Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)

Last updated
Shadow the Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog Coverart.png
Developer(s) Sega Studios USA
Publisher(s) Sega
Director(s) Takashi Iizuka
Producer(s) Yuji Naka
Designer(s) Takashi Iizuka
Programmer(s) Takeshi Sakakibara
Artist(s) Kazuyuki Hoshino
Writer(s) Takashi Iizuka
Composer(s) Jun Senoue
Yutaka Minobe
Tomoya Ohtani
Mariko Nanba
Series Sonic the Hedgehog
Engine RenderWare
Platform(s)
Release
  • NA: November 15, 2005
  • EU: November 18, 2005
  • JP: December 15, 2005
Genre(s) Platform, third-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Shadow the Hedgehog [a] is a 2005 platform game developed by Sega Studios USA and published by Sega. It is a spin-off from the Sonic the Hedgehog series starring the character Shadow. It follows the amnesiac Shadow's attempts to learn about his past during an alien invasion. Gameplay is similar to previous Sonic games, featuring fast-paced platforming and ring collecting, but introduces third-person shooter and nonlinear elements. Shadow uses a variety of weapons to defeat enemies and complete missions that determine the plot and playable levels.

Contents

Sega Studios USA chose to make a game featuring Shadow to capitalize on his popularity and resolve plot mysteries that began with his introduction in Sonic Adventure 2 (2001). Shadow the Hedgehog was written and directed by Takashi Iizuka and produced by Yuji Naka, with music by Jun Senoue. Iizuka strove to attract an older audience; Shadow's character allowed the team to use a darker tone and elements otherwise considered inappropriate for the series.

Shadow the Hedgehog was revealed at the March 2005 Walk of Game event. It was released for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox in North America and Europe in November 2005 and in Japan in December. It received generally unfavorable reviews from critics, who criticized its controls, mature themes, level design, and addition of guns and other weapons to traditional Sonic gameplay. However, some praised its replay value, and the game was commercially successful, selling 2.06 million copies by March 2007. Over time, the game has developed a cult following. [1]

Gameplay

Shadow the Hedgehog is a platform game that incorporates elements from the third-person shooter genre and elements from the action-adventure genre. Like previous games in the Sonic series, basic gameplay involves running quickly, collecting rings, tricky platforming and destroying enemies. [2] [3] Shadow collects rings as a form of health; when he is attacked by an enemy or takes damage from the environment, ten of his rings bounce away from and form into a circle around him. When Shadow has no rings and takes damage from an enemy he dies, loses a life and goes back to the last checkpoint, which also serve as teleportation devices, allowing Shadow to return to different sections of the current level. [4] Each level is completed by undertaking a mission, and each mission is labelled "Hero," "Dark," or "Normal". [5] The "Hero" missions involve completing tasks for the Sonic series' heroic characters, or Doctor Eggman on one occasion, [6] and the "Dark" missions involve completing tasks for either Black Doom or Doctor Eggman. The "Normal" missions involve reaching the Chaos Emerald or Goal Ring at the end of the stage. [5] Examples of non-neutral mission objectives include killing all enemies in the stages, destroying an aircraft flying to the end of the level, or activating or destroying objects in the stage. [7] All enemies attack Shadow regardless of the mission chosen. [3] [4] The mission types selected affect the plot, the levels played, and the ending received out of ten possibilities. [5] [8] Each level features cutscenes that advance the story, and seven levels also feature boss battles. [9] There are 326 possible paths to take in Shadow the Hedgehog, and each pathway is individually named. [10]

Shadow uses a submachine gun to shoot a G.U.N. soldier. The game's mature themes and its addition of guns were two major areas of criticism. ShadowTheHedgehogGun.JPG
Shadow uses a submachine gun to shoot a G.U.N. soldier. The game's mature themes and its addition of guns were two major areas of criticism.

New gameplay features distinguish Shadow the Hedgehog from previous Sonic games. For example, Shadow can pick up and use guns to fight enemies. [4] Parts of the scenery, like traffic signs, can also be used as weapons. [5] Another new feature is the ability to drive vehicles, such as motorcycles and an alien aircraft. [2] [4] Although Shadow can outrun the game's vehicles, the latter have unique capabilities, such as crushing enemies and traversing otherwise impassable acid-covered areas. [9]

As in most Sonic series games, the Chaos Emeralds play a major role; they help Shadow remember his past [11] and allow him to perform Chaos Control and Chaos Blast. Chaos Control allows Shadow to move more quickly in levels and slows time in boss battles, and Chaos Blast creates an explosion that destroys or severely damages all nearby enemies. Shadow can perform Chaos Control after the player fills the Hero Gauge by defeating Black Arms soldiers (or by doing other heroic acts such as; putting out fires and healing wounded soldiers), and he can perform Chaos Blast after filling the Dark Gauge by defeating G.U.N. soldiers (or other evil acts such as; healing the enemies or destroying scenery). [2]

