Shadow the Hedgehog

"Sonic didn't say what I think he said!"

Ze Introduction to ze Review of Shadow the Hedgehog

Before I go into this, Sonic fans, this game has transformed Sonic and his pals. They swear now. Cuss. Let loose with the language. Part of the reason this Sonic game got a higher than usual rating: E 10+.

Whatever persuaded Sega and Sonic Team to put this huge factor in, the world may never know. But one thing is certain: This ain't your average Sonic game. It has attitude. Shadow isn't afraid to make a statement. He gets in people's faces. He beats answers out of them. He's angry!

Of course, Sonic Team would never let us down, would they? Well, they didn't, but still, this game has some real big "tsk tsk" choices in it. Nothing you wouldn't like the game more about, but just kind of go, "Why would they change this?"

Let's get-a going, shall we?

Graphics: 9/10

Here's a hint, Sega. The reason you DON'T recycle graphics, is because you're
supposed to upgrade them! Jeez. Sega is getting lazier and lazier. They like to repeadeatly recycle graphics. Sonic Adventure DX, for instance. I'm not sure, but it looked an awful lot like the original Dreamcast version. And GameCube has, what, twice the power? Off topic, whoops.

Shadow the Hedgehog looks a lot like Sonic Heroes, to say the least. Shadow looked like he did, and so did everyone else. Irritating too. And I think Eggman even got downgraded. Shame on you Sega! SHAME ON YOU!

Perhaps what's different is the Spin Dash animation. Usually they turn into a ball and start glowing. Not Shadow. He just curls up and spins. His gun even protrudes. And when you let go, he stays the same, except he glows. Kind of a nice touch, but that is a little weird, to say the least.

Control: 9/10

Listen, all those people who say the controls are crap, really aren't trying to master them. To quote another reviewer, he said the Homing Attack engine would shoot you off a cliff or cause you the loose rings. Well he wasn't trying. You have to push Shadow. If you don't, he'll just shoot off a cliff. And you won't lose rings unless they shoot you or something.

The GameCube controller was prctically designed for every single game. You just think, "Did they design this controller for THIS game?" It's flawless. Okay, maybe not. Some attack engines are whacked, and to lose a gun you have to press the Y Button... convieniently the Chaos Button.

Using Chaos Control is easy. There are two versions: the one we know and love from Sonic Adventure 2, and one a lot like the Dark Team Blast from Sonic Heroes, also known as Chaos Blast. Just push the Y Button with a full alignment gauge. Easy.

Gameplay: 10/10

Well, it's fairly simple. It combines the classic "get to the end" with a mission based system like Team Chaotix's from Sonic Heroes (a lot of Sonic Heroes references, huh?). You can either get to the end of the stage, of you can try to accomplish a mission of sorts. It's usually "destroy x enemies," or, "get x things," or maybe, "activate x switches," or even, "destroy this!"

The gun factor makes the game more fun than it has any right to be. Hey, there are several types of guns. Some are more effective in one mission than the last. Like, if you wanted to detroy the Escape Pod, a lock-on type Missile Launcher would be great! Or if you had a long line of enemies ahead, a laser-type works perfectly, as it shoots through multiple enemies. Or are you facing enemies surrounding you? A pistol-type Semi-Mach Guns work perfectly too. The Homing Attack is the single-most weakest thing in the game. If you plan on playig through with only it, you're in big trouble, pal. Have fun in that month.

There are vehicles, too. You don't see the motorcycle often, and it doesn't look as cool as it does in the trailers and screenshots. All the vehicles are useless, unless you need to get though something fast with minimal damage. There are bird things, but they are hard to steer. They just sort of float before going. Lag.

The levels are just HUGE. And there are so many place to die! In each level there are about 50 bottomless pits or you are on suspended platforms above one HUGE pit. Keeping rings are a snap, since you only lose ten at a time like in Sonic Blast for Game Gear. So the game has to have pits, or you won't ever die. Ever. But Sega overdid the pit thing. You can't turn without running into another pit.

The game wasn't designed to be fast-paced. Shadow will only zoom by when you tell him to and ignore everything around you. There are only three loops in this entire game. At least, as far as I counted. Three. All the other Sonic games have a minimum of 15. This game? Only three. Wow.

There is a lot of grinding, I can assure you that. And jumping. Much of the game is grinding and jumping and shooting. A little too much of the game is grinding, jumping and shooting.

Story: 9/10

Let's see... Shadow ponders his past, then gets caught up in a war between GUN and the Sonic Heroes, Eggman, and the Black Arms aliens. Not to mention the flashback levels. Those are hard, man.

Well, in this intergalactic war, Eggman, GUN, and the Sonic Heroes are all trying to drive back the aliens. Eggman because if they destroy the city, there won't be one for him to conquer, GUN because their commander is trying to destroy them, and the Sonic Heroes because they are a threat to society as a whole. Pretty blant, huh?

Well, as you do missions, more of the story unfolds. The story can take some drastic turns when you do specific things. The story is based on the events you accomplish and the missions you clear, so it's likely you won't take the same path twice, seeing as there is 326 of them!

Sound: 8/10

The sound is awesome. Well, actually, some of it sucks, and some downright rotten. Little kids playing this game should stop. Whenever Shadow is hit or dies, he will audibly swear. The "d" word. And we don't want ten-year-olds saying that, do we? And in some choice scenes, Shadow tells Eggman to go to... you know the rest. Well, do we want ten-year-olds doing that? Nope.

Even the other characters swear. Heart-of-gold Sonic, heh, he does! Tails doesn't, but he's only 8, so he doesn't count. Neither does Amy. Only Sonic, Knuckles, Black Doom, Shadow, and the Commander swear. Only them. Well, it happens a lot.

The music is pretty much okay as a whole. Some are real hum-alongs, while others you'll just sing with them, particularily I Am and All Hail Shadow. The stage music isn't good for half of them, but most of the Boss music is good.

Overall: 9/10
Buy/Rent/Borrow/Ignore: Buy

This is a garunteed buy, because it's so awesome! Still, watch your language after playing this game. Don't want it to influence you.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/13/06