Shadow the Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog is a fictional character from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. He is designed by Yuji Uekawa. He is an anti-hero and Sonic the Hedgehog's dark doppelgänger. Technically[1], his age is around 50, but as he passed most of this time in suspended animation, his physical appearance is around the age of Sonic. He first appeared in the Sega Dreamcast game Sonic Adventure 2.
Since his debut, Shadow has appeared in a multitude of games as well as in shows and comic books. Shadow was almost a complete mystery, until the game Shadow the Hedgehog revealed his past.
Personality
Shadow is a lone wolf who distances himself from most of Sonic's friends. He doesn't talk much, but he never bluffs - if he makes a threat, he has every intention of carrying it out. He always seems to be on the edge, and as shown in Shadow the Hedgehog, is willing to kill when necessary. Although not as much as Knuckles the Echidna, Shadow can be hot-tempered at times, and is also known to be rude, violent, destructive, and arrogant. He constantly refers to himself as the "Ultimate Life Form", since that is what he was created as by Gerald Robotnik. At times, Shadow appeared to be somewhat insecure, as he was constantly haunted by flashbacks and memories of his sister-like friend Maria Robotnik. After solving the mystery of his past, he chose to leave his past behind.
According to flashbacks of his memory, Shadow is actually very calm and considerate, and even friendly. The reason he seems to be so dark now is because the death of Maria has broken his heart, and he thinks that nobody can help him.
In the cartoon Sonic X, Shadow is less aggressive, but is still violent. For example, Shadow tried to kill Cosmo in Sonic X for being a Metarex spy, even though she was an unwilling one. The dub version of Sonic X tones down Shadow's attitude to make the show acceptable for younger viewers.
Relationships
Shadow was created by Professor Gerald Robotnik (Doctor Eggman's grandfather) with the use of Black Doom's DNA. Technically, this means that Black Doom is Shadow's biological father. Soon after being created, Shadow becomes good friends with the Professor's granddaughter, Maria, and treats her like his sister. However, Maria sacrifices herself to save Shadow from the Space Colony ARK during a military siege of the place. After Maria's death, her sacrifice haunts Shadow, until he finally decides to let go of his past at the end of Shadow the Hedgehog.
Shadow's approach to Doctor Eggman is quite different to that of the other characters. His relation in regards to the doctor is neither that of a staunch enemy nor a staunch ally, either forming an alliance with or opposing the scientist depending on the circumstances. Though he doesn't even seem to care whether Eggman's schemes to conquer the world succeed or not, Shadow does clash with the doctor if he gets in his way. Both Eggman and Shadow seem to have some level of respect for the other's abilities, Shadow calling the would-be world conqueror by his title ("The Doctor") as opposed to his nickname ("Eggman"), the doctor once referring to Shadow's abilities as "spectacular" (this may also happen because of the fact that Eggman is Maria's cousin).
One of Shadow's main rivals and adversaries is Sonic the Hedgehog. When they first meet in Sonic Adventure 2 they immediately become enemies, but over time their relationship develops into a strong rivalry. They frequently fight for many different reasons, but appear to have a certain amount of respect for each other's abilities. Under extreme circumstances, the two hedgehogs will work together for a common goal, but only if it absolutely requires their teamwork (One example of this is when Shadow and Sonic fight the Finalhazard at the end of Sonic Adventure 2).
In addition, Shadow has a close connection to Rouge the Bat. He saves her life in Sonic Adventure 2 in Security Hall, when she is locked inside a safe while stealing three of the Chaos Emeralds from GUN to use in the Doctor's Eclipse Cannon. In Sonic Heroes she releases him from a capsule inside Dr Eggman's base while looking for treasure. In Sonic Battle, Shadow calls her an 'ally'.
Shadow also has an association with Amy Rose. Close to the end of Sonic Adventure 2, Amy meets him in one of the ARK's rooms and begs him to help the others save Earth. At first Shadow refuses, insisting that nothing can be done. She continues to plead, and her heartfelt requests eventually triggers a suppressed memory of the last moments of Maria's life. In this flashback, Maria begs Shadow to make the people of Earth happy.
