Shadow the Hedgehog/Synopsis

Click To Help DIO!

DIO has declared that this article has stopped in time, and any or all information on it may be outdated. Help improve this article by checking and updating its info wherever necessary And now time resumes! ✓

Villain Overview Synopsis Gallery

The story of Shadow the Hedgehog from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.

Early Life

50 years before the events of Sonic Adventure 2, a top-secret project known as "Project Shadow" had begun on the Space Colony ARK. Led by Professor gerald Robotnik, it was a government-sanctioned initiative to create "The Ultimate Life form," an immortal being that could be used for the benefit of the nation, likely in a militaristic fashion. While Gerald had initial misgivings to the purpose of the research he was assigned to, he realized that his results might be able to save his granddaughter, Maria. Suffering from the incurable disease Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Maria only had a short time left to live, and Gerald was willing to do whatever it took to save her life. Going against his worries of stepping into territory man had no business playing with, the professor immediately began work, hoping that he could apply any newly gained knowledge to find a cure to N.I.D.S.

Even with the resources at his disposal, Professor Gerald was unable to make significant progress. Without alerting anyone, Gerald decided to plea to the stars for help, contacting the Black Arms race, an alien civilization that lived upon the Black Comet, a celestial object that passed near the planet every 50 years. Its leader, Black Doom, offered to assist Gerald in his quest. He offered his blood - which ended up being the key to perfect the ultimate life form - in exchange for the seven Chaos Emeralds, which he would collect the next time he passed through. Knowing that the Black Arms' intentions were less than desirable, Gerald made the deal regardless, albeit with preparations to defeat the Black Arms with the cannon built into the ARK, and was able to successfully create Shadow the Hedgehog, on June 19th.

Once brought to life, Shadow immediately befriended Maria, and they became close during their short time together. Gerald, meanwhile, made precautions for the return of the Black Arms, ensuring that the Eclipse Cannon - an extremely powerful laser built into the ARK - was compatible with the seven Chaos Emeralds, so that when they did return with the Black Comet, humanity would be able to defend itself instead of bowing to their whims.

However, Gerald's progress was ruined when it was leaked to G.U.N. how he was able to create the successful prototype. During the meeting between Gerald and the Black Arms, one of the other children aboard the ARK had accidentally seen what transpired and reported back to those in charge. As ties between the ARK and the United Federation had already been strained, hearing the news of the dealings with an alien race scared those in charge. Afraid of the implications, it was decided to launch an invasion and put a stop to the work being done there.

What happened next was nothing short of madness, as G.U.N. troops descended onto the ARK, causing chaos and confusion wherever they went. Immediately they went after the Biolizard, which they thought was the successful "Project Shadow" prototype, and in the process of putting the creature into stasis, lost quite a few soldiers. From there they went about doing damage control, shutting down everything, getting everyone off the ARK, and killing those who resisted if need be. Knowing that the G.U.N. forces would be there at any moment, Maria convinced Shadow to enter an escape pod, her final wish to him that he give the people on the planet a chance to be happy. Wishing him goodbye, Shadow could do nothing as he watched the G.U.N. soldiers storm into the lab, firing a shot which would forever change the hedgehog's life as it ended the life of Maria Robotnik.

Learning of his granddaughter's death, Professor Gerald soon went mad with grief, swearing vengeance on humanity for taking away the only thing that ever meant anything to him. Though just what exactly transpired is cloudy, what is known is that both Gerald and the escape pod that held Shadow were gathered by G.U.N., Shadow having to be put to sleep in a stasis capsule within Prison Island, and Gerald being incarcerated and charged with the crimes that happened aboard the ARK.

Sonic Adventure 2

Dark Story

“	I found my grandfather's journal which led me to Shadow's hiding place. I woke him up, and unleashed him upon the world!	„
	~ Dr. Eggman noicon

Shadow made his first appearance in the video game Sonic Adventure 2 for the Sega Dreamcast, where he served as the main antagonist. After breaking into the center of a highly fortified government base, Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik discovers Shadow. At first he mistakes Shadow for Sonic the Hedgehog, but them realizes that he is in fact another hedgehog altogether. Shadow tells Eggman that for saving him, he would grant one of Eggman's wishes. Eggman naturally chooses world domination, and so Shadow tells him that they need to start collecting the Chaos Emeralds.

As the game progresses, it is revealed that the Chaos Emeralds were needed to power a massive space colony ARK, which has a destructive laser known as the Eclipse Cannon on it. To demonstrate its power (without even having all of the emeralds), Eggman fires a hole in the moon, and essentially holds the world for ransom. Meanwhile, Sonic and company are able to find a way to the colony, where Sonic and Shadow have their final battle of the game, while running on a track in the middle of space. Throughout the story, it becomes apparent that Shadow has his own ulterior motives for gaining the seven Chaos Emeralds: he intends to avenge Dr. Eggman's cousin Maria, his one and only friend, who was killed during a raid commenced by G.U.N. on the Space Colony ARK by having the ARK collide with the Earth, as he believed that this was her final wish. It is also implied that his misconstruing Maria's wish was the result of Professor Gerald Robotnik reprogramming Shadow due to his grief-induced insanity over his beloved granddaughter's death.

