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| Shadow the Hedgehog |
|---|
| First seen:Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) |
| Species:Hedgehog /Black Arms |
| Gender: Male |
| Age: Chronologically 50, Physically 15 |
| Height: 100cm (3'3")[1] |
| Weight: 35kg (77lbs)[1] |
| Likes: Nothing[1][2] |
| Dislikes: Humanity[1] |
| Created by:Shiro Maekawa[3],Takashi Iizuka[4],Kazuyuki Hoshino[5] |
Shadow the Hedgehog (シャドウ・ザ・ヘッジホッグ), also known as "The Ultimate Lifeform," is a recurring character in theSonic the Hedgehog series of games and related media. First introduced inSonic Adventure 2 as a villain, he soon took on the role of anti-hero, becoming yet another rival of Sonic. Because of his nature, he has also become a fan favorite, especially among those who discovered the series afterSEGA ceased production of theDreamcast.
After the success ofSonic Adventure, it was only natural to assume that a sequel would be produced. Hoping that the game would be whatSonic the Hedgehog 2 was for theMega Drive, a portion of the team responsible for the firstAdventure title was sent off to work at SEGA of America. Dubbed "Sonic Team USA," it was led by DirectorTakashi Iizuka, whileYuji Naka remained back in Japan to work on other properties, includingPhantasy Star Online. With the team in place, brainstorming soon began on what formSonic Adventure 2 would take.
Early on, it was decided that one of the main themes of the game would be the dichotomy between good and evil, and to help explore that the creators came up with new characters that would both assistDr. Eggman and challenge the established cast of heroes. Iizuka came up with the idea of a dark, rival figure toSonic the Hedgehog with a similar appearance but a starkly different personality.[6] Initially known asTerios the Prisoner (Terios translating to "reflection of"), the character was conceived as a sinister and villainous figure, and was thus designed to look menacing by Character DesignerKazuyuki Hoshino.[5] After witnessing how popular comic book characters such asSpawn were in America, however, the developers decided to reimagine the character into more of an anti-hero.[6]
When designing Shadow, Hoshino wanted him to share Sonic's characteristic speed, but achieve it through a method other than running. Inspired by the jet engine ofMetal Sonic, an another character he had designed, as well asspeed skating, Hoshino designed Shadow with rocket-powered shoes, which he uses like inline skates to reach high speeds.[5]
OnceSonic Adventure 2 was announced, the identity and nature of Shadow was a heavily guarded secret, his existence teased at the end of the first trailer for the game.[7] Details of the character were leaked whenReSaurus announced they were making figures of Shadow andRouge, much as they had for the firstAdventure title. Ironically, the company went out of business before they could release these figures to the masses. The push to build hype for the new character put other characters on the backburner,Tails not even being announced for the game until a few months later. The marketing push for the character was so great that, when players reached the end ofAdventure 2 and saw the "death" of Shadow, there were many who doubted this was the last time Shadow would appear. As it were, Iizuka would later admit that he always had future plans for the character, hoping to have him star in his own game. This eventually happened with the release ofShadow the Hedgehog for the three main systems of the era.
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The fact Shadow uses guns inShadow the Hedgehog was based on suggestions mailed to Sonic Team, where kids were asking for a game where Sonic could use a gun. Feeling it out of his character, they decided to give the ability to Shadow, hoping to both fulfill these requests and broaden their playing audience. The look and feel of the game was based on such movie franchises as Underworld, Constantine, and The Terminator.[8]
During the promotion of his spin-off game, Shadow was used as a guest announcer and performer for the Japanese wrestling league Pancrase, jumping and posing in the ring. The night ended in Shadow giving the winner of that night's matches ten SEGA games.[9]
Though Shadow has been voted one of the most popular Sonic the Hedgehog characters, he is also one of the most controversial. Having become synonymous with the downturn of the Sonic franchise, there are those who argue that he is the embodiment of what has gone wrong with the series, showcasing how far it has strayed from its Mega Drive roots. Other fans argue that while the series may have strayed, Shadow has also allowed the games to evolve, and broaden Sonic's universe and appeal. Regardless of which way one looks at the argument, it cannot be denied the importance of the character in regards to the history of the Sonic franchise, be it good or bad.
