History Trivia / ShadowTheHedgehog

** Creator/ArchieComics was not allowed to make an adaptation of the game and barely allowed any stories featuring the Black Arms. Some of them showed up in ''[[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Sonic Universe]]'' post-CosmicRetcon headed by a new leader named [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Black Death]], who was instantly killed off in the same story that introduced him. But Sega [[ExiledFromContinuity wouldn't let Black Doom be used in any capacity]], with him only showing up in one flashback panel. The Archie continuity would later gain Eclipse the Darkling, a new Black Arms creation who skewed closer to the usual anthro Sonic design, which Sega likely only allowed because of that compromise. (Coincidentally, Creator/IanFlynn's podcast [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cljSquaGF-s#t=43m59s revealed]] that Eclipse also served as a replacement for [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Mephiles the Dark]], who was meant to appear in the "Shadow Fall" arc before being written out at Sega's request.)

** Creator/{{Sega}} is really not fond of referencing this game, with it mostly getting passing mentions in supplementary material. Only two games, ''VideoGame/SonicRivals'' and ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', reference the events of the game, but both were made around the same time (2008) and in the west. That said, Sega appears to hold the soundtrack in nice regard, with a remix of Westopolis and the menu select theme appearing in ''VideoGame/SonicForces'' and the main theme being played as part of the ''Sonic'' 30th Anniversary concert.

** Magna-Fi's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji1K8FhZAzU "Who I Am"]] was meant to be used as the main theme of the game, but it was switched out with Crush 40's songs due to ExecutiveMeddling by the band's manager, who instead wanted the song on one of their albums.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts7krIeoKnk "Broken"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa-nnFXgZz0 "All of Me"]] (no relation to the Crush 40 song), both performed by Sins of a Divine Mother, were meant to be used in the main game, but never made it since Sega wasn't able to get in touch with one of the band members to get full permission to use them (they were able to contact everyone except "Wiley").

*** There was a lot more swearing, including Shadow saying "Just what the hell was that all about?" in the opening cutscene[[note]]changed to "Just what was that all about?" in the final version, but the lip-sync is still for the original line[[/note]] and Sonic saying "I'd hate to ''piss'' off G.U.N."[[note]]changed to "I'd hate to ''tick'' off G.U.N." in the final version[[/note]] In the final game, Sonic only swears [[PrecisionFStrike once]].

** There was a lot more swearing, including Shadow saying "Just what the hell was that all about?" in the opening cutscene[[note]]changed to "Just what was that all about?" in the final version, but the lip-sync is still for the original line[[/note]] and Sonic saying "I'd hate to ''piss'' off G.U.N."[[note]]changed to "I'd hate to ''tick'' off G.U.N." in the final version[[/note]] In the final game, Sonic only swears [[PrecisionFStrike once]].

*** On the same topic, Sonic was supposed to feature in the game's multiplayer mode, but was cut very early due to Sega management's qualms about their heroic mascot using guns.

** First and foremost, the game was going to be even edgier. Sega wanted the game to be one age rating up from previous ''Sonic'' games, which at the time development started was T for Teen. However, when the ESRB introduced the Everyone 10+ rating between Everyone and Teen, Sega toned down the game to fit the new rating.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jjxFpclbnM The original intro was slightly different and actually showed a soldier getting shot.]] The finalized intro cut away from the soldier being shot down. The reflection of Maria in Shadow's eyes at the start was also removed.
** The original T-rated version of the game would have [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPzp0pimIgs shown Maria's death in the opening,]] rather than cut away as the player hears the gunshot. The final game does show a monochrome still image of Maria getting shot just before the Heavy Dog boss fight. The same image appears in color on her card in ''VideoGame/SonicRivals''.
** Early trailers showed enemy Black Arms spewing red blood when hit, but when ESRB announced a middle rating between Everyone and Teen, the developers [[AlienBlood changed the color to green]]. Of course, the aliens themselves are still reddish, not to mention the similarity of our titular hero's red blood to his otherworldly creators.
** Before everything was toned down to fit into [=E10+=], there was a lot more swearing, including Shadow saying "Just what the hell was that all about?" in the opening cutscene[[note]]changed to "Just what was that all about?" in the final version, but the lip-sync is still for the original line[[/note]] and Sonic saying "I'd hate to ''piss'' off G.U.N."[[note]]changed to "I'd hate to ''tick'' off G.U.N." in the final version[[/note]] In the final game, Sonic only swears [[PrecisionFStrike once]].

** Eggman was also going to be nastier in his levels, and after you had helped Amy you would get to see him attack her before he went for Shadow, with the implication in that boss fight being that Shadow was defending her.

