Maria Robotnik

"Shadow, I beg of you! Give them a chance, to be happy!"

- Maria

Maria Robotnik (マリア‧ロボトニック) was Shadow's human companion in Sonic Adventure 2 and Shadow the Hedgehog. She is the cousin of well known Sonic antagonist Doctor Ivo Robotnik and the granddaughter of Professor Gerald Robotnik. She is the main reason for Shadow's creation. Maria was a terminally ill patient on the Space Colony ARK, who had contracted the disease NIDS (Neuro-Immuno Deficiency Syndrome), which seems to be related to the disease AIDS and with real life NIDS. Her grandfather, Professor Gerald Robotnik, created Shadow as a means to study immortality and to use the fruits of the project to attempt to cure Maria. After Shadow's creation, he became close friends with Maria to the end. Maria was killed during the invasion of the ARK by the Guardian Unit of Nations, after releasing Shadow from a cryogenic tube. She has dark blonde hair, dark blue eyes and wears a blue skirt, with a light blue top, and cobalt shoes.

Physical Appearance
Maria has large dark blue eyes and dark blonde hair. She wears it wavy and held back with a blue hair band. Clothes-wise, she wears a dark blue top and a light blue dress. Her shoes are low heeled cobalt pumps other than that she is seen in a cut scene in white surgery suit.

Personality
Maria is eternally cheerful, optimistic and kind hearted. She can see the good in almost anyone or anything, and she finds it easier than most to forgive and forget, not to mention trust.

Abilities
Although Maria has shown no extraordinary abilities, she can encourage others not to feel bad about themselves and can refresh Shadow and others from their rage. Also in Shadow the Hedgehog, she can smash tough objects and enemies by slapping them and seems to be a fast runner.

Family
Maria is the granddaughter of Gerald Robotnik and cousin of Dr. Robotnik. Which makes it possible Maria had an aunt or an uncle on Earth. Some could say that Shadow was Maria's adopted brother since they were both "born" on the ARK and were very close friends until she was shot by G.U.N.

Archie continuity
Maria appears in the Archie Comics continuity, occupying much the same role in Shadow's backstory as she does in the games. She first appeared in the Sonic Adventure 2 adaptation. In keeping with the established backstory, this version of Maria is an Overlander, not a human.

Another character, named Hope Kintobor, also appears in the comics. Hope greatly resembles Maria, and Shadow has mistaken her for Maria repeatedly.

Video games
Maria has been featured in these games:
 * Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)
 * Shadow the Hedgehog (2005)

Voice Actors

 * Shelly Fox - Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Adventure 2 Battle
 * Bella Hudson - Sonic X (2003)

Cameos
Maria makes plenty of appearances in the anime Sonic X, partial to Shadow's memory.

Quotes

 * "Isn't this place huge? Even I still get lost sometimes."
 * "Don't hurt yourself."
 * "Sorry I'm late!"
 * "Oh, Shadow. Thank you!"
 * "Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog."
 * "When the reseach experiments split apart, don't you think they look kinda cute?"
 * "Shadow, help me."
 * "Shadow, what do you think it's like on Earth?"

Trivia

 * If Maria hadn't died, she would roughly have been about the same age as Dr. Eggman and the G.U.N Commander.
 * In Shadow the Hedgehog, Maria can be played by P2 in the levels The Doom and The ARK. This is the only game in which she is playable.
 * The length of Maria's hair seems to vary between continuities. In the opening of Shadow the Hedgehog, when Shadow had the flashback of Maria, she had short hair. While in Sonic X, in a flashback, she had long hair.
 * In the original Dreamcast version of Sonic Adventure 2, Maria had lengthy eyelashes. In Sonic Adventure 2 Battle and all subsequent appearances, they were removed.
 * In Sonic Battle, it is revealed that Shadow has the heart and soul of Maria Robotnik.