The game includes a two-player mode [12] that retains the single-player mechanics but is set in one of three specially designed stages and uses a vertically split screen to separate each player's view. Each player chooses one of the available characters—Shadow, two metallic versions of him, and palette-swapped variants of each. The combatants attack each other and steal each other's rings until one is eliminated. Additionally, in single-player mode, a second player may take control of Shadow's hero sidekick characters (you cannot control Doom's Eye or Dr. Eggman) in the stages, however this feature isn't in the Xbox version of the game, it only appears in GameCube and PlayStation 2 of the game. [9]

Synopsis

Characters

Shadow the Hedgehog, the protagonist, was created fifty years before the game's events by Prof. Gerald Robotnik in an orbital military research space colony known as the ARK. Robotnik was trying to unlock the secrets of eternal life on the government's orders and create the "Ultimate Life Form." To that end, Robotnik designed Shadow to harness the powers of the Chaos Emeralds. To his horror, Shadow witnessed G.U.N. raid the ARK and shoot his best friend and granddaughter of Gerald, Maria Robotnik, killing her. Shadow was presumed dead at the end of Sonic Adventure 2 , his first in-game appearance, [13] but he returned in Sonic Heroes and suffers amnesia. [4] [8]

The Guardian Units of Nations (G.U.N.) is the military of Earth's government, the United Federation, and is directed by the G.U.N. Commander, [b] who harbors a personal hatred of Shadow. When completing "Hero" missions, Shadow usually helps G.U.N. and heroic characters from the Sonic series, including Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Rouge, Omega, Vector, [6] Charmy, and Espio. [14] Their aim is to protect Earth from both Doctor Eggman and the Black Arms, an army of various related alien species that invade Earth from the Black Comet. Black Doom, the leader of the Black Arms, sends an extension of himself called "Doom's Eye" to watch Shadow and help him complete missions. When completing "Dark" missions, Shadow helps either Black Doom or Doctor Eggman, each of whom wants the Chaos Emeralds for himself. In one "Hero" mission of Sky Troops, Shadow assists Doctor Eggman in battling the Black Arms.

Plot

Completing "Normal", "Dark" or "Hero" missions determine which levels are subsequently playable. Each box represents a level, and each red or blue box represents a boss mission at the end of the game. The colored lines that connect levels show how the completion of certain missions affects the storyline. ShadowTheHedgehogMap alignments.svg
Completing "Normal", "Dark" or "Hero" missions determine which levels are subsequently playable. Each box represents a level, and each red or blue box represents a boss mission at the end of the game. The colored lines that connect levels show how the completion of certain missions affects the storyline.

Shadow suffers from amnesia, only able to remember two things: his name and his attempt to escape the Space Colony ARK with his creator Gerald Robotnik's granddaughter Maria, who was killed by G.U.N. soldiers. [15] While Shadow is trying to remember what happened in his past outside the city of Westopolis, an alien race called the Black Arms drops out of the sky and invades the city. Black Doom, the Black Arms' leader, contacts Shadow and tells him of an old promise made to bring the Chaos Emeralds to him. [16] Stunned that Black Doom knows his name, Shadow searches for the Chaos Emeralds to learn about his past. [17]

The game progresses through the Westopolis level and five more levels from the different paths Shadow may take. As missions are completed, Shadow learns more about his past and regains memories. [2] [13] He can choose to help Doctor Eggman, the Black Arms, or G.U.N. and the series' heroic characters, or he can choose to help neither and keep the Chaos Emeralds for himself. [11] The missions completed determine which one of ten possible endings will be seen after Shadow collects all the Chaos Emeralds and defeats one of the game's final bosses. [18] The possible ending events range from helping the heroes destroy the Black Arms or to help Black Doom destroy the planet. [19] [20]

Completing all ten endings unlocks the game's true ending. After collecting all the Chaos Emeralds, Black Doom uses Chaos Control to bring the Black Comet to the Earth's surface. Black Doom explains that the Black Arms intend to use humans as an energy source, [21] and the Black Comet begins to release a nerve gas into the Earth's atmosphere that causes total paralysis to those who inhale it. [22] [23] Immune to the paralysis, Shadow confronts Black Doom, who reveals Gerald had promised him the Chaos Emeralds to complete his plan in exchange for his blood, which Gerald used to create Shadow. [24] He attempts to use this physical connection to mind control Shadow. [25] The Chaotix discover and play a message Gerald recorded for Shadow, revealing he created the ARK's Eclipse Cannon to destroy the Black Comet as atonement for working with Black Doom, asking Shadow to stop the Black Arms. [26] Shadow resists Black Doom's control, [27] and Black Doom transforms into a giant beast form called Devil Doom; [28] in response, Shadow uses the Chaos Emeralds to transform into Super Shadow and confronts Devil Doom. During the battle, Doctor Eggman confirms to Shadow that he is the original and not an android. [29] Shadow kills Devil Doom [30] and uses Chaos Control to teleport the Black Comet back into Earth's orbit, where he obliterates it using the Eclipse Cannon. [31] His friends are elated, [32] as are people at G.U.N. headquarters. [33] Shadow is then seen in the ARK's observation deck holding up a photograph of Maria and Gerald. Recalling Maria's last words to him, "Goodbye forever... Shadow the Hedgehog", Shadow discards the photograph and walks away. [34]

