The next “Sonic” game is fast approaching and excitement is high as three more characters will make an unexpected appearance in the game. 

On Sept. 24, another trailer was released for the upcoming game “Sonic X Shadow Generations,” revealing old returning characters and stages as well as a new remix of the “Sunset Heights” stage theme from “Sonic Forces.” 

The new trailer showed crucial characters of the game’s story and from Shadow’s past as well as showcasing once again some of Shadow’s new abilities, granted to him by “Black Doom,” a villain from his past. 

The “Sonic Generations” series of games revolved around Sonic exploring levels and fighting bosses they have seen before in past games. “Sonic X Shadow Generations” will have Shadow do the same as he encounters ghosts from his past in the form of friends and foes. 

The new characters confirmed by the trailer are “Maria Robotnik” and “Gerald Robotnik,” two people Shadow considers family yet were tragically killed, and “Mephiles,” the main antagonist from the 2006 game “Sonic the Hedgehog” or “Sonic 06.” 

Maria and Gerald Robotnik have been mentioned in various “Sonic” games and by Shadow himself quite a few times. However, there have rarely been any actual appearances from them in previous games making this an extremely rare opportunity for Shadow to interact with them after their death. 

As for Mephiles the Dark, his appearance is quite unexpected since at the end of “Sonic 06,” everything that happened in the game was, essentially, erased from time and never happened, including Mephiles’ own existence. 

As such, it will be intriguing to see Shadow’s reaction to meeting Mephiles again as Mephiles’ physical appearance and freedom in the original game are thanks to Shadow himself and Shadow won’t know who he is. 

Characters featured in previous gameplay reveal trailers such as “Black Doom,” the main antagonist of the 2005 game “Shadow the Hedgehog,” and “Metal Overlord,” the final boss of the 2003 game “Sonic Heroes,” were also shown again. 

Two new stages were also confirmed to be in the game from the trailer including “Radical Highway” and “Chaos Island.” Curiously though, Shadow himself wasn’t playable in the game “Sonic Frontiers,” which is where “Chaos Island” made its debut. 

The original “Sonic Generations” game was also known for its remaster of original zone and stage themes, which carries over to “Sonic X Shadow Generations.” In the trailer, a remastered version of the “Sunset Heights” stage theme from “Sonic Forces” played over some of the gameplay.

At the end of the trailer, we are treated to a scene of Gerald and Maria Robotnik alive and well with Shadow looking in their direction, hinting that our favorite furry edgelord may finally reunite with his family. 

Their resurrection raises many questions as to how Shadow will react to seeing his only family again and how he will inevitably lose them again. Unfortunately, the only way to find the answers to these questions is to wait for the game’s release which can’t come quick enough.