Sonic X Shadow Generationsis a great title for newer fans who want to check out the games afterSonic the Hedgehog 3, as well as long-time fans who have fond memories of theSonic Adventuretitles.Shadow Generationshas gotten the majority of praise given toSonic X Shadow Generationsfor good reason, considering it brings the last 24 years of the black hedgehog’s story to a close. However,Sonic Generationsmanages to surprise die-hard fans in its own way.
Thenewly remasteredSonic Generationsmay not change much, but what it does change should excite players. Cutscene dialogue has been changed to try and add more of a story to the title while respecting the series' more recent lore consistencies. Those who have already memorized the stages found in the 2011 release might be surprised by the Chao scattered across each one of the Sonics' stages. What makes the Chao Rescue feature so worthwhile, though, may be how the little critters make themselves at home in White Space despite the lack of a Chao Garden.
The Chao in Sonic X Shadow Generations Bring Adorable Life to Sonic’s White Space
When the Chao Rescue feature was first revealed forSonic X Shadow Generations, fans likely assumed the feature would include the regular Dark, Neutral, and Hero Chao like every other appearance of the critters since and nothing more. However, the truth is thatSonic X Shadow Generationshas the best representation of the Chaoin years. Different color variations, multiple evolutions, Character Chao, and even the hats the creatures wear populate Sonic’s levels, likely leaving plenty of fans surprised with each one they find.
The sheer number of Chao featured in the remaster is perfect for players who have fond memories of raising the same critters in theSonicAdventuregames, but that isn’t where the Chao Rescue feature stops. When fans save a Chao, it finds its way back to White Space, where it sits on the representation of the stage it was found in. The animations they cycle through in White Space are a combination of classic Chao behaviors and brand-new adorable moments. Chao can eat their favorite fruits, fly around and make themselves dizzy, do push-ups, and much more. The animations are different depending on which ones the player has, encouraging fans to take their time finding them.
Sonic X Shadow Generations' Chao Rescue is the Closest the Franchise Has Come to the Chao Garden in Years
Fans may have been asking forChao Gardens to return for yearsto have nothing come of it for some time, butSonic X Shadow Generationsdelivers something that might bring out similar feelings from players. When fans rescue their first Chao when playingSonic Generations, they may be surprised to come back to White Space to see it sleeping or flying around and smiling afterward. The combination of the variety of Chao, as well as their cute antics after being saved, serves as a great reason to keep playing stages to find them all to see what they look like and what they’ll do. It’s similar to saving up rings for a special egg in the Chao Gardens to see what the critter inside will look like, or earning a toy in Chao Races and wanting to see the creatures play with it right away.
Sonic Team’s extra effortin making the Chao Rescue feature is simplistic in execution but goes a long way in giving back to fans of the critters after leaving them with simple references and nods for years. Some fans have theorized that having new and upgraded Chao models spells great things for futureSonicgames, but it’s hard to say where Sonic Team will go next afterSonic FrontiersandShadow Generations. At the very least, the promised Chao Tales animated shorts should be coming sooner rather than later, so there will be more Chao in the future either way.
