Kidrobot announced that it will release a new pair of Sonic the Hedgehog series plush that pairs up Shadow with Maria Robotnik. The duo is expected to debut in Q4 2025. The official site already opened pre-orders, and the set costs $34.99.

While we’ve seen multiple incarnations of Shadow the Hedgehog and Maria Robotnik, the appearances of the two plush are designed to resemble them from the recent release Sonic x Shadow Generations. Each one of them is seven and a half inches tall. They can be displayed separately or together, as they aren’t connected. However, Kidrobot noted that Shadow’s left hand and Maria’s right hand both have magnets inside of them. So if you do place them next to each other, they can hold hands in a nod to a scene that’s appeared in both games and the third live-action movie.

Here’s a closer look at both stuffed toys from different angles. Kidrobot also shared a close-up of their hands, so we can better understand how the magnets work.

The Sonic the Hedgehog Shadow and Maria Robotnik plush will launch in Q4 2025. Sonic x Shadow Generations is available on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC, and it will come to the Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.

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The Sonic the Hedgehog X (formerly Twitter) official shared pictures of the collaboration cafe with Hololive Vtuber Inugami Korone. The cafe is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo and will be open until January 13, 2025.

In the pictures, the cafe attendants can be seen interacting with Inugami Korone herself, who made a special virtual appearance as the store's “manager” for one day. Additionally, the pictures show the new Shadow themed decoration, featuring Korone in her previously revealed Shadow outfit alongside the Ultimate Lifeform himself.

You can check out the pictures of the Sonic x Korone cafe here:

The 2024 edition of the cafe returned on December 13, 2024 with new decoration featuring Shadow the Hedgehog to celebrate the recent release of Sonic X Shadow Generations. The café also features a variety of drinks, food, and dessert items inspired by Sonic, Shadow, and other characters from the game series, as well as Sonic’s ambassador Korone.

Here are some of the food items available in the cafe:

The Soni x Koro 2024 Cafe will be available until January 13, 2025 in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Sonic x Shadow Generations is readily available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The post Official Korone and Sonic the Hedgehog Cafe Photos Shared appeared first on Siliconera.

Sega has officially shared unique Otoshidama envelope designs for New Year cash gifts based on games released by the company and its subsidiary Atlus. People can find and the PDF file on Sega's Social Media Present Site and print any of the envelope designs they like.

The 2025 New Year edition contains a total of eight designs. Six of them are based on the following games:

• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (also known as Like a Dragon 8 in Japan)
• Sonic X Shadow Generations
• Sonic Rumble
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Persona 3 Reload

In addition to the six games mentioned above, Sega included two more envelope designs based on Sonic and Shadow from Sonic & Friends. The latter is a series of short CGI animation episodes that has been running on Sega's official TikTok .

Sega has been regularly sharing new Otoshidama envelope designs every year, but it does not seem to permanently publicize the files. The 2024 New Year edition featured titles like Sonic Superstars and Sonic Frontiers, but the PDF file for those designs is no longer available on the webpage.

The company has instead permanently shared Tanabata wish papers for the Japanese summer festival that starts on July 7 every year since 2021. It also published permanent Sonic-themed message cards for Father's Day and Mother's Day.

Out of the seven titles featured in this set, only two of them have yet to be released in 2024. Sega will release Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC on February 21, 2025. It is also working with the recently-acquired Rovio of Angry Birds fame to release Sonic Rumble for PC and mobile devices in the 2024-2025 Winter season.

The post 2025 New Year Envelopes Designed After Sega and Atlus Games appeared first on Siliconera.

The new Sonic x Shadow Generations DLC pack introducing playable Shadow from the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie will come out on December 12, 2024. Sega recently shared more details about how the new DLC pack will work.

For starters, Movie Shadow will only have English voiceover provided by Keanu Reeves, the same actor that voices the character in the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie. Additionally, Movie Shadow will only be playable as part of the stages included in the Movie DLC and Challenge Acts.

The stages included in the DLC will take place in Tokyo and will be inspired by scenes from the movie. Furthermore, these stages will not be compatible with the online ranking mode. The Sonic the Hedgehog Movie 3 DLC pack was first revealed during the September 2024 Sony State of Play, and it will be available to owners of the Sonic x Shadow Generations Digital Deluxe Edition.

