Shadow the Hedgehog
Template:Short description Template:Pp Template:Good article Template:About Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox character Template:Nihongo foot is a character created by the Japanese game developers Takashi Iizuka, Shiro Maekawa, and Kazuyuki Hoshino. He is a major character in Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. An anthropomorphic black hedgehog, Shadow shares design traits and attributes with Sonic the Hedgehog, and serves as Sonic's principal rival throughout the franchise. Described as an antihero, Shadow is portrayed as having noble intentions and a compassionate heart, but is standoff-ish with the people he encounters and often willing to fight anyone who comes in the way of his objective. His solemn demeanor and antagonistic traits put him at ideological odds with Sonic, though the two have a begrudging respect for each other and frequently team up for the greater good. Kōji Yusa voices Shadow in Japan, while his English voice has been provided by David Humphrey, Jason Griffith, and Kirk Thornton. Keanu Reeves voices him in the feature film Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024).
Shadow first appeared in the Dreamcast game Sonic Adventure 2 (2001), although he was conceived during the development of Sonic Adventure (1998). Iizuka devised the concept, while Maekawa developed his character and Hoshino designed him. Influences included the Dragon Ball character Vegeta, the Image Comics character Spawn, the Sonic character Metal Sonic, and speed skaters. Sonic Team envisioned Shadow as a one-off character who would only appear in Sonic Adventure 2, but his popularity among fans led to his inclusion in subsequent games, beginning with Sonic Heroes (2003), in which he becomes part of "Team Dark" alongside Rouge the Bat and E-123 Omega. Shadow has since featured in many Sonic games, including serving as the main protagonist of the games Shadow the Hedgehog (2005) and Shadow Generations (2024).
Shadow is one of the few Sonic characters to have a character arc across multiple games. Shadow was created by Professor Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of series main antagonist Doctor Eggman, using alien DNA with the intention of creating the "Ultimate Lifeform". He was housed on a space colony, the ARK, where he developed a close friend with Robotnik's daughter, Maria Robotnik. However, the government organization G.U.N., upon discovering Robotnik's schemes on conquering the world, invaded the ARK and killed its occupants, including Maria, before capturing Shadow and keeping him in stasis for fifty years. After escaping, he initially plots revenge and desires to annihilate humanity for Maria's death, but later remembers his promise to her that he would protect the world from danger and allies with Sonic against Robotnik's own revenge plans. Shadow is presumed dead in the battle, but is in actuality kept comatose and with amnesia by Eggman. After being freed by Rouge, he begins recovering his memories and goes on a quest to continue protecting the world, reaffirming his promise and gaining a stronger sense of identity upon doing so.
Shadow is one of the most popular Sonic characters and was named one of the greatest video game characters by Guinness World Records in 2011. However, he has proven divisive among video game journalists. Some praised his role in Sonic Adventure 2 and his levels' preservation of the Sonic theme, but others criticized his dark and brooding characterization, particularly in later games, and ranked him among the worst Sonic characters. The Shadow the Hedgehog game received generally unfavorable reviews, though it sold well. In the third installment of the Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise, Reeves's adaptation received critical praise for his moody portrayal of the character's stoicism, empathy and darkness.
Role in Sonic the HedgehogEdit
Video gamesEdit
Shadow is an anthropomorphic black hedgehog appearing in Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series of platform games and its various spin-offs. He first appeared in the 2001 installment Sonic Adventure 2,<ref name="GSpot: SA2Hands-On"/> the final Sonic game released for a Sega video game console.<ref name="IGN: SA2rev">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His roles in the games vary. Some, such as the main series games Sonic Adventure 2,<ref name="IGN: SA2rev"/> Sonic Heroes (2003),<ref name="Dunham-2003" /> and Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) feature him as a major playable character,<ref name="IGN: 06rev">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and he is the protagonist of the spin-off Shadow the Hedgehog (2005) and a downloadable content (DLC) package for Sonic Forces (2017).<ref name="Casamassina-2005">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Phillips-2017">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Others, such as the anniversary game Sonic Generations (2011), limit him to a non-playable role.<ref name="Kotaku: Plumbs">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also appears as one of the characters who can be summoned using the Assist Trophy item in the Super Smash Bros. series.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Shadow is a mysterious, sharp-witted, and brooding antihero.<ref name="Sonic the Hedgehog">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Vincent-2018">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> While his ultimate goal is to protect the world from danger,<ref name="Sonic the Hedgehog" /> he dislikes humanity,<ref name="Sonic the Hedgehog-2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and once he has set a goal, he does whatever it takes to accomplish it.