Editing Shadow the Hedgehog (section)

==History==
:''This is an abbreviated look at Shadow the Hedgehog's history, focusing primarily on his most recent mainline adventures. For a complete history of Shadow, see [[Shadow the Hedgehog/History and appearances]]. For his history in the IDW comics and ''Sonic Prime'', see [[Shadow the Hedgehog/History and appearances (IDW)]] and [[Shadow the Hedgehog/History and appearances (Sonic Prime)|Shadow the Hedgehog/History and appearances (''Sonic Prime'')]].''
[[File:ShadowsStoryShadowandGerald.jpg|thumb|left|225px|Shadow being created by [[Gerald Robotnik]], from ''[[Shadow Generations]]''.|alt=Professor Gerald Robotnik stands outside of a capsule, observing an unconscious Shadow the Hedgehog.]]
Fifty years ago, Shadow was created on the [[Space Colony ARK]] by [[Gerald Robotnik]], and grew up there alongside the professor's ailing granddaughter, [[Maria Robotnik|Maria]]. Gerald created Shadow to be the Ultimate Life Form as part of the secretive [[Project Shadow]]. However, a series of tragedies befell the ARK. One day, the military organization [[GUN]] executed a cover-up operation on the ARK, leading to Maria's death and Gerald's arrest and execution. Shadow was captured and put into stasis on [[Prison Island]].<ref>{{Cite game|dev=[[Sonic Team]]|date=October 22, 2024|game=Sonic X Shadow Generations|system=Nintendo Switch|pub=[[Sega]]|language=English|cutscene=Shadow's Story}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite game|dev=[[Sonic Team]]|date=October 22, 2024|game=Sonic X Shadow Generations|system=Nintendo Switch|pub=[[Sega]]|area=[[Collection Room]] - Shadow's History|language=English}}</ref><ref name=":022">{{Cite book|date=22 October 2024|title=[[Gerald Robotnik's Journal]]|author=[[Ian Flynn]]|publisher=Sega}}</ref>[[File:Sonic2app_2016-09-24_15-26-13-103.png|thumb|225px|Shadow first encountering Sonic, from ''[[Sonic Adventure 2: Battle]]''.|alt=In-game screenshot of a Sonic Adventure 2: Battle cutscene, depicting Shadow, with a Chaos Emerald, running past Sonic in downtown Central City.]]
Fifty years later, Prof. Gerald's grandson, [[Dr. Eggman]], freed Shadow to use him as his ultimate weapon. Shadow agreed to help, secretly driven by an intense desire for revenge. His true goal was to assemble the [[Chaos Emeralds]] to power the ARK's [[Eclipse Cannon]] and destroy the world. However, [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] and friends stood in his way. Although the Eclipse Cannon was disabled, a backup plan was activated; Gerald's posthumous confession played, revealing he tampered with Shadow's memories and the ARK itself, as the ARK was set on a crash course with Earth. [[Amy Rose]] pleaded with Shadow to help avert the disaster, and her words awakened his true memories: that Maria wanted the people of the world to be safe and happy. Shadow raced to aid Sonic in saving the world. After an epic struggle with the [[Biolizard]], the Earth was saved, but Shadow fell from space and seemingly perished.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite game |dev=[[Sega Studio USA|Sonic Team USA]] |date=23 June 2001 |game=Sonic Adventure 2 |system=Dreamcast |pub=[[Sega]]}}</ref>

Eventually, [[Rouge the Bat]] broke into one of Dr. Eggman's bases in search of a great treasure, only to find Shadow sealed in a stasis capsule, along with [[E-123 Omega]]. Once Shadow was awoken, he had no memory of recent events. He wanted to find Eggman and get answers, Rouge still wanted Eggman's treasure, and Omega wanted revenge for being sealed away. United by a common goal, the three agreed to work together and hunt down Eggman. During the hunt, Shadow reunited with Sonic and came across [[Shadow Android|Shadow Androids]] that looked just like him. Shadow began to wonder if he was truly himself or another one of these copies. At the end of the adventure, Rouge entered Eggman's vault, finding hundreds of androids. She too wondered if the Shadow she had awoken was a copy, but Omega pointed out that the androids must have been copied from an original. Shadow set out to find his own answers and a new meaning for his existence.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite game |dev1 = [[Sonic Team USA]] |date = 6 January 2004 |game = Sonic Heroes |system = Nintendo GameCube |pub = [[Sega]]}}</ref> In another adventure, Shadow encountered [[Emerl]], an ancient weapon of mass destruction who had also been a subject of Gerald Robotnik's research on the ARK.<ref>[[Sonic Team]] (27 February 2004). ''[[Sonic Battle]]''. [[Game Boy Advance]]. [[Sega]].</ref>