Shadow doesn't Know knuckles or Tails that well, but seems to be Rivals of them only because Sonic is a slight Rival to him, In Sonic Heroes, During the Battle in the Forest, If someone is Knocked off and Tails becomes the main character, he calmly asks if Shadow doesn't remember them, Shadow remains neutral to them but seems to like Knuckles as he likes to Exercise and Helps Shadow in the Black Comet Mission, He wants to Crush the Black Arms, Shadow can Agree or Disagree, Depending on which path the player wishs to go.
Appearances
Sonic Adventure 2
Shadow debuted in the game Sonic Adventure 2. Dr. Eggman had set Shadow free from the G.U.N. base. In exchange, Shadow agreed to help Dr. Eggman in his plans. After witnessing his abilities when he defeated the G.U.N. defense robot HotShot, Eggman's plans swiftly turned to world domination. Shadow informed Eggman that the only way to achieve his goal would be with the ultimate weapon: The Eclipse Cannon, a giant laser cannon aboard the Space Colony ARK that could destroy entire planets with a single blast. However, it would require all seven Chaos Emeralds to function fully.
Later, Rouge teamed up with Shadow and Eggman to help them acquire the Chaos Emeralds, but becomes trapped. After Shadow heard of this, he began to think of Maria and immediately ran off to rescue her. After saving her life, they used six of the Emeralds, providing enough power to destroy half the moon. Although Shadow was showing Dr. Eggman the Eclipse's power, he had no intention of actually granting Eggman's wish; he was bent on his own goal of avenging Maria Robotnik's death by destroying the Earth.
After some time, Dr. Eggman informed Shadow that someone had triggered the alarm, so Shadow went off to stop him. It turned out to be Sonic the Hedgehog, whom he clashed with. Later, Eggman was able to steal the last Chaos Emerald and place it in the cannon, fully powering it up. However, instead of firing at its full strength, Eggman inadvertently activated a program his grandfather had left in the ARK's computer. The ARK moved the Chaos Emeralds into its core and set itself on a collision course with Earth. With all seven emeralds powering it, the ARK contained enough energy to shatter Earth to pieces on impact.
While everyone rushed to stop this from happening, Amy Rose stumbled across Shadow, who was staring out at space. She begged Shadow to come to their aid, but he refused, insisting that nothing could be done. However, her continued pleas set off a suppressed memory of Maria's final request before her sacrifice: "Give them [the people of Earth] a chance to be happy." This memory moved Shadow, and he quickly went to assist Sonic and Knuckles.
He reached the ARK's core to find Sonic and Knuckles approach the prototype of the "Ultimate Life Form", the Biolizard. Shadow urged the two to focus on the Chaos Emeralds while he fought with the Biolizard. After Shadow defeated the Biolizard, Sonic and Knuckles managed to stop the Emeralds. The massive lizard then noticed what Sonic and Knuckles were doing, it then merged itself with the ARK to become The Final Hazard, to keep the ARK on collision course.
Next, Sonic and Shadow used the power of the Emeralds to transform into Super Sonic and Super Shadow and together, they destroyed Final Hazard. Then they used Chaos Control to stop the free-falling ARK from destroying the planet. In doing so, Shadow used up the last of his energy and fell to Earth.
Sonic Heroes
In the game Sonic Heroes, Rouge discovered Shadow in a stasis tube located in the deepest part of one of Dr. Eggman's bases. It was soon revealed that Shadow had amnesia and could not remember anything before his release from the stasis tube, except for brief images of Maria's death. He then joined forces with Rouge and the robot Omega to form Team Dark (as their speed member) and find Dr. Eggman.