<ref name="Sonic the Hedgehog" /> This often causes him to take risks without thinking them through and puts him at odds with series protagonist Sonic the Hedgehog.<ref name="Annual2014">Template:Cite book</ref> Although a loner, Shadow collaborates with treasure hunter Rouge the Bat and robot E-123 Omega in games such as Sonic Heroes, Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), and Sonic Forces.<ref name="Dunham-2003">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Shadow allies with Sonic in some games,<ref name="Vincent-2018" /> but also does so with Doctor Eggman in Sonic Adventure 2 and Shadow the Hedgehog.<ref name="Casamassina-2005"/><ref name="GSpot: SA2Hands-On2"/>
Shadow shares many similarities with Sonic.<ref name="Dunham-2003" /> Visually, GameSpotTemplate:'s Ben Stahl described Shadow as "an evil version of Sonic himself—similar in appearance, but with darker skin, more angled eyes, and a fearsome snarl instead of Sonic's trademark grin."<ref name="GSpot: SA2Hands-On">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> GamesRadar+Template:'s Justin Leeper said that if Sonic was Superman, then Shadow would be his Batman.<ref name="GR+: 06rev">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The characters control similarly in games, as both share skills and the ability to run at great speeds.<ref name="Dunham-2003" /><ref name="GSpot: SA2Hands-On2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Shadow has unique attributes in some games, such as his uses of firearms and vehicles in Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog, respectively.<ref name="IGN: 06rev"/><ref name="Casamassina-2005" /> He can also use the Chaos Emeralds to perform "Chaos Control"—allowing him to distort time—and create weapons like spears.<ref name="Dunham-2003" /><ref name="Sonic the Hedgehog" /><ref name="Sonic the Hedgehog-2" /> Like Sonic, Shadow can transform into a "Super" form, giving him special powers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="DCMag: SA2rev">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Other mediaEdit
Outside of the video game series, Shadow appears in the anime series Sonic X, which adapts the story of the Sonic Adventure games, as well as Sonic Boom and Sonic Prime. The original Japanese cast from the games reprised their roles for the former,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while Jason Griffith (who also voiced Sonic) voiced Shadow in its English dub by 4Kids Entertainment.<ref name="MC: Griffith" /> In the Sonic Boom (2014–2017) spin-off franchise, Shadow appears in the 2014 games Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric for the Wii U and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal for the Nintendo 3DS, as well as the television episodes "It Takes a Village to Defeat a Hedgehog" and "Eggman: The Video Game".<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Ian Hanlin voices Shadow in the animated Netflix series Sonic Prime (2022–2024).<ref name="Griffin-2022"/> After Sonic inadvertently opens the path to the Paradox Prism for Eggman, Shadow has a vague vision of the universe's shatter and tries to prevent it but fails, he manages to escape it using Chaos Control and is trapped in the void between Shatterspaces. Shadow also appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic books published by Archie Comics and IDW Publishing,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and his likeness has been used in Sonic merchandise.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Shadow made his live-action debut in a non-speaking cameo appearance in the mid-credits scene of the 2022 film Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and was voiced by Keanu Reeves in the sequel Sonic the Hedgehog 3, released on December 20, 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
DevelopmentEdit
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Shadow was created by Takashi Iizuka and Shiro Maekawa, who respectively served as director and writer of Sonic Adventure 2.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Sega: 006">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During the development of the original Sonic Adventure (1998), Sonic Team conceived a black hedgehog who equaled or exceeded Sonic's coolness. The idea was revived during brainstorming sessions for Sonic Adventure 2, as the game features two "good vs. evil" storylines.<ref name="Stadium: OnStage">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Iizuka wanted to appeal to American audiences with an antihero, a popular character archetype in the US at the time.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> Concept art indicates that Shadow was primarily inspired by the Dragon Ball character Vegeta, but Iizuka denied this, instead citing the Image Comics character Spawn as an influence.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Shadow was initially named "Terios" ("reflection of"), referencing his role as Sonic's doppelganger.<ref name="HistoryOfSonic">Template:Cite book</ref> He was renamed Shadow after another new character, a bat, who became Rouge.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sonic Team tasked Maekawa with developing Shadow, a task he found challenging. One night, while he brainstormed lines for a scene in which Sonic confronts Shadow for impersonating him, Maekawa came up with Shadow's first line: "Hmph, aren't you the fake one here?" From here, Maekawa envisioned the hedgehog as a delicate, pure character who would refer to himself using the more humble Japanese pronoun Template:Nihongo.