Final Story

The colony starts on a crash course to Earth, so the heroes and villains call it a draw and work together to stop it. Shadow is the only one who doesn't do anything, as he still believes he had fulfilled Maria's dying wish, but Amy, by arguing that even if people make mistakes, most of them are good at heart, inadvertently helps him remember Maria's real wish -- bringing hope to humanity. Realizing this, Shadow sets off to fix his mistake while he still can. At the center of the station, Sonic and Shadow find a monstrous creature called the Biolizard. Shadow fights it, and Knuckles uses the power of the Master Emerald to stop the Chaos Emeralds. Unfortunately, this does not stop the colony from falling, as they discover that the Biolizard fused with the colony to become the Final Hazard. Seeing no other option, Sonic and Shadow both use the Chaos Emeralds to become Super Sonic and Super Shadow. This enables them to breathe in space and fight. With their combined strength they beat the Finalhazard down, and use Chaos Control to transport the colony back in to its orbit. Shadow is unable to keep his Super Form, and falls to the Earth, saying that he had fulfilled the wish of his closest friend, Maria Robotnik, to protect the world.

Sonic Heroes

In Sonic Heroes, Shadow is revealed to have survived, but has amnesia and lost his memory. He, Rouge, and Omega form Team Dark and battle Neo Metal Sonic, disguised as Doctor Eggman.

From here, the only evil role he truly plays is the ones the players choose to take in Shadow the Hedgehog, though the canon ending depicts him saving the world again. He is, however, Sonic's rival on some occasions.

Shadow the Hedgehog

After Neo Metal Sonic's defeat, Shadow was left to wonder who he was, when Black Doom and his army of aliens, the Black Arms, invaded, and Black Doom told Shadow that he held the answers, and that he should help him take over the world and bring the seven Chaos Emeralds to him. Shadow was reluctant to obey Black Doom but realized the Chaos Emeralds might have the answers.

In some paths Shadow can take in the game, Eggman will imply or say outright that Shadow is an android version of the original created by him. If Eggman specifically says it, Shadow will suspect that this is why he has no memory and that the original Shadow fell to his death. However, if the battle with Devil Doom lasts more than eight minutes, Eggman will confess that he had lied and that Shadow is indeed the original, saved by one of Eggman's robots.

Throughout the game, Shadow can choose to help Black Doom, the heroes, sometimes Eggman, or else not help anyone and go straight for the Chaos Emeralds. Because of this, the game has ten normal endings, though the true ending is unlocked by viewing all of them.

Normal Endings

• 1. (Pure Dark/Dark) Shadow defeats Sonic and Diablon (piloted by GUN Commander) at GUN Fortress, collects the Chaos Emeralds and decides to use them to destroy the earth, and by doing so bring justice to humans.
• 2. (Pure Dark/Hero) Shadow defeats Black Doom at GUN Fortress, collects the Chaos Emeralds, and decides that as the ultimate life form, he will conquer the universe.
• 3. (Slightly Dark/Dark) Shadow defeats Sonic and Diablon at the Black Comet, collects the Chaos Emeralds and decides that as the ultimate life form, he is a servant to Black Doom, and that the earth will become part of their empire.
• 4. (Slightly Dark/Hero) Shadow defeats Eggman at the Black Comet, collects the Chaos Emeralds and decides that he is Shadow the Hedgehog, and that only he knows what's best. He then kills Eggman.
• 5. (Neutral/Dark) Shadow defeats Eggman at Lava Shelter, collects the Chaos Emeralds and decides that he is a Shadow Android, and that with the power of the Chaos Emeralds he will become even stronger then the "original". He then kills Eggman.
• 6. (Neutral/Hero) Shadow defeats Eggman at Lava Shelter, collects the Chaos Emeralds and decides that as a Shadow Android he will take over, and rule Eggman's empire. He then kills Eggman.
• 7. (Slightly Hero/Dark) Shadow defeats Eggman at Cosmic Fall, collects the Chaos Emeralds and decides that he, as the Ultimate lifeform, will guard the Space Colony ARK, and tells Eggman to leave it, and never come back.
• 8. (Slightly Hero/Hero) Shadow defeats Black Doom at Cosmic Fall, collects the Chaos Emeralds and decides that he was an experiment gone wrong, that he had destroyed much and that he should never have been created. He then walks away in despair, despite Vector's attempts to comfort him.
• 9. (Pure Hero/Dark) Shadow defeats Sonic and Diablon on Final Haunt, collects the Chaos Emeralds and decides to use them to become invincible, so that he will be the strongest hedgehog in the world.
• 10. (Pure Hero/Hero) Shadow defeats Black Doom on Final Haunt, collects the Chaos Emeralds and decides to keep his promise to protect the earth, the promise he had made to Maria over 50 years ago.