Development

"Shadow the Hedgehog has a much darker personality than Sonic the Hedgehog. In Sonic the Hedgehog, your typical mission was to go out and beat the bad guys, but in Shadow the Hedgehog, it gives the players a choice to either take the side of the good guys or to take the side of the bad guys, giving the player the option to choose in the game."

—Sonic Team's Takashi Iizuka [35]

Shadow the Hedgehog was developed by Sega Studios USA, the now-defunct United States division of Sega's Sonic Team, and published by Sega. [8] Sega first revealed the game and its tagline ("Hero or villain? You decide.") at the March 8, 2005 inauguration of Sonic the Hedgehog into the Walk of Game. [36] Sega formally announced development of the game for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox video game consoles on March 23, 2005. [13] The same year, Sega released the game in North America on November 15, 2005, [37] in Europe on November 18, 2005, [38] and Japan on December 15, 2005. [39] [40]

Sonic Team's Takashi Iizuka and series co-creator Yuji Naka led development, with Iizuka serving as writer and director and Naka as producer. Iizuka, who had worked on the Sonic the Hedgehog series since 1993, targeted a younger audience with previous Sonic games and wanted to attract an older audience with Shadow the Hedgehog. [35] The game's development team wanted to make a game featuring Shadow to resolve plot mysteries that began with the character's introduction in Sonic Adventure 2. [13] The team felt that Shadow's design—inspired by films such as Underworld , Constantine , and the Terminator series—would make the story darker and allow for elements, such as vehicles and weapons, otherwise considered inappropriate for a Sonic game. [5] Naka stated in an interview with GameSpy that he wanted to use Shadow as the game's main character due to his popularity among fans and being the best fit for a "gun action" game. [41]

The game features several animated cutscenes produced by Blur Studio. [42] The music of Shadow the Hedgehog was composed by Jun Senoue, with additional work by Yutaka Minobe, Tomoya Ohtani, and Mariko Nanba. Lost and Found: Shadow the Hedgehog Vocal Trax is a video game soundtrack album released on CD on February 22, 2006. The album contains seven vocal songs from the game, one of which is a remix rather than the original. [43] Another soundtrack, Shadow the Hedgehog: Original Soundtrax, was released on the same day. It contains both vocal and instrumental tracks from the game. [44]

In Japan, Shadow the Hedgehog was promoted through a collaboration with Japanese hip hop group M-flo, whose song "Tripod Baby" was remixed and featured in the commercial under the title "Tripod Baby (Shadow the Hedgehog Mix)". In addition to this, an alternate music video for "Tripod Baby" featuring the remix included new scenes with Shadow. [45] [46]

Shadow the Hedgehog was the first Sonic game to use the 4Kids cast from Sonic X following the death of Doctor Eggman's previous voice actor, Deem Bristow. This cast continued to be used until late 2010 when all but Mike Pollock were replaced before the release of Sonic Free Riders . [47] [48]

Unlike most Sonic games, Shadow the Hedgehog's dialogue features mild profanity, including damn and hell. The decision to include profanity and firearms was made early in development to create a more mature tone. [2] According to Jason Griffith, Shadow's English voice actor, Sega considered aiming for an M ("Mature") rating during development, and had him record alternate dialogue in which he used the word fuck : "It was just every sentence, I would be yelling 'Sonic, give me that fucking Chaos Emerald!' or something like that." He said Sega likely had hours of such dialogue in its archives. [49] The ESRB ultimately assigned Shadow an E10+ rating for "fantasy violence" and "mild language". [2]

Reception

Shadow the Hedgehog on GameCube received "mixed or average" reviews while the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions received "generally unfavorable" reviews from critics on review aggregator Metacritic, many of which were highly critical of its gameplay mechanics and differences from other Sonic games. [50] [51] [52] [63] However, it was voted the best game of 2005 in the Official Jetix Magazine Reader Awards and named the "Best Platformer" of 2005 by Nintendo Power readers (receiving more votes than the staff's choice, Sonic Rush ). [64] [65] Shadow the Hedgehog was also a commercial success: Sega reported 1.59 million units sold from its release to March 2006 [66] and 470,000 units sold in the U.S. from March 2006 to March 2007, [67] for total sales of at least 2.06 million. The game was later released as a part of three budget lines: Greatest Hits and Platinum Range for the PlayStation 2 (representing sales of at least 400,000 in North America and Europe, respectively) [68] and Player's Choice for the GameCube (250,000 in North America). [40]