<ref name="Sega: 006"/> Iizuka made sure that Shadow's introduction also brought new events to the game, as he wanted players to care about the character.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Kazuyuki Hoshino designed Shadow. Like he had when he designed Metal Sonic for Sonic CD (1993), Hoshino imagined Shadow in a confrontation with Sonic to produce the design.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Early Shadow designs bore a strong resemblance to Sonic, with darker colors, droopier spines, and a scar on the left of his face.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hoshino said these designs reflected Shadow being originally "more obviously evil"; he called the initial incarnation "Terios the Prisoner". For the final design, Hoshino remembered that he had designed Metal Sonic with a jet engine to distinguish him from Sonic. Likewise, he drew inspiration from speed skaters for Shadow's design since he wanted Shadow to rival Sonic's speed in a unique manner.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Sonic Adventure 2 was intended to be Shadow's only appearance, but his popularity among fans led to him returning in Sonic Heroes.<ref name="Stadium: OnStage"/><ref name="HistoryOfSonic"/> Additionally, Sonic Team wanted to feature Shadow in a spin-off game.<ref name="NWR: Confirms">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By 2005, Sonic Team was interested in developing a high-speed shooter game. They chose to focus on Shadow—whom they felt would provide "the perfect venue... to try our hand at this genre"—leading to the development of Shadow the Hedgehog. Series co-creator Yuji Naka hoped Shadow would lead to a spin-off series about the character.<ref name="GSpy: Talks">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When developing Shadow's design and world, Sonic Team was influenced by films such as Underworld (2003), Constantine (2005), and those in the Terminator series.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The team abandoned Shadow's shooting gameplay when working on Sonic the Hedgehog in 2006. Instead, director Shun Nakamura emphasized combat to differentiate his gameplay from that of Sonic's; while Sonic was designed for speedy platforming, Shadow was designed for fighting enemies.<ref name="Sonic: 06Shadow">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After Sonic and the Black Knight (2009), Shadow did not appear as a playable character in a Sonic platformer for some time,<ref name="Phillips-2017" /> until the release of Sonic Forces in 2017.<ref name="Poly: EpisodeShadow">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nakamura explained that Sonic Team brought Shadow back for Sonic Forces so it would appeal to fans of the Adventure games, as the character is "extremely popular" among that group.<ref name="EuroG: Impact">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Iizuka has commented that another Shadow-oriented spin-off is a possibility.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Voice portrayalEdit
In Japan, Kōji Yusa voices Shadow.<ref name="SA2"/><ref name="S06"/> Shadow's English voice actor has changed several times. David Humphrey was the first to assume the role, but was replaced by Jason Griffith, who voiced Shadow and Sonic in the English dub of the anime series Sonic X (2003–2006), and in video games beginning with Shadow the Hedgehog in 2005.<ref name="Cygnettheatre">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="MC: Griffith">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kirk Thornton has voiced Shadow since 2010, starting with Sonic Free Riders.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In Sonic Prime, Shadow is voiced by Ian Hanlin.<ref name="Griffin-2022">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Canadian actor Keanu Reeves voices Shadow in the 2024 film Sonic the Hedgehog 3,<ref name=2024film>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> reprising his role in downloadable content for Sonic X Shadow Generations.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Character biographyEdit
Within the Sonic series' fictional universe, Shadow the Hedgehog was created by Professor Gerald Robotnik through genetic engineering. His creation was part of an experiment, "Project Shadow", meant to cure his granddaughter Maria from a deadly illness.<ref name="Dunham-2003" /><ref name="Sonic the Hedgehog" /><ref name="SA2"/> While Shadow and Maria formed a strong bond, the United Federation government and a military organization, the Guardian Units of Nations (GUN), deemed him a threat. GUN raided the Space Colony ARK on which Maria and Shadow lived, killing the former as she sent Shadow to Earth in an escape pod. Shadow was later recovered by GUN and placed in suspended animation.<ref name="SA2"/><ref name="EuroGrev">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Maria's death traumatized Shadow, who vowed to keep his promise to her that he would protect the world from danger.<ref name="Sonic the Hedgehog" /> In Sonic Adventure 2, Gerald's grandson, Doctor Eggman, learns of Shadow and revives him as part of a plan to conquer the world and defeat Sonic the Hedgehog.<ref name="GRev: SA2rev">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Believing that the promise he made was one of revenge on humanity, Shadow agrees to help Eggman, framing Sonic for their evil deeds.<ref name="EuroGrev"/><ref name="GRev: SA2rev"/> However, Shadow eventually allies himself with Sonic to prevent the world's destruction after he remembers the promise he made to Maria.<ref name="SA2">Template:Cite video game</ref> However, he is unable to handle the power of all seven Chaos Emeralds in a Super State as well as Sonic, plummeting to Earth from space after the final boss fight.<ref name="Dunham-2003" />
