- This article is about the video game character. For other uses, see Shadow the Hedgehog (disambiguation).
Gerald Robotnik[]
Gerald Robotnik creating Shadow, from Shadow Generations.
Shadow was created by the renowned scientist Gerald Robotnik, using Black Doom's DNA. Gerald had made many attempts to create the Ultimate Lifeform before Black Doom and his children, the Black Arms, came to earth. Unfortunately, the closest he came was the Biolizard. Black Doom, however, approached Gerald and offered his help, but only on one condition; if Black Doom helped Gerald, the professor must promise to deliver the seven Chaos Emeralds to him. Gerald agreed to these terms and Black Doom gave some of his DNA, which was added to the samples that Gerald had already obtained. The outcome of this experiment was Shadow the Hedgehog. Gerald seems to be one of few people whom Shadow felt happy around, and the professor might have acted as a surrogate father to him. This is further proven when Gerald refers to the hedgehog as his "son," having given Shadow genuine emotions to prevent him from becoming a weapon as the government intended. However, despite these predisposed emotions, after defeating the Finalhazard, Shadow stated that he promised to "destroy all evil that the professor had created," implying that, while he might still respect Gerald Robotnik, he nonetheless feels that any bad things that Gerald Robotnik had done after going insane must be stopped.
In the climax of the Black Arms incident, Shadow finally uncovered the true purpose of his creation from Gerald's recorded video. In order to put the past behind him, he decided to fulfill Gerald's true wish of protecting the planet by destroying the Black Arms and any future threats that may come Earth's way.[7]
Maria Robotnik[]
Maria and Shadow watching the stars together, from Sonic Channel.
Professor Gerald's granddaughter, Maria Robotnik, was Shadow's companion and best friend. The two met aboard the Space Colony ARK and formed a close bond, becoming inseparable. Their relationship was written in a somewhat ambiguous way by Shiro Maekawa. Shadow's feelings for Maria can be interpreted in many ways, and it is revealed that his feelings for Maria were the closest he ever came to love.[8]
According to Gerald's journal, Maria was Shadow's guide in the world and he was her trusted friend. He was completely devoted to her, helping her with her condition and being her protector. Shadow cared deeply about Maria's well-being and safety: once, when she nearly passed out from overexertion, he caught her before she hit the ground and then reminded her not to get too excited so as not to worsen her condition.[9] And even when Maria ran around the ARK or overexerted herself, Shadow never got angry with her, always being quite patient and kind to her, despite scolding her for her reckless behavior.
Maria was the reason for Shadow's existence and his sole purpose in life was to cure her. When he discovered that he could not cure her illness, Shadow became deeply saddened and distressed, as he did not want to lose her. As a result, began to question the purpose of his birth. However, Maria never blamed him for this and was always by his side to comfort and encourage him. Maria was a guiding force in Shadow's life, doing her best to erase any doubts he had about the purpose of his existence. Even after discovering that Shadow was created with Black Doom's DNA, Maria never stopped loving him, believing that his actions are what define him. Maria was the most important person in Shadow's life, mainly for her support when he had doubts. Shadow trusted Maria enough to share his doubts and inner conflicts with her, mainly about the purpose of his existence. Maria, in turn, always comforted and reassured Shadow when he doubted himself.[10][11] She also always defended him from anyone who insulted him, such as Abraham or Black Doom.
According to Commander Tower and Rouge, Maria was the only person who could calm Shadow down and convince him not to do something.[12] This claim was later supported by the fact that Maria convinced Shadow to let her and Gerald return to their own time. Shadow was visibly distressed, but he complied with her wishes and chose not to stop them from disappearing.[13] She is by far the person who made Shadow the happiest, and they shared the same dream: to visit Earth.
Unfortunately, Maria was shot and killed by G.U.N., who considered Project Shadow too great a threat to the world. They eliminated everything they could related to the project, including the people aboard the ARK. Ultimately, Maria's love for Shadow led her to sacrifice her life and her dream of visiting Earth to save him from the G.U.N. military. Even as she lay dying, Maria's only thoughts were for Shadow to fulfill his purpose, and she begged him to do it for her, knowing that he could make their dreams come true for her. Her final words of farewell were "Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog."
Maria begging Shadow to help those aboard the Space Colony ARK, from Shadow the Hedgehog.
Maria's death traumatized Shadow and he mourned her deeply. So far, Maria is the only person Shadow has shed tears for. This happened in Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic X Shadow Generations. Shadow's love for Maria and his sadness at losing her were so great that he swore revenge on all of humanity for what happened to her. But after remembering Maria's true desire to protect people and give them a chance to live happily, Shadow joined forces with Sonic and his friends to stop the destruction of the world and even sacrificed himself to fulfill her wish, though he survived in the end. Even after he lost his memory, Maria was the only thing Shadow could truly remember. By the end of Shadow the Hedgehog, he is leaving his tragic past behind, though he continues to save the world in her name.
During the events of Shadow Generations, Shadow did everything he could to protect Maria. When she and Gerald began to disappear after Black Doom's defeat, Shadow was desperate to keep them there, showing that he cared deeply for her and was willing to sacrifice much to keep her alive. However, at Maria's request, Shadow decided to let them return to the past and left.
According to an interview, Shadow stated that if he could change one thing about his past, it would be to give up his life for Maria's.