** Sonic was supposed to feature in the game's multiplayer mode, but was cut very early because Sega management had qualms about their heroic mascot gunning down the other characters.

* AccidentallyCorrectWriting: The assault rifle that Shadow pumps in the opening cinematic is believed to be a [[https://64.media.tumblr.com/323243c88af1c939bcb438d66595ef1e/tumblr_inline_pblckoWhoE1ue3nbq_500.jpg Troy 223]], a pump-action rifle that looks like an assault rifle, which wouldn't enter production until 2014, 9 years after the game's initial launch. In reality though, the sequence [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxCcHOvSVJQ&lc=UgwOlD40YvhfZfJp4Hd4AaABAg was decided early on]] and the studio referenced a toy gun that did exactly what was shown.
* {{Blooper}}: In a scene before Space Gadget and Lost Impact, Sonic says, [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment "We're on our way to the ARK, so I guess that means we're going too!]]" Presumably, this line should say "'''They're''' [the Black Arms are] on '''their''' way to the ARK, so I guess that means we're going too!", unless the first "we" referred to himself and whomever was in the spaceship, and the second "we" referred to the group plus Shadow.

** Creator/{{Sega}} is really not fond of referencing this game, with it mostly getting passing mentions in supplementary material. Only two games, ''VideoGame/SonicRivals'' and ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', reference the events of the game, but both were made around the same time (2008) and in the west. That said, Sega appears to hold the soundtrack in nice regard, with a remix of Westopolis and the menu select theme appearing in ''Videogame/SonicForces'' and the main theme being played as part of the ''Sonic'' 30th Anniversary concert.
** Creator/ArchieComics was not allowed to make an adaptation of the game and barely allowed any stories featuring the Black Arms (some of them showed up in ''[[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Sonic Universe]]'' post-CosmicRetcon headed by a new leader named [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Black Death]], who was instantly killed off in the same story that introduced him. But Sega wouldn't let Black Doom be used in any capacity, with him only showing up in one flashback panel. Likewise a new character, Eclipse, appeared that skewed closer to the usual anthro Sonic design which Sega likely only allowed because of that compromise).

* FollowTheLeader: The primary reason ''Shadow the Hedgehog'' exists is because of the changing landscape of video games in the era it debuted in. UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames saw shooters on console ''explode'' in popularity between games like ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'', ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIII'', and the first ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty1''. Shifting demographics also meant gamers had largely turned against the mascot platformers of the [=90s=], demanding more "mature" games (often with guns) over bright-colored light-hearted affairs. Sega even got letters outright asking them to let Sonic shoot things in his games. They were naturally hesitant to give their mascot a gun, they compromised by letting his rival use one. Ultimately the game received mixed reviews as some fans found the game [[{{Narm}} utterly hilarious]], though it did sell pretty well.

* OrphanedReference: In the endings, Shadow states "This is WHO I AM". The main theme of the game was originally "Who I Am" by Magna-Fi.
* TheOtherDarrin: None of the original San Diego-based voice actors from the games reprise their roles, as the dub used the New York City cast from the Creator/FourKidsEntertainment dub of ''Anime/SonicX''. In the case of Dr. Eggman's voice actor, Deem Bristow, [[CharacterOutlivesActor it was impossible]].
* PlayingAgainstType: Black Doom is voiced by Creator/SeanSchemmel, a.k.a. [[Franchise/DragonBall Son Goku]] and [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Lucario]].

--->'''Sonic''': Damn, they got away! Leave it to me, I'll chase 'em down!

** [[https://info.sonicretro.org/Shadow#Miscellaneous Apparently,]] Sega got a letter from a young fan saying how cool it'd be for Sonic to have a gun. Sega, wanting to expand their audience, thought it was an alright idea, but thought that the gunplay wouldn't fit Sonic's character, so they gave the role to Shadow.
** Magna-Fi's [[https://youtu.be/Ji1K8FhZAzU "Who I Am"]] was meant to be used as the main theme of the game, but it was switched out with Crush 40's songs due to ExecutiveMeddling by the band's manager, who instead wanted the song on one of their albums.
** [[https://youtu.be/ts7krIeoKnk "Broken"]] and [[https://youtu.be/fa-nnFXgZz0 "All of Me"]] (no relation to the Crush 40 song), both performed by Sins of a Divine Mother, were meant to be used in the main game, but never made it since Sega wasn't able to get in touch with one of the band members to get full permission to use them (they were able to contact everyone except "Wiley").

** The Moon is still defaced from the events of ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''. The intro cutscene just shows its good side, [[ArtisticLicenseSpace even though the Moon in real life only ever faces one direction towards Earth.]] This is according to [[https://youtu.be/0nzxRoIX4QU?t=1556 Takashi Iizuka at the convention Sonic Boom in 2013]].