Sonic x Shadow Generations is readily available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The Movie DLC pack coming out on December 12, 2024. The Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie will be coming to movie theaters on December 20, 2024.

The post Movie Shadow Added to Sonic X Shadow Generations as DLC appeared first on Siliconera.

When Sega first announced Sonic x Shadow Generations, my excitement was somewhat cautious. Sonic Generations is a solid title! While the idea of new levels centered around my favorite Hot Topic hero sounded fun, I expected it to be nothing more than a modest addition. As a lifelong Sonic fan, I'm thrilled and genuinely surprised to say that Sonic x Shadow Generations has not only sured all of my expectations but firmly cemented its place as my favorite Sonic title to date.

Sonic x Shadow Generations combines a remastered version of 2011's Sonic Generations with Shadow Generations, a standalone game inspired by but wholly distinct from the former. Players can choose between either game from the opening menu, meaning anyone who has already played Sonic Generations can jump straight into Shadow's solo adventure.

Thanks to its bold visuals and timeless gameplay, Sonic Generations remains largely unchanged from its original release. The most significant difference is the addition of hidden chao throughout each stage, who make themselves at home in White Space (the game's hub world) when collected. Dedicated Sonic fans will also notice that Sonic Generations features re-recorded dialogue to match the franchise's current cast of voice actors, as well as rewritten lines influenced by fan . Sonic and Tails are far less amnesic about their past adventures, and the blue blur's awkwardly silent interactions after saving characters are no longer so silent (although still a little awkward). This version of the game also includes the Casino Nights Zone DLC and a Drop Dash ability for Classic Sonic from Sonic Mania.

Stages in Sonic Generations are reimagined versions of those from various Sonic games, such as Green Hill Zone, Seaside Hill, and my all-time favorite, City Escape. Act One of each stage features sidescrolling old-school gameplay with the ever-adorable Classic Sonic, while Act Two is centered around modern third-person "boost" gameplay. All levels have multiple challenges, such as introducing new abilities performed by Sonic's rescued friends to reach the goal in new ways. Completing one stage's challenge unlocks a Boss Key, which the player must collect to face new takes on iconic bosses and progress the story.

Although the story is ittedly weak compared to other mainline Sonic titles, Sonic Generations is a celebration of the franchise through and through. While few in number, levels are phenomenally designed, the music remixes are beyond incredible, and every second speeding around levels of my childhood evokes sweet nostalgia like no other — even more so now that Sonic Generations itself is over a decade old.

Any Sonic fan will sing the praises of Sonic Generations (often unprompted), but it's Shadow Generations' unexpected brilliance truly steals the show, frankly blowing its predecessor out of the water in every feasible way. This single experience is the best Sonic title I have ever experienced, and I say this without a Shadow of a doubt. All it took was Sega to realize who the better hedgehog is around here. And maybe thirteen extra years of trial and error.

Shadow Generations unfolds concurrently with Sonic Generations, serving as a companion story that gives us more insight into the eponymous antihero. Black Doom (AKA the devil from the Bible) seizes the opportunity presented by Sonic Generation's timey-wimey chaos to both torment and empower Shadow, manipulating events from his past and future. The game borrows the base concepts of Sonic Generations, such as reimagined levels, White Space, and Boss Keys, but flips it on its quilled head with a fresh gameplay style influenced by Sonic Frontiers and Shadow's moveset.

Rather than Sonic's homing dash, Shadow directly teleports to and destroys enemies, which feels especially satisfying in sections filled with enemies. Additionally, Shadow can utilize Chaos Control to freeze time, turning deadly obstacles into stepping stones to push him along his path. If that wasn't enough for you, Black Doom's plan to perfect Shadow regularly adds new Doom Powers to the mix, introducing new attacks and methods of traversal, including wings that entirely transform the feel of stages.

Like Sonic Generations, stage Acts switch between sidescrolling and behind-the-character gameplay, though, unlike its inspiration, Shadow keeps the same controls and powers throughout the game. Boosts are constantly available and make stages feel swift and engaging from start to finish. As another anthesis to his blue counterpart, Shadow's stages feature epic cinematic sections, often warping stages through different points in time while Doom's Eye taunts Shadow and the player both. Shadow Generations' stages, including its boss fights, capture the perfect blend of unintrusive cinematic moments with phenomenal level design and fluid gameplay, resulting in some of the most incredible and immersive experiences in any 3D platformer.

