It seems every popular video game franchise has that one character who causes division among fans to either love or hate their existence. Surprisingly, Shadow the Hedgehog has filled this spot within the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise for his darker characterization and brooding personality, which negatively affects the positive and fun vibes that Sonic fans expect from the games.
Ultimately, Shadow was made to be a darker version of the Sonic character as they have similar traits in being speedy hedgehogs. However, Shadow has black fur to Sonic’s blue fur and is known for running on roller-blades at super-fast speeds. While Sonic plays the heroic main protagonist of the series, Shadow is an anti-hero and Sonic’s biggest rival who prefers to save the world with guns rather than relying on his speed alone.
Appearing in 2001’s Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow gained immediate popularity with fans. Soon after, Shadow would appear in various games such as 2003’s Sonic Heroes and 2006’s Sonic the Hedgehog games as a main playable character. Eventually, Shadow’s success would result in him receiving his own video game in 2005.
The Development of Shadow the Hedgehog
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Sega Studios USA, formerly known as Sonic Team USA, began developing a video game starring the beloved anti-hero to capitalize on Shadow’s popularity. In the game, players follow Shadow as he seeks to regain memories of his forgotten past, all while fighting against an alien invasion.
As a spin-off to the Sonic games, Shadow the Hedgehog features the iconic ring collecting and fast platforming elements known in the franchise. However, Sega included extra features to the game to separate its gameplay from other Sonic games. For instance, Sega incorporated a third-person shooter element that brought more action and maturity to the platformer-style gameplay.
With the success of Sonic Adventures 2, Sega reached out to director Takashi Iizuka, creator of the Shadow character, to help bring the Shadow the Hedgehog game to life. Besides exploiting Shadow’s popularity, Sega Studios USA developed Shadow the Hedgehog to give further backstory to the popular character and to make their desired gun-blazing Sonic game.
A “Mature” Sonic the Hedgehog Game
Although Sonic games are marketed to children and teenagers, Shadow the Hedgehog was aimed at adult audiences. Due to Shadow’s edgy character, Sega could include a darker tone to the game that may have been deemed inappropriate in other Sonic games. In contrast to traditional Sonic games, Shadow the Hedgehog included weaponry in its gameplay alongside the ability to use vehicles for transportation. For example, Shadow can drive motorcycles, cars, and even an alien aircraft to crush enemies and travel through inaccessible areas.
Moreover, Shadow the Hedgehog has a unique gaming element where players must complete three separate mission objectives for level progression. In the hero missions, Shadow completes tasks for Sonic’s heroic characters, while in the dark missions, he aids the antagonists of Doctor Eggman and the game’s main antagonist, Black Boom. Lastly, the “normal” missions are reaching the goal ring similar to traditional Sonic games.
Criticisms Behind Shadow the Hedgehog
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After its reveal at 2005’s Walk of Game event, Shadow the Hedgehog was released on the Playstation, Gamecube, and Xbox in the same year. Unfortunately, the same criticisms that followed Shadow’s character would fall on the game itself. Mostly, critics gave the game negative reviews, mainly for its inclusion of dark themes, nonsensical stories, and bad controls.
Likewise, critics blasted Shadow the Hedgehog for its usage of weaponry in its gameplay. Although Sega tried to make a mature Sonic game, it failed to connect with long-time Sonic fans. Mainly, the game felt more like a parody of traditional Sonic games as its focus on its dark and edgy elements undermined its gameplay experience.
Yet, Shadow the Hedgehog wasn’t a total failure as it was praised for its replay value. Unlike traditional platformers and previous Sonic games, Shadow the Hedgehog gives players variety in approaching the game. With 326 possible paths, various alternate endings, and its use of a morality system, players can tackle the game in whatever way they’d like.
Legacy of Shadow the Hedgehog Character
Regarding its legacy, Shadow the Hedgehog is a cautionary tale on how being edgy without direction can backfire. Due to its failure, the game was seen as a money grab despite Sega’s earnest desire to make Sonic games for older audiences and to produce another character who rivals Sonic in popularity. By creating a more serious Sonic game, Sega alienated its audience as its bleak tone and poor controls led to Sonic fans being turned away.
Despite its negative reviews, Sega found commercial success with the game. Overall, Shadow the Hedgehog sold over two million copies within two years of its release and won various awards. As for the character, the game did no favors to make Shadow accepted among his critics, but Sega hasn’t lost hope in the character yet. With the upcoming Sonic 3 movie, hopefully, Sega can fix the mistakes of the game to redeem Shadow the proper way.
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