
It’s quite clear that Shadow undergoes substantial character growth across various key games and portrayals. Yet, despite the different storylines, they all revolve around the same fundamental themes – his past, creation, and relationship with Maria. Shadow’s debut is in Sonic Adventure 2, where he discovers Maria’s wish despite being programmed to act against it due to Professor Gerald Robotnik’s insanity. In Sonic Heroes, we learn that Shadow lost his memory after his fall at the end of the previous game, leaving him unsure if he is the genuine Shadow or an android made by Eggman. The game Shadow the Hedgehog follows Shadow as he seeks to find the answer to this question, uncovering his Black Arms lineage and pledging to leave it all behind. In Sonic X Shadow Generations, Shadow is compelled to uphold that vow completely.