The handful of redesigned boss fights are among the best in the series, improving battles from previous titles in unexpected ways. Biolizard was particularly impressive after entering Shadow Generations hot off the heels of a recent Sonic Adventure 2 playthrough. No bosses or stages are tough, focusing more on the experience than the difficult. However, speedsters looking for a challenge can still find it in the form of S Rank completions, speedrunning, and collectibles.

Between stages, Shadow finds himself in an entirely open-world version of White Space in a similar fashion to Sonic Frontiers, which Takashi Iizuka told us is the direction 3D Sonic titles will be heading in the future. As Shadow gains new Doom Powers throughout the story, new areas that lead to hidden collectibles and challenge modes required to progress become accessible. White Space is a brilliant playground for playing with Shadow's new powers and is much more engaging than Sonic Generations' equivalent. While attempting to reach the next objective occasionally could be mildly inconvenient when I only wanted to progress, this take on a hub world was appreciated overall.

The game's narrative is a colossal step up from Sonic Generations, diving into Shadow's past with cinematics and dialogue that doesn't sell itself short. There are genuinely touching moments in here, paired perfectly with grandiose goosebump-inducing scenes, bringing me back to my youthful awe of Sonic Adventure 2. My childhood notion that Shadow the Hedgehog is possibly the coolest thing humankind has ever conceived may be valid after all.

Make no mistake that Shadow Generations' narrative, while fantastic, is relatively short and straightforward. The game's 4-5 hour length does not leave enough room for a Shakespearean tale of the ages, but it does achieve what it sets out to accomplish.

Shadow Generations' environments and visuals predominantly look fantastic, consistently bursting with warm colors and vivid detail. Certain small aspects could better use modern hardware and are likely held back by being available for the previous generation. However, its presentation is still gorgeous throughout the majority of the experience. The game runs smoothly on PlayStation 5 in 4k. While there are occasional minor frame drops with default settings, adjusting to prioritize performance in the settings results in a buttery-smooth experience while still looking great.

As expected from any Sonic title, Shadow Generations delivers an incredible soundtrack featuring remixes of iconic tracks and original compositions that perfectly fit the game's high-speed, high-thrill action. With more songs available as rewards from collectibles, the game uses the clever lure of certified bangers to increase playtime. An impressive move if you ask me. Music aside, the overall sound design is one of many aspects that make Shadow Generations as brilliant as it is, with the unmistakable chirp of rings and bounce of springs emitting from the DualSense's speaker enhancing this even further.

The only thing letting Shadow Generations down is truly its length. Like Oliver Twist begging for edgy hedgehogs rather than oatmeal, I want more. More time to let the story develop, more character interactions and more of the magic Sonic Team got right. That said, including Sonic Generations in Sonic x Shadow Generations for less than the price of a AAA title is a phenomenal deal and a must-buy for any Sonic (or Shadow) fan. Shadow Generations isn't trying to be a full mainline Sonic title with a 15-hour campaign. It's just so exemplary that I wish it were.

Oh, and there's no motorbike. Now, guns, I can understand, but no bike? In a standalone Shadow game? Shadow may have wings, rideable aliens, and the ability to teleport, but the bike is too cool to omit, Sega. Bring it back. The Chao Garden, too.

Sonic x Shadow Generations is a love letter to the fans and the definitive Sonic title. It combines an already beloved title and builds upon its foundations to create a fluid, fast, and fun experience that can only be described as the best Sonic game to date. All we need now is a new Chao Garden.

Sonic x Shadow Generations is available on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The post Review: Sonic x Shadow Generations Delivers the Definitive Sonic Experience appeared first on Siliconera.

Sonic x Shadow Generations features both brand-new dialogue for Sonic Generations and the surprise return of iconic characters in Shadow Generations. This article covers the English and Japanese voice actors for every SxSG character, including those recast since the original release.

All Sonic x Shadow Generations English and Japanese Voice Actors 5x505d

Warning: This list contains minor spoilers for characters who appear in Shadow Generations.