Emerl[]
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Shadow feels that he and Emerl are similar both in personality and what their hearts desire. They were both created and discovered by Gerald Robotnik, respectively, and Shadow felt a connection to Emerl. He initially told Sonic that Emerl was meant to be a weapon of war, yet Rouge stated that Emerl still has feelings for living beings, feelings that he can understand.[citation needed]
The Biolizard[]
Shadow facing Biolizard, from Shadow Generations.
Shadow's relationship with the Biolizard has changed drastically throughout his adventures. When they seemingly first met during the Space Colony ARK incident, Shadow showed no remorse to the Biolizard, even calling it an "ugly prototype" after beating the tortured creature into submission.
Later, during their second encounter, Shadow showed much more pity for the Biolizard calling it a, "tortured soul", and that he will end its suffering, even encouraging it not to exert itself during their battle. Still, he did not hesitate to clash with the Biolizard once it showed aggression.
Dr. Eggman[]
Shadow and Dr. Eggman, from Sonic the Hedgehog (2006).
Gerald Robotnik's grandson, Dr. Eggman is one of Shadow's worst enemies, and the two have opposed each other at several points. Their relationship mainly comes from the fact that the black hedgehog was created by the doctor's grandfather. Their first meeting was during the Space Colony ARK incident, where the scientist liberated Shadow from his stasis capsule on Prison Island, thus making the latter grant him one wish in gratitude. In reality, Shadow used his creator's grandson's ambitions to carry his revenge against the world for Maria's death. The hedgehog would stick with Eggman for the remainder of that incident, until his supposed death after defeating the Finalhazard with Super Sonic. In the aftermath, the one who rescued Shadow turned out to be none other than Eggman himself, who later put him in a stasis capsule in one of his bases. Following Shadow's unexpected release, Eggman would take advantage of his amnesia to gaslight him into believing that he was just a copy of himself and that the real Shadow was dead to turn him back to his side.
After the Black Arms incident, Shadow became another thorn in Eggman's side, despite not being an intermediate member of Sonic's group of friends[14]. It is proven that the black hedgehog cares very little about the doctor's safety if it has nothing to do with him or his teammates,[15] but will nevertheless team up with him if a greater threat arises. In truth though, he just does not like it when anyone, the scientist included, does something he sees as foolish or harmful, causing him to go against him if needed.[16]
Shadow sees Eggman as a menace to the world, despite working with him in the past. After the events of the Eggman War, Shadow spent a month searching for him to finish him off before he could be a threat. Once he found him as the amnesiac Mr. Tinker, Shadow was prepared to kill him until Sonic appealed to his merciful nature.[17] Shadow would regret showing leniency towards the doctor once he returned to his old self,[18] and after the Metal Virus was destroyed, Shadow would once again look to fighting off the Eggman Empire by himself.[19]
Sonic the Hedgehog[]
Shadow and Sonic, from Shadow Generations.
Shadow and Sonic the Hedgehog are both rivals and uneasy allies, as well as the virtual equal of one another. At first Shadow tried to disregard Sonic, but Sonic's quips quickly sparked a mutual rivalry in Sonic Adventure 2. Throughout the game, the feats Sonic accomplishes, such as surviving Eggman's death trap and learning Chaos Control, impressed Shadow, and he began to respect Sonic, giving him his props and asking for his identity before the final battle between them. Since meeting each other, their rivalry has developed, and while it is now usually friendly thanks to Shadow's reformation, the two can still occasionally be at odds.
When they first met, Shadow believed Sonic to have been copying him, and vice-versa from Sonic. He temporarily had this belief in Sonic Heroes as well, though this was largely because of his amnesia and forgetting their past alliance.
Shadow and Sonic's conflicts tend to occur due to the fact that though their goals tend to align, their views on justice, morality, and how to act on them can sometimes differ. Their disagreements sometimes turn to bitter fights. Shadow admits no hesitation in opposing Sonic like he would with Eggman if he deems him a foolish individual who thinks he can do whatever he pleases[16]. In a sense, the two hedgehogs are polar opposites in every way except their appearance and goals.[20]
Sonic thanking Shadow for his help, from Sonic the Hedgehog (2006).
Despite their differences, Shadow and Sonic have helped each other on several occasions. Shadow helped Sonic defeat Metal Sonic in Sonic Heroes, allied himself and Rouge with Team Sonic to return both teams to their proper time period, and saved the blue hedgehog from Silver's second attempt on his life in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). He showed grief in the face of Sonic's death and stated to Silver that they cannot defeat Solaris without his help.[21] In the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors he clearly shows some concern for Sonic's safety. Additionally, he helped motivate Sonic to defeat the Time Eater in Sonic Generations and attended his birthday party. He seemed concerned for Sonic when Infinite mentioned he would use his newfound power against him and raced to save him in Sonic Forces at the beginning of the game, but was unfortunately too late. Shadow later succeeded in saving Sonic from a Phantom Copy of himself in Sunset Heights despite the blue hedgehog's initial suspicions about the situation. Nonetheless, Shadow did participate in fighting alongside the hedgehog for the rest of the war.
Overall, while the two still are at odds because of their conflicting views, there is also a mutual respect between them.[22] They are both willing to put their differences aside for the greater good and help each other when needed. In recent games, Shadow is more confident about Sonic doing what is right and Sonic has more faith in Shadow's choices as well.