Soon after hearing Dr. Eggman proclaiming that he "has no past to remember," Shadow discovered a half-destroyed Shadow robot and realized that he too might just be a robot. As the team ran to continue the mission, Metal Sonic, of whom had been hiding under the guise of Dr. Eggman the entire time, claimed that he had successfully copied the Ultimate Lifeform data (Shadow's DNA). As Shadow continued his mission, he proclaimed that "even if I'm not real, I'm still the Ultimate Lifeform, Shadow the Hedgehog!" Later, they defeated the Pseudo-Eggman's Airfleet and discovered that the person they had been chasing was a fake.
Afterwards, Rouge stumbled upon a room filled with hundreds of Shadow Androids. As Omega arrived to destroy the room and everything in it, Rouge affirmed her belief that their Shadow was a robot. However, Omega reassured her that the original Shadow had to exist somewhere in order for Eggman to make copies. Rouge decided to stay with Shadow while Omega destroyed the Shadow androids inside the fortress. Rouge held a conversation with Shadow about going after the Master Emerald, to which he smirked and replied that some things never change. Later, when Metal Sonic transformed into Metal Madness, Shadow worked with Rouge, Omega, and the other teams to distract him long enough for Sonic to power up into his Super Form. At the end of the game, Shadow was last seen with Omega and the defeated Metal Sonic.
Shadow the Hedgehog
In Shadow the Hedgehog, Shadow is first seen standing outside of the city (Westopolis), reminiscing the only memory he has, which is Maria's death. He sees a red cloud appear and the Black Arms fall from it into the city. Shadow dismisses it, but then a mysterious figure appeared before him. The figure orders him to bring him the seven Chaos Emeralds "as promised", and soon vanishes. Shadow sets out to find them, but gets caught up in a conflict between various foes and allies: the G.U.N. army , the alien race known as the Black Arms, Dr. Eggman, and the rest of the Sonic cast.
Due to the style of the game, there are over 10 different endings, some showing non-canon scenarios such as Shadow's discovery that he is in fact a Shadow Android created by Dr. Eggman. However, the "Final" ending ties together all the endings to reveal the truth about Shadow's mysterious past.
It is revealed that Shadow's creator, Professor Gerald Robotnik, was charged with the project of researching immortality. However, he had trouble with his experiments. In order to achieve his goals, he contacted the Black Comet, home to Black Doom and the Black Arms. He made a deal with Black Doom; If Black Doom helped him with his research, he would deliver the seven Chaos Emeralds. Using Black Doom's DNA, they created Shadow the Hedgehog, who would aid Professor Gerald's research and help Black Doom get the Emeralds. However, Shortly after Shadow's completion, Gerald discovered that Black Doom wanted the Emeralds in order to take over Earth, using all living creatures as incubators for the Black Arms larvae. This is why Professor Gerald created the Eclipse Cannon-to destroy the Black Comet, and he depended on Shadow to execute this plan.
Later, Shadow collected all seven Chaos Emeralds when Black Doom appears and demands them. Then, Sonic, his friends, and Dr. Eggman appear and tell Shadow not to give it to Black Doom. However, Black Doom uses a paralyzing gas on Shadow and the others to freeze them in place. Sending larvae to devour them, he uses the Chaos Emerald to perform a Chaos Control, teleporting the Black Comet to Earth. Just then, Shadow breaks free and pursues Black Doom.
Upon catching up to Black Doom, Shadow confronts him for the emeralds, but he forces Shadow down with his mind-control, revealing that Shadow was created from Black Doom's blood. Afterwards, the Chaotix manage to hack into the ARK's database, and Professor Gerald appears on a screen behind Black Doom. The professor then tells Shadow of his past through a recording.
Shadow finds the strength to struggle to his feet, and as he attempts to attack, Black Doom disappears and changes into Devil Doom. Using the Chaos Emeralds, Shadow transforms into Super Shadow and battles with Devil Doom. Eventually, Shadow defeats him and Devil Doom falls to Earth. To finally rid the world of the Black Arms and do away with his past, Shadow uses Chaos Control to teleport the Black Comet in front of the Eclipse Cannon, which fired at full power and destroyed the Black Comet along with all of the Black Arms inside of it.