Below are the confirmed English voice actors for Sonic x Shadow Generations:

• Sonic the Hedgehog: Roger Craig Smith
• Shadow the Hedgehog: Kirk Thornton
• Shadow the Hedgehog (Movie variant): Keanu Reeves
• Miles "Tails" Prower: Colleen O'Shaughnessy
• Knuckles the Echidna: Dave B Mitchell
• Amy Rose: Cindy Robinson
• Dr. Eggman: Mike Pollock
• Gerald Robotnik: Mike Pollock
• Rouge the Bat: Karen Strassman
• Black Doom: Benjamin Diskin
• Mephiles the Dark: Robbie Daymond
• Metal Sonic: Ray Chase
• Silver the Hedgehog: Bryce Papenbrook
• Blaze the Cat: Erica Lindbeck
• Espio the Chameleon: Matthew Mercer
• Charmy Bee: Colleen O'Shaughnessey
• Vector the Crocodile: Keith Silverstein
• Big the Cat: Kyle Hebert
• Cream the Rabbit: Michelle Ruff
• E-123 Omega: Roger Craig Smith
• Omochao: Erica Lindbeck
• Orbot: Kirk Thornton
• Cubot: Wally Wingert
• Narrator: Wally Wingert

Here are the Japanese voice actors for Sonic x Shadow Generations:

• Sonic the Hedgehog: Junichi Kanemaru
• Shadow the Hedgehog: Kōji Yusa
• Miles "Tails" Prower: Ryō Hirohashi
• Knuckles the Echidna: Nobutoshi Canna
• Amy Rose: Taeko Kawata
• Dr. Eggman: Kotaro Nakamura
• Gerald Robotnik: Kotaro Nakamura
• Rouge the Bat: Rumi Ochiai
• Black Doom: Ryūzaburō Ōtomo
• Mephiles the Dark: Takayuki Sakazume
• Metal Sonic: Junichi Kanemaru
• Silver the Hedgehog: Daisuke Ono
• Blaze the Cat: Nao Takamori
• Espio the Chameleon: Yuuki Masuda
• Charmy Bee: Yoko Teppouzuka
• Vector the Crocodile: Kenta Miyake
• Big the Cat: Takashi Nagasako
• E-123 Omega: Taiten Kusunoki
• Omochao: Etsuko Kozakura
• Orbot: Mitsuo Iwata
• Cubot: Wataru Takagi
• Narrator: Junichi Suwabe

Recast English Voice Actors in SxSG 4q4w3k

Since Sonic Generations' original release in 2011, the Sonic franchise has shuffled its voice cast (pun intended). As a result of Sonic x Shadow Generations' brand-new dialogue, many original voice actors have been replaced to match their modern portrayals.

Colleen O'Shaughnessey now voices Tails in place of Kate Higgins. She first portrayed Tails in Sonic Boom in 2014 and continues to serve as Tails' primary voice actress, including in the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. O'Shaughnessey was also present in the original Sonic Generations as Charmy Bee, which she reprises in Sonic x Shadow Generations.

Dave B Mitchell voices Knuckles instead of Travis Willingham. Mitchell has been Knuckles' voice actor since Team Sonic Racing in 2019. You may recognize him as Dyne from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Pulcinella in Genshin Impact, or Sektor in Mortal Kombat 1.

Bryce Papenbrook replaces Quinton Flynn as Silver. Like Knuckles, Silver was recast in Team Sonic Racing, though this is Papenbrook's first performance as Silver in a mainline Sonic title. Bryce Papenbrook is best known for his role as the English voice of Eren Yeager in Attack on Titan and Kirito in Sword Art Online.

Finally, Erica Lindbeck replaces Laura Bailey as both Blaze the Cat and Omachao, who were recast in — yet again — Team Sonic Racing. Lindbeck is known for iconic pop culture roles, such as Futaba Sakura in Persona 5, Loona in Helluva Boss, Black Cat in Spider-Man 2, and Barbie in various modern Barbie projects.

New Voice Actors in Shadow Generations 6xgn

Shadow Generations features characters who haven't appeared in a Sonic title in over a decade — sometimes two. While these characters weren't featured in the original Sonic Generations, most have new voice actors since their original appearances in past titles.