For years, the elements of Shadow's backstory have been the subject of much fan debate. Even with the translation of story elements from Japanese guidebooks and the subsequent release ofShadow the Hedgehog, the many plot holes and inconsistencies in Shadow's story still inspire argument after argument over the black and red hedgehog, making any sort of explanation of the character a difficult endeavor.
Fifty years ago, a top-secret project known as "Project Shadow" had begun on theSpace Colony ARK. Led byProfessor Gerald Robotnik, it was a government-sanctioned initiative to create "The Ultimate Lifeform," an immortal being that could be used for the benefit of the nation. Using the blood of theBlack Arms leaderBlack Doom Gerald was able to successfully create Shadow the Hedgehog.
Once brought to life, Shadow immediately befriended Gerald's granddaughterMaria, and they became close during their short time together. However, Gerald's progress was ruined when it was leaked toG.U.N. how he was able to create the successful prototype. As ties between the ARK and theUnited Federation had already been strained, hearing the news of the dealings with an alien race scared those in charge. Afraid of the implications, it was decided to launch an invasion and put a stop to the work being done there. G.U.N. troops descended onto the ARK, causing chaos and confusion wherever they went. Knowing that the G.U.N. forces would be there at any moment, Maria convinced Shadow to enter an escape pod, her final wish to him that he give the people on the planet a chance to be happy. Wishing him goodbye, Shadow could do nothing as he watched the G.U.N. soldiers storm into the lab, firing a shot which would forever change the artificial hedgehog.
Learning of his granddaughter's death, Professor Gerald soon went mad, swearing vengeance on humanity for taking away the only thing that ever meant anything to him. Though just what exactly transpired is cloudy, what is known is that both Gerald and the escape pod that held Shadow were gathered by G.U.N., Shadow being placed in G.U.N.'s military bunker onPrison Island,[10][11] and Gerald being incarcerated and charged with the crimes that happened aboard the ARK. At some point he manipulated Shadow's memories so he would carryout his revenge.[12]
Fifty years later,Dr. Eggman, Gerald's grandson came across his grandfather's journals. Eggman became aware of Project Shadow, and broke into Prison Island to recover what the mysterious weapon could be. Once he reached the center of the complex, he was startled to see a hedgehog, immediately thinking it must beSonic. Quickly, though, he realized his fears were for naught, and that some grand twist of fate caused Gerald's greatest invention to resemble his arch-nemesis. When awoken, Shadow offers Eggman his help, asking for the Chaos Emeralds in return. Remembering Maria's senseless death, Shadow seeks out the remaining Chaos Emeralds, not relying on just the Doctor. The second emerald collected is also at the hand of Shadow, stolen from a facility that immediately gained the attention of G.U.N. Watching security footage, the organization believed the criminal to be Sonic the Hedgehog, a case of mistaken identity that runs through the rest ofSonic Adventure 2. When the two meet after the events ofCity Escape, a fierce rivalry begins, each subsequent encounter the two share ending in a fight.
Dr. Eggman eventually collected all seven Chaos Emeralds, and with Shadow's help Eggman learned how to access the Eclipse Cannon aboard the Space Colony ARK. Immediately, a videotaped message of Gerald Robotnik began, declaring his hatred of humanity in his final days, hoping that the Chaos Emeralds would be gathered on the ARK and that the cannon would be turned on those who took everything away from him. Everyone knew the ARK needed to be stopped, but Shadow refused to do anything helpful about it, believing he was carrying out Maria's final wish. However, a conversation withAmy Rose triggered one of Shadow’s lost memories, which allowed Shadow to finally recall her true final words. Realizing his folly, Shadow decided to join the fight, helping Sonic to stopBiolizard, a creature which was Shadow's immediate prototype. Forced to take the battle to the stars, Sonic and Shadow unite, transforming into their Super forms and taking down Biolizard's final form,Finalhazard. UsingChaos Control, they are able transport the space colony back into its original orbit, saving the planet at the presumed cost of Shadow's life.