Shadow was last seen aboard the ARK, looking out the window and holding an old greyscale photo of Professor Gerald and Maria, whispering "Goodbye forever, Shadow the Hedgehog..." He then drops the old photo as he makes his way out of the room.
Sonic Battle
Sonic Battle was released after Sonic Heroes, and was set after it. Rouge the Bat saves Shadow's life while they are investigating Eggman's secret base and takes him back to her home. This has given rise to the fanon belief that Shadow and Rouge are a potential romantic 'item'. This is unlikely to become canon for Rouge already has a crush on Knuckles the Echidna.
In Sonic Battle, Shadow appears to have mysteriously regained his memories, meaning that this game must be set after Shadow the Hedgehog. Although he doesn't go into detail, he talks about how the people of Earth must destroy him (and Emerl) if they ever want peace, still believing that he is a weapon. However it is revealed that he has the heart and soul of Gerald's granddaughter Maria, meaning he cannot be evil, as Maria was a good person.
In one of Professor Gerald's journal entries, it mentions that Project: Shadow was put on hold because of Project: Gizoid, and that Shadow was completed approximately a week before the ARK was attacked.
Sonic Riders
Shadow is an unlockable character in the game, Sonic Riders. He is unlocked by beating the Hero Story and acts as a speed character, similar to Sonic the Hedgehog. He uses Chaos Control to attack his opponents.
Shadow's default racing gear is his skates, the air shoes, which are called "Darkness". He can also use boards and bikes, and other characters can use his skates. He serves no purpose in the game's storyline and appears only as an unlockable character.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006 game)
Shadow appears in promotional art for the next-generation Sonic title, Sonic the Hedgehog, and is slated to appear as a playable character alongside Sonic and the mysterious new hedgehog, Silver. One of the trailers shows him driving a military vehicle and shooting. It is also rumored that Silver is Shadow's future grandson. However in shadows condition with maria and not caring about anyone with out her in mind he could never have a grandson.... he only likes maria...........
Sonic Rivals
Shadow is scheduled to appear alongside Sonic, Knuckles, and Silver in Sonic Rivals as a playable character.
Strategy guide
After Sonic Adventure 2 was released, a strategy guide was fashioned with the guidance of Sonic Team. This official strategy guide revealed more about Shadow's past, in the form of a report[2] written by Gerald Robotnik. The report, a partial transcript, explained his findings on Biolizard which explains somewhat about some questions people have and brings up a slew of new ones. This back-story is also what the Journal Entries in Sonic Battle work with. However, this information clashes with the one revealed in Shadow the Hedgehog, and it is uncertain whether this report will ever be updated with that information. Template:Endspoiler
Abilities
Shadow possesses the same speed and agility as Sonic and is similar to him in almost all other abilities. Shadow also has super strength (though not as much as Knuckles). This is demonstrated in Shadow the Hedgehog when he overturns a bus with one hand.
Shadow's trademark move is Chaos Control, which allows him to warp time and space. He has used Chaos Control to stop time in Sonic Adventure 2 and in Shadow the Hedgehog. However, when time is stopped, he can still move around freely. Shadow has also used Chaos Control to freeze time for specific opponents in Sonic Riders. Shadow (as part of Team Dark) can freeze time using Team Dark's Team Blast in Sonic Heroes, though the emerald he uses to do so is of unknown origin.
Usually, Shadow has a Chaos Emerald when he performs Chaos Control. However, it has recently been revealed that he does not need an Emerald in order to perform this technique. This is shown in the game Shadow the Hedgehog when Shadow performs Chaos Control in the last level of the game, even though he does not have any Chaos Emeralds in his possession. Shadow also uses Chaos Control in Sonic Battle without the help of a Chaos Emerald. Shadow also uses his Chaos powers in this fasion to stop an army of Metal Sonic troopers in the Archie Comic Book Series. Later in the same book, Knuckles the Echidna explains that Shadow doesn't need the Chaos Emeralds to use his Chaos Powers, but Shadow can use the Emeralds to amplify the effects of his Chaos Powers.