Super Sonic and Super Shadow teaming up to save the world, from Sonic Adventure 2.
If there is one thing that can be said about Shadow and Sonic, it is that they are some of the only people who can get up close and personal with each other. Because of the high performance of both Shadow and Sonic in terms of their physical abilities and their thoughts, there are not many who can keep up with them. Also, there are fewer still of the ones who, despite their rejection, are able to persist, to offer opinions, to meddle, or to stand in their way and try to stop each other like those two can. In fact, Sonic is perhaps the only person who can get so up close and personal with Shadow as he can say something to him that reaches his heart (though it often does not). In a sense, Sonic's kind of presence is troublesome to Shadow, but it is also one of the most important ones. They help each other grow and push them to be better. However, while Sonic is receptive to hearing things that strike a little close to home, from Shadow's point of view, Sonic is a real pain. Regardless of much of an impact they each have on each other, the two of them both share the philosophy of following their hearts' desires, which makes them collide with each other, crossing paths with each other, and sometimes dividing into an ally and enemy.[16]
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Sonic vs Shadow, from Sonic the Hedgehog #6.
Despite their uneasy relationship, Shadow is willing to put aside his dislike for Sonic in some situations and help him; he just does not want to dwell on his motivations for doing so later on. Shadow has also been known to listen to Sonic's advises and arguments, and even ponders about them more deeply at times, knowing that as the ultimate lifeform, he cannot allow himself to make mistakes.[17][23]
Rouge the Bat[]
Shadow and Rouge, from Sonic Heroes.
Rouge the Bat is one of Shadow's closest companions. The two are teammates in Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Heroes, and they often work together during mission stages. Despite the fact that the pair have not casually spent much time together, they still greatly appreciate and respect one another. Rouge and Omega are shown to be the two who Shadow cares about and appreciates the most. Rouge is certainly one of, if not the closest person for Shadow to interact with. Shadow was implied to have at least heard of her before their formal meeting onboard the Space Colony ARK, as Shadow responds: "Now I know who you are! You're that government spy, Rouge the Bat, aren't you!" when stumbling upon her true intentions at the controls of the Eclipse Cannon.
In Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow saved her life when Rouge was trapped in Security Hall, though when she questioned him about his actions later aboard the ARK, he told her he only returned for the Chaos Emeralds that she had acquired. However, it is still unknown if he didn't lie; Rouge teased that this wasn't "the whole story." Their conversation was then interrupted by Dr. Eggman. It's also implied via the repeated images of Maria during that time that he saved Rouge partly because he compared Rouge's situation to that of Maria's last moments.
In Sonic Heroes, Shadow saves Rouge from Omega's fire when not even remembering her. Later, when they find a broken Shadow Android, Rouge looks over to Shadow with pity and asks, "Shadow...?" in a sympathetic mannerism, while he simply dismisses the situation. Later, when Rouge mentioned intending to steal Knuckles' Master Emerald, Shadow replied "Some things never change, do they?", implying that he regained enough of his memory to remember her rivalry with Knuckles' Master Emerald.
In Sonic Battle, Rouge lets Shadow stay with her at Club Rouge when he is injured during a fight at the Gimme Shelter. When Shadow is dreaming and an image of Rouge appears and he whispers, "Ally." After he regains consciousness Rouge seems somewhat offended when he does not thank her for helping him. Upon finding out she saved him, Shadow thanks her.
In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), Shadow shows he is protective of Rouge's well-being. He showed this once when catching her from a fall after she was momentarily knocked out by one of Dr. Eggman's robots, and again when he jumps in front of her after Iblis takes them all by surprise. When Omega reveals to Shadow that he is the one who traps him in the future; Rouge tells Shadow, "Even if you believe the entire world will be against you, know that I will always remain by your side... Remember that..." Shadow pauses, then strongly replies, "I will." However, this event was erased along with the rest of the events within the game after the "future was reversed." Nonetheless, it is implied in Sonic Forces that she ultimately stayed true to that claim and maintained contact with Shadow while he was still assumed to have gone rogue due to his Phantom Copy. This is evidenced by how, when, reconvening with Rouge, he asks her about whether she found what he had requested earlier.[24]
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Shadow and Rouge cheer Sonic on, from Sonic Generations.
In Sonic Rivals, after Shadow saves Rouge from Eggman Nega, Rouge tries to convince him to going treasure hunting with her and suggests the two "take a peek" into their own future using Eggman Nega's device. Shadow declines and the story ends with Rouge still trying to convince Shadow to join her in hunting for the remaining cards.
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Shadow and Rouge, from Sonic the Hedgehog #31.
In Sonic Rivals 2, their encounter was less than friendly from their previous ones to separate the fact their overall relationship seems to be more partner-focused when they ally for the occasion. Shadow is consistently trying to stop Rouge and Knuckles from reaching the Chaos Emeralds at all costs, seeking to manipulate the Chaos-tracking device from Rouge. Rouge tells Shadow that he can trust her and Shadow tells her about the Ifrit. When Rouge mentions her client, Shadow demands to know who her client is, but Rouge refuses against him, leading him to yell after for her to, "get back here." When Shadow catches up to her, Rouge still refuses to tell him about her client as Shadow mildly threatens her, and then she trips him over and replies that he was being "clumsy," and he growls, "Why you...!" The conversation then devolves into a fight between the two, proving that although they may be on good terms sometimes, that does not mean that they let each other get in the way of their goals.