Final/True Ending

Shadow collects all the Chaos Emeralds, and plans to use them to figure out what he truly is. Black Doom arrives, and tells him to hand over the Emeralds. Before he can, Sonic and others arrive and tell him not to. Black Doom tells Shadow that humanity's actions will lead to the extinction of their own species, and that the Black Arms were going to save them from themselves with their "perfect order", and that they will allow them to live through their "desperate" lives in peace. Finally, Black Doom reveals that humans are a source of energy for them, so they will be kept. Black Doom then uses the Chaos Emeralds to warp the Black Comet towards the Earth's surface, fusing the two together. Black Doom explains to Shadow that Gerald Robotnik was creating the ultimate life form, and that he needed their help, and in return for his assistance Black Doom demanded the seven Chaos Emeralds. Shadow was created from Black Doom's blood and because of this, Black Doom could control him.

Meanwhile, Team Chaotix try to get the discs they found to play, and a recording of Gerald Robotnik starts. He tells Shadow that the government planned to shut down the ARK, and throw all who knew about Shadow into prison. He then explain to him the purpose of the Eclipse Cannon on the Ark, it was so, when Black Doom arrived Shadow could destroy them. Gerald then tells Shadow that the future is in his hands. Maria then jumps in on the recording and says that she and Shadow will protect Earth together.

After hearing this, Shadow is able to break free of the mind control. He decides to put the past behind him and uses the emeralds to become Super Shadow, and he fights Black Doom. After defeating the leader, he uses Chaos Control to separate the Black Comet from Earth, and teleports it into the Earth's orbit before using the Eclipse Cannon to destroy the comet. After the battle, Shadow is seen holding a picture of Gerald and Maria Robotnik, and throws it behind him, saying "Goodbye forever, Shadow the Hedgehog", finally putting his past behind him for good and looking to the future.

Sonic Free Riders

Shadow appears alongside Rouge the Bat and E-1000B as a member of Team Dark in the Grand Prix.

Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

After defeating Black Doom, Shadow has become an agent of G.U.N. He would often fight Mephiles the Dark, who took a form similar to him through his shadow, and was sealed inside the Scepter of Darkness by Shadow when he traveled back in time to show Silver that Mephiles was lying to him. Alongside Sonic and Silver, he defeated Mephiles and Iblis's combined true form, the immortal sun god Solaris.

It is shown in the future that he has become the enemy of the humans and they had Omega seal him away out of fear of his power. These events may have been linked to Mephiles and/or Iblis, however, and his future is left open when the events of the game are erased.

Sonic Rivals

Shadow competes with Sonic, Knuckles, and Silver to go after Eggman Nega, disguised as Eggman. Shadow rescued Rouge and Eggman, whom Eggman Nega imprisoned in a card.

Sonic Rivals 2

Shadow was hired by Eggman to stop Eggman Nega's plan to release the Ifrit, and was paired up with Metal Sonic. They competed with Sonic and Tails, Knuckles and Rouge, and Silver and Espio. In the end, Shadow and Metal Sonic closed the portal to the Ifrit's dimension from the inside. It is presumed that they were the ones who finished the Ifrit, as they were the only ones who did not make it through the portal. However they used Chaos Control to teleport out, leaving Eggman Nega trapped inside alone.

Sonic X Shadow Generations

“	I already told you. G.U.N. detected an unusual bio signature aboard the ARK. I'm not leaving until I eliminate any possible threat.	„
	~ Shadow in the opening of Shadow Generations

An hour before Sonic Generations, Shadow was ordered by the military to take the GUN Space Shuttle to the Space Colony ARK, to investigate a threat over there, hoping he wouldn't miss out on Sonic's birthday party, after the Blue Falcon stood down. It turns out, it was Black Doom again, who survived his defeat in the last story of his own game. After collecting the fake Chaos Emerald that Tails invented, he was transported to the White Space by the Time Eater, who was discovered by Eggman, who used it to undo his previous defeats, and reshape the past. E-123 Omega was there, too, and so was Big the Cat. Shadow, then discovered and gained new Doom powers; Doom Wing, Doom Morph, Doom Surf, Doom Blast, and Doom Spears. He then fought the Biolizard, calling him a tortured soul, and swore that he will destroy Black Doom again. Shadow encountered Orbot, and Cubot and helped them build their rocket to find and reunite with Eggman. After completing Sunset Heights, he heard someone scream, and after beating up Black Arms soldiers, he was shocked to see Maria again, upon reuniting with her and her Grandfather. He later confronted and defeated Metal Overlord by himself. Then, after completing Chaos Island, Shadow lost a rival match to the likes of Sonic, who took the fake Chaos Emerald from him, and not the real Emerald, but was reunited with Rouge. He then fought Mephiles, and sealed him back into the Scepter of Darkness telling him there's no future for him. Before going to deal with Black Doom again at the Black Moon, he told Maria he is letting go of his destructive anger, but will continue to fight for her wish for everyone to have a chance to be happy in his heart. After finally destroying Black Doom, for the last time, the Black Moon is destroyed, and Shadow said goodbye to Maria and Gerald, hoping he won't miss them with every bit of his heart, and went off with Rouge to confront the Time Eater. He then, cheered Sonic and his past self on during the battle and came to Sonic's birthday party in time.

