Every Shadow Generations Level From WORST To BEST

[@JsReviews]

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[@noobbox9113]

no

[@thesussyinspector]

@@noobbox9113 💀

[@MrTragedious986]

Kingdom Valley is honestly my favorite level from Shadow Generations, from a level from an infamous 06, they did a great job making a lot of paths that you take during replays.

[@neomachine855]

Might be a hot take but it's easily my favorite Boost level if not probably in my top 5 (Act 1)

[@neomachine855]

@@gokublack9724 I think both the OG Kingdom Valley and Shadow Generations Act 1 are probably some of my favorite levels in the series tbh

[@gokublack9724]

I honestly might prefer this kingdom valley over project 06 kingdom valley, It's THAT GOOD

[@TheBengaliG]

Its my favorite level in the entire sonic series, even in 06 the level looks so cool, it's the characters that ruin the level and the game.

[@jelloistasty]

9:32 Saying Sonic colors 'has 2d segments' is a bit of an understatement. That's a 2d game with 3d segments

[@SonicTheCutehog]

You can say that about literally any boost formula Sonic game

[@jelloistasty]

@SonicTheCutehog that's blatantly false, the vast majority of unleashed, frontiers and shadow generations is 3d. What games are you referring to besides colors?

[@SonicTheCutehog]

@ Unleashed is only "mostly 3D" because of the Werehog. The day stages have just as much 2D sections as Colors and even entire acts in 2D just like that game. I don't consider Frontiers a boost formula game outside of its Cyberspace stages which most of them are just worse boost levels. Sonic Generations and Forces definitely have more 2D than 3D though.

[@jelloistasty]

@SonicTheCutehog unleashed is mostly 3d in its day stages. Colors is 35% 3d 65% 2d, thats clearly not the ratio of any unleashed stage. Frontiers is a boost game. I forgot about forces altogether lmao.

[@SonicTheCutehog]

@ Unleashed has the same ratio in its day stages. Fans just only play the first act of each level and nothing else.

[@DairInNeutral]

I honestly really like Rail Canyon Act 2. It has a great flowstate and actual rail platforming works a lot better in 2D

[@neomachine855]

@@DairInNeutral I think it might be in my top 5 levels for this game ngl, I wished Rail Canyon Act 1 had some elements from Bullet Station

[@TerraBlue_451]

Conserving the momentum from that first Chaos Dash is always a great feeling.

[@1nick11]

chaos island act 1 is my top 1. the song is just amazing and the stage is just so much fun. and shadow scoffing off at the volcano blowing up right when the beat drops is so cool to me for some reason lol

[@HutchIsOnYT]

Ik it’s kinda lazy reusing Chaos Island but I thought it was pretty dope having a traditional sonic stage set in an open world like that. Kinda reminded me of Rooftop Run in that regards

[@cloudshines812]

Shadow Generations levels felt like what Cyberspace should’ve been in Frontiers. Simple, fun, tight controlled, and an offering of multitude of pathways and collectables while still retaining an average length of 2-3 minute completion. Honestly, if they can take these really great levels, AND polish up the open world formula from Frontiers… I’m serious by saying we might have a Sonic game that could be considered for GOTY. Sonic Team… *DO NOT* fuck up Frontiers 2

[@neomachine855]

@@cloudshines812 if Frontiers 2 takes ques from Shadow Generations level design, Final Horizon's Cyberspace and Open Zone platforming and Dream Team level design then we might have a banger on our hands

[@JosephJohns-xi1qb]

I'd rather they keep the open world to a mostly optional adventure stage model and focus on the levels.

[@sonicrunn3r895]

I think the quality of this game's hidden routes can truly be attributed to the fact that even as someone who's played this game front to back, I still saw 2 things in here that made me audibly shout “THERE'S A ROUTE THERE?” or “YOU CAN DO THAT?” Not even tied to the spear glide which I can't personally do, just baked in, well hidden routes

[@JosephJohns-xi1qb]

I was apparently doing the Radical Highway Act 1 beginning one wrong as I would jump from the top platform without the spring.