In Sonic Free Riders, both Shadow and Rouge appear as Team Dark along with E-10000B. Their main focus during the game is winning the treasure and prize money. Unlike in previous games, Shadow seems perfectly content with helping Rouge obtain the treasure she covets.
Even though they would be considered closer than any of Shadow's other allies, he rarely spends time with her outside of their missions. Rouge has come to understand Shadow's dislike for wasting time but becomes annoyed by his often disregard for caution and lack of planning when handling situations on his own. Shadow also has a habit of not always listening to Rouge while on missions in spite of Rouge's good intentions for him.[18][17][25][26][27] Sometimes, however, Rouge is the only one who can reason with him.[28]
E-123 Omega[]
Shadow and Omega's fight being interrupted by Rouge, from Sonic Heroes.
Shadow has been known to trust Omega as a partner in his missions, though with a mutual understanding of both of them being seen as weapons used for destruction. However, their relationship goes beyond their seemingly gruff, aloof, and mighty exteriors, revealing a trusting, mutual friendship between the two. As stated by Rouge, the two "go together like chili and hot dogs." This relationship is first shown when Shadow looks out for Omega in Sonic Heroes halfway into the game. This was also shown in Shadow the Hedgehog when Shadow willingly helped Omega in Iron Jungle and Lava Shelter. In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), Shadow is the one who first spots the deactivated Omega, 200 years into the future. Shadow shows real sadness at the sight of this, as Rouge has to force him to continue moving. Both Shadow and Rouge were somewhat saddened by Omega being reprogrammed to hunt down Shadow in the future, due to Shadow being seen as too strong of a lifeform, causing humanity to fear him. Eventually, by the time of arriving in White Space, Omega would admit he likes Shadow due to his merciless and pragmatic way of dealing with things, and additionally confess that he's found his time with Rouge and Shadow to be "agreeable", despite trust not coming easy for the bot. Before Shadow's confrontation with Black Doom, Omega voices a complete belief in Shadow to win.
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Shadow and Omega, from Sonic the Hedgehog #19.
He knows he can count on Omega to do his job to the best of his ability, leaving the two on good terms allowing them to get along quite well and coordinate in the fight. Shadow even later trusts Omega with the safety of Gerald and Maria despite knowing how much Omega loathes the idea of not being able to fight, yet Omega accomplishes this task to the letter despite some brief disapproval. Though Omega feels the same way about Shadow and voices trust in him, however, he will not hesitate to fight Shadow should he become hostile; when Shadow became a Zombot, Omega was ready to subdue him.[18][27]
Black Doom[]
Black Doom trying to manipulate Shadow, from Shadow the Hedgehog.
The relationship between Shadow and Black Doom may have been brief, but has played a significant role in Shadow's life. Shadow was made from Black Doom's blood, in a deal between the alien and Professor Gerald; this technically makes Black Doom Shadow's biological father. Black Doom constantly follows Shadow throughout the game, trying to get him to see what he believed to be the truth about humanity and that they needed to be punished. Even after Shadow opposes him several times, Black Doom will still insist on trying to get Shadow to join him, turn on humanity and see things his way. Regardless of the path taken during gameplay, Shadow defeats Black Doom and destroys the Black Comet along with the Black Arms.
Throughout the events of Shadow the Hedgehog, Black Doom cares nothing about him and is only interested in his power. He also shows strong disapproval and demands extreme loyalty and respect from him, especially when he shows opposition to him. He also doesn't tolerate any kind of mistake or failure, no matter how difficult the task on Shadow's part may be. In the end, Shadow refused to aid him and decided to put an end to his biological father and his "offspring" after learning of the nature of his plans.[29]
In Shadow Generations, still intent on having Shadow aid him in delivering the "Promised Time" to him, he forcibly imbues Shadow with Doom Powers, crafting Shadow into the "perfect warrior" so he claim his mind, body and soul and become perfect as well. His plan, however, marks his total demise when Shadow grows too strong for him to handle, and Black Doom was destroyed once and for all by his biological son.
Mephiles the Dark[]
Shadow confronts Mephiles, from Sonic the Hedgehog (2006).
Mephiles the Dark is one of Shadow's deadliest enemies. When they first met, Shadow, due to not having sealed Mephiles away yet at that time, expressed a sense of familiarity despite not knowing who he was, before Mephiles sent him to the future. In Shadow's second meeting with Mephiles, he tried to convince Shadow to turn against humanity, but Shadow refused. After the battle, Shadow tried to collect some information about Mephiles to stop him, which led him to investigate Mephiles' origin at the Solaris Project ten years ago. There, Shadow sealed Mephiles in the Scepter of Darkness shortly after his birth, where Mephiles swore that he would remember Shadow and that he would kill him. This made Shadow realize how Mephiles knew him and why he was obsessed with him.
Shadow later faced Mephiles in Dusty Desert where Mephiles tried to convince him to join his cause, but Shadow saw through his deceit and proclaimed he knew that Mephiles only craved destruction. After Shadow failed to seal Mephiles, Mephiles tried to confuse him by asking why he wanted to save humanity when they would persecute him, but Shadow proclaimed he would always keep fighting. Solaris and Mephiles were both later erased from existence, resulting in the erasure of Shadow's relationship with Mephiles. During the Time Eater incident, Shadow found Mephiles but because he was erased from history, the black hedgehog didn't even know who he was, though nevertheless resolved to stop him due to sensing him to be a threat and when Mephiles was defeated, Shadow told him that there was no future for him.