Shadow was rescued however by one of Eggman's robots and put into a stasis tube, guarded byE-123 Omega. Eggman soon started makingandroid copies of Shadow, and Rouge rescued the real Shadow from his base, albeit with no memories of his past.[13] He tries to find the answers of his existence on his own. His journey takes a dramatic turn when, just outside the city ofWestopolis, the Black Arms race decides to attack the planet. He is immediately contacted by the force's leader, Black Doom, who tells Shadow that humanity betrayed him and that he belongs with the invading force. As an incentive, he promises to restore Shadow's memories if he collects the seven Chaos Emeralds. In the end, Shadow is able to collect the emeralds, and decides to give them to Black Doom, hoping he will finally find the answers he seeks. In doing so, Shadow is finally able to realize the truth of his creation. Every memory that Shadow once had returns, discovering the pact that Gerald had made with the Black Arms race, and the hope the professor originally had, that Shadow would stop the invading force once the time came. Renouncing the hatred of humanity that Black Doom had tried to force on him during the game, Shadow sets off to stop the invading force from using Chaos Control to transport all their forces onto Earth at once. With everything cleared up, Shadow is able to defeat Black Doom, and throws the Black Comet into the path of the Eclipse Cannon, fulfilling the hope that both Gerald and Maria had for him.[14]
Though he is often compared to Sonic, Shadow's personality is quite the opposite. Instead of being a joyful, carefree spirit, Shadow the Hedgehog is often a moody, discontented soul. Born through a more artificial means, he began questioning his true purpose while on theARK, long before the moments that would scar his life. The only thing he has ever truly cared about, the only person he ever considered a friend, wasMaria Robotnik, and when he watched her get murdered in front of his eyes, everything changed. Most of his life has been spent thinking of her, and wishing to honor her memory, even when he wasn't sure what it was she would have wanted. Because of this, he has never been trusting of humans, something which manifested during the events ofShadow the Hedgehog. Even though he now remembers his past and has fulfilled Maria's promise thrice over, he still has a great dislike for humanity, something he tries to work through now that he works directly for them.[15] Indeed, his trust for humans has shown to increase slightly, balking at Mephilis' prediction that humanity would turn against him and blame him for the destruction Solaris would cause in the future. However, as those events took place in the 2006Sonic the Hedgehog game, the entire plot was retconned, though it can be assumed that Shadow's attempt at accepting humanity is still occurring. He has been shown to at least accept assistance from others, includingRouge the Bat and E-123 Omega, as they don't question his methods.[16]
On theFast Friends Forever website, it was said that Shadow is always protecting the world from danger in honor of Maria's memory. He will fight everyone and everything to save the world Maria loved.[16]
Shadow the Hedgehog is a black and redhedgehog, and though his physical appearance points to him being the same age asSonic, he is actually much older due to his time spent in hibernation under the care ofG.U.N. Though his physical appearance is purely hedgehog, his DNA is a combination of hedgehog and that of theBlack Arms alien race, and it is because of this combination that allows his ease of using the energy of theChaos Emeralds for his own purposes. Designed to be "The Ultimate Lifeform," it has been said that Shadow is nothing short of immortal, though this claim has been untested. It has been shown that Shadow is incredibly resilient, if his fall from space is anything to go by.