* If you help Rouge it is impossible to help Amy.

* In the level 'Iron Jungle', take a look at the Shadow Androids in the opening animatic. They have a lower polygon count than the real Shadow, making them look cruder and more angular. Their colour is also a different, slightly duller tone.
* This is the first game Shadow used Chaos Blast, despite him being in three other games before it, and he has only used it very rarely since.
* This is the final platforming Sonic game to be supervised by Yuji Naka, who was the one remaining member of the power trio that created Sonic. He left during development of the next game, ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', but also took a considerable chunk of Sonic Team's staff with him, which ultimately helped undermine ''Sonic '06's'' development and led to one of the most infamous missteps in the video game and entertainment world. Whoever succeeded Naka ultimately got demoted/fired at the end of the decade and replaced with ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog3'' level designer Takashi Iizuka.

* CreatorBacklash: Daniel Rice, the Blur Studio artist who created [[https://rice.cgsociety.org/ynoe/shadow-the-hedgehog- this poster depicting Shadow looming over an injured Sonic]] for E3 2005, has expressed distaste not only towards the game's use of firearms (which Blur Studio themselves evidently tried to talk SEGA out of), but also confusion towards why SEGA would desire to promote the game through upstaging their series' mascot and main character.
* CreatorKiller: This is the last platforming ''[[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]]'' game to involve Creator/YujiNaka, who departed Creator/{{Sega}} a few months after the game hit store shelves. Both it and ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' worsened the issues confronting ''Sonic'' and led to Creator/{{Dimps}} taking over partial control of the franchise, and Naka has remained in the background in his career since.

* OldShame: Sega is really not fond of referencing this game, with it mostly getting passing mentions in supplementary material. Only two games, ''Videogame/SonicRivals'' and ''Videogame/SonicChronicles'', reference the events of the game, but both were made around the same time (2008) and in the west. That said, Sega appears to hold the soundtrack in nice regard, with a remix of Westopolis and the menu select theme appearing in ''Videogame/SonicForces'' and the main theme being played as part of the ''Sonic'' 30th Anniversary concert.
** Creator/ArchieComics was not allowed to make an adaptation of the game and barely allowed any stories featuring the Black Arms (some of them showed up in ''[[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Sonic Universe]]'' post-CosmicRetcon headed by a new leader named [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Black Death]], who was instantly killed off in the same story that introduced him. But Sega wouldn't let Black Doom be used in any capacity, with him only showing up in one flashback panel. Likewise a new character, Eclipse, appeared that skewed closer to the usual anthro Sonic design which Sega likely only allowed because of that compromise).

** [[https://info.sonicretro.org/Shadow#Miscellaneous Apparently,]] Creator/{{Sega}} got a letter from a young fan saying how cool it'd be for Sonic to have a gun. Sega, wanting to expand their audience, thought it was an alright idea, but thought that the gunplay wouldn't fit Sonic's character, so they gave the role to Shadow.

** [[https://sonic.fandom.com/wiki/Who_I_Am A different song]], "Who I Am", was meant to be used as the main theme of the game, but it was switched out with Crush 40's songs due to ExecutiveMeddling by the band's manager, who instead wanted the song on one of their albums.

** [[https://sonic.fandom.com/wiki/Who_I_Am A different song]], "Who I Am", was meant to be used as the main theme of the game, but it was switched out with Crush 40's songs instead. It was switched due to ExecutiveMeddling by the band's manager, who instead wanted the song on one of their albums.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noBucnkjd6k Another song]], "Broken", never made it into the game since Sega wasn't able to get in touch with one of the band members to get full permission to use the song (they were able to contact everyone except "Wiley").

** The Moon is still defaced from the events of ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''. The intro cutscene just shows its good side, [[ArtisticLicenseSpace even though the Moon in real life only ever faces one direction towards Earth.]]

** Sega says that [[CuttingOffTheBranches the Pure Heroic path is the canon route]].

* FollowTheLeader: The primary reason ''Shadow the Hedgehog'' exists is because of the changing landscape of video games in the era it debuted in. UsefulNotes/TheSixthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames saw shooters on console ''explode'' in popularity between games like ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'', ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIII'', and the first ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty1''. Shifting demographics also meant gamers had largely turned against the mascot platformers of the [=90s=], demanding more 'mature' games (often with guns) over bright-colored light-hearted affairs. SEGA even got letters outright asking them to let Sonic shoot things in his games. Naturally, SEGA was rather hesitant to give Sonic a gun, so they compromised by letting his rival use one. Ultimately the game received mixed reviews as some fans found the game [[{{Narm}} utterly hilarious]], though it did sell pretty well.