Before Sonic x Shadow Generations, Mephiles the Dark had only made a voiced appearance in the infamous Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), played by Dan Green. Robbie Daymond portrays Mephiles in SxSG, best known for his continuous work as Spider-Man in various animated Marvel projects, Goro Akechi in Persona 5, and Megumi Fushiguro in Jujutsu Kaisen.

Black Doom has also had a singular voiced appearance in Shadow the Hedgehog, where he was portrayed by Sean Schemmel (the English voice actor for Goku). Instead, Benjamin Diskin voices Black Doom in Sonic x Shadow Generations. Diskin has made a previous Sonic appearance in Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric as Q-N-C but is most recognized for portraying Joseph Joestar in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and Numbuh 1 in Codename: Kids Next Door.

Maria was voiced by Moriah Angeline in Sonic Adventure 2 and by Rebecca Honig in Shadow the Hedgehog. In Shadow x Sonic Generations and its companion anime, Maria is portrayed by Stephanie Sheh, the iconic voice actress for Hinata Hyuga in Naruto and Orihime Inoue in Bleach.

Lastly, Mike Pollock, the iconic voice of Dr. Eggman, continues to portray Professor Gerald Robotnik since replacing Marc Biagi from Sonic X onward.

Sonic x Shadow Generations is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The post All Sonic x Shadow Generations English and Japanese Voice Actors appeared first on Siliconera.

Sega announced Sonic X Shadow Generation sales have topped one million copies worldwide across all platforms in just three days. The developer and publisher announced that the release of Sonic X Shadow Generations is part of their strategy to further strengthen the Sonic IP, which seems to be working given the total worldwide sales for this entry in the series. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

Sega goes on to state that it will continue to develop it's transmedia properties, which includes a series of comics and merchandise. This included the release of a special Sonic X Shadow Generations Chao comic. trans media releases and collaborations include a series of DC comics where various characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog universe will assume the roles of iconic heroes like Batman. Sega also released a short animated series leading up to the release of Sonic X Shadow generations, which more or less worked as a primer for those unfamiliar with the brooding hedgehog.

Additionally, it will continue to publish games as part of the Sonic the Hedgehog IP such as the previously announced Sonic Rumble. Coincidentally, Sega is hiring employees to work on future Sonic the Hedgehog titles. However, this job listing was limited to Japan.

Sonic X Shadow Generations is available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X.

The post Sonic X Shadow Generations Sales Top One Million Copies in Three Days appeared first on Siliconera.

As part of the lead-up to Sonic X Shadow Generations, a short comic about the Chao has arrived. On Twitter, the official Sonic the Hedgehog posted the comic in full, and revealed the principal creators behind it. You can see the tweet and read the full comic here.

The story of the Sonic X Shadow Generations X Chao comic, a Shadow Chao and a Sonic Chao crossing space and time to try and rescue lost Chao, was written by Ian Flynn, one of the lead writers for the Sonic the Hedgehog IDW comics, Sonic Frontiers, and Sonic X Shadow Generations. The line art is done by illustrator Misa Shion, and the s are colored by Min Ho Kim, cover and interior artist for the IDW Sonic comics and lead character designer for The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog.

This comic is part of a number of projects to celebrate the release of Sonic X Shadow Generations. Earlier in 2024, a Shadow the Hedgehog-centric short series, Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings, was released on the official Sonic the Hedgehog YouTube . In addition, a Sonic the Hedgehog crossover comic with DC Comics' superheroes was announced, with Shadow as Batman and Sonic as The Flash.

Sonic X Shadow Generations releases on October 25, 2024 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X. The Sonic X Shadow Generations X Chao comic is free to read on the Sonic the Hedgehog twitter .

The post New Sonic X Shadow Generations X Chao Comic Arrives appeared first on Siliconera.

Sega announced the release date for the Sonic x Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings anime series during the latest Sonic Central 2024 showcase. The new anime series will be a 3-part prologue to the game and the first episode is coming on September 25, 2024.

The title of the first episode is “Shadow and Maria” and will be available to watch for free tomorrow. Meanwhile, episode 2 is titled “Finding the Way” and will be available on October 3, 2024, with the final and third episode “To the Ark” appearing on October 10. The episodes will be available on the official Sonic the Hedgehog YouTube channel and other social media platforms.