In Sonic X, Shadow can carry Chaos Emeralds in his spines, the same way Tails puts the Chaos Emeralds in his tails. As shown in one of the episodes, Shadow will become weak without his power rings.
In Shadow the Hedgehog, Shadow has shown that he can also use a wide range of close-combat weapons, firearms, semi-automatics and heavy assault weapons, improvise with debris, and drive a wide range of vehicles.
One of Shadow's assets are his Air Shoes (also called Jet Shoes and Hover Skates) which ultilize powerful hover jets to reduce friction and enable Shadow to 'skate' as fast as Sonic runs, hover on mid-air, or even fly. The jets on both end of his shoes glow gold when he runs. In Sonic Riders, the Air Shoes have been redesigned by Eggman as Extreme Gear, but their overall qualities are the same. It is unknown how fast Shadow can run without his Air Shoes on, but he's probably as fast as Sonic without is shoes.
Game Specific Abilities
- Sonic Adventure 2
- Mystic Melody: Activates various shorcuts and bonuses.
- Light Dash: allows him to speed along a trail of rings.
- Light Attack: By curling up and fully charged, Shadow can charge along a line of enemies.
- Flame Ring: Can summersault while surrounded by flames and break iron boxes.
- Chaos Spear: an auto-hitting attack, powered by rings.
- Chaos Control: Can manipulate space and time.
- Sonic Heroes
- Team Blast - Chaos Inferno: Shadow aids Team Dark with this move by freezing time.
- Triangle Jump: handy for narrow places.
- Black Tornado: flips enemies over and latches onto poles.
- Sonic Battle*
- Variable Chaos Powers: Shadow uses many different attacks powered by Chaos Energy, most are nameless yet some resemble previously used attacks.
- Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)
- Chaos Control: allows Shadow to control time and space, so he can freeze time and defy the laws of physics. When facing a boss, time is not frozen, but slowed down. This is shown in the time meter, as it runs very, very slowly while Chaos Control is active.
- Chaos Blast: a red blast that destroys almost everything within a range of 20 meters.
- Chaos Spear: A projectile of chaos energy that Shadow must charge, aim, and fire himself.
- Sonic Riders
- Level 1 attack - a small energy ball that unbalances an opponent.
- Level 2 attack - Turn and Kick.
- Level 3 attack (Chaos Control Spheres) - spheres which causes time to freeze for Shadow's opponent.
Super Shadow
Super Shadow is the transformed state of Shadow. Shadow can perform this transformation when he harnesses the power of the seven Chaos Emeralds. In this form, his body color changes from black to a bright yellow-cream or lemon cream color, and all his powers and abilities are enhanced. Super Shadow made his first appearance in Sonic Adventure 2, where he had to battle against the Finalhazard with Super Sonic. Like Sonic, Shadow requires rings in order to maintain this super form. Super Shadow can fly and invincible. Moreover, in Shadow the Hedgehog, more of Super Shadow's powers are revealed. Super Shadow's powers include his Air Dash, Chaos Spear, Chaos Control, and Chaos Blast.
Shadow appears silver in Sonic Adventure 2 because of the game's graphics engine , and appears gold in Shadow the Hedgehog because the yellow aura saturated the red and green color channels.
Other appearances
Sonic X
Shadow also appears on the cartoon Sonic X. Episodes 33 through 38 is based on Sonic Adventure 2, with quite a few differences from the game. For one, it was Chris Thorndyke who reminded Shadow of his true promise from Maria, and not Amy Rose. He also makes a short appearance after Episode 38, in flashbacks or otherwise, but he makes his true return in episode 60, “The Return of Shadow.” In Japan he is voiced by his game voice actor, but in the dub he is voiced by Jason Griffith, who also does the voice of Sonic.
