Shadow the Hedgehog
Over 50 years ago, deep in a Military Research Space Station, Prof. Gerald Robotnik forged an experiment known as "Project Shadow" while trying to unlock the secrets of eternal life at the request of the Government. The experiment culminated in "The Ultimate Life-Form"; Shadow the Hedgehog, a creature with the ability to harness the mysterious power of the Chaos Emeralds in ways not thought possible. After being thought dead in Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow returned in Sonic Heroes with amnesia, and still does in this game. In the beginning of the game, Shadow is still without any clue about his past. He does not understand who he is or where he's from, but he's determined to find out, be it from Black Doom, the leader of an alien race who claims he and Shadow made a pact involving the Chaos Emeralds, G.U.N., the militaries that murdered Maria, or Dr. Eggman, the evil scientist.
Publisher: Sega
Features
Shadow is a platform game that plays similarly to previous Sonic 3-D titles (Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Heroes) requiring you to get from the start of the level to the end, as has traditionally been the case for the regular Sonic titles. The 'end' of a level, however, is not necessarily the 'Goal Ring' (as it has been since Sonic Adventure 2 when it replaced the standard animal capsule) or at the end of the track. Levels can also be finished by completing a given task known as Missions, either 'Hero' and 'Dark'. The way in which levels are completed affects how the game progresses, what levels you play, and, ultimately, which of the 10 possible endings you will see. As each level features cutscenes and boss battles, there are a total of 326 different paths in which to complete the game, and each one has a name.
The game uses a Gunplay/weapon use element, which has become synonymous with the title, in fact Shadow the Hedgehog is not the first use of guns in the franchise; all of E-102 Gamma's levels in Sonic Adventure, and both Tails and Eggman, used lock-on shooting in Sonic Adventure 2. Shadow The Hedgehog was shown using a submachine gun, a sword and a rocket launcher, he can in fact wield a number of weapons (not all guns), as well as parts of the scenery. The game is mostly completable without the use of guns or other weapons, though there are some areas and some missions that require using objects, such as torches. Shadow can still use all his moves from the previous games, like the Homing Attack.
Shadow has three missions in almost every level (these being Hero, Dark, and Neutral), and he can choose one to accomplish at any point in the level. These missions allow players to 'choose Shadow's future.' However, none of the endings except the final ending are canon. The level Shadow goes to changes depending on which mission was played on the previous level. Also, Shadow now has at least two abilities, Chaos Control (light blue) and Chaos Blast (red), and gains these by killing certain targets: killing aliens and destroying debris and the evil red fruit increases the Chaos Control Gauge, and killing humans and destroying nature (trees, plants, etc.) increases the Chaos Blast Gauge.
Besides wielding weapons, Shadow can use vehicles; 4x4's, motorbikes, G.U.N. mechs, alien crafts, etc. As with the weapons, this has spawned complaints from fans, who point out that Shadow is similar to Sonic, and thus would be able to run faster than most vehicles; additionally, most of the vehicles are optional.
There are some images showing that Shadow could fly with his air shoes.
Although Shadow can run faster than the game's vehicles, the vehicles have many capabilities that Shadow does not have (e.g. the trailer from a pre-rendered movie from the game which sees Shadow use a motorcycle as a rolling missile, and also Shadow can use the vehicle to run over enemies or hit them). As in most Sonic games, the Chaos Emeralds play a big part in this game, as Shadow needs them to regain his memory and to use his ultimate Powers.
These powers, according to the developers, are intended to be the ultimate in destruction and speed. The two Chaos Powers are the heroic "Chaos Control" (lets Shadow manipulate time and space. In stages it lets him teleport through the stage, but in boss battles it lets him slow down time), which is used by defeating Black Arms invaders, and the evil "Chaos Blast" (creates an explosive blast of energy damaging enemies), which can be used by killing G.U.N. soldiers and robots. "Chaos Spear", a move previously used in Sonic Adventure 2' is only available with Super Shadow. Instead of having a linear storyline, you have the ability to choose your path, which is touted as the game's major selling point. You can even change sides when you please. There are a total of 10 alternate endings that can be unlocked, plus one "Final" ending which ties everything together. Although you play as Shadow, all major Sonic characters appear at points in the story.