Silver the Hedgehog[]
Shadow and Silver time travel in order to get the answers they each seek, from Sonic the Hedgehog (2006).
Shadow and Silver the Hedgehog were enemies at first due to Silver being tricked by Mephiles and Shadow intervening in his second attempt to kill Sonic, but became partners later on in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006). They became allies when they worked together after their fight. After attempting Chaos Control on each other, which Shadow was impressed by, the black hedgehog told the misguided Silver that Mephiles was using him for his own ends. To get their answers, the two traveled back ten years to witness the Solaris Project accident. They later split up to go after their own targets; Silver watching the King of Soleanna sealing Iblis inside Elise and Shadow sealing Mephiles inside the Scepter of Darkness. After they finished, Shadow and Silver meet up outside the Aquatic Base, where they then use Chaos Control to return to the present. They meet up once more during Solaris' resurrection. Seeing Sonic's death, Shadow silently stares at Silver when he realizes Mephiles had tricked him into nearly releasing Iblis on the world, recognizing the villain outwitted both of them, and tells him his plan to defeat Solaris could have worked if Sonic was alive. After they and the others revive Sonic, they and the blue hedgehog battle Solaris, which results in the events becoming retconned.
In the Sonic Rivals games, Shadow and Silver are rivals. Shadow does not trust Silver's intentions and speculations about Dr. Eggman's identity, but after he discovered that Silver was right, Shadow showed tolerance toward Silver. In Sonic Rivals 2, they are at odds; mostly because Silver did not want Shadow getting in his way.
Humanity[]
Shadow's image over earth after sacrificing himself and seemingly dying to save humanity, from Sonic Adventure 2.
Initially, Shadow did not hate humanity and promised his best friend Maria to give them a chance to live happy lives. However, his opinion about them changed after G.U.N. killed Maria and he came to loathe humanity itself for what they did to her. After his reawakening, the hedgehog planned to destroy humanity, thinking he had promised his friend revenge against them for her death. However, when he remembered his true promise, he cast aside his vendetta and risked his life to save humanity.
After becoming amnesiac, Shadow did not care for humanity, even regarding them as pathetic and held no sympathy towards them. However, when he regained his memories, he once again chose to protect humanity to keep his promise to Maria and stay true to his purpose. He has as well gained his own desire to bring hope to humanity, though he has misgivings about them[30] and holds a personal dislike towards them.[6] In his encounters with Mephiles during the Solaris incident, the hedgehog proclaimed that if someday the world chooses to become his enemy, then he will fight like he always has, showing that it is up to humanity to decide whether he is their enemy or not.
Miles "Tails" Prower[]
Shadow and Tails in Circus Park, from Shadow the Hedgehog.
Miles "Tails" Prower and Shadow were at first enemies in Sonic Adventure 2 because Shadow was impersonating Sonic and got him thrown in jail on Prison Island. Towards the end of the game, they became allies when they had to save the planet from the Space Colony ARK. For the most part Shadow and Tails' relationship seems to depend on their goals, especially due to the latter being the closest ally of Sonic, Shadow's antithesis.
The two are on opposing sides in Sonic Heroes, Sonic Battle, and Sonic Rivals 2. In Sonic Heroes they fought very briefly because Shadow and Rouge had provoked Team Sonic into fighting them; Tails, in possible concern for his amnesia, asked Shadow if he remembered them. In Sonic Battle, Shadow and Tails fought at the end of Tails' Story because Tails resisted giving up Emerl to Shadow. Shadow threatened Tails that he would have to give Emerl up or else they would fight for him, Tails admitted that he admires Shadow's spirit but would not give up in a fight. When Tails won the fight Shadow warned him that he would be back again to get Emerl, but Rouge showed up and told Shadow to go back to Night Babylon. In Sonic Rivals 2. Shadow and Metal Sonic confronted Tails and Sonic because they were all going after Eggman.
Knuckles the Echidna[]
Shadow and Knuckles during a competitive race, from Team Sonic Racing Overdrive.
Shadow and Knuckles have not interacted much, but at times they are either loose allies or bitter rivals. In Sonic Adventure 2, they didn't have much interaction, but they were indirectly enemies at first and then worked together to save the world from Space Colony ARK. The first real fight between them happened in Sonic Heroes, although Shadow didn't remember Knuckles at the time. After the fight, Knuckles jokingly mentioned that they might have fought Shadow's ghost. In Shadow the Hedgehog, Knuckles appears in Glyphic Canyon, Central City, and Black Comet stages asking for Shadow's help in Hero missions. In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), he and Shadow loosely worked together again for a time in order to return to the present.
Shadow and Knuckles appear to have some bitter resentment towards each other as seen in Sonic Rivals, when Shadow bluntly pointed out that Knuckles was useless for his shortcomings while retaining an indifferent attitude towards his challenges, and Knuckles seemed to be irritated by Shadow's presence. Knuckles seems to have a bit of a disliking towards Shadow, mostly because he finds him complacent and smug. Additionally, Knuckles is not fond of Shadow's egotistical tendencies, which is seen in Sonic Free Riders when he says, "I see your ego's as big as ever, Shadow," in a rather annoyed tone.