In Sonic X's season 3, Shadow had no clear memory of his mysterious past, although in one episode (named "Molly's Dream" in the English translation of the Japanese anime) he seems to have an image of Maria in his mind. However, he cannot seem to work out who she really was. In that same episode, Dr. Eggman is visited by people of the planet the Metarex are warring with, including one orange-haired female teenager by the name of Molly. Shadow and Rouge meet her, and at the end of the episode, Molly was killed by the Metarex. Shadow erects a makeshift grave for her, and Rouge notes that she was similar to Maria.
Later, Shadow the Hedgehog receives a faint memory of Maria as he is holding the grey Chaos Emerald in his hands. In the last episode of the 3rd season, as Shadow is in his Super form, and in his mind there is an image of Molly, which used to be Maria in the episode "Molly's Dream". Shadow then performs Chaos Control to save everyone from an exploding planet, leaving a slightly confused Sonic and his friends behind. Shadow's fate is uncertain after this point. Sonic X also mentions that Shadow is being associated with a folklore hero named Black Wind.
Archie comic
Shadow has appeared in Archie's Sonic comics, but has only made a few appearances. He first appears in Sonic #98, which is an introduction to the game Sonic Adventure 2, with a few changes to accommodate the Archie version of Mobius/Earth. The comic skips over the events of the game, and Shadow reappears in Sonic #124 with an explanation of how he survived his apparent death: An alien race, the Bem, rescued him so he could combat their enemy, the alien Xorda, buying the Bem time to escape. However, Shadow couldn't defeat the Xorda and plummetted toward Mobius. He survived the fall and was found by Sonic.
Shadow often works alone to achieve his goal, to discover the truth about his mysterious history. He has allied with Sonic to fight greater evils, like the Xorda, and he has been known to work either for or against Dr. Eggman depending on the circumstances. Often, he will side with whomever he believes will bring him closer to the truth. This search has led him to interact with various other characters, including the robot Isaac, Knuckles' father Locke, and various versions of Metal Sonic.
The Overlander girl, Hope Kintobor, the great-granddaughter of Shadow's creator, reminds Shadow of Maria. Because of this, he seeks to protect her from harm at any cost. Shadow might see Kintobor like a sister as well.
Sonic the Comic
In the UK's Sonic the Comic series published by Fleetway, Shadow never had the chance to make an appearance before the comics untimely cancellation. However, in STCOnline, the 'official unofficial' continuation of the series, Shadow is awakened from suspended animation by the echidna Doctor Zachary, a character native to Sonic the Comic.
He pledges loyalty to the now insane Dr. Robotnik, and tells Sonic that he was originally a form of sentient Chaos energy that came into being via Professor Ovi Kintobor's experiments. According to Shadow, Kintobor was on the verge of working out how to give Shadow a physical form when a time-travelling Sonic and Chaotix were forced to turn Kintobor into Robotnik to save Mobius from the Brotherhood of Metallix in the future.
Blaming Sonic for Kintobor's death, Shadow fights him several times until the final confrontation in #238. Here, Shadow was defeated by Super Sonic on the defunct Death Carrier airship. Sonic fled the Carrier with Tails, and, in a cliffhanger ending of sorts, Shadow used the last of his Chaos power to teleport Dr. Robotnik (and possibly himself) off the Death Carrier to an as yet undisclosed location.
Shadow's current status has yet to be revealed, but in #238 he was shown to be aging at an accelerated rate as his last reserves of Chaos energy were exhausted. What this means for Shadow is something of a mystery.
Voice Actors
- In Japan, he is voiced by Koji Yusa.
- Before Shadow the Hedgehog, he was voiced by David Humphrey.
- In Sonic X and possibly all future video games after Shadow the Hedgehog, Shadow will be voiced by Jason Griffith, who also does the voice of Sonic and Jet in the same media.
Theme Songs
- Sonic Adventure 2: "Throw It All Away".
- Sonic Heroes: Team Dark's "This Machine".
- Shadow the Hedgehog: "I Am...(All of Me)", "Almost Dead", "Waking Up", "Chosen One", "All Hail Shadow", and "Never Turn Back".
References and notes
- ^ Character Homes.com. "Shadow's profile from the Sonic Heroes manual". Retrieved March 12.
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External links