[@ethejumper6568]

Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:17 #13: Chaos Island - Act 2 1:49 Sponsor 3:03 #12: Tokio - DLC 5:01 #11: Rail Canyon - Act 2 5:53 #10: Sunset Heights - Act 2 6:38 #9: Space Colony ARK - Act 2 7:23 #8: Rail Canyon - Act 1 8:43 #7: Kingdom Valley - Act 2 10:05 #6: Radical Highway - Act 1 11:50 #5: Sunset Heights - Act 1 12:35 #4: Space Colony ARK - Act 1 13:17 #3: Chaos Island - Act 1 14:46 #2: Radical Highway - Act 2 15:41 #1: Kingdom Valley - Act 1 17:28 Outro

[@aggressivelymediocre350]

1:03 This literally is a moment where your skill dictates the pace of the level. On replay, I found it very easy to just jump straight to the end of the section and avoid having to wait for the platform to do its thing. It feels very intentional too, since the spikes are laid out so that a proper jump arc will let you avoid them

[@anthonyfish8236]

To say Sonic Team knocked it out of the park with the level design of just about all the Shadow Generations stages would be the understatement of the year. I seriously hope they are taking notes on what fans loved, what worked so well, and why; and apply that philosophy to 3D games moving forward. Most notably the incredibly open-level design chock-full of multiple pathways and creative freedom on the player's behalf for discovering new sequence breaks ^_^

[@liamruiz3196]

Honestly the more I play it, the more I wish Sunset Heights Act 1 didn’t have the doom zone, cuz man that first half is just incredible, id love to see what a full on city stage from sonic forces would look like and Shadow Generations gave us a piece of what the full potential of it could be. That isn’t to say the radical highway segment isn’t fun but the more I play it the more I think it was done to just make the stage longer. But aside from that, I love sunset heights in shadow generations along with Chaos Island

[@flurreo]

same here! i feel like they were sorta restricted due to the lack of assets from forces they could reuse - and there wasn't much merit in making more assets when you could do another cool radical highway interlude, but i still really wish we got more of that! cause if sunset heights act 2 is anything to go by, they would've cooked like crazy

[@null_0-0-0-2]

i think the more laid back narration works for videos like this, where it’s a tier list.

[@DesignDoc]

Collectively, these are on average the best stages in the series thanks to Shadow arguably being the most fun to control and techniques like spear gliding being easy to learn but hard to master. I've speed ran all of these and will probably keep running them for at least a couple more months. As for the list itself for me, after learning to speed run the stage, I would actually put Sunset Heights 1 below Tokyo just because the speed run is not that fun to do. Both stages suffer from the same kinds of problems but in my eyes SH is slightly worse about it. The routing is very limited and a lot of it relies on Chaos Control optimization and annoyingly tight jumps (jumping past the 2 fountains near the start or boosting off of rubble for the higher route during the first hallway with the death egg robots) for the most impactful skips and time saves. It's too rigidly linear and it's one of the few cases where the "radical highway" segments really started to negatively cut into the potential of the stage they're attached to. SH Act 2 has a lot more going on for me so I'd move that one up a bit personally.

[@jjslider3026]

You cannot understand how much I soyjaked and quoted “they destroyed the rail!” and “They’re pulling out all the tricks!” in RC. What a great game.

[@A_chocolate_bar_review_channel]

Rail Canyon Act 2 was actually one of my favorite levels in the game. It is a really fun level to try to speed run once you start memorizing the stage layout and the music slaps.

[@hexospikez741]

I just love trying to save up chaos control to completely disrespect the train at the end.

[@beatziegraham6928]

Funny how kingdom valley is both the best 2D and 3D levels. Sega trying to redeem 06 so good!

[@bakubread9308]

I cannot express how happy it makes me that the first great 3D Sonic game in ages is a Shadow one.

[@Hi_Just_Fred]

Chaos Island's use of the morph remindes me of the spine wisp in the planet wisp level.

[@thefuture269]

My favorite has to be Radical Highway Act 1. I love hitting those pole swings with perfect timing.

