Shadow the Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog is a character who features in Sonic the Hedgehog.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Shadow the Hedgehog (Japanese: シャドウ・ザ・ヘッジホッグ, Hepburn: Shadō za Hejjihoggu?) was the result of the top-secret Project Shadow that was conducted on the Space Colony Ark. The government-sanctioned initiative was led by Professor Gerald Robotnik where it sought to create the Ultimate Lifeform. This was to create an immortal being that could be used to benefit the militaristic nation. Initially, Professor Robotnik had misgivings about the project but participated in an effort to use it to save his granddaughter Maria. She was suffering from an incurable disease called Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome that left her only a short time to live with Gerald Robotnik devoting all his time as well as resources in finding a means to save her life. . Going against his worries of stepping into territory man had no business playing with, the professor immediately began work, hoping that he could apply any newly-gained knowledge to find a cure to NIDS. There are two reasons why the name "Shadow" in particular was coined: one came from the irony that a shadow could not be created, referencing the belief that immortality was not possible[9] and working as a metaphor of 'unreal things'; while the other one came from Maria herself, who said that it sounded "cute" and that shadows could "teach people the way to the light". However, Gerald himself thought that the name sounded "villain-like".
Dr. Eggman set Shadow free from a G.U.N. base on Prison Island, where he had spent 50 years imprisoned. In exchange Shadow agreed to aid the doctor in his plans to take over the world; holding his true intentions as wishing to get revenge for the death of his friend, Maria Robotnik. To achieve this, Shadow revealed the eclipse cannon to Dr. Eggman, blowing up half of the moon in demonstration. In a twist of fate, Shadow ultimately aided Sonic when realizing Maria's true wish with the help of Amy Rose, which was to save humanity. In the last story, Eggman inserts the final Chaos Emerald, only to initiate a destabilization program on the ARK.
A recording of Gerald Robotnik then revealed that he had made this function to have revenge for Maria, and that the ARK would destroy the Earth. Meanwhile, Sonic and Knuckles had reached the Central Core, where the Biolizard had been activated. Notably, a scene from Gerald Robotnik's diary appeared. After Shadow defeated it, Knuckles used the Master Emerald to stop the Chaos Emeralds. But the Biolizard, being the prototype of Project Shadow, used Chaos Control to fuse with the ARK, continuing its fall. Then, as Super Sonic and Super Shadow, they destroyed the Biolizard (the Ultimate Life form prototype), having become a monster named Finalhazard, and using their pooled energies, created a Chaos Control which stopped the fall. Afterwards, Shadow fell to the earth and was presumed dead.
Heroes
Rouge discovered Shadow unconscious in a stasis pod located in the deepest part of one of Dr. Eggman's bases, after he was believed to be dead. As she activated the capsule, E-123 Omega ban to scan Rouge and the newly awakened Shadow, believing him to be a creation of Eggman. As Shadow awakened, Omega fired a round of guns at Shadow and Rouge. Shadow ordered Rouge to step away while he took on Omega, but Rouge stepped in to break them up, quickly ending the skirmish. Shadow discovered that he has amnesia and could not remember anything before his release, aside from his name and brief images of Maria Robotnik's death. He unwillingly joined forces with Rouge and Omega, to form Team Dark and find Eggman. On their way to Eggman on Grand Metropolis, Shadow and his team met up with Team Chaotix, and began fighting against them as Rouge suspected them to be searching for 'Eggman's treasure'. Later, Shadow met Dr. Eggman in a casino, asking him for his identity; however, "Eggman" denied that Shadow had "a past to remember". On another battle against one of Eggman's machines, Shadow discovered that there are clones of him, much to his already established self-confusion. After giving it a brief break, Shadow, however, chose to proceed forward. Unbeknownst to him, Neo Metal Sonic had collected Shadow's data while the hedgehog was fighting during that moment.
In Lost Jungle, Shadow confronted Sonic and his team of Knuckles and Tails. When they encountered each other, Shadow had no memory of Sonic, and asked Rouge about him. The two teams began taunting each other until Omega threatened Sonic and his team to destroy them. Shadow then started a fight against Sonic and his friends. When they made it to the Egg Fleet, Shadow made up his mind to defeat Eggman once and for all even if he was not truly the ultimate lifeform. After "Eggman" was seemingly defeated, Shadow remarked that Rouge's desire to steal the Master Emerald from Knuckles as she was explaining her next plan is nothing strange for him. Shortly after that, Neo Metal Sonic revealed himself to them, and began transforming as Shadow, his teammates and the other teams were witnessing that moment. Having no other option, Shadow worked with everyone else to help defeat the monster, and gladly gave his Chaos Emerald to Sonic. After the final battle, Shadow and E-123 Omega were holding the defeated Metal Sonic.
Overview
Personality and attributes
Being Sonic's polar opposite personality-wise, Shadow is, bluntly put, a brooding loner. He usually acts with a cool and businesslike indifference, only occasionally showing his vulnerable side. He is rarely seen with others for an extended period of time and usually distances himself from essentially everyone. He is usually blunt and does not speak much, but he always knows exactly what to say in combat. However, Shadow never bluffs; if he makes a threat, he has every intention of carrying it out.
As the most violent and merciless character in the series at times, Shadow's ruthlessness and aggression leads to enemies never treating him lightly. Alongside his dark and violent demeanor, Shadow can be smug and stubborn. He usually treats others in a very callous manner, throwing in his opinion no matter how cold-hearted it is and not caring for whatever the response is. Shadow is also shown to have a sharp wit; during the Space Colony ARK incident, after being called a faker by Sonic, he replied that the latter was not worth being considered his fake.
Powers and abilities
Said to be Sonic the Hedgehog's equal in almost every ability, Shadow can easily rival the blue hedgehog's various physical skills. His abilities and skills in combat are an extremely powerful force to be reckoned with, and he is a match for even the most powerful foes in the series. He similarly never willingly holds back his immense strength, making him a brutal fighter.
His trademark move was Chaos Control, which allowed him to warp time and space. Shadow used it primarily to transport matter and/or to slow or stop time. The move actually allows the user to manipulate time and space to warp across 'space' or move through or across 'time'.
Notes
- Shadow the Hedgehog was created by Takashi Iizuka where he made his first appearance in Sonic Adventure 2 (2001).
In other media
Television
- In Sonic X, Shadow appeared in the setting of the anime series with Japanese actor Kōji Yusa voicing him whilst English actor Jason Griffith voicing the character in the English dub by 4Kids Entertainment.
Other
Appearances
- Sonic Adventure 2: (2001)
External Links
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