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C-Puff — The Twin
Published: 2014-03-21 22:36:38 +0000 UTC; Views: 4001; Favourites: 152; Downloads: 16
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Ok this is gonna take some words so bear with me.When I was a kid/young teenager We did not get the dreamcast here in South Africa. To be more precise we didn't get ANY Sega consoles. I think the Genises was here for a short while but finding one of those bastards was a miracle. As such, when Shadow was introduced to the franchise I only knew of him from really low rez images on the internets. Back then I didn't know of any good ways to track down proper images or anything of the like, and my biggest exposure to the Sonic universe were fansites (on good ol' geocities and angelfire) with really small pictures of characters and things of the like.
Not knowing much of the plot of the game and only getting the barest information online, I developed my own strange ideas on what was going on which kinda took root and which still sit there and I tend to forget they're not... in fact... true as far as canon goes. However, as I like these Ideas I'm using them here.
The first thing I utterly believed when I learned about Shadow was that he was a modified clone of Sonic made by Robotnik to destroy him. This is why I thought Sonic kept calling him a "faker" and why Shadow was named.... well.... Shadow. As a Shadow of the original Sonic. However, due to genetic tinkering he's an imperfect creation who was MEANT to be a perfect lifeform. Because of this, he is more powerful than Sonic (as Robotnik wanted to use him to kill Sonic) but his powers are unstable and far too dangerous to himself or anything around him. Infused with the Chaos emerald powers (in an attempt to give him the same powers as Sonic has when he uses them to transform into Super Sonic) he could very easily warp the fabric of reality around him and be unable to control his powers. Deemed a failed experiment, he was kept "out of sight, out of mind" in one of Robotnik's floating labs. Neglected with his powers dampened by his control bracelets and heavily policed by the other badniks on the station, he befriends Maria (who I had no idea what the hell relation she had with Robotnik at the time) and blah blah blah.
He goes out to destroy Sonic as a way to grant himself a separate identity and to prove that his existence is in fact warranted and he isn't the failed "Perfect lifeform" he was meant to be.
After learning the plot of the games though I have decided something else about him:
Shadow should not be in any other games. Because he DIED. (sorry if that's a spoiler for you on a 13 year old game) The whole..... second Shadow that might be the original but might not be but who might be a robot but who might not be is just really confusing and isn't helping the problems with the entire franchise. But that's if you're sticking with SA2's canon which, obviously, I am not doing with these drawings. Although I don't know how I'd fit him into my AU canon because pretty much everything from Sonic Adventure onwards I feel was a very bad decision and a horrible direction to take the games in.
Anyway, design wise I added more blue to his design rather than just black and red as a reflection of Sonic's DNA in him. I also removed his gloves because, as I said, he lived neglected and mostly ignored on the space-station. I considered not giving him shoes but if he's a Sonic clone and has his speed, he needs them.
The bracelets and anklets surrpress his power and I gave him a fifth ring around his neck, again to surpress his powers and to be symbolic of his life. I also gave him the same colour eyes as Sonic.
He also has an almost identical silhouette to the Sonic drawing I did. In fact I used the same roughs from that drawing for this one (TECHNOLOGY!) Again, to emphasis his existence as a clone, if an imperfect one.
However, as a clone of Sonic and despite his different personality, he shares Sonic's sense of defending those weaker than him and doing what he feels is morally right, something he tries to fight as he believes it's just a symptom of his imperfect nature... when ironically it's the closest to Sonic that he comes.
long description is long.
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Comments: 41
Saying that Shadow should have stayed dead is like saying that Knuckles should have stayed on Angel Island forever, just like he himself once claimed.
Shadow not dying is not even so unrealistic that nobody could believe it. And him being still involved around is actually the only thing that is still keeping the story in the universe. If you look around, today's Sonic has no story, or is trying to force you forget about it. They don't want any story at all. If Shadow was no longer there, it would not make the story better. It would make the story disappear into nothingness. Just like what is happening with Sonic today.
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Ok... so what has he contributed to not being killed at the end of his story arc?
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Shadow is the only component that ties the stories in Sonic universe together. If it was not for him, every single Sonic game would be a mini reboot that was only supposed to be an attempt to achieve this perfect gameplay. Which doesn't even make sense, since Sonic games really are based more on story and spectacle then on gameplay. The point of his character is story, not gameplay. If only gameplay mattered, there would be no need to even have Sonic in Sonic games. They could make an entirely new character each time - Speedy the Dog, Juicy the Reindeer, Bob the Speedster... whatever.
The point is that Sonic games are heavily based on spectacle and the cool factor. And Shadow does bring the aspect of being cool to the franchise. At least he used to, until SEGA completely lost the grasp with their own product.