[@sonicspeedkaleb134]

Kingdom Valley was the zone that started to convince me this game was gonna be in my top ten by the time I finished it. And after beating it, the only game that tops it for me is Sonic Unleashed. It’s so amazing.

[@erikbihari3625]

The fact that this game had Ben Diskin voice black doom,the black slimy esthatic,and shadow growing wings!? Makes unleashed look subtle.

[@kingkirby1394]

I’ll never not find it funny I can say: Mega Man and Numbuh 1 and 2 from knd are black doom 😂

[@erikbihari3625]

@kingkirby1394 . Now shadow just gotta say;"heal the world, togather"! Checked matt mcmuscles?

[@cStatE95]

I didnt numbuh 1 and 2 also voices megaman that's awesome

[@thesussyinspector]

Excited for this one! Kingdom valley and chaos island are my personal favorites

[@michaelcaboose8685]

Are the Radical Highway transitions cutscenes or loading screens? If it’s the latter, we need to stop complaining about their inclusion

[@codified_]

Sunset Heights Act 2 where it is hurt me, it's my favorite 2D level of the game by far

[@MatthewEason-j7j]

I love watching sonic videos because you showed me some awesome routes in some of those levels.

[@Alibaba-id1cs]

I love the sunset heights act where you can chaos control the boulders thrown at you… If only it didn’t have the radical highway part But tldr for me it’s kingdom valley then chaos island and sunset heights act where

[@williamwhite1036]

Kingdom Valley,Rail Canyon, Sunset Heights and Chaos Island Act 1 are my favorite levels in the game

[@LateefA519]

Radical highway act 1 is my favourite level in the game imo it’s just soooo fun

[@SprInGam3s]

fun thing i love about radical act 2, is that if you put on his world, if you go fast enough, the "in his world" part will start playing right as you activate the doom wings infront of the first black arms giant

[@ruccsacc]

So glad radical highway act 2 got the attention it deserves!

[@sunky-rf9ut]

11:25 I also thought the same,judging from how the level was implemented to begin with,I suspect this was an intentional choice.

[@samnjamn121]

I love Chaos Island Act 1. It felt so satisfying getting to grips with Doom Morph and learning the optimal routes. I also love the music

[@SethLyons-wc3wd]

Kingdom Valley. Hands down. No regrets.

[@Jimmylikehalo]

I think all the levels in shadow generations are just amazing I genuinely have a ton of fun playing all of them and replaying them to take the alternative paths.

[@OrangeLightning86]

When I played Kingdom Valley Act 1 for the first, I smiled and nodded after finishing the act. I knew that it was a great level.

[@noventaporcento]

Happy holidays!

[@goldenHashbrown]

I think you nailed this list, buddy

[@Archivist42]

I definitely agree with the top pick. Kingdom Valley Act 1 is god tier level design, with my favorite music in the game as well.

[@cyberxgaming1215]

Okay I haven’t finished the video yet, but so far, it’s giving,”2D = Bad” energy

[@JsReviews]

Well, I don’t think 2D is bad. I think most of the 2D levels are good in this game. But the 3D levels are just way better imo.

[@cyberxgaming1215]

@@JsReviewsValid take, I just think levels like Kingdom Valley Act 2 and Sunset Heights Act 2 do a lot more for me than levels like Sunset Heights Act 1 or even Space Colony Ark Act 1. But I definitely prefer the 3D gameplay over 2D generally as well

[@goldglovegrappler1382]

I had NO CLUE about the skydiving skip at the start of Radical Highway Act 2 until this video despite going for full S Ranks.

[@МихаилЛотов-о8э]

The only thing I personally disagree is that Sunset Heights Act 2 is that low on the list. I find it more enjoyable than Act 1 tbh. Other than that, Shadow Gens has really peak levels. Mainly because Doom abilities and Chaos Control give so much space for replayability. Both Kingdom Valley Acts are masterpiece tbh and I really like Space Colony Arc, Radical Highway and Chaos Island Act 1. The only levels, that on a weaker side for me are Acts 2 of Chaos Island and Rail Canyon mostly because of how short they are (2D is really enjoyable in this game) and Tokyo mainly for cutscenes. Really hope, that future Sonic games will have as impressive levels as Shadow Gens.

