Sonic x Shadow Generations releases this October and will attract generations of players with its new modern gameplay and fantastic classic style. At Summer Game Fest, we got the chance to play the game hands-on and see firsthand how it blends classic and modern Sonic, creating a bridge that connects old and new fans. We also talked with Takashi Iizuka, the creator of Shadow. We discussed Shadow’s impact, the importance of continuing legacy, and how he feels playing a part in multiple generations of players.
With both classic and modern level designs, Sonic x Shadow Generations balances the expectations of existing fans and opens the doors for people who have never played a Sonic game. When asked about striking a balance between generations, Takashi Iizuka mentioned the real uniting force between generations right now: the films.
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Iizuka said, “[The Sonic movies] have come out, and movie three will come out this December. [In Sonic 3] We’re going to see Shadow make a bigger appearance, which really puts a big spotlight on [him] as a character. So, we wanted to put him into this Generations game because it’s the perfect format for teaching people about the Hedgehogs.” And Iizuka is absolutely right.
Now, a transmedia franchise, Sonic, and all the other hedgehogs that come with him, like Knuckles and Shadow, are being reintroduced. However, while a film (and TV show in Knuckles’ case) may be limited in time, games aren’t. So what better way to teach new audiences than to release a game that beckons them to join the 33-year-old IP?
“Originally, it was there to teach people like the 2d Classic Sonic gameplay, what that is, what makes it fun,” Iizuka continued, referencing the past Generation games, “The new audience maybe never played the original classic Sonic games. We were able to put the classic Sonic gameplay in [Sonic x Shadow Generations]. And of course, the modern Sonic with the high speed, 3D platform action gameplay in there to present it to new people, to introduce them to what Sonic is from a game standpoint. That was the original Sonic Generations concept. By adding Shadow in the second, not only do we have Classic Sonic and modern Sonic, we’re also going to be introducing Shadow in a way that’s easy to play and is easy for people to understand. [They will] get the full spectrum of what makes Shadow cool and [see] what his gameplay has been [over time].”
But bringing together different generations of players isn’t something new for the Sonic series. An all-ages title, being accessible to old and young, has always been a part of the franchise’s DNA. Iizuka said, “The concept for Sonic games has always been to create a game that appeals not only to kids and young gamers but also to adults. [There is] something in there for kids to appreciate and enjoy, as well as adults to have fun with. That’s always been the concept behind the game development.”
Pulling the focus to Sonic x Shadows Generations, Iizuka added that there’s a third demographic they hope to reach with this latest game. “This time, we have Shadow as a character that we’re going to introduce. He’s really cool, and he’s a little bit even dangerous for the kind of hero he is,” he said. “Usually, since we’re targeting the kids and adults, we get a lot of both. But this time, we’re gonna have Shadow, who is this kind of cool and dangerous character. So we’re hoping the teenagers who don’t usually give us so much attention will have a lot of fun playing Sonic x Shadow Generations as well.”
A fan favorite, Shadow has as large an impact on fans as his straight-laced counterpart. When the game was announced, it immediately became the only thing fans online talked about. But what makes Shadow so beloved? We asked Iizuka, who created the anti-hero 23 years ago, why he thinks Shadow, Sonic, and the franchise as a whole have continued throughout the decades.
“That’s a very difficult question,” Iizuka started, “but we’re really here because of the community. We’ve been able to survive as a franchise because our community supports us. Around the world, we have so many people who love Sonic… They come out and continue supporting us and being part of the community. We listen to that community and hear what they like and don’t like about the games we release. Sonic Generations was a title that people said, ‘We want it Remastered’ and ‘Come on, I want to play it.’ After listening to the community and hearing what they want, it allows us to put those ideas to work and maybe develop games like Sonix x Shadow Generations where we get to have kind of both sides of [a remaster and new game]. We get to release what the community wants, and we also get to do things we want to do too.”
We asked Iizuka what kind of advice he had for new players coming to Sonic for the first time and, ultimately, what existing fans can find in the game just for them. The answer? Take full advantage of the dual narrative in Sonic x Shadows Generations. “For people who maybe don’t really know that much about Sonic, I really recommend playing the Sonic Generations portion of the game first,” Iizuka said, “Because [that part of the game] goes through the 2D gameplay that started this whole [franchise]. It goes into the gameplay that everyone loves. [You get] real high-speed platform acts of adrenaline, and it also kind of walks you through all of the legendary content from Sonic’s past.”
What some could see as nostalgia, it’s clear that Iizuka also sees it as an entry point into the storied franchise. Iizuka continued, “You play through all of those moments and get to experience the classic gameplay. You get to meet all the characters, [amazing music], and you get a full experience. [The Sonic portion of Sonic x Shadow] really lets you step into the Sonic universe. It [was made to] show you everything you need to know… It really allows you to understand what people like about Sonic the Hedgehog.”
But new players, as Iizuka has said throughout the interview, aren’t the only ones Sonic x Shadow Generations is developed for. He explained what existing fans will get out of the game and where they should start. “For those who already know who Sonic is and they love that content and like Shadow, [then start with Shadow]. We don’t really know Shadow because there’s been a lot of storytelling through lots of different games about who Shadow was [but not too much]. [For returning fans], I would recommend playing the Shadow side first. [In Sonic x Shadow Generations], we’re going to explain [his] whole backstory to introduce Shadow again to [everyone].”
Iizuka explained, and it’s clear to see why it’s a perfect strategy to accompany the upcoming Paramount film. He continued, “We want people to know Shadow’s past. We want [players] to understand who he is as a character. [There will be] a lot of great Shadow content, but you’re also going to get a story about Shadow’s past that really is going to make you understand the character as you continue playing through the Shadow generation story.”
As we kept talking, it was hard not to look at the importance of one video game speaking across multiple generations of players. And well, that’s what Iizuka has also thought about. With 33 years of Sonic history, it’s no exaggeration to say that there are at least three generations of Sonic fans, maybe even four. People grew up playing Sonic games, possibly with their parents, and they then had children and played with them. The franchise isn’t something ventured into alone, but rather something entire families have played.
When asked about this fact, Iizuka replied with a large and humble smile on his face, “The longer I do this, the happier I am. It’s been over 30 years making Sonic games, and each time we’re making new games, you know, we make even more Sonic fans out there in the world. But we also have fans who have been with us for over 30 years, who’ve been playing that content, supporting us, and talking about the games. I travel to Asia, South America, Brazil, Europe, even in America, and I’m constantly meeting all of these fans and all these people from the community. And I’ve seen a lot of the same people throughout these 30 years.”
But that also begs the question, what does it feel like to still impact people’s childhoods today? We asked if he had thought about creating new video game lovers with each new game. Iizuka responded, “I have, yes, and it makes me very happy. Even Sonic Generations, the 20th-anniversary title, was to get adults who played the original to play with their kids. You know that now it is 2011, and we’re now a decade later, and we’re releasing again. Getting more adults and kids to have that experience together really makes music sound happy. It’s really just a great thing to think about and appreciate. Well, thank you so much. Thank you for continuing Sonic.”
This last part of the interview captures the core of what the Sonic x Generations hands-on preview drove home. It honors the past but also embraces the modern strides that the games have made. It connects new and old players and does so with one of the best Sonic and Shadow at the center.
Sonic x Shadow Generations releases October 22, 2024 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch.
This interview was edited for clarity and was conducted via a translator.