Amy Rose[]
Amy pleading for Shadow's help, from Sonic Adventure 2.
Shadow and Amy Rose have not interacted much with each other throughout the series. In Sonic Adventure 2, Amy first meets Shadow when she mistakes him for Sonic and hugs him from behind, while Shadow remains still after having been briefly caught off-guard by her touch. He also does not shake her off or resort to violence. When Amy senses the lack of a reaction, she releases him, causing him to glance back at her. Amy demands his name when she realizes that he is not Sonic, but Shadow continues to glare at her quietly. After Amy notices Dr. Eggman, she also realizes the mistake she has made, and runs off screaming. During this, Shadow simply tilts his head when she is out of range as Dr. Eggman tells the team that he'll take care of Amy.
Later in the game aboard the ARK, Amy meets Shadow again and this time begs Shadow to save the world. At first, Shadow simply replies that it is pointless, but then Amy points out that despite people sometimes being selfish, they were still inwardly good and that saving them was right. Because of this, Shadow suddenly has a flashback of Maria begging Shadow to make people happy. When Shadow comes to his senses he goes off to fight the Biolizard, determinedly and softly telling Amy that he has to keep his promise to "Maria... and [her]."
Amy was also the only one to see Shadow's tear after he remembered that Maria wanted him to save the people that live on earth.
During Sonic Battle, Amy shows excitement and concern upon hearing Shadow's survival through Rouge, but quickly becomes angry when Rouge will not tell her why he's there.
During Shadow the Hedgehog, Shadow can choose to assist Amy in helping find Cream the Rabbit and have her fight alongside the player during the stage and in the boss battle, but this time, there is no reward in return. Also, at the end of Shadow the Hedgehog, Amy shows an odd amount of faith and admiration for Shadow, regardless of him being Sonic's rival. When Rouge expresses concern for Shadow following the destruction of the Black Comet, Amy reassures her with her hands clasped and a cheerful smile on her face, "I'm sure he's fine, Rouge! After all, he is Shadow!" which further displays her positive outlook on the black hedgehog and her general optimism.
Commander Abraham Tower[]
Shadow will accept his fate if what the Commander says is true, from Shadow the Hedgehog.
Commander Abraham Tower and Shadow were enemies at first because the Commander blamed Shadow for the death of his family and Maria fifty years ago during the G.U.N. raid on the Space Colony ARK. Throughout the game, he orders his troops to kill Shadow. After the Black Arms incident, the Commander apologized and invited Shadow over to his house to see his new grandchild; this is presumably the time that Shadow became a G.U.N. agent.
Metal Sonic[]
Shadow and E-123 Omega carry a defeated Metal Sonic, from Sonic Heroes.
As the prized creation of Dr. Eggman, Metal Sonic is generally viewed by Shadow as both a threat and an enemy. A prime example of this was during the Neo Metal Sonic incident, when Metal Sonic (in his upgraded Neo Metal Sonic form) secretly copied Shadow's data, and used it in conjunction with the other data he gathered to transform himself into Metal Madness. Recognizing the evil and destructive nature of the robot, Shadow worked with Team Dark and the other teams to distract him long enough for Team Sonic to transform into their Super States. Following the battle, Shadow and Omega picked up Metal Sonic's deactivated body, although it is ultimately revealed that the duo decided to pity the mechanical hedgehog, feeling as though he was like them, a pawn on Eggman's game.
However, another side of Shadow's stance on Metal Sonic was shown during the Ifrit incident, when Metal Sonic is sent by Eggman to enlist Shadow in stopping the Ifrit's release. Despite fighting the robot previously, Shadow agreed to help for the greater good, and worked with Metal Sonic to hunt down the Chaos Emeralds, temporarily becoming the one commanding the robot whenever Eggman was unable to form contact. Throughout the adventure, Shadow showed concern for Metal Sonic's condition several times, such as when the robot had to tear the green Chaos Emerald out of himself in order for Shadow to perform Chaos Control and warp both of them out of the Chaotic Inferno Zone. It is unclear, however, whether Shadow's concern was simply because he needed Metal Sonic's assistance to combat the Ifrit, or if Shadow had gained some form of respect for the robot during their quest together.
Despite their previous teamwork, by the conclusion of the second World Grand Prix Metal Sonic and Shadow were once again on negative terms with each other as a result of Metal Sonic infiltrating Team Dark under the disguised form of E-10000B, and secretly copying the data of every racer's Extreme Gear in order to empower himself.
During the Time Eater incident, after reuniting with Maria, and her grandfather, Shadow fought Metal Overlord by himself. When Metal Sonic proclaimed himself as the true sonic and ultimate life form, calling him a fake hedgehog, like Sonic once did, Shadow told the overlord not to make him laugh. It is here where he decides that he won't make the same mistake he once did when dealing with Metal Sonic in the past, and decides to defeat the maniacal mechanical menace without mercy or restraint.
Team Chaotix[]
Shadow with Team Chaotix, from Shadow the Hedgehog.
Shadow has had several altercations with the Chaotix Detective Agency, the first being a confrontation in Sonic Heroes that escalated into a brawl, with their differences then seemingly set aside later when they joined forces against an evolved Metal Sonic. Team Chaotix resumed their role as allies in Shadow the Hedgehog, with each member participating as a partner in the hero missions of various levels.