There is a 'level map' which shows the player how they've chosen between Hero and Dark goals in previous stages (the player must choose a mission while playing the levels). Dark goes UP in the map, and Hero goes DOWN. Neutral missions go straight. Each level has all three missions, with the exceptions of the ones surrounding the level map (e.g., levels 2a and 2c, 4a and 4e, etc.).
Each 'last level' (stage six levels) has a Hero or Dark mission; there is no Neutral mission. Both missions yield different endings. Most stages have a different final boss associated with each ending.
There are a total of 22 levels, and each time, the player only plays six levels.
The ranking system is the same as Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Heroes, with rankings from E (lowest) to A (highest).
The game uses a Gunplay/weapon use element, which has become synonymous with the title, in fact Shadow the Hedgehog is not the first use of guns in the franchise; all of E-102 Gamma's levels in Sonic Adventure, and both Tails and Eggman, used lock-on shooting in Sonic Adventure 2. Shadow The Hedgehog was shown using a submachine gun, a sword and a rocket launcher, he can in fact wield a number of weapons (not all guns), as well as parts of the scenery. The game is mostly completable without the use of guns or other weapons, though there are some areas and some missions that require using objects, such as torches. Shadow can still use all his moves from the previous games, like the Homing Attack.
Shadow has three missions in almost every level (these being Hero, Dark, and Neutral), and he can choose one to accomplish at any point in the level. These missions allow players to 'choose Shadow's future.' However, none of the endings except the final ending are canon. The level Shadow goes to changes depending on which mission was played on the previous level. Also, Shadow now has at least two abilities, Chaos Control (light blue) and Chaos Blast (red), and gains these by killing certain targets: killing aliens and destroying debris and the evil red fruit increases the Chaos Control Gauge, and killing humans and destroying nature (trees, plants, etc.) increases the Chaos Blast Gauge.
Besides wielding weapons, Shadow can use vehicles; 4x4's, motorbikes, G.U.N. mechs, alien crafts, etc. As with the weapons, this has spawned complaints from fans, who point out that Shadow is similar to Sonic, and thus would be able to run faster than most vehicles; additionally, most of the vehicles are optional.
There are some images showing that Shadow could fly with his air shoes.
Although Shadow can run faster than the game's vehicles, the vehicles have many capabilities that Shadow does not have (e.g. the trailer from a pre-rendered movie from the game which sees Shadow use a motorcycle as a rolling missile, and also Shadow can use the vehicle to run over enemies or hit them). As in most Sonic games, the Chaos Emeralds play a big part in this game, as Shadow needs them to regain his memory and to use his ultimate Powers.
These powers, according to the developers, are intended to be the ultimate in destruction and speed. The two Chaos Powers are the heroic "Chaos Control" (lets Shadow manipulate time and space. In stages it lets him teleport through the stage, but in boss battles it lets him slow down time), which is used by defeating Black Arms invaders, and the evil "Chaos Blast" (creates an explosive blast of energy damaging enemies), which can be used by killing G.U.N. soldiers and robots. "Chaos Spear", a move previously used in Sonic Adventure 2' is only available with Super Shadow. Instead of having a linear storyline, you have the ability to choose your path, which is touted as the game's major selling point. You can even change sides when you please. There are a total of 10 alternate endings that can be unlocked, plus one "Final" ending which ties everything together. Although you play as Shadow, all major Sonic characters appear at points in the story.
There is a 'level map' which shows the player how they've chosen between Hero and Dark goals in previous stages (the player must choose a mission while playing the levels). Dark goes UP in the map, and Hero goes DOWN. Neutral missions go straight. Each level has all three missions, with the exceptions of the ones surrounding the level map (e.g., levels 2a and 2c, 4a and 4e, etc.).
Each 'last level' (stage six levels) has a Hero or Dark mission; there is no Neutral mission. Both missions yield different endings. Most stages have a different final boss associated with each ending.
There are a total of 22 levels, and each time, the player only plays six levels.
The ranking system is the same as Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Heroes, with rankings from E (lowest) to A (highest).
