Sonic X Shadow Generations introduces a new collector type for Shadow's Story. In Shadow Generations, you can find “collection keys” by carefully exploring each of Shadow's stages. Three can be found in each main act and three more in every available challenge (except for the hard challenges unlocked later).
Track down collection keys Sonic X Shadow Generations is crucial to unlocking music, artwork, and plot summaries for previous games. This guide focuses on the collection keys available in the first phase of Shadow Generations: Space Colony Ark. It also explains how to get collection keys in each of the four challenges offered for Space Colony Ark. This is a total of 18 Collection Keys, more than enough to open chests in White Space and get some collectibles.
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All collection keys in Space Colony Ark: Act 1, in Sonic X Shadow Generations
Space Colony Ark: Act 1 is the first level you beat, but that doesn't mean finding every collection key will be easy. If you want to get to all of them, you'll have to do your best and make good use of Shadow's moveset.
Collection key 1
To reach Collection Key 1, you'll need to do a fairly simple jump at the end of a grind rail, which will end up launching you up and forward, taking you to the top of a tunnel. To get to this point, go through the level as usual until you reach the location shown in the first image.
Then use the spring to launch and hop along the floating asteroids using a homing attack chain. This will take you to a grind rail. Ride to the end of the rail and then jump just before you reach the end of the rail so you can shoot forward and land on the tunnel (see second picture). The Green Collection Key is up here, so grab it and then use the springs in front of you to continue the stage.
Collection key 2
To reach the second collection key, walk through the stage until you fall to the ground and fire rockets from the left and right below you (see image 1). Use Chaos Control to freeze the rockets as they fly past each other, creating a bridge for you to land on, then use the rocket bridge to run to the boost ring and launch towards the yellow collection key (see Image 2).
Collection key 3
Collection Key 3 is found while navigating the interior of the station. When you reach the section shown in the first image above, use a homing attack to get past the lasers and take out the artificial chaos on the other side. Then perform a homing attack on the flying enemy at the end of the tunnel and speed them up the air to hit the boost ring. Keep going, grind the rails and use Homing Attack + Boost to stay on this upper path and reach the boost ring shown in the third image. After hitting it and reaching a spring, use that spring to get onto a grind rail that will take you to another spring. This second spring will introduce you directly to the Blue Collection Key.
All collection keys in Space Colony Ark: Act 2, in Sonic X Shadow Generations
Space Colony Ark: Act 2 steps things up a bit compared to Act 1, acting as the first level where Shadow must use Chaos Spears to proceed, as well as introducing the 2.5D level style that will appear later in the game. Once again we need to track down three collection keys. Here's how to find them.
Collection key 1
To reach the first collection key, go through the level until you reach the location shown in picture 1. Then use Chaos Control to freeze the missiles in place and climb up to the source. Use the spring to reach a platform with an enemy on it, then jump to the right and use the homing attack to reach a grind rail. Ride to the end and then use the nearby hook to get to the yellow collection key.
Collection key 2
To get to the second collection key, go through the level until you reach the area shown above. The collection key is at the top of the first of the two rotating pillars. So jump to the second pillar and use it to get higher so you can jump there. This will give you the Blue Collection Key.
Collection key 3
To get the third collection key, you need to start where you got the second key. Climb onto the second pillar and use the boost ring. Then aim at the asteroids to achieve a loop. Use this to get to another rotating pillar that you should climb (see image 1). Use the Homing Attack to jump over the enemies on the right and reach a grind rail. Ride to the end of the rail and then use a homing attack to reach the second rail where the Green Collection Key is.
All Collection Keys in Space Colony Ark Challenges in Sonic X Shadow Generations
There are four challenges available for Space Colony Ark, two per act. Each challenge contains three additional collection keys. Here's how to track them all down.
Act 1: Challenge 1 “Artificial Chaos Counter” Collection Key
To get the first challenge key in Act 1: Challenge 1, use a homing attack on the artificial chaos shown above, then fly into the air to reach the boost ring. The Boost Ring will take you directly into a Blue Challenge Key.
For the second challenge key, use a homing attack to hit the enemy shown in image 1 above and get Shadow past the lasers. Once you've done this, keep going and stay on the top available paths. Defeat each group of artificial Chaos enemies to open the path further and upward. Once you reach the area shown in image 2, you can head up to hit a boost ring that will drop you right into a yellow challenge key.
To get the final challenge key, simply go through the level to the skydiving section shown above, then move left so that you fall through a blue challenge key on your way down.
Act 1: Challenge 2 One Ring Challenge Collection Key
To get the first collection key in Challenge 2, you need to carefully move across the falling platforms right at the start and jump to the yellow collection key, which is on a slightly higher platform as shown above.
The second collection key is a little further down and requires the use of Chaos Control. In the section where missiles are flying towards you, use Chaos Control to freeze them in place and use them as a platform to get to a Blue Collection Key on a raised platform.
The third collection key for this challenge can be found in the grind rail area at the end. It's floating in the air near the end of the leftmost grind rail, so jump over and grab it as you get closer (being careful to avoid the incoming missiles).
Act 2: Challenge 1 “Crush With Doom Blast!” Collection Key
This challenge is a bit tricky as it requires two runs to get all three keys. On your first pass, aim at the enemy shown in picture 1 diagonally upward (as shown in picture 2) to reach a platform with a grind rail. There is a yellow collectible key on this grind rail.
Next, when you reach the enemy shown above, target him as shown in the picture and after teleporting, don't move to follow him. On the way back to the ground you will fall through a Blue Collection Key. After you get this, finish the level and start over.
To get the final collection key, return to the enemy you started to get the yellow collection key and then target them as shown in the image above. This will take you to a spot above a blue collectible key. So fall through to pick it up.
Act 2: Challenge 2 “Chaos Control Master” Collection Key
Right after the start of this level, use Chaos Control and jump to the source and then to the top of the tower shown above to grab a Yellow Collectible Key.
Next, you'll need to grab a blue Collection Key at the top of the platform section shown above. Go to the sturdy floor to the right of it and jump over to grab it. There is no danger to life with this jump.
The final collection key for this challenge can be found in the platform section shown above. Grab the Blue Collection Key from the last platform under the Boost Ring, then jump into the Boost Ring and continue the level as usual.