A Tokyo Drift – Shadow Generations ‘Sonic 3 Movie Pack’ Impressions

Releasing on the eve of the 2024 Game Awards, Sonic X Shadow Generations‘ first major DLC was released. Featuring Keanu’s version of Shadow from Sonic 3 (2024), he runs through a realistic Toyko.

Including one full Act and two challenge acts, this short but action-packed romp is now playable for all versions of Sonic X Shadow Generations. After playing through the level a few times, I must explain why it’s so cool and a great way to get excited for Sonic 3 (2024) on December 20th.

Sonic 3 Movie Pack DLC for Shadow Generations Impressions

Upon booting up Shadow Generations, players are greeted by a new cut scene, showing Shadow picking up a ring. The ring isn’t normal, but the ‘warp’ rings that Sonic can use in the Sonic Movie franchise. Opening a portal to an unknown location, Shadow is transported to Tokyo.

Surprising the hedgehog, Shadow realizes he is sporting a new look and retains most of his abilities (aka no Doom Powers). Seeing a G.U.N. helicopter in the sky, he gives chase, looking for a way to resume his mission.

The level is an action-packed experience. Tokyo Act 1 follows a similar design mentality to the main-game levels, offering a standard path, with many branching paths accessible with smart platforming skills and good timing with your Boost, Chaos Spear, and Chaos Control powers.

My favorite parts of the level have to be the mid-level cinematics, showing Shadow perform amazing feats. One of them has Shadow avoiding missile fire and then kicking one of the missiles, using it to boost himself into the air to aim a careful Chaos Spear, knocking the G.U.N. copter out of the sky. He even saves a soldier before jumping off the copter, posing cooly before tuck-and-rolling back to the main path.

Alongside this awesome main level, there are two smaller challenge acts, lasting about one to two minutes each. They aren’t much, but they highlight some alternate pathways players could take for repeated runs in the main level.

The Dark Green Hill – ‘Westopolis’ Remix

The track ‘Westopolis’ received a killer remix for Tokyo Act 1 and the two Challenge Acts. This remix was originally played live at TGS 2024. Many thought, myself included, was that it would be used for a proper Westopolis Zone in Shadow Generations.

Kicking off the track is this haunting choir, timed perfectly for when Shadow enters the zone. It reflects his thoughts on how unfamiliar this city is to him, while also somewhat reminding him of one specific city he sped across many years ago. When the remix fully kicks in, I grinned like a moron hearing the familiar guitar and melody.

A new addition to the song is how they utilized drums and a bit-crushed-like sound for the middle portion of the track. It adds a new beat to an iconic level for the Sonic series.

Will Shadow Return to Tokyo? – Potential for an Act 2 DLC

The DLC ends with Shadow promising ‘I will be back’. This makes me curious about either an additional DLC pack revisiting the Movie Universe or a possible free update adding an Act 2.

Considering SEGA isn’t shy about updating games with free updates, offering substantial additions to the original experience, I would not put it past them to do that again. This is a paid DLC experience, however. I doubt they would pursue that option.

Keanu the Hedgehog – Keanu’s Performance as Shadow

The DLC isn’t very long, only containing Act 1 and two additional Challenge Acts, meaning Keanu doesn’t have much to say. But what he does say offers what I would consider, a mixed performance.

SEGA only recently started taking voice direction seriously for their Sonic projects, with Sonic Frontiers and Shadow Generations being the first titles benefiting greatly from this. However, both were projects with a higher budget than a mere DLC level.

This is somewhat reflected in Kenau’s performance as Shadow, as it’s very likely he did his takes before filming for Sonic 3 (2024) or without the voice direction crew from the film. Some of his lines sound awesome, specifically during the mid-level cinematics and the opening of dialog he says before the level begins.

But his in-level dialog is quiet-sounding and the sound effect voice acting (when Shadow jumps and the like) could’ve gotten a second take. Overall, I liked his performance here and am still hyped to see him play Shadow in Sonic 3 (2024) but it’s clear this DLC isn’t his best performance as the character.

Closing Thoughts

While not my favorite level out of everything in Shadow Generations, it was a fantastic treat to play through Sonic 3 (2024)’s take on Tokyo. It’s a level that looks visually striking and offers an amazing remix. In addition, the set-pieces show Sonic Team flexing their animation chops and the multiple paths make revisiting this level fun.

I recommend this experience if you own Sonic X Shadow Generations. The game is out on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The Sonic Movie 3 Pack is $5.99 and the DLC is included in the Digital Deluxe Edition of Sonic X Shadow Generations.