Many critics derided the game's sense of maturity for a Sonic game, especially the addition of guns and other weapons. [59] Game Informer staff writer Matt Helgeson said, "not only is this new 'adult' interpretation of Sonic painfully dumb, it’s also ill-advised and almost feels like a betrayal to longtime fans." [55] Eurogamer staff writer Tom Bramwell felt that "the game's other selling point – its darker edge – [is] not really meant for us." [54] G4's X-Play and GameSpy staff writer Patrick Klepek thought similarly. [56] [61] In contrast, Nintendo Power staff writer Steve Thomason rated the game 8.0 out of 10, stating, "this darker take on the Sonic universe succeeds for the most part, giving the series a bit of an edge without going overboard on violence." [59] In addition, Official Xbox Magazine reassured readers, "Don't worry, Shadow the Hedgehog isn't half as 'urban' or quite as 'gangsta' as it first seems." [60] Helgeson panned the game's "laughable" plot, saying it "makes no sense," and that various Sonic conventions undermined its attempts to be "mature" or "edgy". [55]

Reviewers also noted the game's controls, especially Shadow's homing attack causing unexpected character deaths. Game Informer's Matt Helgeson complained that the attack "frequently sends you careening off into nothingness, resulting in cheap death after cheap death." [55] Nintendo Power, X-Play, Eurogamer, Official Xbox Magazine, and GameSpy agreed. [54] [56] [59] [60] [61] Other complaints focused on the mechanics of weapons and vehicles. Greg Mueller of GameSpot felt that the guns were nearly useless because of a lack of a target lock or manual aim, combined with an ineffective auto-aim. [9] IGN staff writer Matt Casamassina, 1UP.com staff writer Greg Sewart, Game Informer, X-Play, GameSpy, and London's The Times also criticized the mechanics of Shadow's weapons, vehicles, and other aspects of the game's controls. [3] [55] [56] [57] [61] [62] However, Thomason said that "blasting Shadow's foes with the wide variety of weapons at his disposal is just plain fun." [59]

The level design received mixed comments. Mueller called some levels "extremely frustrating". [9] Helgeson stated that the fast-paced levels are "poorly designed", and Andrew Reiner, who wrote a second-opinion review for Game Informer, called the level design "disastrous". [55] Official Xbox Magazine was more mixed, balancing the possibility of getting lost in the large levels with the likely appeal of these stages to 3D Sonic gamers, particularly those who had enjoyed Sonic Heroes . [60] GameTrailers found that "the levels are either dark and urban, or bright and psychedelic. Either way, they fit in well to the Sonic universe. They are loaded with speed ramps, loops and an assortment of other boosts that rocket Shadow like a pinball." [4] Bettenhausen included "the classic run-like-hell roller coaster design philosophy" of some stages in his limited praise. [53] Casamassina disliked the "stupid level design", saying that "[j]ust because they dazzled players six years ago does not mean that Sonic Team can copy and paste exactly the same loops and spins into each new franchise iteration and expect everyone to be happy with the outcome." [57] GameSpy observed that "the areas are much less open than in previous Sonic games, but the level designers haven't taken advantage of the constraints." [56] Nintendo Power singled out the difficulty of the missions that require the player to locate objects. [59]

Critics praised the game's replay value, applauding the many possible paths that a player may take through the game. GameTrailers stated, "this choose-your-own-adventure style gives the game replay value that many platformers lack." [4] The Australian publication Herald Sun , Nintendo Power, and Official Xbox Magazine thought similarly. [15] [59] [60] GameSpot praised the variety of alternate endings, but concluded that "the gameplay isn't fun enough to warrant playing the game through multiple times." [9] Bettenhausen thought that the morality system felt artificial, but said that it extended the game's replay value. [53]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: シャドウ・ザ・ヘッジホッグ, Hepburn: Shadō za Hejjihoggu
  2. ↑ Identified as "Commander Abraham Tower" in later series entries

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knuckles the Echidna</span> Video game character

Knuckles the Echidna is a character from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series. He is a red anthropomorphic short-beaked echidna who is Sonic's secondary best friend and former rival. Determined and serious, but sometimes gullible, he fights his enemies using brute force and strength. His role is established as the guardian of the Master Emerald, a large gemstone which controls the series' integral Chaos Emeralds, and is the last living member of his tribe, the Knuckles Clan.