Individually, Vector perceives Shadow as a friend, as demonstrated in one of the endings of Shadow the Hedgehog when the crocodile attempted to console him when he concluded himself to being nothing more than a living weapon of mass destruction, though Shadow apparently did not want to hear it. Espio has shown his capacity of camaraderie with the black hedgehog and the two proved to make a good team when they confronted Dr. Eggman. When Eggman tries to lie and manipulate Shadow, Espio tells the hedgehog not to fall for the doctor's tricks and to defeat him first. Charmy has exercised a more enthusiastic relationship with Shadow, demonstrating how much he respects and looks up to him while often stating how "cool" Shadow is. All the Chaotix voices are present in supporting Shadow during the last story as well as Expert Mode.
Infinite[]
Shadow fighting against Infinite, from Sonic Forces.
Shadow first encountered Infinite back when he was known as the Ultimate Mercenary after decimating the Jackal Squad group he led. Although the Ultimate Mercenary expressed confidence that he could beat Shadow with his own abilities, Shadow promptly proved him wrong by easily beating him before the latter could get a chance to fight back, leaving the mercenary terrified. Shadow was less than impressed with the Ultimate Mercenary during this time, downgrading him that he was worthless, as well as telling him not to show "[his] pathetic face" before him ever again before taking his leave. Little did Shadow know, however, that this would ultimately prove to have serious ramifications months later, when the Ultimate Mercenary proceeded to fuse with the Phantom Ruby to become stronger.
Several months later, he encountered Infinite, who reminded Shadow (who had already forgotten who he was) of their earlier encounter, and then proceeded to fully demonstrate his new abilities by trapping him within a Virtual Reality world via the Phantom Ruby. The encounter left Shadow shaken, as well as disturbed by Infinite's letting slip of his intention to defeat Sonic.[31]
Nine[]
Shadow meeting Nine, from "Cracking Down".
During the Paradox Prism incident, Shadow was unable to enter Gateways, but he would be able to see Sonic travel through them.[32] Shadow then saw Nine which he did not trust throughout the adventure. Then, Sonic manages to introduce Nine to Shadow to which they ended up working together. However, despite it, he still did not trust Nine. Later on, in Ghost Hill, Nine ends up betraying them, which leaves Shadow furious at Sonic for choosing to trust Nine.[33] After he fought his creation, Alpha Grim Sonic, then Shadow figures out that Nine wants Sonic's energy to finish The Grim. Soon after, Sonic gets thrown deeper into The Grim by a Sonic Trooper, to which Shadow saves him, and then eventually, Nine apologizes and Shadow sees him as an ally after helping them get back to their world.[34]
Alpha Grim Sonic[]
Shadow approaching Alpha Grim Sonic, from "Home Sick Home".
Shadow had a sense of rivalry towards Alpha Grim Sonic, as a result of the robot defeating him and hindering his efforts to restore the Shatterverse during the Paradox Prism incident.[35][36] After returning from his initial defeat, Shadow targeted Alpha Grim Sonic whenever possible, and through much effort, was finally able to destroy the robot in The Grim by crushing its body into the Citadel.[37]
Friends/allies[]
- Amy Rose
- Avatar
- Barry the Quokka
- Belle the Tinkerer
- Big the Cat
- Blaze the Cat
- Cheese
- Chocola
- Conductor
- Conductor's wife
- Cream the Rabbit
- Dodon Pa
- Duke of Soleanna
- E-123 Omega (close friend and partner)
- Emerl
- Froggy
- Gemerl
- Gerald Robotnik (creator)
- Jack
- Jewel the Beetle
- Knuckles the Echidna
- The Kraken's crew
- Maria Robotnik (best friend)
- Miles "Tails" Prower
- Nine
- Omochao
- Rouge the Bat (close friend and partner)
- Resistance (New Yoke City)
- Silver the Hedgehog
- Sonic the Hedgehog (arch-rival)
- Sticks the Badger
- Scavengers
- Tangle the Lemur
- Team Chaotix
- United Federation
- Vanilla the Rabbit
- Whisper the Wolf
Neutral[]
Enemies[]
- Alpha Grim Sonic
- Alpha Grim Amy
- Alpha Grim Rouge
- Alpha Grim Birdie
- Alpha Grim Knuckles
- Biolizard
- Black Arms
- Black Doom (archenemy)
- Doom's Eye
- Clutch the Opossum
- Chaos Council
- Dr. Starline
- Eggman Empire
- Eggman Nega
- Grim Troopers
- Iblis
- Ifrit
- Mephiles the Dark
- Metal Sonic 3.0
- Mirage Express
- Prismatic Titan
- Solaris
- Deadly Six
References[]
- ↑ Creators Interview 006: Maekawa Shiro. Sega. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved on 5 September 2022. "Interviewer: Who is your favorite character in the Sonic series? Please tell me why. / Shiro Maekawa: It's Shadow the Hedgehog. In fact, I am also the creator, but sometimes I feel a stronger bond than my real parents and siblings. I can't think of anyone else anymore."
- ↑ Fast talking. PlayStation UK. Archived from the original on 26 June 2009. Retrieved on 4 September 2016. "Interviewer: If you had to pick a character from the Sonic universe who would you be and why? / Takashi Iizuka: ...I also would have to pick Shadow for the fact he is a character I created."
