So after spending time finishing both games' stories and gathering collectibles and objectives for 100%, I can definitely say that this is one of the best Sonic releases in a long time.

Sonic Generations is back with a new version, but it's really just how you remember it. The script did get a slight rewrite, but it's still a nothing burger. Aside from that, there's new collectibles in the form of Lost Chao and the Drop Dash ability has been retrofitted in. Everything else will be the same, and as I think Sonic Generations is already a great game itself, that's a big plus for me.

But then here's Shadow Generations, the star of this package and an outstanding experience. It takes the gameplay developed from Forces and Frontiers and manages to create something fresh and exciting, utilizing all of Shadow's existing and new abilities. The game roughly follows the same structure of the original Gens, taking stages mostly from games that Shadow has appeared in and putting a new spin on them. With the level design here, they knock it out of the park with plenty of multiple paths and opportunities to speed through the stage faster than you'd think, there's a lot of room to mess around. Music can be outstanding or at worst you'd need a few listens to get a feeling for it, if at all. And to top everything off, the story serves to be an extension of Shadow's character and explores his past in a way that wouldn't have been thought of in the current era, yet here we are. It results in a short story that I completely reveled in, making me want to go through it all in one sitting. It is indeed as long as Sonic Generations. In fact, I'd go as far to say that the inclusion of Sonic Generations helps to show the parallel similarities between each title and help them be a connected experience whilst both being separate.

This is absolutely a must buy title from the Sonic series, to get one of the best Sonic games from the 2010s and a new experience built off of the more recent releases, all in one neat package.

So after spending time finishing both games' stories and gathering collectibles and objectives for 100%, I can definitely say that this is one of the best Sonic releases in a long time. Sonic Generations is back with a new version, but it's really just how you remember it. The script did get a slight rewrite, but it's still a nothing burger. Aside from that, there's new collectibles in the form of Lost Chao and the Drop Dash ability has been retrofitted in. Everything else will be the same, and as I think Sonic Generations is already a great game itself, that's a big plus for me. But then here's Shadow Generations, the star of this package and an outstanding experience. It takes the gameplay developed from Forces and Frontiers and manages to create something fresh and exciting, utilizing all of Shadow's existing and new abilities. The game roughly follows the same structure of the original Gens, taking stages mostly from games that Shadow has appeared in and putting a new spin on them. With the level design here, they knock it out of the park with plenty of multiple paths and opportunities to speed through the stage faster than you'd think, there's a lot of room to mess around. Music can be outstanding or at worst you'd need a few listens to get a feeling for it, if at all. And to top everything off, the story serves to be an extension of Shadow's character and explores his past in a way that wouldn't have been thought of in the current era, yet here we are. It results in a short story that I completely reveled in, making me want to go through it all in one sitting. It is indeed as long as Sonic Generations. In fact, I'd go as far to say that the inclusion of Sonic Generations helps to show the parallel similarities between each title and help them be a connected experience whilst both being separate. This is absolutely a must buy title from the Sonic series, to get one of the best Sonic games from the 2010s and a new experience built off of the more recent releases, all in one neat package.