<i>Sonic Heroes</i> 2003 platform game

Sonic Heroes is a 2003 platform game developed by Sonic Team USA and published by Sega as part of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The player races a team of series characters through levels to amass rings, defeat robots, and collect the seven Chaos Emeralds needed to defeat Doctor Eggman. Within each level, the player switches between the team's three characters, who each have unique abilities, to overcome obstacles. Sonic Heroes downplays the action-adventure and exploration-based gameplay of its predecessors Sonic Adventure (1998) and Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) in favor of returning to the linear style of Sega Genesis-era Sonic games.

Chao (<i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i>) Fictional life-forms in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series

Chao are fictional life-forms in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series published by Sega. They are small, childlike creatures that go through a complex life cycle and exist in several visual forms depending on how they are raised. Developer Sonic Team incorporated Chao into the games to encourage players to explore levels and support the good–evil dichotomy of Sonic Adventure 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shadow the Hedgehog</span> Video game character

Shadow the Hedgehog is a character who appears in Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. He was created by Takashi Iizuka and Shiro Maekawa, designed by Kazuyuki Hoshino, and first appeared in Sonic Adventure 2 (2001).

<i>Sonic Adventure 2</i> 2001 video game

Sonic Adventure 2 is a 2001 platform game developed by Sonic Team USA and published by Sega for the Dreamcast. It features two good-vs-evil stories: Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, and Knuckles the Echidna attempt to save the world, while Shadow the Hedgehog, Doctor Eggman, and Rouge the Bat attempt to conquer it. The stories are divided into three gameplay styles: fast-paced platforming for Sonic and Shadow, third-person shooting for Tails and Eggman, and action-adventure exploration for Knuckles and Rouge. Like previous Sonic the Hedgehog games, the player completes levels while collecting rings and defeating enemies. Outside the main gameplay, they can interact with Chao, a virtual pet, and compete in multiplayer battles.

<i>Sonic Advance</i> 2001 platform video game

Sonic Advance is a 2001 platform video game developed by Sonic Team and Dimps and published by Sega for the Game Boy Advance. It was the first Sonic the Hedgehog game to be released on a Nintendo console with Sonic Adventure 2: Battle on the GameCube, and was produced in commemoration of the series' tenth anniversary. The story follows Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy as they journey to stop Doctor Eggman from taking over the world. Controlling a character, players are tasked with completing each level, defeating Eggman and his robot army, and collecting the seven Chaos Emeralds.

<i>Sonic Battle</i> 2003 video game

Sonic Battle is a 2003 beat 'em up video game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Game Boy Advance. It is the second fighting game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, the first game being Sonic the Fighters. It was released in Japan in December 2003 and in North America and Europe in early 2004. The game received an indifferent response from critics.

<i>Sonic Rush</i> 2005 video game

Sonic Rush is a 2005 platform game developed by Sonic Team and Dimps for the Nintendo DS as part of Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series. It was released on November 15, 2005, in North America, November 18 in the PAL region, and November 23 in Japan, and was the final game in the mainline Sonic series to be produced by Yuji Naka before his departure from Sega. It is a 2D platform game, similar to earlier games in the series like Sonic Advance, as well as later ones like Sonic Mania. Levels in the game are side-scrolling and displayed using both of the DS's screens. However, boss battles, the main characters, and a special stage are rendered in 3D, creating a 2.5D effect. The game's storyline follows the intertwining adventures of the series' main character, Sonic the Hedgehog and a new character, Blaze the Cat. They respectively battle Doctor Eggman and his doppelgänger Eggman Nega at certain points.

<i>Sonic Riders</i> 2006 video game

Sonic Riders is a racing video game developed by Sonic Team and Now Production and published by Sega for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. In the game, the player controls characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog series on hoverboards and competes against opponents—either controlled by computers or other players—in races and battles. The game was released in February 2006 in Japan and North America, with a European release following the next month and a Windows version at the end of the year. A Game Boy Advance version developed by Backbone Entertainment was canceled.

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> (2006 video game) Platform game by Sega

Sonic the Hedgehog is a 2006 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. It was produced in commemoration of the Sonic series' 15th anniversary and as a reboot for seventh-generation video game consoles. Players control Sonic, Shadow, and the new character Silver, who battle Solaris, an ancient evil pursued by Doctor Eggman. Each playable character has his own campaign and abilities, and must complete levels, explore hub worlds and fight bosses to advance the story. In multiplayer modes, players can work cooperatively to collect Chaos Emeralds or race to the end of a level.

