The launch of Sonic x Shadow Generations is coming quick this October, and everyone seems to be curious to know extra about Shadow the Hedgehog’s new Doom Powers!
The workforce simply launched a trailer all about the Doom Powers, highlighting every distinctive skill and the way they supply new twists for Shadow’s platforming and fight. The trailer additionally showcased gameplay from new phases calling again to fan-favorites resembling Chaos Island from Sonic Frontiers and Radical Freeway from Sonic Journey 2, in addition to iconic boss challenges like Metallic Overlord from Sonic Heroes. Eagle-eyed viewers may additionally catch a glimpse of the reimagined hub world, White Area, the place gamers will get the alternative to check out and grasp Shadow’s new strikes whereas they discover, unlock phases, and uncover collectibles.
We acquired along with Sonic Crew Inventive Officer, Takashi Iizuka, to talk on why this sport was the good alternative to offer Shadow new skills, and the way they provide new, action-packed methods of navigating completely different phases and boss battles.
Why are Shadow’s Doom Powers vital to the story and gameplay?
Iizuka-san: By way of gameplay, the workforce wished to make Shadow Generations’ motion extra distinctive to distinguish it from what Sonic can do, so we added the Doom Powers. Shadow’s new powers are important as a result of they provide him new methods to assault enemies and traverse the world, giving our workforce extra to construct upon in every stage’s degree design. Whereas we are able to’t share a lot about the story, the Doom Powers play a vital position in Shadow’s journey and growth all through his marketing campaign, giving him extra powers to avoid wasting the world. Shadow receives these when he awakens to the energy of darkness in the sport, so gamers will see how intently they tie into the narrative when the sport comes out later this yr.
How did you select the remaining collection of Doom Powers we see in the sport? Why had been these powers proper for Shadow?
Iizuka-san: Shadow is a darkish, anti-hero character, so the Doom Powers needed to embody a way of hazard and thriller that may be seen in Shadow’s actions and actions. The extent designers additionally included some ways the Doom Powers can be utilized on this platform motion sport, so they aren’t simply extra fight strikes. Shadow can use Doom Powers to platform round the world.
How are these powers completely different from Shadow’s present powers in earlier video games?
Iizuka-san: When designing the ranges in Shadow Generations, we wished to make the most of Shadow’s present transfer, Chaos Management, which permits him to search out new platforms to run by every stage and discover new methods of attacking bosses. Nevertheless, with solely Chaos Management, the core of Shadow’s gameplay is similar to what Sonic can do, so we launched the Doom Powers to offer the sport extra distinctive motion. Not solely does it enhance the number of issues you are able to do in the platform motion phases, however it additionally permits for nice exploration and traversal skills in the 3D White Area Hub World for Shadow.
What was the design course of like when conceptualizing the concept and designing the look of every energy?
Iizuka-san: The thought for the Doom Powers got here up after we realized we would have liked to offer Shadow new skills and powers to create new gameplay codecs. It was vital to supply Shadow skills that Sonic can’t do to make the motion extra satisfying, whereas making certain every energy displays his darkish, anti-hero character. As the title suggests, the Doom Powers draw vitality from Black Doom, in order that was considered in the design of all the Doom Powers.
What Doom Powers are you most excited for followers to expertise?
Iizuka-san: Doom Wing, the black wings that come out of Shadow in the Summer time Recreation Fest trailer, was an impactful concept early in the design course of, so we wished to make it the coolest wanting of all the Doom Powers. The wings that come out of Shadow make you consider a satan, which matches properly with Shadow’s darkish hero components and permits us to current one thing cool and new, one thing we couldn’t do with Sonic.
Sonic followers – get able to embrace Shadow’s darkish facet and use his new energy to tackle Black Doom and save the world! When the sport launches this fall, make sure you check out all completely different sorts of paths and strategies with every Doom Energy to search out new methods of finishing every stage and battle.
Sonic x Shadow Generations is obtainable for pre-order now beginning at $49.99 on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles. To study extra about varied pre-order incentives, head to PlayStation Retailer or Sonic x Shadow Generations official web site. Followers who purchase the Digital Deluxe Version can play the sport three days early and obtain extra content material.