Furthermore, Sega also revealed that the PS4 and PS5 versions of Sonic x Shadow Generations will feature extended editions of the Dark Beginnings anime prequel that includes deleted scenes. The Sonic x Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings anime series was originally announced back in July 6, 2024 during Anime Expo 2024 with a teaser trailer.

Sonic x Shadow Generations will come to the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC on October 25, 2024. The release date for episode 1 of the Sonic x Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings anime series falls on September 25, 2024.

The post Sonic x Shadow Generations Anime Release Date Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.

When Sonic x Shadow Generations was first announced at Sony's State of Play in January, I was shocked that Black Doom had been revived for the game. Honestly, I'm still shocked even now, several months later. Black Doom has only appeared in one game in the Sonic franchise before this, and it's a spin-off title, Shadow the Hedgehog. But considering that Black Doom encourages and coerces Shadow to go on a killing spree in some timelines, it was a villain I thought Sega would have wanted to keep dead and buried.  

Back in the early 2000s, Shadow was at the height of his popularity thanks to the success of Sonic Adventure 2. Because of this, Sega Studios USA wanted to create a game centred around Shadow. They decided to base the game on the events of Sonic Adventure 2. This decision actually made a lot of sense, as the overall plot of Sonic Adventure 2 had massive potential to be expanded and developed upon, including the Space Colony ARK, Guardian Unit of Nations (G.U.N) and the backstory of Gerald Robotnik.

Now, everything stated above sounds completely reasonable, right? But anyone who played Shadow the Hedgehog knows the game is a startling contrast to what we had seen in previous games. To explain how strange it was, when the trailer initially dropped for Shadow the Hedgehog, fans were convinced it was some convoluted joke, as the plot and gameplay seemed miles away from what we had seen in any traditional mainline game.

The story follows Shadow, who is suffering from amnesia and lacks clarity on what happened at the Space Colony ARK. An alien race called the Black Arms has landed on Earth, causing mayhem and destruction to human civilisation. The leader of the Black Arms, Black Doom, approaches Shadow and tells him to collect all seven Chaos Emeralds to fulfil his "promise". With Black Doom clearly knowing about his past, Shadow decides to collect all the Chaos Emeralds, but how he goes about this is entirely up to you, as you can choose to be the hero or the villain in the story.

To complete the level, you can either kill the Black Arms aliens that are attacking Earth or kill the human G.U.N soldiers trying to protect the planet. You can even pick the anarchist option and choose to kill everyone you come across. Depending on your actions, it will result in different timelines, with ten possible endings you can achieve. One of the endings even results in Shadow striking down Doctor Eggman in what appears to be his demise. Not exactly what you expect from a Sonic the Hedgehog game. But this is not where the oddness ends, as this is still not the most contentious aspect of Shadow the Hedgehog…you can use guns. Yep, you read that right. You can travel across the stage and pick up guns to shoot down your adversaries.

The first level of Shadow the Hedgehog, Westopolis, is distinctively memorable because it really shows you what the game is about. It starts with you abruptly freefalling from the sky and witnessing the devastating explosions tormenting the city as an eerie red aura consumes the sky. When you finally land on the ground level and dash through the stage, you see the full extent of the carnage, as the city buildings and road structures are turned into derelict dust. You then have multiple opportunities to pick up weapons from the G.U.N soldiers or the Black Arms aliens to take whatever action you see fit. The first stage is a great indicator of whether you will like the overall atmosphere that Shadow the Hedgehog is trying to achieve.

Even though Shadow and the stages are obviously selling points of the game, Black Doom arguably steals the show. Black Doom is a classic villain with no irable characteristics. There is no divine or symbolic meaning behind his actions. He simply wants the humans as livestock for his race and will do whatever it takes to achieve this goal. This made the timelines where Shadow picked the bad options feel even more sinister because it was leading to Earth's demise. It felt like you were genuinely succumbing to the dark side whenever you did an action that pleased him. Shadow the Hedgehog would not be the same experience if you took away Black Doom.

As you can probably tell by this point, this is not the most kid-friendly game, and there is a reason for that. Takashi Iizuka wanted to create a Sonic the Hedgehog experience aimed at an older audience, emulating action films, which might explain the game's dark undercurrent. In fact, Shadow the Hedgehog was heavily edited to ensure it kept at the E10+ rating.

