View source for The ARK (Shadow the Hedgehog)

{{Breadcrumb
|Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|l1=Shadow the Hedgehog|:Category:Shadow the Hedgehog (game) levels|l2=Levels|{{PAGENAME}}|l3=The ARK}}
{{LevelBob
| name=The ARK
| levelscreen=Shadow the ark.png
| screenwidth=340px
| levelno=Pure Dark Fifth
| location=[[Space Colony ARK]]
| theme1=outer space
| theme2=Death Egg
| game=Shadow the Hedgehog (game)
| prereq=[[Central City (Shadow the Hedgehog)|Central City]] (Dark) or [[The Doom]] (Dark)
| shaddark=Destroy the ARK's defenses! ''(4 total)''<br> ''Dark companion'': [[Doom's Eye]] <br> ''Leads to'': [[G.U.N. Fortress]] <br> ''Ending quote'': "The Eclipse Cannon is nearby. Say your prayers, you disgusting humans!"
| ShadDarkARank=36,000 points
| ShadDarkBRank=33,000 points
| ShadDarkCRank=26,000 points
| ShadDarkDRank=10,000 points
| shadnorm=Get aboard the ARK  <br> ''Normal companion'': None <br> ''Leads to'': [[Black Comet (level)|Black Comet]] <br> ''Ending quote'': "The ARK... yes, this is where it all began!"
| ShadNormARank=37,000 points
| ShadNormBRank=34,000 points
| ShadNormCRank=27,000 points
| ShadNormDRank=10,000 points
| boss=Blue Falcon
}}
'''The ARK''' is one of five possible fifth levels of ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]''. In the game's branching path structure, it follows from taking a highly evil, [[Dr. Eggman]] / [[Black Arms]]-aligned path through the previous levels. As the [[Black Comet]]'s invasion of [[Sonic's world]] keeps up the pressure, [[Black Doom]] sends [[Shadow the Hedgehog|Shadow]] along with the [[Black Arms]] army to assault an orbital target: the [[Space Colony ARK]]. If they can gain control of the [[Eclipse Cannon]] inside, victory for the aliens will be all but assured.

==Story==
[[File:The ARK - Dark.png|thumb|left||200px|Shadow does the Dark mission.]]
This level can only be accessed by evil means; either by destroying [[Central City]] with the five blockbuster bombs or reliving Shadow's massacre of [[G.U.N.]] troops half a century ago in [[The Doom]]. Whichever method is used, Black Doom seems satisfied enough at Shadow's pure dark leanings to place him in the vanguard of the attack on the Space Colony ARK. Warping both of them into space, Doom orders Shadow to go ahead of the main army and take out the ARK's defensive matrix, thereby ensuring the Black Arms forces will have a clear path to the Eclipse Cannon.

The exterior of the ARK is choked with mechanical rubble, presumably shaken off the superstructure during the abortive colony drop at the end of ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]''. Making matters even more difficult is G.U.N., who have not been neglecting their orbital defensive strategy; floating military robots and green energy barriers also impede the Arms' progress. Shadow can either follow Doom's orders and clear a path, or bypass the defenses and fly into the space station alone.

==Gameplay==
This level takes place along the same route as ''Sonic Adventure 2''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Final Rush]], although the [[grindrail]]s are largely gone; instead, Shadow takes a ride on a flying [[Black Volt]]. The name of the game in this level is therefore dodging zero-G rubble while flying in order to maitain the Volt's health, all the while spamming tracking worms to take out [[Black Hawk]]s and the ARK's static defences.

As is usually the case, the neutral mission is considerably easier, requiring Shadow to merely fly past obstacles at speed and reach the end of the level. Destroying the four ARK defensive machines requires you to jump off the Volt and open fire; all except for the final one, which must be blown to pieces using the Volt's missiles alone. As you approach, slow down as much as possible to avoid accidentally flying ''past'' the machine and on to the [[Goal Ring]]. The [[Shadow Rifle]] helps in this mission as it destroys the defense systems in 2 or 3 hits (sometimes it takes three but if it's aimed right you can get it done in 2).

===Secret door location===
The Secret Door is located past the 6th [[Checkpoint]]. It contains 3 extra lives, which can come in quite handy after falling off the Black Volt numerous times.

==References==
<references/>

{{ShadowOmni}}
{{TheTitle}}