particular, has sparked excitement by attaching a pair of glorious, red-and-black-streaked wings to Shadow, allowing him to fly. Even Nakamura admits that the sight is “especially appealing,” though Doom Blast, unlocking the power to launch enemies, comes more recommended for practical use. According to the Sega veteran, one of the key parts of the Shadow’s kit is the ability to “find new routes and new ways to engage with enemies and the stage,” as opposed to Sonic’s speedy appeal.
“Of course, the Sonic series is about going fast, but we also wanted to introduce something new, like the ability to new powers and use them in combat and exploration,” he adds, highlighting the distinction between Shadow Generations and other games in the franchise, such as Sonic Frontiers.
Where the latter is rooted in the premise of running freely without any obstacles in the way, acquiring new Doom Powers to access new areas and unlock more content defines the Shadow-centric experience. Along the way, players will encounter familiar enemies and locations from across the Sonic titles – some with a twist.
The Biolizard from Sonic Adventure 2, for instance, now sports a new look. “When we approached the bosses for Shadow Generations, we wanted to add a certain nostalgic factor,” shares Nakamura. “At the start, [the Biolizard] is more or less as you remember him from before. However, as you weaken him, he sprouts a set of additional appendages from his body, and that’s something that players haven’t experienced before.”
Meanwhile, Chaos Island, the third Open-Zone area in Sonic Frontiers, has been weaved into the overarching lore. The Time Eater’s heavy involvement in the game’s narrative saw the team leveraging his ability to distort different dimensions and time planes to bring Shadow there, despite his absence from the rocky island in the 2022 entry.
The collection also serves as a nod to the original Sonic Generations, where the two titular hedgehogs met very briefly during the story. Building on that, Shadow Generations will offer “the other side of the story”, but it won’t leave newcomers behind in the dust. With the franchise spanning 33 years and counting, it now sees a new generation of enthusiasts who may lack the necessary knowledge – and there’s soon to be more, considering Shadow’s upcoming live-action debut in the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie.
To that end, Sonic X Shadow Generations includes a prologue animation that unpacks all of his past lore in a straightforward and easily digestible manner. It’s time for Shadow to be back in black, and everyone is welcome to join the hype train – series veterans and newcomers alike.
Sonic X Shadow Generations releases on PC and all major consoles on 22 October.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