When Shadow the Hedgehog first came out, I was a few years away from my teens but had already entered my rocker phase (and I still haven't left) and had begun listening to rock bands like System of the Down and Nine Inch Nails. I was their prime audience on paper. So, what did I think of the game? I fell in love with Shadow the Hedgehog for all the above reasons. I found Sonic Heroes a bit too cheesy, so I appreciated the darker tone, and I liked the concept that I could carve out my own destiny. I my older sibling raising an eyebrow at me whilst playing the game, questioning why Shadow has a gun, but I completely disregarded these concerns because I enjoyed the game so much.

But I also distinctly the first time I saw Black Doom. It may sound silly, as Black Doom's voice, in some ways, is rather comical in how deep-pitched it is, but the kid version of me found it terrifying. His appearance was also menacing, as he was a floating entity with multiple red eyes. They nailed the ominous alien look perfectly, as he was scary but cool at the same time. I wanted to know his backstory and history with Shadow and Gerald Robotnik, which motivated me to complete all ten endings and unlock the true ending.

Looking back, I can appreciate that a few bugs held it back from greatness and begrudgingly agree with my sibling that the guns were unnecessary, but I still have a strong affiliation with the title to this day. I'm not the only one, as Shadow the Hedgehog has cultivated a strong cult following throughout the years.

But since Shadow the Hedgehog was released, which was nearly twenty years ago, the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has gone back to its roots and embraced a more kid-friendly atmosphere (at least regarding the games and TV adaptations, the Sonic the Hedgehog comics are a conversation for another day). The recent Hollywood films have solidified this tone even further. It's a hilarious segment, but Jim Carrey doing the floss as Doctor Eggman definitely appeals to younger audiences. But it's also because of these films that Black Doom has returned.

The film Sonic the Hedgehog 3, set to come out later this year, sees the introduction of Shadow. To complement the film, they clearly wanted to bring Shadow back to the forefront of the games in some capacity. The result is Sonic x Shadow Generations – a remaster of Sonic Generations with a parallel story featuring Shadow. But what was one of the best qualities of the first game that featured Shadow as the protagonist? Black Doom.

Now, do I think Sonic x Shadow Generations will feature guns and the option of killing human G.U.N soldiers? Absolutely not. If anything, looking at the gameplay trailers we have so far, it appears it's tapping into Sonic Adventure 2 more, as the iconic boss battle Biolizard has even been included. But I'm still surprised Sega has revived Black Doom. They could have easily conjured up a new villain, but clearly, even though they have no desire to emulate Shadow the Hedgehog's dark and gritty tone, they couldn't ignore that Black Doom was a pivotal reason for the original game's success. And I'm happy that a new generation of Sonic The Hedgehog fans will be introduced to Black Doom and his ominous voice.

What are your thoughts about Sonic x Shadow Generations bringing back Black Doom? Let us know with a comment below.

Sonic x Shadow Generations will be released on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Xbox One on 22 October, 2024.

The post I’m Shocked That Sonic x Shadow Generations Revived Black Doom appeared first on Siliconera.

Sega and Atlus have updated their annual Tokyo Game Show website with the TGS 2024 edition. The companies have yet to announce the list of games they will feature at the event. However, they have revealed the list of items that will be available for purchase at their t merchandise booth.

The lineup will include franchises from both companies. Sega is listing items from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise—including those branded with the title Sonic X Shadow Generations—and the Like a Dragon series which was formerly known as Yakuza. Meanwhile, Atlus will bring in items themed after Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance as well as Persona 3, 4, and 5 titles.

Some of the items in the list are also available for online pre-orders. Amazon Japan will release the items on October 12, 2024, and it can also ship them internationally. However, it only lists items from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog and Like a Dragon series. That means people who are after Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei and Persona merchandise will have to get the items directly from the physical booth at TGS 2024.

Tokyo Game Show 2024 will take place at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on September 26-29, 2024. Sega and Atlus will set up their TGS 2024 merchandise booth at Hall 11.

The post Sega and Atlus Reveal TGS 2024 Merchandise Lineup appeared first on Siliconera.

Sega announced that before Sonic x Shadow Generations is released on October 25, 2024, the standalone version of Sonic Generations will be delisted. It will no longer be available alone on digital storefronts as of September 9, 2024. 

