With Sonic X Shadow Generations coming out soon, Shadow’s past will be revisited in greater detail than ever before! For those who may have forgotten what role these characters play or who might not know who they are, this is a little refresher to help you learn about them before the game’s release.
Shadow the Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog is the Ultimate Lifeform. He was created by Professor Gerald Robotnik, 50 years prior, on the Space Colony ARK. He was made for the purpose of curing Mr. Robotnik’s granddaughter, Maria Robotnik. Shadow and Maria become extremely close, but Maria sacrifices herself for Shadow during a military raid on the ARK. Following this, he is captured and put in stasis until Dr. Eggman releases him, kicking off the events of Sonic Adventure 2 (2001).
Following his sacrifice, he is soon awakened and found alive in the following game, Sonic Heroes (2003), but has developed amnesia and desires to learn about his past. It’s in his self-titled game, Shadow the Hedgehog (2005), that we learn of his origin. He was created in collaboration with Black Doom, with alien DNA used to perfect the Shadow creation, and the promise that Shadow would collect the Chaos Emeralds for Black Doom in 50 years. Shadow goes against this during Black Doom’s invasion and defeats the alien warlord, keeping his promise to Maria and saving humanity.
Maria Robotnik
Maria Robotnik is Shadow’s closest friend and the reason Shadow fights to protect the planet. For her whole life, Maria has been stuck on the ARK due to her terminal illness, Neuro-Immuno Deficiency Syndrome, or NIDS for short. Shadow was created in hopes of curing this otherwise fatal condition. However, he unfortunately wasn’t to help cure her, much to the hedgehog’s frustration and disappointment.
One fateful day, the military raided the ARK to get rid of all of their research and anyone who may know about it. This resulted in Shadow trying to save Maria and getting her off the ARK. This plan failed, so Maria put Shadow in an ejection capsule and launched off of the ARK. In doing so, she holds him to a promise to protect humanity and the planet, no matter what. It’s this promise that fuels Shadow’s motivations to this day.
Gerald Robotnik
Professor Gerald Robotnik is Shadow’s co-creator. Also, Maria and Dr. Eggman’s grandfather. Originally a kind and smart gentleman, he worked aboard the ARK in hopes of curing his granddaughter’s illness. He created Shadow, along with some help from Black Doom. He invented the Eclipse Cannon, after making a deal with Black Doom, and developing an understanding that the alien’s intentions were anything but pure.
After Shadow’s escape, and Maria’s passing, Gerald went insane and had a program created on the ARK to cause the Eclipse Cannon to backfire on the planet and wipe out humanity. For attempting this, he was imprisoned, where he would be eventually executed. Despite this, for his actions that resulted in Black Doom’s defeat, he would be hailed a hero by humanity.
Black Doom
Black Doom is the leader of the Black Arms and co-creator of Shadow, as well as the main antagonist in Shadow the Hedgehog.
He is a 2000+ year old alien warlord with the intention of enslaving humanity to use as an energy source for his species. He made a deal with Gerald for Shadow to obtain all of the Chaos Emeralds for Black Doom upon his return in 50 years. Once the promised time arrived, the Black Arms invaded and Shadow, needing the emeralds for his own answers, obtained them and brought them to the Black Comet, the Black Arms’ home.
Black Doom thanked Shadow and revealed that the Chaos Emeralds were needed to bring down the comet to the planet’s surface. He then proceeded to paralyze Shadow and company for his larvae to feed, but Shadow broke free as Black Doom made his way to the center of his comet. He attempted to mind control Shadow, but was foiled when Team Chaotix accidentally projected a video onto the comet where Gerald revealed the true purpose of the Eclipse Cannon and Maria promised that Shadow and she would protect the planet.
This reminder frees Shadow, much to Black Doom’s annoyance. He then transforms into his Devil Doom form and declares that he gave Shadow life and he will happily take that life away. Black Doom is defeated and seemingly killed. In a surprise twist, revealed at the end of Sonic X Shadows: Dark Beginnings, he is seen alive, seemingly fused with the ARK and biding his time until he is ready to strike.
E-123 Omega
E-123 Omega is Eggman Robotnik’s last robot in his E-Series and one of Shadow’s closest allies. Introduced in Sonic Heroes, he was put into storage by Eggman, alongside Shadow and has craved nothing more than revenge against Eggman and his robots. While being completely focused on his own mission, he has shown that he is somewhat willing to work with others if the cause is great.
As shown in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), when he helped Shadow and Rouge defeat Mephiles, as well as obtaining a Chaos Emerald to save Sonic’s life. Omega has shown that even if someone was turned into a robot by Eggman, he will not hesitate to treat them as property and to go out of his way to destroy them. He ends up working for G.U.N., only doing so because he gets even more chances to destroy Eggman’s creations and does so with a homicidal glee.
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