This should be more specific if you really wanna know:
dracold.deviantart.com/journal…
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See, I hear what you're saying, but it still does not give a good reason why Shadow Specifically is needed to remain alive to achieve any of the things you mentioned. The Way you said it makes it sound like SEGA is using him as a bandaid for a bigger problem. That being the lack of quality in other areas of the games.
Simply including a popular character just to say he's in the game will not help the franchise's problems. And it retroactively hurts Shadow as well, as he is no longer "That really cool character with an awesome story" he's now become "That emo douchebag all the kids think is cool."
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He ONLY turned into that with Boom. If you look closely, he only became like that in Free Riders... and that's basically it. He is the only character who was mostly OK.
And I don't see ANY reason whatsoever that would justify this insane notion of killing him off. You can easily discover that the people who want him to be killed are basically the same people who want the entire franchise sterilized from any good and appealing content. It makes no sense why would people have so EXTREME demands and expectations from this character and not having such expectation from pretty much ANY OTHER character in that series.
- Why do they not care that Knuckles is not guarding Master Emerlad now? He should be gone. Why can he be guardian and treasure hunter at the same time? Plothole! His character is destroyed, let's scrap him.
- What is Silver's story exactly? He canonically appeared in one game that removed its own story from continuity. And then he was just generic time traveler with no clear purpose. Scrap him too.
- Blaze story? Eh... scrap her too, doesn't make sense.
- Eggman Nega?... Hahahaha
- Amy going in Adventure from a girl that was looking up to Sonic to a deranged psycho... and now to completely random character that is so shiftless that she is only still in the story because she is a girl. And because she was there for too long. Scrap her too.
- Tails who's story was to learn how to take care for himself and how to gain self-confidence ... and he is now so much self confident all of the sudden that he should learn how to lose some confidence instead... So... character development? Hurray, let's keep this one.
Do you see what I am saying? Do you realize that Shadow is not even liked by "douchebag emo kids"? Look around Sonic franchise today! Who is even left to enjoy it? Are there even any people left who think that the characters are cool anymore? Not any longer, if we talk about their official appearances. Only douchebags and manchildren like Sonic franchise for what it is today. And all thanks to the double standards of those who couldn't handle serious story. People who wanted Shadow to stay dead only wanted to get rid of him and in turn to get rid of all stories in Sonic that actually matter. You never hear the same people who say this advocating for some quality in Sonic games anymore.
Shadow is like every other Sonic character out there. There is no particular reason for him to not be in games anymore that would not apply to other characters as well. If his story is supposed to in some people's minds remove him from the universe, than I don't understand in the slightest how can they live with other characters and their "stories". That doesn't make much sense now, does it?
Him staying in games alone does not magically fix anything. But stop saying that he should be gone would be a start. Because if enough people keep saying that he should be gone, SEGA makes a SIMPLE DECISION once again - and they will make him gone. It will not cost them anything. It will actually ease the job for them. And by that move, they will only sink lower and lower to what they are doing to the whole Sonic franchise.
Also saying that Shadow should be dead is scaring Shadow fans away from Sonic universe, and those fans are far from being the insane people others for some reason imagine them. I am active in many Sonic communities for years, and not once I encountered a deranged fanboy that would only talk nonsense about how he loves Shadow for weird or stupid reasons. I see on the other hand tons of people who love Sonic for really obscure reasons that are destroying this franchise. And by letting Shadow go, we are allowing them to rule and destroy what's left of this once great franchise.
I was going to do this research sooner or later. So I might do it as well now. Please answer these questions truthfully from your point of view. I am trying to do a real sociological research in this field to find out what is actually wrong with Shadow's character and his reception:
1. What games or other media appearances of Shadow the Hedgehog do you know? Be as specific as possible (mentioning the particular games, seasons or episodes of Sonic X and so on)?
2. Why do you like / dislike Shadow?
3. What do you think Shadow’s character means for Sonic franchise?
4. What do you think is the best approach for his character that should be implemented in future games?
5. Why do you think other people like him?
6. Why do you think other people dislike him?
7. Are you a fan of some games from Sonic Adventure Era (Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2006). Which ones and why?
(Everyone on this page who will be able to answer me these questions will be welcome. Even if he needs to be rude and slander, he is welcome to write it down, as long as it's sincere and honest.)
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Actually yeah. I'd be far happier if they removed Silver as well. He serves no purpose outside of his story (which was a bad story to begin with) He's an OK character, although his origins as a 'Sonic from a different time/dimension/whatever' is very fanficcy and in gary-Stu territory. Not to mention his super duper awesome psychic powers
Zonic is a cool Sonic from another dimension on the other hand for various reason I'm not gonna list here because I'd be getting off topic.
