Bit sad you didn't go into '06, because Shadow was honestly the best part of that game. Yeah the vehicle sections can blow me, but his story beats and characterization as a hero who fights for a world that would turn its back on him more than make up for it.
Great video. Shadow isn't my favorite character, but he is easily, one of, if not, the most complex character. His characterization in Heroes, alongside the amnesia subplot he'd carry into his own game, would work to help him grow further. Throughout the game, he had no idea who or what he was, but it was clear that he was probably having some identity problems, due to his loss of memory, as well as seeing a broken robot that looked just like him after the Egg Albatross boss in Bullet Station. He keeps up his cool front, but there's no telling what was going through his head after seeing that. Towards the end of the game at Egg Fleet, Shadow begins to make peace with himself, accepting his name regardless if he is the original or not. I agree his own game can be frustrating. In a sense, this game cemented that the series would be taking a significantly different direction from its predecessors, with SA1 and SA2 setting it up. Even though I've had a shift from hating it to defending it, I understand why folks would be burnt out from it. However, the game really isn't as try hard as it introduces itself. Shadow never uses guns in the cutscenes. The constant swearing, as well as the cutscenes that the fans point and laugh at, are more a product of the dub than anything else. The portrayal of the story is a mess. The mission structure makes following these threads in a single play through next to impossible. However, once you piece it together, it's not too bad. Also, the game does Shadow's characterization well. Yes, it does have scenes where Shadow declares he'll destroy the world, except that is Shadow after being coerced by Black Doom throughout that pathway. Throughout the game, Shadow is a blank slate due to his amnesia. He isn't really hostile or aggressive towards anyone in cutscenes unless backed into a corner. He is shaped by the people and situations around him, as he doesn't remember the experiences that made him a hero. In the end, upon learning his entire past, he is disgusted by it, wants to throw it all away, take out Black Doom, and ultimately choose his own path. He no longer needs to say, "This is who I am". He no longer lets anyone tell him who he should be. Furthered in '06, where Mephiles tries to persuade Shadow to join him, showing that humanity would ultimately imprison him forevermore. Shadow outright refuses, calls Mephiles out on his BS, and later dropping the hardest line in the series, "If the world chooses to become my enemy, I'll fight like I always have". Shadow would be largely absent from the series, only really popping up in spinoffs and boss fights. Make sense, considering from SA2 to 06, he got a lot of coverage. Shadow Generations has the best story the series has had in years, and it is not even close. From the short interactions between characters, to the choices of bosses tying into Shadow, to how Shadow's emotions are portrayed throughout the whole thing, it is a treat for new fans and veterans who have been around for decades. Really hoping Sonic Team doesn't pull a Lost World again.
@AllardRT Believe it or not, people can enjoy things that you don't. I like how vibrant and colorful the world is, I like how many alternate routes some levels have, I really like the parkour, I like the variety of enemies in the game (both old and new) and how even the animals are out to get you. And I could just keep going from there.
We just know that shadow is gonna kill it in sonic 3 he is no doubt gonna be break out/highlight of the movie 2024 is the year of shadow, it's shadow baby speed for a ride
Bit sad you didn't go into '06, because Shadow was honestly the best part of that game. Yeah the vehicle sections can blow me, but his story beats and characterization as a hero who fights for a world that would turn its back on him more than make up for it.
Great video. Shadow isn't my favorite character, but he is easily, one of, if not, the most complex character.
His characterization in Heroes, alongside the amnesia subplot he'd carry into his own game, would work to help him grow further. Throughout the game, he had no idea who or what he was, but it was clear that he was probably having some identity problems, due to his loss of memory, as well as seeing a broken robot that looked just like him after the Egg Albatross boss in Bullet Station. He keeps up his cool front, but there's no telling what was going through his head after seeing that. Towards the end of the game at Egg Fleet, Shadow begins to make peace with himself, accepting his name regardless if he is the original or not.
I agree his own game can be frustrating. In a sense, this game cemented that the series would be taking a significantly different direction from its predecessors, with SA1 and SA2 setting it up. Even though I've had a shift from hating it to defending it, I understand why folks would be burnt out from it. However, the game really isn't as try hard as it introduces itself. Shadow never uses guns in the cutscenes. The constant swearing, as well as the cutscenes that the fans point and laugh at, are more a product of the dub than anything else. The portrayal of the story is a mess. The mission structure makes following these threads in a single play through next to impossible. However, once you piece it together, it's not too bad.
Also, the game does Shadow's characterization well. Yes, it does have scenes where Shadow declares he'll destroy the world, except that is Shadow after being coerced by Black Doom throughout that pathway. Throughout the game, Shadow is a blank slate due to his amnesia. He isn't really hostile or aggressive towards anyone in cutscenes unless backed into a corner. He is shaped by the people and situations around him, as he doesn't remember the experiences that made him a hero.
In the end, upon learning his entire past, he is disgusted by it, wants to throw it all away, take out Black Doom, and ultimately choose his own path. He no longer needs to say, "This is who I am". He no longer lets anyone tell him who he should be. Furthered in '06, where Mephiles tries to persuade Shadow to join him, showing that humanity would ultimately imprison him forevermore. Shadow outright refuses, calls Mephiles out on his BS, and later dropping the hardest line in the series, "If the world chooses to become my enemy, I'll fight like I always have".
Shadow would be largely absent from the series, only really popping up in spinoffs and boss fights. Make sense, considering from SA2 to 06, he got a lot of coverage. Shadow Generations has the best story the series has had in years, and it is not even close. From the short interactions between characters, to the choices of bosses tying into Shadow, to how Shadow's emotions are portrayed throughout the whole thing, it is a treat for new fans and veterans who have been around for decades.
Really hoping Sonic Team doesn't pull a Lost World again.
With the direction the series is going in, I wouldn't mind them pulling another LW.
@@mr.unsmiley8656 You want them to make a shitty game right after a complete banger AGAIN?
@@AllardRT Considering that I love LW, yes.
@@mr.unsmiley8656 >I love LW
Good grief, for what?!
@AllardRT Believe it or not, people can enjoy things that you don't. I like how vibrant and colorful the world is, I like how many alternate routes some levels have, I really like the parkour, I like the variety of enemies in the game (both old and new) and how even the animals are out to get you. And I could just keep going from there.
Great video man and honesty as for me shadow the hedgehog is my all time favorite character in sonic franchise but that’s just my opinion.
absolutely amazing as always❤❤❤❤❤
We just know that shadow is gonna kill it in sonic 3 he is no doubt gonna be break out/highlight of the movie 2024 is the year of shadow, it's shadow baby speed for a ride
the game shadow 05 is peak tho