Shadow the Hedgehog

Shadow the Hedgehog is a fictional character created by Takashi Iizuka, who appeared in the Sonic the Hedgehog series made for the Sega Console. He debuted as a video game character in the , from then on, he has appeared in many other games trying to figure out who he is and what should he do with his life. When Sonic Adventure 2 was in development, Shadow was originally named Terios the Hedgehog (the term terios is a Greek word meaning "reflection of"). His name was changed to Shadow before Sonic Adventure 2 was released.
Shadow is one of Sonic's main rivals; he can do everything that Sonic can do and at some instances perhaps even more. He is not naturally fast, but his rocket shoes give him a boost that allows him to match up with Sonic's speed.
== History ==
===Sonic Adventure 2===
Shadow's debut was in the game Sonic Adventure 2, where it is explained that he was created fifty years prior to the game's events, by Professor Gerald Robotnik, who had been charged with the task of researching a path to immortality. He created Shadow as "The Ultimate Life Form", a first step towards achieving that goal, but the project was shut down and his granddaughter, Maria, was killed in the aftermath. Before she died, she ejected Shadow towards Earth in an escape pod. Gerald, driven insane by her death, designed a program that would cause the research station, Space Colony ARK, to crash into Earth once all seven Chaos Emeralds were placed inside it.
Back on Earth, he modified Shadow's mind so that he would carry out Gerald's plan if he was ever released. Fifty years later, Shadow was released from suspended animation by Dr. Eggman, grandson of Gerald Robotnik, who sought after Shadow after learning from Gerald's diary that he was the ultimate life form his grandfather had created, hoping to use him to conquer the world. Shadow tricked Eggman, under Gerald's programming, into helping him collect all seven Chaos Emeralds with the help of Rouge the Bat, and in placing them in the ARK, almost allowed it to crash into Earth. Amy Rose managed to trigger his memory of Maria, and the ARK was placed back into orbit using his skill, Chaos Control, using up the last of his energy and sending him falling to Earth, seemingly dead.
===Sonic Heroes===
Rouge the Bat finds Shadow the Hedgehog in a stasis pod located in the deepest part of one of Dr. Eggman's bases at the start of Team Dark's story. This is after he has been believed to be dead. E-123 Omega attacks the two after scanning them, but Rouge steps in to break them up, quickly ending the skirmish. Shadow discovers that he has amnesia and cannot remember anything before his release, aside from his name and brief images of Maria Robotnik's death. He forms Team Dark with Rouge and E-123 Omega to find Eggman.
Team Dark eventually comes across Team Chaotix and battles them due to their opposing interests. Later, Shadow meets Dr. Eggman in a casino, asking him for his identity; however, Eggman denies that Shadow even has a past to remember. On an another battle against one of Eggman's machines, Shadow discovers that there are clones of him much to his already established self-confusion. After taking the information in, Shadow choses to proceed forward. Unbeknownst to him, Neo Metal Sonic has been recording and collecting Shadow's data, having disguised himself as Eggman earlier.
Shadow confronts Team Sonic in the jungle, although Shadow has no memory of Sonic and his team. They begin to taunt each other until Omega takes the taunting to threats, resulting in a clash between the two teams. When they made it to the Egg Fleet, Shadow made his mind to defeat Eggman once and for all even if he is not truly the ultimate lifeform.
When they seemingly defeated Dr. Eggman, Neo Metal Sonic soon revealed himself. Shadow worked with everyone else to defeat the monster as well as giving his Chaos Emerald to Sonic so they could defeat Neo Metal Sonic. After the final battle, Shadow is seen with E-123 Omega holding the defeated Metal Sonic.
== Fanon Appearances ==
===Sonic Heroes 2===
Shadow makes an appearance in Team Sonic of Sonic Heroes 2.
===Mario Kart: V² Circuit===
Shadow the Hedgehog appears as a downloadable racer in Mario Kart: V² Circuit. He is a mediumweight with a large size. He has great speed, good acceleration, slightly below average handling and below average traction.
===Mario & Sonic at the Previous Olympic Games===
Shadow appears as a playable character at every Olympics from Salt Lake 2002 onwards. From Athens 2004 onwards, he is a speed type character.
=== Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Beyond ===
Shadow appears as a guest character, alongside Sonic, Knuckles and Omega.
=== Animal Crossing & Sonic at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 ===
Shadow appears as a speed type character and is playable in every sport. He also joins the player's team in the story mode.
===St. Clair Publications===
Shadow is a playable character on Super Smash Stadium. Still looking for that damn fourth Chaos Emerald in this continuity, he was originally intended to be a semi-clone of Sonic, but plays out like a far different beast to the Blue Blur, relying on his Chaos attacks. He has low traction and is slightly easier to kill than Sonic, but is much stronger.
==Gallery==
=== Boom Shadow ===
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