Shadow is presumed dead until Sonic Heroes; Rouge the Bat discovers him alive in an Eggman base during a search. He remembers nothing except his name and Maria's death,<ref name="Dunham-2003" /><ref name="Herald Sun">Template:Cite journal</ref> forming "Team Dark" with Rouge and E-123 Omega to find Eggman and learn of his past.<ref name="Dunham-2003" /> In Shadow the Hedgehog, Shadow, still experiencing amnesia, becomes caught in a three-way war between Eggman, GUN, and the Black Arms, an alien army led by Black Doom.<ref name="NWR: Confirms"/> Shadow can choose to help GUN, Sonic and his friends, Eggman, or the Black Arms.<ref name="Casamassina-2005" /> At the end of the game, Shadow recovers from his amnesia and learns the truth about his past, including that Gerald created him using Black Doom's DNA. Black Doom uses that in an attempt control him, but Shadow stands up to him and ultimately defeats him. After the battle, Shadow chooses to put the past behind him and move on,<ref name="ShadowGame">Template:Cite video game</ref> and in Sonic the Hedgehog is depicted as working with GUN.<ref name="S06">Template:Cite video game</ref> In Shadow Generations, Shadow, believing the Black Arms have resurfaced, returns to the ARK, where he is thrust into the dimension of White Space by the Time Eater (concurrently during the events of Sonic Generations<ref name="SonicGenerations">Template:Cite video game</ref>). Along his journey, he manifests mysterious Doom Powers, which he uses to fight against Black Doom; Shadow also encounters Gerald and Maria, taken from another point in time, who assist in helping Shadow control his new powers as he confronts and destroys Black Doom once and for all. Upon his triumph, Maria and Gerald return to their time period as Shadow joins Rouge to help Sonic against the Time Eater.
Reception and legacyEdit
Shadow quickly proved popular among players of Sonic Adventure 2, contributing to his return in later games.<ref name="HistoryOfSonic"/> Additionally, responses to his introduction were favorable; critics considered his levels in Sonic Adventure 2 among the game's highlights.<ref name="IGN: SA2rev"/><ref name="GRev: SA2rev"/><ref name="GSpot: SA2rev">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="PS: SA2rev">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> GameSpotTemplate:'s Shane Satterfield wrote Shadow's levels were exciting and helped preserve the general theme of Sonic games, and wished they had been more plentiful.<ref name="GSpot: SA2Brev">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nintendo LifeTemplate:'s Mark Reece similarly felt Shadow's levels successfully adapted the Sonic formula to 3D.<ref name="NLife: SA2Brev">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, despite strong sales,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the 2005 Shadow game received generally unfavorable reviews<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and, according to Official Nintendo MagazineTemplate:'s Thomas East, tarnished the character's reputation.<ref name="ONM: best/worst">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Reviews for Shadow the Hedgehog criticized numerous aspects of the character, such as his controls, use of firearms, and characterization.<ref name="GR+: 10"/><ref name="GI: Shoot">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="1UP: Shadow">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="GSpy: Shadow"/> Game InformerTemplate:'s Matt Helgeson decried Shadow as a character who lacked personality and mocked his "ridiculous" and "laughable" Clint Eastwood rasp,<ref name="GI: Shoot"/> while GameSpyTemplate:'s Patrick Klepek felt the game was proof the Sonic series had jumped the shark.<ref name="GSpy: Shadow"/> Similarly, 1UP.comTemplate:'s Shane Bettenhausen compared Shadow to Poochie,<ref name="1UP: Shadow"/> a character from The Simpsons episode "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show" (1997) symbolic of creating a new character simply to boost a flagging series.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Klepek thought guns made sense for Shadow's character but did not have a compelling use in the game, and expressed hope Sonic Team would "[bury] him alongside the same graves as the third-tier of characters from Knuckles' Chaotix."<ref name="GSpy: Shadow">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Critics reviewing the 2006 Sonic the Hedgehog considered Shadow's gameplay slightly better than that of Sonic's but felt it did not add enough to the experience,<ref name="IGN: 06rev"/><ref name="GR+: 06rev" /> while Den of GeekTemplate:'s Chris Freiberg wrote that the Shadow DLC for Sonic Forces added some replay value to a game he criticized for its short length.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Reviewers have called Shadow—both the game and the character—an ill-advised attempt to bring a sense of maturity to the Sonic series.