[[File:Dolphin_2015-09-05_20-16-45-692.png|thumb|left|225px|Shadow meeting [[Black Doom]], from ''[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]]''.|alt=In-game screenshot of the Shadow the Hedgehog CG intro cutscene, with a red thunderous sky in the background. On the left is Black Doom, manifesting in a holographic form, while on the right is Shadow.]]
With no memory or purpose, Shadow lost interest in the Earth and humanity. His search for direction was interrupted as the Earth was invaded by the [[Black Arms]]. Their leader, [[Black Doom]], appeared before Shadow and ordered him to collect the Chaos Emeralds. Shadow felt no loyalty to Black Doom, but assumed he held answers, so he set out to find the Emeralds and regain his memory. Throughout his efforts, Shadow remembered his promise to Maria to protect the world. He also learned that Prof. Gerald had used Black Doom's DNA to create him, not as a loyal soldier, but as an ultimate weapon to defeat the aliens. In a final struggle, Shadow used the Chaos Emeralds to defeat Black Doom and end the alien invasion. With his original mission complete, he wished to put his past behind him.<ref>{{Cite game |dev=[[Sega Studio USA]] |date=18 November 2005 |fullgame=[[Shadow the Hedgehog (game)|Shadow the Hedgehog]] |system=PlayStation 2 |pub=[[Sega]]}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

Next, Shadow and Rouge were commissioned by GUN to steal the [[Scepter of Darkness]] from Dr. Eggman. During a confrontation, the relic was broken, releasing the time-traveling spirit [[Mephiles the Dark]]. Mephiles took on a new form by inhabiting Shadow's shadow, then banished Shadow and Rouge to 200 years into the [[Silver's future|future]]. There, Shadow witnessed a burning apocalypse and his own future self sealed away. Mephiles revealed humanity blamed Shadow for the Earth's state and imprisoned him, offering a chance at revenge, but Shadow rejected him. Shadow returned to the present, and planned to use the Scepter of Darkness to seal Mephiles once more. However, Mephiles had grown too powerful and could no longer be contained. Eventually, Mephiles realized his goal and reunited with [[Iblis]], becoming the time-destroying god [[Solaris]]. Shadow, along with Sonic and [[Silver the Hedgehog]], used the Chaos Emeralds to obtain their [[Super transformation|super forms]] and stop Solaris. In the end, Solaris was wiped from existence, and Shadow lost all memory of the encounters with Mephiles.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite game |dev1 = [[Sonic Team]] |date = 25 October 2024 |game = Sonic X Shadow Generations |system = PlayStation 4 |pub = [[Sega]]}}</ref> In other adventures, Shadow faced [[Eggman Nega]] on two occasions, joining Sonic, Silver, and even Dr. Eggman in thwarting the mad doctor's plans.<ref>{{Cite game |dev1 = Backbone Entertainment |dev2 = [[Sega Studio USA]] |date = 24 November 2006 |game = Sonic Rivals |system = PlayStation Portable |pub = [[Sega]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite game |dev1 = Backbone Entertainment |dev2 = [[Sega Studio USA]] |date = 13 November 2007 |game = Sonic Rivals 2 |system = PlayStation Portable |pub = [[Sega]]}}</ref>[[File:ShadowGenScr1.jpg|thumb|225px|Shadow re-encountering Black Doom, manifesting as [[Doom's Eye]], from ''[[Shadow Generations]]''.|alt=In-game screenshot of Shadow Generations, with Shadow on a past version of the ARK facing Doom's Eye.]]
One night, Shadow began experiencing painful visions of his past. Suspecting the return of the Black Arms, Shadow traveled to the ARK, indeed finding Black Doom. However, Dr. Eggman's latest minion, the [[Time Eater]], suddenly pulled Shadow into [[White Space]]. There, he began to be tormented by Black Doom and infused with new [[Doom Powers]]. Shadow also met the time-displaced Maria and Gerald Robotnik. With their encouragement, Shadow came to accept his past, harnessing his Doom Powers to defeat Black Doom once more. After saying goodbye to his family, Shadow went on to encourage Sonic in the battle against the Time Eater.<ref name=":2" />

At some point, Shadow invaded one of Dr. Eggman's bases. Along the way, he fought the mercenary team [[Jackal Squad]] and their leader, [[Infinite]]. Shadow easily defeated Infinite, leaving him feeling weak and humiliated. After being implanted with a copy of the [[Phantom Ruby]], Infinite became Eggman's elite agent, conquering the world and targeting Shadow's allies. Infinite also used the powers of the Phantom Ruby to create a [[Phantom Copy]] of Shadow to fight Sonic. Shadow eventually intervened, destroying the copy and joining Sonic's efforts to liberate the world. He was on the front lines, helping lead the charge to defeat Eggman's phantom army and save the world.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite game |dev1 = [[Sonic Team]] |date = 7 November 2017 |game = Sonic Forces |system = Nintendo Switch |pub = [[Sega]]}}</ref>