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> Video game franchise

Sonic the Hedgehog is a video game series and media franchise created by the Japanese developers Yuji Naka, Naoto Ohshima, and Hirokazu Yasuhara for Sega. The franchise follows Sonic, an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who battles the evil Doctor Eggman, a mad scientist. The main Sonic the Hedgehog games are platformers mostly developed by Sonic Team; other games, developed by various studios, include spin-offs in the racing, fighting, party and sports genres. The franchise also incorporates printed media, animations, feature films, and merchandise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor Eggman</span> Video game character

Doctor Ivo"Eggman"Robotnik is a character created by the Japanese game designer Naoto Ohshima. He is the main antagonist of Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Eggman is a mad scientist who seeks to steal the mystical Chaos Emeralds, defeat Sonic the Hedgehog, and conquer the world. Eggman and his "Badnik" brand of military robots serve as bosses and enemies in the Sonic platform games. His distinctive characteristics include his red-black-yellow clothing, baldness, pince-nez sunglasses, and large mustache.

<i>Sonic Unleashed</i> 2008 video game

Sonic Unleashed is a 2008 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. An installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, it follows Sonic as he attempts to restore the world after his nemesis Doctor Eggman shatters it with a powerful laser to unleash Dark Gaia, an ancient evil which periodically transforms Sonic into a werewolf form. Gameplay features two distinct styles: daytime stages incorporate Sonic's traditional platforming and trademark speed; while night-time stages see Sonic transform into the Werehog and engage in slower combat against waves of enemies using the Werehog's brute strength.

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I</i> 2010 video game

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I is a 2010 platform game developed by Dimps, with assistance from Sonic Team, and published by Sega. It is a sequel to Sonic & Knuckles (1994), following Sonic as he sets out to stop a returning Doctor Eggman. Like the Sonic the Hedgehog games released for the Sega Genesis, Episode I features side-scrolling gameplay, with movement restricted to a 2D plane. The player races through levels collecting rings while rolling into a ball to attack enemies. The game also features special stages in which the player collects Chaos Emeralds and online leaderboards comparing level completion times and high scores.

<i>Sonic Colors</i> 2010 video game

Sonic Colors is a 2010 platform game published by Sega. It follows Sonic's quest to stop his nemesis Doctor Eggman from enslaving an alien race and taking over the world. The gameplay is similar to prior Sonic games, with players collecting rings and defeating enemies; the camera perspective often switches from third-person to side-scrolling perspectives. The game also introduces Wisps, power-ups the player can use to increase attack power and reach new areas.

<i>Sonic Generations</i> 2011 video game

Sonic Generations is a 2011 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, and Nintendo 3DS. Produced in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, the game follows Sonic and his sidekick Tails as they form an alliance with their past selves and travel through levels from previous Sonic games. It features two gameplay styles: "Classic", which plays from a side-scrolling perspective like that of the original Sega Genesis Sonic games, and "Modern", 3D levels similar to those in Sonic Unleashed (2008) and Sonic Colors (2010).

<i>Sonic Mania</i> 2017 video game

Sonic Mania is a 2017 platform game published by Sega for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows. Produced in commemoration of the Sonic the Hedgehog series' 25th anniversary, Sonic Mania pays homage to the original Sega Genesis Sonic games, featuring speedy side-scrolling gameplay. It takes place over 13 levels, including several redesigned from past games. The story follows Sonic, Tails and Knuckles as they venture to defeat Doctor Eggman and his robotic henchmen, the Hard-Boiled Heavies.

<i>Sonic Forces</i> 2017 video game

Sonic Forces is a 2017 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. It was produced in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. The plot focuses on Sonic the Hedgehog joining a resistance movement formed by his friends, alongside its rookie and his misplaced past self. Together, they must stop Doctor Eggman, who has conquered most of the world alongside Infinite, his newest lackey who has been empowered by the Phantom Ruby. It features three gameplay modes: "Classic", side-scrolling gameplay similar to the original Sega Genesis Sonic games, "Modern", 3D gameplay similar to Sonic Unleashed (2008) and Sonic Colors (2010), and a mode featuring the "Avatar", the player's custom character.

<i>Shadow Generations</i> 2024 video game

Shadow Generations is a 2024 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. After Shadow the Hedgehog (2005), it is the second Sonic the Hedgehog game to feature Shadow as the protagonist. Its plot runs parallel to Sonic Generations (2011) and sees Shadow travel through time as he faces his archenemy, the alien conqueror Black Doom. Like Sonic Generations, the Shadow Generations levels and bosses are drawn from previous Sonic games; it also includes levels and game mechanics from games released after Sonic Generations.