I never understood what the heck Blaze's place in the story even was. Not to mention she's over-designed and... also... Sonic? ....Somehow? Anyway, she contributes nothing from what I can see. Removing her would be a good idea too.
If Sonic Boom did ANYTHING right, it minimised the cast down to 4 main characters. (although I dislike them adding Sticks for absolutely no reason other than SEGA feels the need to introduce a new character per game.) Everything ELSE about it was terrible, but they at least got that right.
As for Amy... I dislike her... but we're kinda stuck with her for how long she's been around.
Anyway, for your answers, sure. I've got nothing better to do at the moment.
1: Sonic 1 -3, Sonic CD, Sonic Adventure, SATAM, Sonic X (the whole friggen thing), Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow the Hedgehog (ugh) Sonic Boom, Sonic '06
Some of them I played... some of them I watched full Let's Plays on because I couldn't make myself suffer through them.
2: I like Shadow because he had a completed Story Arc with a clear beginning and end. I dislike his current form because he is only still around because he is the second most popular character in the franchise behind Sonic. He is literally only there as fanservice, and his presence hurts his character more than helps. I dislike that he's become every cliche for a 'dark and broody angst-ridden bad boy who's ambivalent to good and evil' to appeal to teenager and the very young adults who identify with this image. I dislike that there's no explanation for why a designed 'ultimate lifeform' is a hedgehog. (seriously, what?)
The list goes on.
3: a big step in the wrong direction. It was alright when it was done with him, but the game he was introduced in, and the habit of introducing a new character with each new game started with him. It also was one of the major stepped that turned the Sonic franchise into erm... what it is today.
4: Retell his story in an updated version. Work out the weak points. focus on the Sonic cast and ditch the 'human world' setting. make the story work in a way where it feels like it takes place in a Sonic universe. Ditch the whole 'Caos' thing.
Get him over his friggen teenaged angst.
Sonic has his story. Let him have it. Don't diminish his importance by having him show up just for the sake of showing up.
5: See above.
6: See above.
7: Not really. I like SATAM but it's not my favourite cartoon. I never watched it as a kid and only saw it a few years ago. I like Sonic CD's very basic plot and wish they could expand it with today's gaming capabilities... but SEGA would probably screw it up. I like Knuckles' arc in Sonic 3 which was done very well. Even if there is room to expand that story and setting as well. Everything else just.... ennnnnh. It's there I guess. I WANT to like it, but it's always an exercise in frustration for me. All the pieces for something great is there as far as story goes... but it never uses it.
The Jimquisition did a good video recently explaining quite well why Sonic games have become what they have become.
youtu.be/BY2HF4Lf9kI
I want to... but can't care about this franchise or it's characters no matter how hard I try. Because whenever I think o the GOOD things that are there, I check some things out of it again and I'm just reminded that the half-remembered ideas and gaps I've filled in myself are better than knowing what ACTUALLY happens.
Also, relax dude. Shadow is a cash-cow for SEGA. As long as he prints money they won't get rid of him... unfortunately.
This comment is far longer than it has a right to be.
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Hmm... interesting. Like I thought. You got so many things about Shadow wrong. And about Sonic in general. Just like when you didn't answer 5 and 6, thinking that the way you feel about him is the way everyone feels about him.
I am relaxed 
Thank you for your input. When I collect enough data, I will hopefully clear all the confusion in a one big sweep.
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In other words, you made up your mind about something, and then set out to find evidence to 'prove' your initial assumption is correct. 
If anything I would not recommend you do a study specifically on this at all. It is clear you have a lot of passion for the character, which, sadly, means you will be unable to give an unbiased opinion.
However, You most likely will anyway, and really, more power to you. really 
Also, just a word of advice, you can't call some-one 'wrong' when you asked for opinions as an answer. a person cannot be wrong in what their opinion is. it's an opinion XD If I was stating facts then fine. But you asked for opinion, not for facts.
As for how I feel about Shadow. I don't really..... I don't care all that much. The whole franchise frustrates me. So I just made stuff up that would make me happier about it if they actually existed.
Anyway, feel free to label this as 'butthurt' I suppose
Take what you will from this and leave the rest behind.
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You will see from the result that this is not true at all.
And you are wrong. Opinions can be wrong. You have the right to have an opinion, however opinions are based on knowledge you have. And if you have limited knowledge or lack of knowledge, it's impossible to form the same kind of opinion as the person who has access to the facts. You prove it by by stating that Shadow started the trend of adding new characters in Sonic games. That is not an opinion. That is an observation on reality that is simply and factually incorrect no matter how much somebody says it is an opinion:
Sonic CD.
Sonic 2.
Sonic 3.
Knuckles and Chaotix.