[@neomachine855]

@@МихаилЛотов-о8э funny enough I prefer Rail Canyon Act 2 over Act 1, still tho the levels in this game are really good, hope Sonic Team takes notes from Shadow Generations and Dream Team

[@МихаилЛотов-о8э]

@@neomachine855 I liked both Acts even though Rail Canyon is my least favourite level from Heroes and I would vastly prefer Frog Forest or Egg Fleet over it

[@neomachine855]

@@МихаилЛотов-о8э man I wished they remade Egg Fleet or Grand Metropolis, my favorite Heroes levels

[@Meetwad]

Thank you for not sugar coating with the movie level cuz overall, it's cool and novel but pretty disappointing.

[@Tenna5468]

Cant wait for a P06 stage ranking video once the game is finished

[@takingdownconjopi]

there's absolutely no way you AND johnny hate the chaos island levels this much, they're genuinely some of the best BECAUSE of the doom morph. you just gotta commit more time to learning how it works. it's so engaging and fun to run through in both levels once you master the morph, so much moreso than the other levels because it allows you to use ALL of your tools. it's even better than radical highway because neither feels overly long and well designed. it's so insane to me how negatively it's been received, chaos island act 2 is even my favorite song in the game.

[@junglezone7323]

It's better on repeat visits but it's still a low point for a lot of people

[@chris_zed7425]

Is it me or is somecallmejohnny vs videos hasn't been the same lately. He not as upbeat as he was once ever since the depression. Which is weird since he's sounds more cheerful in the sgb videos

[@Jondicce]

Someone didn't watch the video

[@dylangeuss9186]

​@@chris_zed7425 It's literally depression, what do you want?

[@heavydonkeykong5190]

I think the first Act is great.

[@KyndlingStoneCB]

I’m currently working on an inverse of the ranking you did from July for 2D stages. It’s been a lot of fun ranking them and I’m nowhere near done rn.

[@wolef3344]

You can totally ignore the moving platforms in chaos island 2 btw, it's some of the most tight and fun 2d platforming in the game to do those parts without breaking you're momentum.

[@wolef3344]

The doom morph is still kinda mid tho

[@juicewrld2567]

Finally more videos to watch while i eat

[@purplefireblue]

Finally someone brought up this unskippable 40 second cutscene at 4:04 with no minimal gameplay like QTEs happening when it easily could of to make it slightly less annoying on repeat runs Also the doom transition cutscenes are fine because they are super short (about 8 seconds) compared to a 40 second unskippable cinematic.

[@flurreo]

honestly would've been way cooler if we got a segment *on* the speeding train, where falling off functioned like a bottomless pit, and you could chaos control to jump on the rockets and jump onto the helicopter to skip ahead akin to speed highway

[@Superson1c5]

just something i noticed whilst watching the end, apparently you don't know that you can hold shadows quick step indefinitely in both white space and stages for those diagonal lines of rings on straights like at the end of kingdom valley act 1. those irregular distance quick step lanes are for shadows "Quick Slide" move that has a varied length unlike sonic. other than that great list and hope to see more from you in the new year.

[@SUCHMISH]

I agree that Kingdom Valley act 1 was peek here! It's the first level I S ranked!!

[@Autistic_Artist_795]

I definitely agree. The dlc was a bit disappointing. Thankfully most of the base game was good, but it leaves me wanting more. Radical highway act 2 is my favorite because of it's actual challenging S rank. It took me back to Sonic Unleashed's level of challenge that I've really missed seeing in Sonic games.