With his trademark "Chaos Control" ability, he can bend space and time around him at will, with the need of only one Chaos Emerald. It allows him to traverse great distances in only a short amount of time. He can manifest Chaos energy as a physical force, and use it to attack his enemies.Chaos Spear, his most often used form, is the formation of energy into a lightning bolt, Shadow throwing it to deliver damage. A cruder form of this,Chaos Blast, is a generic explosion which is designed to damage anything around him. Along withChaos Boost, andChaos Attack, Shadow has developed a wide variety of attacks which utilize a Chaos Emerald. With one of those magical gems, Shadow is a nearly unstoppable force. Even without a Chaos Emerald, Shadow can preform a short range teleport withChaos Snap.[17][18] For longer distances he needs a Chaos Emerald with him. Shadow can awaken asHero Shadow orDark Shadow by doing good or bad deeds, by touching eitherHero Energy Cores orDark Energy Cores and breathing dark mist. With them activated, Shadow hasinvincibility and unlimited ammunition. However, he can only maintain these states for a limited amount of time.Media:Shadow GC US manual.pdf[19]
Even without an emerald, Shadow is still a being to be reckoned with, as he has many of the same abilities that Sonic the Hedgehog possess. Just like Sonic, he can curl up into aspin attack and attack enemies. He can build up speed with the classicspin dash, and aim at combatants with the Homing Attack. However, Shadow does not possess the same blistering speed that Sonic has. To make up for this shortcoming, Shadow wears a pair ofAir Shoes, which give Shadow's running an extra boost, allowing him to keep up with Sonic most of the time. It also gives Shadow the ability to hover over the ground for short periods, though he doesn't often exercise this. Standing on pools ofRed Slime allows Shadow to travel on speedy transport paths with thedark spin dash.Media:Shadow GC US manual.pdf[19]
While Shadow's physical abilities are nothing to be trifled with, Shadow is not against the idea of using weaponry if need be. Guns, missiles, bazookas, or any other armaments that the military force G.U.N. has at their disposal are fair game for the artificial hedgehog to use. Even vehicles like tanks are not off-limits to Shadow, many of the preceding weapons serving him in numerous situations.[14][17]
Like many other characters in the games, Shadow is able to use the power of the seven Chaos Emeralds to transform intoSuper Shadow, though he is still bound by the same ring-consumption limitation that the other characters in the series have.
Just as the case has been forSonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog has been adapted to fit in other media.
Introduced inSonic the Hedgehog Issue 98, Shadow the Hedgehog's origins are played out in a similar way to the game. His captivity inPrison Island, his emergence byDr. Eggman's hand, his creation byProfessor Gerald Robotnik, and his relationship withMaria aboard theSpace Colony ARK are all present. Seeking out theChaos Emeralds, Shadow even reproduces the case of mistaken identity, causing the forces ofStation Square to go afterSonic. However, unlike the games, the comics make it clear that Gerald was able to get a hold of Shadow after the tragic events aboard the ARK, and was responsible for his fuzzy memories of what Maria wanted.
After defeatingFinalhazard, it was not Eggman who rescued the falling Shadow but the alien race known as theBem, a peaceful species who felt that Shadow needed to be saved for the upcomingXorda invasion. Once he awoke, the Bem made Shadow transform into hissuper state, setting him against the Xorda ship enteringMobius space. Though he fought valiantly, he was unable to stop them, crashing back onto the surface where he was subsequently discovered by the residents of Knothole. Forming a temporary alliance with them, he joined Sonic and the gang to fight off the Xorda invasion, who wanted to wipe out intelligent life on the planet to pay for crimes that had been committed millennia ago by human beings to a Xorda ambassador.
After the Xorda's defeat, Shadow was left to drift alone, deciding to eventually confront Dr. Eggman. It was there that he metHope Kintobor, Eggman's cousin who looked extremely similar to Maria. Becoming protective of her, Shadow would become angered if she was placed in danger, his feelings for Maria influencing any action involving Hope. It was because of Eggman's relation to Maria that made Shadow join forces with him for a time, although he only stayed a part of his force until he could get a hold of Gerald's diaries (Hope having already found refuge inKnothole and, later on, Station Square). Asking for help from theFreedom Fighters, Shadow was able to talk to holographic versions of Gerald and Maria, learning about hisBlack Arms heritage and how they would eventually be coming, ready to attack the planet.
With this knowledge, Shadow went off to Station Square, where he joined up with G.U.N., working alongsideRouge the Bat once again. Eventually recruitingE-123 Omega and forming "Team Dark," Shadow is once again able to keep an eye on Hope, all the while trying to keep peace on Mobius, waiting for the day where he may be called to fight against the oncoming forces ofBlack Doom.