* RefittedForSequel: The idea of [[StoryBranching branching paths]] was originally considered for ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' until Creator/SonicTeam scrapped the idea for unknown reasons. The idea became used here instead.

* If you help Rouge it is impossible to help Amy (perhaps a nod to fans of both pairings).

* RefittedForSequel: The idea of branching paths was originally considered for ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' until Creator/SonicTeam scrapped the idea for unknown reasons. The idea became used here instead.

* FollowTheLeader: The primary reason this game exists is because of the changing landscape of video games in the era it debuted in. In the early [=2000s=] and through the rest of the era, shooters ended up getting ''huge'' in sales and most gamers had largely turned against the mascot platformers of the [=90s=], demanding more 'mature' games over bright-colored light-hearted affairs. SEGA even got letters outright asking them to let Sonic shoot things in his games. Naturally, SEGA was rather hesitant to give Sonic a gun, so they compromised by letting his rival use one. Ultimately the game received mixed reviews as some fans found the game [[{{Narm}} utterly hilarious]], though it did sell pretty well.

* FollowTheLeader: The primary reason this game exists is because of the changing landscape of video games in the era it debuted in. In the early [=2000s=] and through the rest of the era, shooters ended up getting ''huge'' in sales and most gamers had largely turned against the mascot platformers of the [=90s=], demanding more 'mature' games over bright-colored light-hearted affairs. SEGA even got letters outright asking them to let Sonic shoot things in his games. Naturally, SEGA was rather hesitant to give Sonic a gun, so they compromised by letting his rival use one. Ultimately the game received mixed reviews as some fans found the game [[{{Narm}} utterly hilarious]] though it did sell pretty well.

* FollowTheLeader: The primary reason this game exists is because of the changing landscape of video games in the era it debuted in. In the early [=2000s=] and through the rest of the era, shooters ended up getting ''huge'' in sales and most gamers had largely turned against the mascot platformers of the [=90s=], demanding more 'mature' games over bright-colored light-hearted affairs. SEGA even got letters outright asking them to let Sonic shoot things in his games. Naturally, SEGA was rather hesitant to give Sonic a gun, so they compromised by letting his rival use one. Ultimately the game received mixed reviews as some fans found the game [[{{Narm}} utterly hilarious]]though it did sell pretty well.

* ImageSource:
** StoryBranching

*** It is likely that the actual canon route is more than 6 stages based on expert mode commentary. Most likely Westopolis -> Lethal Highway (hero both times via self defense) -> Cryptic Castle (Cream being rescued by Shadow is canon) -> The Doom (Black Doom tormenting Shadow) -> Death Ruins -> Iron Jungle (Eggman’s lie must happen and the pick up point in ALL hero routes is this spot) -> Lost Colony (flashback) -> Space Gadget (secure ARK) -> confronted by commander at ARK -> Final Haunt -> Last Way.

** [[https://info.sonicretro.org/Shadow#Miscellaneous Apparently,]] Creator/{{Sega}} got a letter from a young fan saying how cool it'd be for Sonic to have a gun. Sega, wanting to expand their audience, thought it was an all right idea, but thought that the gunplay wouldn't fit Sonic's character, so they gave the role to Shadow.

* FanNickname: Use the terms "[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto Grand Theft Sonic]]" or "Grand Theft Shadow" around almost any ''Sonic'' fan and they'll know which game you're talking about. Obviously it's first and foremost down to all the vehicles that Shadow goes for joyrides in, but also the profanity, gun use and violence.

* AccidentallyCorrectWriting: The assault rifle that Shadow pumps in the opening cinematic is believed to be a [[https://64.media.tumblr.com/323243c88af1c939bcb438d66595ef1e/tumblr_inline_pblckoWhoE1ue3nbq_500.jpg Troy 223]], a pump-action rifle that looks like an assault rifle, which wouldn't enter production until 2014, 9 years after the game's initial launch. In reality though, the sequence [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxCcHOvSVJQ&lc=UgwOlD40YvhfZfJp4Hd4AaABAg was decided early on]] and the the studio referenced a toy gun that did exactly what was shown.

* AccidentallyCorrectWriting: The assault rifle that Shadow pumps in the opening cinematic is believed to be a [[https://64.media.tumblr.com/323243c88af1c939bcb438d66595ef1e/tumblr_inline_pblckoWhoE1ue3nbq_500.jpg Troy 223]], a pump-action rifle that looks like an assault rifle, which wouldn't enter production until 2014, 9 years after the game's initial launch.

* RevisitedForSequel: The idea of branching paths was originally considered for ‘’ VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' until Creator/SonicTeam scrapped the idea for unknown reasons. The idea became used here instead.