Sonic X Shadow Generations: Complete Space Colony Ark Guide (2025)

Like any Sonic game, Sonic X Shadow Generations is all about getting to the goal in the fastest, and most stylish way possible. It's not all about hitting top speed though. You've got to to tactical about the paths you take, be wary of enemies in your path, and keep that ring count high.

And it wouldn't be a Sonic game without some collectibles along the way, too. Space Ark Colony is the very first stage you will play with Shadow, and it isn't afraid to throw you right into the deep end. Here's our guide on how to get an S Rank on both Acts, and where to find all of the hidden keys.

How To Get An S Rank Space Ark Colony

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Achieving an S Rank is always a coveted prize in any Sonic game, and Sonic X Shadow Generations is no different. Even better, Shadow has a much tighter, refined control scheme compared to Modern Sonic in the base game, making each of Shadow's levels that much more fun to perfect.

Space Ark Colony Act 1 S Rank

Space Ark Colony Act 1 is one of Shadow's longest levels in the whole game, likely due to the fact that it's introducing all of its mechanics from the get-go, as well as its long-awaited villain, Black Doom. Achieving an S Rank in this Act 1 is relatively generous, though you don't want to make too many mistakes due to its length.

The key thing is to manage your speed. If you're going too fast, you might miss certain jumps that let you get to the goal even faster. You'll want to master Shadow's Homing Attack as well, as it lets him bypass any laser fields as long as he attacks the Artifical Chaos enemies behind them.

The Radical Highway sections can be particularly dangerous as one wrong jump can lead you immediately to death. If you're not sure if you want make a jump, take the safer path. It's better to go a little slow than plummet to your death and have to repeat from the last checkpoint.

Chaos Control lets Shadow stop time temporarily. This is essential both to make pathways out of the many rockets, but also to make the route safer for Shadow. Getting hit by rockets wastes precious time, especially when they fire so unpredictably. Never be afraid to use Chaos Control where they're involved.

Any time under five minutes with around 40,000 points is guaranteed an A Rank. All you need to do to bump that up to an S Rank is to get a Perfect Clear, which is gained by beating the Act without dying once.

Space Ark Colony Act 2 S Rank

The second act of Sonic X Shadow Generations is significantly shorter than Act 1, and features no Radical Highway sections. It is pure Space Ark Colony, though adds a healthy number of its own gimmicks.

Act 2 has a lot more sections where you have to be careful with your footing if you want to get to the goal quickly. Haphazard boosting may make you miss a certain rail to grind, or a mis-timed Homing Attack may have you fall to the lower sections of the map. Keep this in mind especially for the side-scrolling sections.

The Gravity Poles will likely be your strongest enemy in this Act. They only appear in side-scrolling sections, though can make it hard to actually judge where you're jumping. You may not die jumping from them, but you likely still lose time navigating. If there's no top to them though, make sure to boost up them. There's typically a faster path.

Near the end of the level, you will start to encounter sections that require Doom Wings. These aren't necessary to get an S Rank, though they will absolutely help you save time if you've made an mistakes so far.

The Doom Spear switches you can hit will be the next biggest hurdle, making you slam against a wall if you don't activate them fast enough. Holding the Doom Spear button will make you automatically lock-on as soon as they appear, taking away the guesswork.

Keep in mind that during Chaos Control however, your Doom Spears also won't move, meaning you have to be even closer to the switches to activate them.

Completing this Act with a time under three minutes and a score of at least 40,000 will net you an A Rank, with a Perfect Clear boosting it up to an S Rank.

Where To Find Every Collection Box Key In Space Ark Colony

In every Act of Shadow Generations, be they Main Acts or Challenge Acts, there are three keys to be found that open the various Collection Boxes around White Space. They're called keys, but look like medals. Go figure.

The two Acts of Space Ark Colony come with two of each type of key, giving you a wide spread of chests to open. Here's where to find them all.

Space Ark Colony Act 1 Collection Box Keys

The three keys in Space Ark Colony Act 1 are all found prior to the Radical Highway section, letting you dash through that section without worries. Here is the approximate location of each key.

• The first Shadow's History Key is found just before your first anti-gravity wall. Instead of approaching it, take the bounce pad up and use your Homing Attack on the asteroids to land on a grind rail. Jump at the very end to reach the roof holding the key.
• The second Music key can be found just before the section with the rocket that you must use Chaos Control to destroy. While falling through the air, use Chaos Control as all the rockets align to create a pathway. The key is found at the end of it.
• The third Artwork key can be found in the interior section with all the grind rails. To reach it, you must use your Homing Attack on the flying robots to reach a Dash Ring. This will bring you to a higher grind rail, picking up the key automatically at the end.

Make sure to finish the Act after collecting all three of them to save them.

Space Ark Colony Act 2 Collection Box Keys

The three keys in Act 2 of Space Ark Colony are more spread out than in Act 1, with the final key appearing right by the very end of the Act.

• The first Music key is found right near the beginning. After passing a checkpoint, you may speed down a hill. Stop, and jump across to a raised section instead. Grab the handle to pull yourself up, with the key waiting for you.
• The second Artwork key can be found a short while later, near the Gravity Poles. The key will be sat on the first Gravity Pole with a top. You must jump to it from the second Gravity Pole, though be mindful not to accidentally jump into the Dash Ring.
• The third Shadow's History Key can be found in the next side-scrolling section with Gravity Poles after outrunning some rockets. Boost up the first Gravity Pole to find some flying robots. Use your Homing Attack to land on a rail, and use your Homing Attack at the end to reach the next rail, where the key is waiting.

With that, you have collected every key there is to find in Space Ark Colony, and hopefully have gotten your S rank along the way as well, Congrats, and enjoy the remaining stages.