Shadow the Hedgehog (game)

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Shadow the Hedgehog (game)
System(s): Sega Genesis
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sonic Team
Genre: 3D Adventure

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Shadow the Hedgehog is a game starring an antihero of the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. It was revealed at Sonic's inauguration into Walk of Game. 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 the Chaos Emeralds at the request of the Government. The experiment cumulated in "The Ultimate Life-Form"; Shadow the Hedgehog, a biomechanical 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 has returned - with amnesia. 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, or from Dr. Eggman, who seemed to be experimenting on Shadow for an unknown purpose in Sonic Heroes. Or will Shadow learn his secrets from the very military organziation that he swore revenge against, the G.U.N.? One thing is for sure: Everybody wants the Chaos Emeralds, and if Shadow hopes to convince any of them to talk, he's going to have to get them first.

Gameplay

Shadow must get from the start of the level to the end, as has traditionally been the case for the Sonic titles. The biggest change, however, would be his ability to use several weapons; he was shown using an MP5 submachine gun, a sword and a bazooka, among many others. The gun can, naturally, harm opponents, but also has the ability to break down large pieces of the level, such as tall columns. Just how this will impact gameplay remains to be seen, though it's been said that this is just another way to play. Shadow can still use all his moves from the previous games like Homing Attack. This game is different from others as your decisions determine Shadow's future. Shadow has 3 missions in almost every level (these being Hero, Dark, and Neutral), and he can choose one to accomplish at any point in the level. The level Shadow goes to changes depending on which mission was played on the previous level. Also, Shadow now has at least two Chaos ablities, Chaos Control (light blue) and Chaos Blast (red), and gains these by killing certain targets (Killing aliens and clearing debris from the game field increases the Chaos Control Gauge, and killing humans and destroying nature (trees, plants ect) increases the Chaos Blast Gauge.

Due to the mildly violent nature of the game, the ESRB rating was, for a time, in question. The official ESRB website originally had the game rated as T, along with GameSpot, but the official site listed E-10+. The T rating was seemingly further evidenced, however, by the fact that, at trade shows where Sega showed off the game, they asked only those 13 and older to play the title. Early builds of the game even had mild swearing in them. And the game does include two swear words. Before the game was released, Sega took out the human's blood, changed the color of alien blood from red to green, and censored the scene when a GUN soldier shoots Maria, cutting out as Maria is shot and falls to the ground. Regardless, the ESRB website later updated the rating to E-10+, thus making it unanimous. The CERO rating is "All Ages"; the OFLC classification is PG; the PEGI rating is 12+. Some have commented that the E-10+ rating is inconsistent, seeing as it is more violent and vulgar than Super Smash Bros. Melee which was rated T at a time when the E-10+ rating didn't exist.

Pre-Release Comments/First Impressions

The gaming community had strong opinions on the preview 'Shadow' videos posted on popular Internet gaming sites (such as GameSpot or IGN.com).

Many comments were made abou t the gun Shadow wielded. Some argue that it goes entirely against the spirit and/or gameplay mechanic of the Sonic series or that Shadow should be powerful enough that a gun would not be necessary, given that he has proclaimed himself to be the "Ultimate Life Form" in Sonic Adventure 2. Others note his technological background in defense of the weapon, from his inception to the hoverboots he wears.

Another topic of discussion is Shadow getting a game over Sonic; after Sonic Heroes, many fans had been hoping for a new Sonic game that would take the direction that game was heading and lead it toward a more retro feel, closer to that of the original Sega Genesis games. When it was revealed that that was not the direction the new title was heading, some people were disappointed.

A rebuttal to some of the criticisms would be that this is a sidestory game, and not starring Sonic himself; therefore, as it isn't a true Sonic game, it should be given some freedom to attempt new things without hampering the main series. Another rebuttal is that this is an early preview, and that it may have changed significantly by the game's ultimate release.

Game Features

Besides wielding weapons, Shadow can use vehicles; 4x4's, motorbikes, G.U.N. mechs, and alien crafts. As with the weapons, this has spawned complaints from fans, who point out that Shadow is similar to Sonic, and thus would probably be able to run faster than most vehicles. It has been confirmed that the vehicles will be optional.

Sega's official Shadow the Hedgehog site suggests that though 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, will be the ultimate in destruction and speed. The two Chaos Powers are the heroic "Chaos Control" (lets Shadow manipulate time and space), 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 GUN soldiers and robots. At this point "Chaos Spear" seems to be only available with Super Shadow, a move previously used in Sonic Adventure 2 Multiplayer. 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, and new characters are also expected. Also, the developers of the game have done away with the old graphics engine (used since Sonic Adventure for Dreamcast) and created a new one, capable of better graphics, new special effects, and more destructive environments.