<ref name="ONM: best/worst"/><ref name="GI: Shoot"/> Indeed, IGNTemplate:'s Levi Buchanan and 1UPTemplate:'s Jeremy Parish considered him one of the series' biggest problems;<ref name="IGN: Wrong">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="1UP: Reset">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Parish wrote that of the unnecessary Sonic characters Sega should retire, Shadow was the most in need of it.<ref name="1UP: Reset"/> Numerous video game journalists have mockingly described the character as "edgy",<ref name="Poly: EpisodeShadow"/><ref name="GR+: 10"/><ref name="Paste: Brings">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> internet slang referring to someone who exhibits disconcerting behavior in an effort to impress others. In 2010, DeviantArt user "cmara" released a webcomic depicting Shadow in a romantic relationship with Shrek, the title character of the DreamWorks film series. According to KotakuTemplate:'s Nathan Grayson, the comic paired the two because "if Shrek was the big screen embodiment of nu-millennium toilet garbage, Shadow the Hedgehog—with his hilariously unfitting blend of guns and angst in a colorful world of fast animals in clown shoes—was his video game bride. Both tried to act like they were too cool for 'kid stuff.' Too sophisticated, too edgy. They were made for each other—and approximately one billion people between the ages of 12 and 34."<ref name="Kotaku: Shrek">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The character has also been the subject of several internet memes, such as one claiming the character loves Latinas, which was acknowledged in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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Shadow is a divisive Sonic character.<ref name="Kotaku: Plumbs"/><ref name="EuroG: Impact"/> Some, such as East, who ranked him one of the series' best characters, praise him for his role in Sonic Adventure 2;<ref name="ONM: best/worst"/><ref name="Kotaku: Plumbs"/> Game InformerTemplate:'s Brian Shea called Shadow a "fun equal" to Sonic who delivered the series' traditional sense of speed,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and PolygonTemplate:'s Allegra Frank said he is a fan-favorite.<ref name="Poly: EpisodeShadow"/> "For others," wrote KotakuTemplate:'s Mike Fahey, Shadow "signifies the looming death of a beloved series." Fahey felt Shadow's self-titled game was when the Sonic franchise lost its identity, and dismissed those who argued in favor of his role in Sonic Adventure 2.<ref name="Kotaku: Plumbs"/> James Stephanie Sterling, writing for GamesRadar+, ranked Shadow among the series' worst characters, arguing he lost his relevance over time and calling him "the ultimate example of a good idea gone rotten."<ref name="GR+: 10">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Brian Shea from Game Informer included Shadow in a similar list, observing that his "brooding 'tortured soul' personality wore on him quickly".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In a more positive write-up, FanbyteTemplate:'s Kenneth Shepard argued Shadow's characterization was more complex than most characters in the series, but later games leaned harder on a one-dimensional "edgelord" archetype.<ref name="Fanbyte">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite this, in 2005 Naka said Sonic Team had determined Shadow was the series' most popular character excluding Sonic himself,<ref name="GSpy: Talks"/> a finding reaffirmed in a 2009 Sega poll.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2011, Guinness World Records named Shadow among the 50 greatest video game characters of all time.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
In the film adaptation Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), Shadow and his voice actor Keanu Reeves's portrayal received critical praise. VarietyTemplate:'s Owen Gleiberman said that Reeves's "tones of deepest resonance" made Shadow empathetic to the audience,<ref name="VarReview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The New York TimesTemplate:'s Glenn Kenny felt Reeves brought "suitable emo brooding" to Shadow,<ref name="NYTreview">Template:Cite news</ref> and The A.V. ClubTemplate:'s Matt Donato wrote Reeves added "stoic somberness" to the established cast.<ref name="AVreview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Hollywood Reporter said that Reeves brought the same gravitas to Shadow that he did to John Wick, feeling his delivery of "quiet condescension" made him "all the scarier for the lack of overt menace".<ref name="THRreview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Polygon contrasted Eggman actor Jim Carrey's "gloriously deranged" performance with the "utter sincerity" of Reeves, who they praised for making Shadow a "weirdly likable little ball of pain".<ref name="PolygonReview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> IGNTemplate:'s Matt Donato said that Reeves's own identity, which was already reflected in the character by his voice, "profound[ly]" paralleled the tragedy in Shadow's story considering Reeves had experienced "unthinkable" hardships in his life; Donato concluded that Reeves "is Shadow the Hedgehog".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In April 2024, Sega launched the marketing campaign Fearless: Year of Shadow, with several projects starring Shadow the Hedgehog, such as Sonic X Shadow Generations and the film Sonic the Hedgehog 3.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Official character profiles on Sonic Central and Sonic-City (archived)
- Shadow at Sonic Channel (in Japanese)
- Shadow the Hedgehog on Sonic Retro, for character stats and additional plot information
- Fearless: Year of Shadow