- ↑ Ryan Drummond (@RYANtheDRUMMOND) on Twitter. Twitter (15 October 2020). Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. "SADKOOLAID: So......basically even before Jason Griffith, Sonic and Shadow were voiced by the same guy (at least for a few seconds during the final leave) this true @RYANtheDRUMMOND? / Ryan Drummond: Yup. For just that one game. Don’t tell Sega! 🤣"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Devra Newberger Speregen (2016). Sonic: The Ultimate Character Guide. Scholastic. p. 31. ISBN 978-1338033243.
- ↑ Sonic City. Sega. Archived from the original on 29 February 2008.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Sega . Sonic Channel (Japanese). Characters: Shadow. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved on 3 July 2015.
- ↑ Sega Studio USA (15 November 2005). Shadow the Hedgehog. Nintendo GameCube. Sega. Area/level: The Last Way.
- ↑ Black, Fletcher. "Sonic Boom: Cast". Sonic the Hedgehog: PRIMA Official Game Guide. Prima Games. p. 5.
- ↑ Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings episode 1: "Shadow and Maria". Shadow: "The low gravity here only keeps your condition in remission. You should know better than to exert yourself."
- ↑ Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings episode 1: "Shadow and Maria".
- ↑ Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings episode 2: "Finding the Way".
- ↑ Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings episode 3: To the ARK. Commander Tower: "You could have talked him down, Rouge!" Rouge: "There's only one person who could ever do that." Commander Tower: "True. But she was lost to us a long time ago."
- ↑ As shown in Shadow Generations' final cutscene, "Never Forgotten".
- ↑ TailsTube #2 (feat. ???). YouTube. Sonic the Hedgehog (9 June 2022). Retrieved on 9 June 2022. Eggman: "Shadow's gone on to become another thorn in my side. He's not one of Sonic's buddies, but he's still a problem all the same."
- ↑ Backbone Entertainment, Sega Studio USA (24 November 2006). Sonic Rivals. Sega. Area/level: Forest Falls Zone (Shadow). "Shadow: The doctor's acting strange... it makes no sense, but this has nothing to do with me... Hmm, guess this was just a waste of my time..."
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Sega (28 June 2021). ソニック & シャドウ (Japanese). Sonic Channel. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved on 28 June 2021.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Sonic the Hedgehog #6, "The Fate of Dr. Eggman, Part 2"
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Sonic the Hedgehog #19, "Crisis City, Part 1"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #33, "Chao Races and Badnik Bases, Part 1"
- ↑ Sonic Rivals 2 (PlayStation Portable) United States instruction booklet, pg. 10.
- ↑ Sonic Team (14 November 2006). Sonic the Hedgehog. Xbox 360. Sega. Area/level: End of the World. "Shadow: Certainly, it might have been possible, if he was still alive."
- ↑ Sonic Central: Since Shadow is Sonic's enemy, what does this game mean for Sonic? Is he your main enemy in this game? How does Robotnik fit into things? / Sonic Team: Shadow is more of a nemesis to Sonic rather than a true enemy; they may be adversaries but there is a mutual respect between the two of them.
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #31, "Recovery, Part 1"
- ↑ Sonic Team (7 November 2017). Sonic Forces. Nintendo Switch. Sega. Area/level: Chemical Plant. "Shadow: Rouge, have you found the intel I was looking for? / Rouge: No, not yet. But I have reports that Eggman's database is located at the Chemical Plant. If we can check that out, we might find something there."
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #12, "The Cost of the Battle for Angel Island"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog #9, "The Battle for Angel Island, Part 1"
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Sonic the Hedgehog#20, "Crisis City, Part 2"
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog#36, "Chao Races and Badnik Bases, Part 4"
- ↑ Sega Studio USA (15 November 2005). Shadow the Hedgehog. Nintendo GameCube. Sega. Cutscene: Last Story. "Shadow: I've heard enough! You're boring me to death, Black Doom! You're going down!"
- ↑ Sonic Team (27 February 2004)). Sonic Battle. Game Boy Advance. Sega. Area/level: Ending sequence (Emerl's Episode). "Shadow: This was Gerald's final program... Should a weapon go out of control, the weapon will terminate itself... ... ... ... It is my desire to bring hope to humanity. I can't stand it..."
- ↑ Sonic Team (7 November 2017). Sonic Forces. Nintendo Switch. Sega. Area/level: World Map. "Infinite: Hahaha... Oh, this power, before we've even tuned it! Just as I thought, it is unrivaled! Not even Sonic will be able to stand against me now! / Shadow: Sonic? What are you plotting? / ... / Shadow: What--IS this?! STOP! Where do you think you're going, Infinite?!"
- ↑ Avoid the Void
- ↑ Ghost of a Chance
- ↑ From the Top
- ↑ Rudell, Ishi (11 January 2024). "Grim Tidings". Sonic Prime. Season 3. Episode 1. Netflix.
- ↑ Sangherra, Kiran; Wiese, Erik (11 January 2024). "Home Sick Home". Sonic Prime. Season 3. Episode 5. Netflix.
- ↑ Sangherra, Kiran; Wiese, Erik (11 January 2024). "The Devil Is in the Tails". Sonic Prime. Season 3. Episode 6. Netflix.