References

  1. ↑ "Inverse: "We Almost Had a Very Different Shadow the Hedgehog"". Inverse . 30 May 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Shadow the Hedgehog for PS2 Review". GameSpot. November 21, 2005. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sewart, Greg (January 12, 2006). "Reviews: Shadow the Hedgehog for PS2". 1UP.com . Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Shadow the Hedgehog – Review". GameTrailers. February 27, 2016 [November 16, 2005, later uploaded to YouTube]. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Castro, Juan (25 August 2005). "Shadow the Interview". IGN. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Sonic the Hedgehog Character Profiles". GameSpot . October 14, 2005. Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
  7. ↑ Guess, Gerald (1 November 2005). Shadow the Hedgehog: Prima Official Game Guide. Prima Games. ISBN   9780761551959 . Retrieved 15 March 2019– via Google Books.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Deci, TJ. "Shadow the Hedgehog for GameCube Overview". Allgame. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mueller, Greg (November 21, 2005). "Shadow the Hedgehog for GameCube review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  10. ↑ Guess, Gerald (1 November 2005). Shadow the Hedgehog: Prima Official Game Guide. Prima Games. ISBN   9780761551959 . Retrieved 1 March 2019– via Google Books.
  11. 1 2 Castaneda, Karl (September 7, 2005). "Nintendo World Report – GC Preview: Shadow the Hedgehog". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
  12. ↑ "IGN: Shadow the Hedgehog". IGN. Archived from the original on December 9, 2010. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Pallesen, Lasse (March 23, 2004). "News Article: Sega Confirms Shadow the Hedgehog". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  14. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Espio: Damn! We've been detected!
  15. 1 2 3 "Game of the week; Shadow the Hedgehog; GameCube/PS2/Xbox (rrp $79.95) Rating: 3.5/5". Herald Sun (1): F02. February 26, 2006.
  16. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Black Doom: Shadow... As you can see, the day of reckoning will soon be here. Find the seven Chaos Emeralds and bring them to me as promised.
  17. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Shadow: If he says he knows the truth about who I am... then like it or not, I have to believe him. The only way I'm going to get the secrets to my past is to get those Chaos Emeralds!
  18. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Shadow: Finally... I've got ALL the Chaos Emeralds!
  19. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Shadow: With the power of these Emeralds, Black Doom and his army are finished!
  20. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Shadow: With the power of these Emeralds, I'm going to destroy this damn planet!
  21. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Black Doom: Humans are a great energy source for us... they will be well-kept.
  22. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Black Doom: A special weapon... this gas, once released, is quickly absorbed into your bloodstream. In a moment, total paralysis will hit your nervous system.
  23. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Black Doom: The end is near, now. Before long, the gas from this Comet will have spread over the entire planet.
  24. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Black Doom: The professor was in development of the ultimate life force but he needed my help. So we made a deal... I helped him and he promised to deliver me the SEVEN Chaos Emeralds. That's how you were created, Shadow. You would help us do both!
  25. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Black Doom: That's right... You are a part of me... do you feel that? I can control you...
  26. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Gerald: Shadow...it's up to YOU and only YOU can stop them! I developed the Eclipse Cannon...it's the only weapon that can destroy that Black Comet. Shadow, you are the only hope... to save mankind as we know it. The future of this planet depends on...YOU!
  27. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Black Doom: Well, well, well...seems like you're immune to my mind control.
  28. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Black Doom: Have it your way, Shadow. So be it...be prepared to meet your maker! Your past, present, and future ends here...TODAY! Prepare to die! Say goodbye Shadow as you witness my true wrath!
  29. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Eggman: Shadow... can you hear me? This might be the last chance I have to speak to you so... what I said about having created you... it was all a lie... everyone thought you died during that horrible incident... but I rescued you with one of my robots... you lost your memory that's all... you really are the ultimate lifeform my grandfather created!
  30. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Black Doom: Im...impossible! I am the supreme being that rules this universe! I am the immortal life form! I am the ultimate power! Gaaaah! / Shadow: This is the end of you, and the end to my cursed past.
  31. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Shadow: Only one thing left to do... To put the past behind me! Chaos ... Control!
  32. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Tails: YEAH...he did it! The Black Comet is destroyed! / Sonic: Shadow...that was SWEET! / Rouge: I hope he's OK. / Amy: I'm sure he's fine, Rouge. After all, he is Shadow! / Eggman: How about giving me back those Chaos Emeralds now? / Knuckles: Hey, get back here you creep!
