Summary

  • Sonic X Shadow Generations features Shadow's solo story with new Doom Powers and backstory.
  • Ian Flynn wrote the story collaboratively with Sega's input for Sonic X Shadow Generations.
  • Sega's lore team and Sega of Japan worked with Flynn to develop and refine the game's story.

Following the recently released Sonic X Shadow Generations, a few Sega employees have detailed how Sonic the Hedgehog games are written now. Sonic X Shadow Generations finally launched this October, and was one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of the year. While Sonic Generations was remastered in this release, the main attraction of the game is Shadow Generations, a solo story featuring Sonic's anti-hero rival. A lot of focus is given to Shadow's character and backstory in the plot of Shadow Generations, as he awakens to a variety of new Doom Powers and faces his painful past.

The story of Shadow Generations is attributed to Ian Flynn, the writer of the Sonic the Hedgehog Archie Comics, the IDW Comics, Sonic Frontiers, and Sonic Superstars. The script of the original Sonic Generations was also rewritten for Sonic X Shadow Generations, bringing it in line with more recent entries in the franchise. While the story of Shadow Generations has been praised by a lot of fans, there have also been some questions raised about which parts were Ian Flynn's and which were vetted by Sega. Some employees at Sega recently clarified some of these details.

Sonic X Shadow Generations big hit 1 million
Sonic X Shadow Generations is Already a Massive Hit

Sega's Sonic X Shadow Generations is already seeing huge success, crossing a massive franchise milestone on the day of its launch.

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Sonic the Hedgehog brand and community manager, Katie Chrzanowski, responded to a tweet noting that, while Ian Flynn was the primary writer of Shadow Generations' story, the whole thing was a collaborative effort and his writing didn't go unchecked. In particular, the Sonic the Hedgehog lore team and Sega of Japan worked together to tweak details until both parties were happy.

Sonic the Hedgehog Lore Team and Sega of Japan Collaborate on Writing the Games

After Twitter user Spin Slasher asked for further clarification about the collaborative writing process, Sonic the Hedgehog lore manager, Chris Hernandez, chimed in. Hernandez said that he and the lore team worked together on an outline, which Flynn would then write to fill it into a script, which is then reviewed and iterated on until it's at a point everyone agrees upon. While Flynn is also a part of the lore team, Sega of Japan works with them on a regular basis to approve everything as well.

It's not entirely clear how much input Sonic Team itself has in the writing process, but there are still a lot of checks and balances to ensure everything is consistent. Some very vocal Sonic fans are split on whether Ian Flynn should continue writing for the games, or if other writers, like series veteran Eitaro Toyoda, should take over. For the time being, Sonic X Shadow Generations is being lauded as one of the best games in the series, with fans hoping that Sonic Team can iterate upon Shadow Generations' gameplay and apply it to a potential Sonic Frontiers sequel.

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Sonic X Shadow Generations Tag Page Cover Art
9 /10

Sonic X Shadow Generations
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Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
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Released
October 25, 2024
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
Sonic Team
Publisher(s)
Sega
Engine
Hedgehog Engine 2
Franchise
Sonic the Hedgehog
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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THE RETURN OF SHADOW
In this new standalone campaign, Shadow's nemesis, Black Doom, has reemerged and threatens to take over the world once again. Shadow must journey into his past, confront his painful memories, and unlock new dark powers to save the world.


SHADOW EVOLVED
Harness Shadow's new Doom Powers to battle hordes of enemies and tackle platforming challenges like never before. Surf on water, fly over obstacles, and stop time with the return of Chaos Control!

A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME AND DIMENSIONS
Experience the ultimate showdown between Shadow and Black Doom in a new boss battle that will test your skills and reflexes. Use all of Shadow's abilities to defeat Black Doom and save the world!

EXPLORE THE NEW WHITE SPACE
Stretch your legs in an all-new hub world inspired by the open-zone gameplay of Sonic Frontiers. As Shadow gains new powers, he can explore further and uncover the secrets hidden throughout!

PC Release Date
October 25, 2024
Xbox Series X|S Release Date
October 25, 2024
PS5 Release Date
October 25, 2024
Nintendo Switch Release Date
October 25, 2024
Genre(s)
Platformer
OpenCritic Rating
Strong