Once again, Shadow the Hedgehog's introduction inSonic X is quite similar to that ofSonic Adventure 2. Revealed in episode 33, "The Puzzle of Project Shadow," he is awoken byDr. Eggman in yet another attempt at global domination. Many of the same events occur as they do in the games, as the arc Shadow is used in is a direct adaptation. Driven by his promise toMaria, the anime makes one notable difference as it isChris Thorndyke, notAmy Rose, which triggers the return of Shadow's memory and his true promise to Maria. Realizing his folly, he joins Sonic to battleFinalhazard, the result being his assumed death.
It is discovered in the second series that Shadow did not perish, but was instead rescued by Dr. Eggman, who put him in stasis. His fate is discovered in episode 60, "The Return of Shadow," and when he is awoken he remembers nothing of his past, save for a vague image of Maria. He once again takes on the role of anti-hero, helping to fight off theMetarex while at the same time not getting along with Sonic and the gang. There is one episode in which Shadow befriendsMolly, a teenage girl that reminds him of Maria. However, he is unable to prevent fate from happening again, Molly sacrificing herself to save others during a Metarex attack. At the end of the series, Shadow once again becomes instrumental in stopping the villain, doing it not only for Maria but for Molly.
In theSonic X comic book series, Shadow only appears once, though it is the Shadow from themain Archie series. Sent there during a battle withMetal Sonic, Shadow encounters theSonic X cast some point after his doppelganger was presumed dead.
Shadow appears within theSonic Boom universe, looking mostly the same as his main series counterpart, except for a few physical and clothing differences, mainly his longer, slimmer build, cowlick spikes from his quills and long red cuffs on his gloves. His first appearance is in the video gameSonic Boom: Rise of Lyric, where Shadow silently watched Dr. Eggman and Metal Sonic from a distance atLyric's tomb. Later on, he confronts Sonic and Tails at the Abandoned Research Facility where he prevents the two from going to the past and taunting Sonic for being weak due to his loyalty to his friends, thus he engages the two heroes in a battle across time. Upon his defeat, he is kicked into a portal that transports him to the near future, and is not seen again until the end of the game where he gives Sonic and his team his approval for beating Lyric. InSonic Boom: Shattered Crystal, Lyric implants a mind control device on Shadow and was used to attack the heroes. Upon his defeat, the device broke, and the now-liberated Shadow goes off to get his revenge on Lyric. He shows up again in the finale to save Sonic and co. from being destroyed by Lyric.
Shadow then made an appearance in the Season 1 finale of theTV series, "It Takes a Village to Defeat a Hedgehog", where he was invited by Eggman and various other villains to join their circle of villainy so they can defeat Sonic together. However, Shadow quickly grew tired of the group due to how much they waste their time on silly games, and would rather take out Sonic by himself while the hedgehog and his friends were trying to assemble Amy's bookcase. While the other villains were busy causing trouble in the village, Shadow beats down Sonic in a one-on-one duel, but ultimately loses when Eggman accidentally blinds him with a camera flash while taking a "victory selfie" which allows Sonic to strike back. Shadow then tells Eggman that he is unable to properly defeat Sonic when he's around, and swears to fight the blue hedgehog again on his own terms.
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While the government was wiping Dr. Robotnik off their database they found a file buried deep in their system dating back from over 50 years. They contained coordinates to a secret research facility. After hearing this Commander Walters realized this must be Project Shadow. Shadow then awakens from his stasis pod with his eyes glowing with electricity.[20]
OnSouth Island, Shadow was searching for the green Chaos Emerald while Sonic and his friends were fighting Dr. Eggman. The battle caused an earthquake which Shadow claimed shook the world. The black hedgehog encountered Sonic about it and the two of them butted heads. Shadow ended up loosing his fight against Sonic and followed behind him to the excavation site of theParadox Prism. Once there, he saw Sonic destroying the Prism and he used his Chaos Emerald to teleport out of the blast with Chaos Control. Shadow ended up in the void within theShatterverse.
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