Here is Sega’s official announcement. It noted that everyone who buys Sonic Generations prior to being delisted will be able to continue to play it and, if they own the PC version, use mods. The company also confirmed that the Microsoft Store and Steam bundles with it will continue to sell the game.

So, for example, Sonic the Hedgehog: Ultimate Bundle on Steam includes Sonic Generations Collection and 14 other games for $205.06. After the delisting date, people would still be able to get the game via this bundle for the PC. 

For those wondering what one game has to do with the other, Sonic x Shadow Generations is a remaster with an additional game tied to Shadow the Hedgehog included with it. 

Sonic x Shadow Generations will appear on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on October 25, 2024. Sonic Generations appeared on the 3DS, PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, and it will be delisted on September 9, 2024. 

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Sega shared a new Sonic x Shadow Generations trailer that highlights how Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, and Sonic the Hedgehog stages will look in the game. To help better illustrate the updates and adaptations, there is side-by-side footage comparing each one.

First, things start out by showing how the Sonic Adventure 2 stage Final Rush will look in Sonic x Shadow Generations. After that, we get to see the return of the Sonic Heroes stage Rail Canyon. Finally, the last stage shown in the trailer is Kingdom Valley from the 2006 Sonic the Hedgehog game that appeared on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Here’s the full footage. In each case, we get to see Shadow running through the Sonic x Shadow Generations versions of Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, and Sonic the Hedgehog stages in the trailer. 

As a reminder, people can sign up for free DLC for the game. Sega announced that anyone who opts into the official newsletter can get a skin for Sonic. It is inspired by his polygonal Sonic Jam appearance. The deadline to for it and get the add-on is November 1, 2024. We’ll get it emailed out to us after that.

Sonic X Shadow Generations will come out on October 25, 2024 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

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At Anime Expo 2024, Sega and Studio Giggex revealed the Sonic x Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings three episode prologue. A trailer with Shadow and Maria appeared ahead of the show’s Fall 2024 debut. [Thanks, Sonic Stadium!]

Sonic x Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings will be a prologue to the game and look into Shadow’s past, with the video showing him, Maria, and Emerl. We see Emerl heading for Professor Gerald Robotnik’s lab, and Maria begging Shadow to help him. Shadow dashes off, but the trailer cuts off before showing more of the encounter.

In addition to the Sonic x Shadow: Generations Dark Beginnings trailer, the at Anime. Expo 2024 included appearances by the voice actors for Shadow (Kirk Thornton) and Maria Robotnik (Stephanie Sheh) and other information about the series. For example, Ian Flynn is confirmed as a writer for the prequel. Flynn previously wrote the Sonic the Hedgehog comics and worked on games like Sonic Frontiers. 

This comes following other news tied to the game. For example, people can get a retro, Sega Saturn-inspired skin for Sonic for the Sonic x Shadow Generations. It is free if someone signs up for Sega’s email newsletter. Hololive Vtuber Inugami Korone is also dres as Shadow.

Sonic x Shadow Generations will come to the PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC on October 25, 2024. The Dark Beginnings three episode animated prequel will debut in Fall 2024. 

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Sega announced that there is a way to get a free piece of Sonic x Shadow Generations DLC, and it is tied to the official newsletter. People can make sonic look like he did in the Sega Saturn game Sonic Jam if they sign up for the free email mailing list by November 1, 2024. 

Here’s the official announcement. It showed how the skin will look on Sonic in-game. It also offered instructions on how to get the Sonic Jam Legacy Skin in Sonic x Shadow Generations. You go to the official site, then enter your ate of birth, region, email, name, and platform you’ll be playing the game on. This must be done even if you already signed up for the newsletter before, to ensure you get the proper code. 

Sega didn’t note when the DLC code for the Sonic Jam skin will be emailed out to Sonic x Shadow Generations owners. It only said that it will happen after the game’s launch on October 25, 2024. Since the cut-off date is November 1, 2024 to , the distribution could also happen around that window.

Sonic X Shadow Generations will release on October 25, 2024 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. People have until November 1, 2024 to sign up for Sega’s newsletter and be guaranteed they’ll get the free Sonic Jam skin for the game.

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