Profiles» Shadow

shad·ow n.
1. An area that is not or is only partially irradiated or illuminated because of the interception of radiation by an opaque object between the area and the source of radiation.
2. The rough image cast by an object blocking rays of illumination.
3. An imperfect imitation or copy.
4. The darkness following sunset.
5. A feeling or cause of gloom or unhappiness.

Shadow was created by Dr. Gerald Robotnik. The reluctant Gerald was charged with creating an immortal being to be used as an all-powerful weapon. Aboard the space colony ARK the prototype Biolizard was created by researchers and scientists. It was powerful and could reproduce and regenerate, but also got heavily out of control. Meanwhile, Gerald was working on his own project with his own motives. His graddaughter Maria suffered from NIDS (neuro-immunodeficiency syndrome), and so he started work on his own ultimate life, Shadow.

As GUN heard about the chaos on the ARK, they stormed the colony and shut it down. Maria was among one of the casualties. Gerald completed Shadow and implanted in him a soul like Maria's, but when he found out about the death of Maria he also implanted into Shadow false memories of knowing her and seeing her death although they had never met, along with knowledge of the ARK and the weaponry in space. Shadow now had the potential and vengeful reasoning to destroy the world, but also a soul to restrain him from causing mass destruction. Shadow was put into a cryogenic hold, while Gerald was captured and executed.

Shadow was released 50 years later by Dr. Eggman. Shadow's first instinct was to serve the one who freed him, and his second was to seek revenge upon the planet. He told the Doctor of the Eclipse Cannon, a powerful weapon that could be used to destroy the world if supplied with all seven Chaos Emeralds.

Joining up with the wily theif Rouge, Shadow and Eggman clashed with Sonic's party many times in a heated attempt to gain possession of all seven chaos emeralds. The dark hedgehog became confused with Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic set off to find the imposter hedgehog and stop Eggman's plans of global conquest.

After all seven emeralds were collected and put in place in the cannon, it began to have a horrible reaction. Shadow, with Amy's help, realized that he was not made to destroy the earth as he thought his memories told him, but to save it as the soul within him knew was right. Both sides joined forces to get to the core of the ARK and stop it before it crashed into Earth, and in the process, the Biolizard, the prototype of the Ultimate Life, was released.

Sonic and Shadow, both in super forms, defeated the Biolizard and used Chaos Control to save the ARK from crashing into Earth, but Shadow plummeted toward the planet, believed to have died during the fall by Sonic & company.

They were wrong.

Some time later, Rouge broke into Eggman's base in search of treasure, but found Shadow in a cryogenic sleep along with E-123 Omega, a robot with a controlling, almost blinding fury for being shut off and locked there. Shadow, remembering next to nothing about his past, joins Rouge and Omega on a quest to find Eggman. Rouge wants treasure, Omega wants revenge, and Shadow merely wants to know who he is.

Half-way through the quest, Shadow discovers a shattered Shadow robot. He says nothing, but it fuels his determination. Little does he know...

After defeating what they believe to be Eggman, Rouge enters Eggman's fortress to find tons of encapsulated Shadow clones, much like the robot they saw previously. She never tells Shadow, but tries to convince Omega that the original Shadow is a robot. Omega doesn't fall for it.

As Metal Sonic is revealed as the mastermind behind the plot instead of Eggman, he transforms and attacks. Team Dark aide in the battle before Team Sonic defeats him once more. Shadow is last seen standing with Omega, who is holding the fallen Metal Sonic, as both look out into the distance. To Shadow, his questions lie unanswered, and his future is just as unknown as his past.

Rouge helps Shadow to realize who he really is by explaining to him the truth of his creation, along with Gerald's discovery of the mysterious Gizoid of the past. However, this may be overlooked in the upcoming Shadow the Hedgehog game.