Sonic Forces

Episode Shadow

This story began one to a couple of months before Dr. Eggman took over the world, the First time Shadow encountered a Jackal named, Infinite. Shadow and his team were on a reconnaissance mission regarding Dr. Eggman's base. After Omega lost all communications with Rouge, he went in search of the robot at his last recorded coordinates.[9] By the time he arrived, however, he discovered that Omega had been effortlessly defeated by Infinite, who knew Shadow from several months back when the latter raided one of Eggman's facilities and wiped out his mercenary unit, the Jackal Squad, with Infinite promptly repaying Shadow by trapping him in an illusion via the Phantom Ruby's properties. Shadow ultimately escaped both the illusion and the doomed facility, although not before learning that Infinite planned to overpower Sonic with his newfound abilities. He later learns from Rouge that Sonic is in trouble, although it is implied that Shadow was unable to make it in time to stop Infinite from defeating Sonic.

Shadow the Hedgehog as seen in Sonic Forces.

Main Game

In Sonic Forces, Shadow is a minor character. His presence is still important though, as he helps the resistance defeat Infinite and Dr. Eggman. He isn't seen until the middle of the game when a Shadow-Clone, created by Infinite, is about to attack Sonic. Shadow uses Chaos Control, and then kicks the clone to the ground, and the clone disappears. After this, Shadow continues helping The Resistance, reunites the rest of his team, and at the end of the game he is seen smiling while looking at The Resistance winning the war. After winning the war, Shadow, alongside Sonic's other allies, bid farewell to Classic Sonic, and vowed to rebuild the world. Afterwards, back at the Resistance HQ, he watched the Avatar leave to go on their own adventure.

IDW Comics

When Dr. Eggman (who had regained his memories and gone back to his old ways) headed towards Sunset City in his Faceship to create a Zombot outbreak in the city, Shadow began heading there to intercept Eggman with the aid of his team. When a Zombot outbreak occurred in the city anyway, Shadow took it upon himself to find a transport for the uninfected citizens. Shadow eventually arrived at the Grand Gold Flicky Hotel with a truck but not before ramming several Zombots on the east side out of the way for Sonic and E-123 Omega. Shadow soon after entered an argument with Sonic, who had arrived to help with the evacuation after getting infected with the Metal Virus, and reminded him that if he had eliminated Eggman, the Metal Virus would not be a problem for them in the first place. Before Sonic took off to burn off his infection by running, Shadow told him that he deserved to be infected. As he left, Sonic also told Shadow that he should be able to run his infection into remission if he got infected. While Shadow was aware of this, he noted that he was not going to run away. Shadow then got Omega to safeguard the truck while Rouge oversaw evacuation of the uninfected citizens. In the meantime, Shadow began fighting the Zombots, intending to eliminate them. While fighting the Zombots, Shadow claimed that, as the Ultimate Life form, he could not get infected by the Metal Virus. After fighting the Zombots for a while though, Shadow was surprised to see that the Metal Virus had infected him too. Ignoring Rouge's request to fall back, Shadow opted to continue fighting the Zombots. Unfortunately, Shadow was soon overwhelmed by the sheer number of Zombots, which completed his transformation into a Zombot. When Sonic later arrived on the scene once again, Shadow pushed him back against the truck.

Shadow fiercely fought Sonic until the latter kicked him back into the crowd of Zombots. Once Shadow spotted Rouge taking off in the truck, he chased after it. As Shadow in his Zombot form did not know how to properly use his rocket skates, Sonic easily caught up to his rival. Shadow threw him back and attempted to lunge at him. He was instead grabbed by Omega and slammed into the ground. When Shadow got up, he climbed onto Omega and ripped his chest open. Sonic Spin Attacked Shadow and tried to reason to him but to no avail. Shadow continued to fight Sonic back until he and the Zombots were lifted into the air by Silver's psychokinesis. After Silver released them, Shadow immediately lunged at Silver. The hedgehog narrowly dodged his attack and escaped with Tails, leaving Shadow in Sunset City.