Manuals

• Shadow the Hedgehog US/EU Manual
• Shadow the Hedgehog JP Manual

Stages

Confirmed Stages:

• Westopolis
• Digital Circuit
• Glyphic Canyon
• Lethal Highway
• Cryptic Castle
• Circus Park
• Death Ruins
• Lost Impact
• Final Haunt
• Max Matrix
• Space Gadget
• Cosmic Fall
• Prison Island
• Sky Troops
• Iron Jungle
• Lava Shelter
• Air Fleet
• Black Comet
• The Doom
• Central City
• The ARK

The levels may not have a linear progression, as has been the case for nearly all Sonic games since the first. Sonic Adventure-style adventure fields may be used as a result. A level select in a demo reveals a "last scenario," but crashes upon selection.

Credits

Producer: Yuji Naka Director: Takashi Iizuka Art Director: [[Kazuyuki H oshino]] Lead Programmer: Takeshi Sakakinara Lead Game Designer: Takashi Iizuka Sound Director: Jun Senoue Player Character Programmer: Mitsuru Takahashi Character Designers: Kazuyuki Hoshino, Nobuhiko Honda, Takahiro Kudo Motion System Programmer: Satoru Takeshima Motion Designer: Atsushi Saito Level Designers: Takashi Iizuka, Hirono Sato, Asahiko Kikuchi, Eitaro Toyoda Action Stage Programmers: Masato Nakazawa, Kazuyuki Okada, Tomoyuki Naito Field Art Director: Hiroshi Nishiyama Field Artists: Michikazu Tamamura, Hiroshi Kanazawa, Takahiro Kudo Field Object Artists: Daizo Kinoshita, Soosa Kim, Brad Wagner Enemy Game Designer: Yu Ohmura Enemy Artists: Kazuyuki Hoshino, Ai Ikeda Enemy Programmer: Motoyoshi Sato Boss Enemy Programmers: Satoru Takeshima, Mitsuru Takahashi, Tomoyuki Naito, Motoyoshi Sato Weapon Artists: Kazuyuki Hoshino, Brad Wagner, Elena Macomber, Nobuhiko Honda Weapon Programmer: Mitsuru Takahashi Scenario Writer: Takashi Iizuka Event Scene Director: Shun Miyanaga Event Scene Artists: Atsushi Saito, Ai Ikeda Story Event Programmer: Takeshi Sakakibara Menu Screen Artist: Elena Macomber Menu Screen Programmers: Takeshi Sakakibara, Satoru Takeshima Multi Platform Programmer: Outa Sano Visual Effect Programmer: Satoru Takeshima Sound Effect Programmer: Masato Nakazawa Camera System Programmer: Kazuyuki Okada CG Movie Producer: Keith Palmer CG Movie Director: Shun Miyanaga Movie Supervisors: Takashi Iizuka, Kazuyuki Hoshino, Hiroshi Nishiyama CG Movie Production Blur Studio Inc: Tim Miller, Leo Santos, Marlon Nowe, Dan Rice, Kirby Miller, Al Shier, Mandy Sekelsky, Sim Jason, Taylor Tuan, Ngo Cemere, Ozkurt Barrett, Meeker Sid, Moye Seung, Youb "Kull" Shin CG Movie Production: Remi McGill, Carlos Anguiano, Wim Bien, Jeff Fowler, Mak Koyama, Davy Sabbe, George Schermer, Dave Vallone, Onur Yeldan, Daniel Perez Ferrerira, Jiyoung Hong, Dan Knight, Seung Jae Lee, David Stinnett, Derron Ross, Jon Jordan CG Movie Production: Sze Chan, Chuck Wojtkiewicz, Sean McNally, Diego Garcia, Amanda Powell, Duane Powell, Pauk Huang, Matt Newell Movie Encode CRI Middleware Co., LTD: Katsumi Yabuno Lead Music Composer: Jun Senoue Music Composers: Yutaka Minobe (delfisound inc.), Tomoya Ohtani, Mariko Nanba Sound Effects: Jun Senoue, Takashi Endoh (delfisound inc.), Tatsuya Kouzaki, Teruhiko Nakagawa

Boxart

Gamecube Boxart

Image:shadow_gamecube_us.jpg|US Boxart Image:shadow_gamecube_eu.jpg|EU Boxart

PS2 Boxart

Image:shadow_ps2_us.jpg|US Boxart Image:shadow_ps2_eu.jpg|EU Boxart

Xbox Boxart

Image:shadow_xbox_us.jpg|US Boxart Image:shadow_xbox_eu.jpg|EU Boxart

External links

• GameSpot GameSpace
• Offical Site
• Magicbox screenshots