[@shinyocelot04archive]

Here's my thoughts on them: Space Colony ARK Acts 1 and 2: A fun callback to Adventure 2 with far better controls. Great set of acts for the intro level. Rail Canyon: Both stages are super fun and probably some of my favorites from this game. Figuring out the exact time to use Chaos Control or flipping across rails is really satisfying to get right. Kingdom Valley: Gorgeous levels that perfectly utilize alternate routes. I don't think I've seen a level this expansive since the first Adventure. Another one of my favorites. Sunset Heights: Act 1 feels like how Forces should have been. The alternate routes are fun too. Act 2 somehow made a 2D Forces level fun to play. Chaos Island: This one's an odd series of stages. The slower pace of both acts reminded me of the later stages from the Adventure games, and learning the Doom Morph is an interesting challenge. Radical Highway: Do you like janky collision detection and falling into bottomless pits? Radical Highway will gladly deliver these for you! Very annoying final level that requires split second timing to catch on to alternate routes or to survive obstacles. Not my favorite stage here.

[@neomachine855]

@@shinyocelot04archive thoughts on the DLC Tokyo level? That is if you've played it

[@shinyocelot04archive]

@@neomachine855 I haven't played it yet since I was saving for Sonic 3 tickets

[@neomachine855]

@@shinyocelot04archive I see, also your probably like the first person I've seen that doesn't like Radical Highway, I mean yeah both levels are pretty tough and require split second timing, tbh tho that's why I like both Acts, reminds me a bit of Eggmanland and how challenging that stage was

[@shinyocelot04archive]

@neomachine855 Playing it on the Switch probably didn't help.

[@neomachine855]

@@shinyocelot04archive at least it looks better than Frontiers on Switch (I wouldn't exactly know as I got SxS Generations on Series S tbh)

[@Joel-nu1ed]

3:01 actually I strongly disagree, which is why I am putting the skip for the sponsor

[@coleminer8847]

The main reason you cant skip the mid level cutscenes is likely because the timer is still running during them

[@IJReviewss]

14:53 There was an alternate path there????? I've played this level countless times and never even saw that! Goes to show how many pathways there really are though

[@alvinT27A]

W video W ytber W game

[@AmanPikon]

Dang it now I have to stop playing Mega Man X1 and start watching peak content from a peak game

[@Toysonicandfriends2toons]

I actually love casino park & rail canyon

[@khythedestroyer]

I have finally found someone who ranks chaos act 2 and rail canyon act 2 at the bottom of the list. I knew I wasn’t the only one.

[@justarandomperson5363]

I love that everyone collectively decides to use the boost animation mod. Myself included 😂

[@PrismaticAngel]

Honestly I was so disappointed that there were no levels from Shadow's own game. Imagine how cool Digital Circuit would look, or Sky Troops or hell, even the Black Comet.

[@flurreo]

it doesn't really ruin the game for me, but GOD boosting across each of the flying fortresses from sky troops would be so fucking hard i wish we got that 😭

[@Fxbox920]

Kingdom Valley is the best level in the game solely for including the mach speed section

[@cStatE95]

Im gonna be honest sonics level are more enjoyable in the main levels but shadows are better in the side missons

[@HotFootBunny]

This is the opposite for me, I'm not really a fan of the sonic level's since they're way to platform heavy and sonic Dosen't have a double jump and feels stiff so platforming with him feels so awkward to me. I also kept getting a glitch we're I was on a 2D plain but could still move how I was 3d so I had to keep resetting (especially in crisis city). Plus the super form for me is very underwhelming on sonic side while the doom wings on shadow side feels like what the super form should of been. Sonic side levels also don't feel as open as shadow's either

[@AYTM1200]

Same.

[@gokublack9724]

Shadow gens is still the stronger game

[@JosephJohns-xi1qb]

Radical Highway Act 1 S rank seems almost too tight without glitches.

[@zar1536]

could you give a quick ranking for the bosses? i know there's only four of them, but you could include the sonic gens bosses as well.

[@hoodierae5371]

Get the popcorn

[@bweansFGC]

while still the worst level in the game, one I thing I do appreciate about chaos island act 2 is actually being able to skip the elevator sections by hoping off and using the platforms below instead

[@ChiefMedicPururu]

No level was a miss for me.