  33. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. President: How ironic... After the way we all treated him, he saved us all in the end. We were all wrong about the professor. ... Let us pay homage to Professor Gerald! Let's work to ensure peace and prosperity for a brighter future! What do you say, Commander? / Commander: Excellent idea, Mr. President.
  34. ↑ Sega Studio USA. Shadow the Hedgehog. Shadow: Goodbye forever... Shadow the Hedgehog.
  35. 1 2 Klepek, Patrick (May 24, 2005). "Shadow the Hedgehog Preview from 1UP.com". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  36. ↑ Leone, Matt (8 March 2005). "Sega Reveals Sonic Adventure 3". 1UP.com . Archived from the original on 26 April 2006. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  37. ↑ Adams, David. "Shadow the Hedgehog Burrows into Stores". IGN. Archived from the original on August 31, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  38. ↑ "Shadow the Hedgehog". Eurogamer.net. Archived from the original on 2015-04-05. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  39. ↑ "Now Playing in Japan". IGN. 19 December 2005. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  40. 1 2 "Shadow the Hedgehog for GameCube – Shadow the Hedgehog GameCube Game – Shadow the Hedgehog Game". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 19 June 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
  41. ↑ Kemps, Heidi (September 30, 2005). "Sega's Yuji Naka Talks!". GameSpy. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  42. ↑ "Sonic the Hedgehog". Di-O-Matic.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016.
  43. ↑ ""セガモバ"で『シャドウ・ザ・ヘッジホッグ』のサントラCDがプレゼント！". Famitsu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  44. ↑ "Amazon.com – Shadow the Hedgehog: The Official Soundtrack". Amazon. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  45. ↑ Funatsu, Minoru (2005-10-11). "セガ、m-floと「シャドウ・ザ・ヘッジホッグ」がコラボ m-flo「『ソニック』はゲームに革新を起こした! コラボができて感激」". Game Watch (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  46. ↑ "m-floとシャドウがコラボ――「m-flo LOVES SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG」". ITMedia (in Japanese). 2005-10-11. Archived from the original on 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  47. ↑ Joscelyne, Svend (September 12, 2005). "Sonic Voiceover Cast Replaced". The Sonic Stadium. Archived from the original on November 21, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  48. ↑ Madden, Orla (13 March 2013). "Ninterview: Meet Roger Craig Smith – Voice Actor for Sonic the Hedgehog / Chris Redfield". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  49. ↑ Cripe, Michael (May 31, 2024). "Shadow the Hedgehog Voice Actor Says There Are 'Hours' of M-Rated Recordings of Shadow Dropping the F-Bomb". IGN . Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  50. 1 2 "Shadow the Hedgehog for GameCube Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 2011-12-14. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  51. 1 2 "Shadow the Hedgehog for Xbox Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  52. 1 2 "Shadow the Hedgehog for PlayStation 2 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  53. 1 2 3 Bettenhausen, Shane (November 23, 2005). "Reviews: Shadow the Hedgehog for GameCube". 1UP.com . Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  54. 1 2 3 Bramwell, Tom (November 15, 2005). "Shadow the Hedgehog Review". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  55. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Helgeson, Matt (January 2006). "Shadow the Hedgehog for GameCube Review". Game Informer . Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  56. 1 2 3 4 5 Klepek, Patrick (November 16, 2005). "GameSpy: Shadow the Hedgehog Review". GameSpy. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  57. 1 2 3 Casamassina, Matt (November 17, 2005). "IGN: Shadow the Hedgehog Review for GameCube". IGN . Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  58. ↑ Casamassina, Matt (November 17, 2005). "Shadow the Hedgehog Review for PS2". IGN. Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  59. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Thomason, Steve (January 2006). "Shadow the Hedgehog Review". Nintendo Power . No. 199. p. 111. In Nintendo Power's final issue in December 2012, Thomason recanted his 8.0 score, stating, "I was young, stupid, and had an inexplicable weakness for any game starring hedgehogs. I apologize profusely to anyone who bought that abomination on account of my misguided praise." See Thomason, Steve (December 2012). "Power Players: Nintendo Power editors past and present recall their favorite memories of the magazine". Nintendo Power. No. 285. p. 11. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
  60. 1 2 3 4 5 "Xbox Review: Shadow the Hedgehog". Official Xbox Magazine . December 6, 2005. Archived from the original on June 20, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  61. 1 2 3 4 "Reviews: Shadow the Hedgehog". X-Play. Archived from the original on April 3, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  62. 1 2 "Shadow The Hedgehog". The Times . January 7, 2006. p. 14.
  63. ↑ "Shadow the Hedgehog (Xbox) reviews at". GameRankings. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  64. ↑ "Jetix Magazine Reader Awards 2006". Official Jetix Magazine . No. 26. Future plc. August 4, 2006.
  65. ↑ "2005 Nintendo Power Awards". Nintendo Power. Vol. 19, no. 203. May 2006. p. 56.
  66. ↑ "Sega Sammy Holdings Annual Report 2006" (PDF). July 2006. p. 47. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  67. ↑ "Fiscal Year Ended March 2007 Full Year Results" (PDF). 2007-05-14. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-07-29. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  68. ↑ "Shadow the Hedgehog for PlayStation 2 – Shadow the Hedgehog PlayStation 2 Game – Shadow the Hedgehog Game". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2010.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.