Shadow the Hedgehog is a platform video game developed by Sega Studio USA, the former United States division of Sega’s Sonic Team, and published by Sega. A spin-off to the Sonic the Hedgehog series, the game features Shadow the Hedgehog as the main character, and was revealed at the March 2005 Walk of Game event. It was released for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox video game consoles in November 2005.
Following the trend of contemporary Sonic games such as Sonic Adventure and Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog is a 3D platform game; however, it also features third-person shooter elements. Most levels have three possible missions—”Hero,” “Dark,” or “Normal”—that the player may choose to complete, while some have only two of the three. The missions completed determine the game’s plot and subsequently playable levels, a feature referenced by the game’s tagline. The plot centers on the attempt of Shadow, a creation of Doctor Eggman’s grandfather, Professor Gerald Robotnik, to learn about his past while suffering from amnesia. To defeat enemies, Shadow can use various weapons and special attacks.
Shadow the Hedgehog received generally unfavorable reviews from critics. The game was criticized for its controls and dark themes, especially the addition of guns and other weapons to traditional Sonic gameplay. However, some reviewers praised its replay value. The game was a commercial success, selling more than 2 million copies by March 2007.