[@Neonlight3934]

I imagine the Boosting while skating is a mod and it feels so wrong. I think it's because while Sonic has a similar animation it has small changes like the leg speed and the arms. Having it be the same kind of kills the impact of boosting. However you can't really do that with skating since just doing it faster doesn't give you move momentum it just kills your balance and would also look wrong. Just something unrelated I noticed while watching the gameplay since I didn't understand why Shadow hovers while boosting by default but now I understand why.

[@blu3g]

Saying "this stage is great because I can doom spear float through it" kind of feels like saying "melee is the best smash game because I can use all the unintended glitches." I know it doesn't impact your ranking too much but I never like when glitches and exploits are taken into account when ranking something

[@squidwardasnemesis8477]

Will you ever do a sly cooper mission ranking?

[@losisansgaming2628]

11:04 actually you can turn doom wing off for your first run

[@Mehemickael]

You beat me I’m working on the script for the same subject right now 😭😭

[@benjaminmcswain4755]

what mods are you using in this? i know the boosting animations are different but is it a different model too?

[@SmileRYO]

Based skate boost enjoyer.

[@swr.nezumi]

Question, do you *need* to spear glide to play well? I forgot it was a thing until this video and now it kind of feels like I’m playing the game wrong even though it’s a glitch and not an intended feature

[@ThibautMahringer]

For me, Sunset Heights Act 1 is the worst level of the whole game and I’ll die on that sand hill

[@SonicTheCutehog]

They really made the DLC level one of the weakest in the game

[@skeetermania3202]

So what is it about skips being fun? Is that why there’s been a negative turn taken to something like Tails’ gameplay in SA1 (even if those skips require knowledge of fall boundaries) when it was initially positively received?

[@JsReviews]

All I can say is, Tails' story in SA1 is, imo, not fun. His levels are really shallow and the skips aren't that fun to pull off. It's just how you are meant to play the level for the most part. Spear gliding routes in Shadow Gens is fun, to me.

[@skeetermania3202]

@ Considering he’s always been designed as the easy mode, that was arguably the point.

[@lilsunny7399]

I'd love to play this game if i could say, pay a fee to upgrade my original PC version of Sonic Generations. Since I can't. I'll wait for a huge sale. Not paying £45 for a game i already have with a glorified DLC campaign.

[@hotcocoabomb_]

Sorry random thing i noticed: did you mod the game so Shadow keeps skating during a boost?

[@bowserbreaker2515]

My least favorite level is Radical Highway Act 2. It was way too long and unfun. I also agree that Keanu was awful in the DLC.

[@jboyathegamer]

In my opinion the levels are all cool

[@richardperaza5083]

How did you get the DLC to work I playing it on Switch but the DLC won’t play

[@JsReviews]

You have to replay Space Colony Ark Act 1 to play the DLC.

[@richardperaza5083]

@ ok thanks J I was like I paid it Sega ready for the Sonic Movie 3

[@realasfhotwheelunboxing]

Movie Shadow Pack!!

[@dilomikas4199]

10:03 Someone plays with a mod installed ;]

[@VictisII]

Are you playing the modded version?

[@Jondicce]

Can you credit the mod or mods used in the video?

[@OmNeil10]

less 2D = better

[@coolgamergameing]

Ngl sunset a bob

[@idkidkidk170]

this game really shows that even with some of the best 2D sections we ever got in a 3D sonic title, they just simply aren’t as good as the 3D sections and I don’t think they ever will be. they need to just keep the 2D in their own designated games, like i’m playing a 3D sonic game for 3D sonic gameplay stop forcing me to do 2D sections.

[@skeetermania3202]

Yet I’ve rarely seen a Mario fan complain about 2d sections in Galaxy and Odyssey.

[@1nick11]

@@skeetermania3202 those games arent about keeping a top speed. bad rebuttal

[@skeetermania3202]

@@1nick11 Which you can still do in 2D levels.

[@Nickbronline]

Honestly all act 2 stages should be at the bottom

[@erikbihari3625]

The forces level was the worst?"Metaphor"there! Also, nice seeing you back man. When last time?

[@sonicthejaxen]

First!