Sonic Adventure 1.
Sonic Adventure 2 (Rouge, does people hate her equally as Shadow?).
And there are more obscure Sonic games that too had new characters to appear. Pretty much ALL Sonic games before SA2 had a new character appear, except the first one... But somebody could argue, that Sonic and Eggman were actually new characters in Sonic 1... so yeah, figures. Do you actually remember a Sonic game where there was no new character in it? I don't. Most likely after SA2, not before.
Even though there are some obscure Sonic games that didn't add new characters, like Tails Adventure and Tails' Skypatrol. Even though one of these games had an evil witch as Tails enemy and the other had an evil "Battle Kukku Army" as antagonists, so I don't know if we should count those as new characters or not. And I believe that many Sonic fans don't even know about existence of these games. So I really doubt that they are like: "Oh man, I miss the good old Sonic games which were not adding new characters, like Tails Adventure!"
You should read this article, it is great to understand the issue:
themendenhall.com/2011/10/01/d…
That's why am I more than happy to change my mind and opinion once it's supported by the facts. When I see that the facts indeed prove that my previous assumptions leading me to my original opinions were incorrect I will change my opinion. People wrongly assume that the right to have an opinion is the same like the right to never change it and so they use this as a defense mechanism that allows them to refuse to face the reality. Well, I guess that people really have the right to remain ignorant, but it'sounds far less noble putting it that way.
I don't care about Shadow's character that much anymore. I am doing this for the entire Sonic franchise. And in fact, I wish he was no longer around as well. He shouldn't be around at all. However, this is for complete opposite reasons than I keep hearing from all other people up to this point. It's because today's Sonic franchise is self destructive. Shadow mostly only appeals to people who are no longer following the franchise. The franchise is today only geared towards those kind people who despise him. So it's pretty ridiculous thought that he should remain in the series if nothing changes.
If I was advocating for him to stay, it was in the context of SEGA finally realizing what they made wrong. But as long as they don't realize it, not Shadow, not Knuckles, not Tails, not even Sonic... none of these characters will ever work.
And also, my method is to ask a wide variety of people from all possible backgrounds about their opinion. So how is that method of research wrong? The questions will remain the same. And I will be looking only for contradicting logic in their arguments and logical fallacies. There is nothing wrong about it. The only thing people could find wrong with it is the good-old: "Hey, it was my opinion, it needs to stay that way!" As if opinions were supposed to be unchangeable. And my method of research will only make the people insecure because they will feel stupid for keeping those opinions even after I try to argue with them. But if there will be any kind of bias on my part in any kind of specific detail, no matter how minuscule, I encourage everyone on this entire planet to beat it over my head until I correct it.
In case you see some specific and glaring mistake or mistakes, I strongly advocate you to tell me what it is so I can correct it. Because I will never use lies to prove my point. My points are based on observations, not the other way round like you made it seem.
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So you say. I still feel your approach is wrong, and you've already got a biased in what you would like people to answer with, but if that is how you want to think about it you're free to do so. It feels a little to my like you are merely asking questions to somehow validate your own feelings towards the character and the franchise (whatever feelings those may be)
But again... I really don't care all that much about this franchise at all and never really have that much
Sorry about that.
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This is what I keep hearing most of the time. People telling me that I am wrong, but giving me absolutely no reason for why is that. I can't even count how many times that happened to me. Why is it? I have seriously no idea. If I was wrong, there should be a reason. Nothing is wrong without a reason and nothing is right without a reason.
My own feelings are validated by years of experience and investment in that matter. In how this community works and how is it trying to get along - or how is it trying to not get along. It's only natural to do so. You can't find a person who would have as much info as I do and not form opinion of his own. After all, how long would that kind of research need to last until I would allow myself to form an opinion? How long would it need to last for others to allow me to form an opinion? You yourself formed your own without even considering all the important details that play a significant role in that matter. So there is nothing inherently wrong about it. Or else you would have to assume that your own stance is even worse then mine. Cause having bias is bad.
And there is no single person in this world who would have the motivation to try and fix things in the community if he/she was not invested in it at all. How would that be possible? Or you think that it's possible to be invested in something but not having any opinion about it?
Opinion is something that everyone has, but if you read the article I posted, you would know that opinion has absolutely no value in discussion, unless it's is validated. And validation can be done only by argument based on examination of the premises. That inherently means that every argument should be initially treated as having no value.
And you are doing that with mine, which is OK. To which I of course am trying to prove that there is some merit in things I say. Despite that people just go and claim that I am wrong anyway, despite there is no way to tell why. You base your claim of my research being wrong entirely on the fact that 'I' am the one doing it. Which is weak. Everyone has his opinion - everyone has his bias. That means that nobody in this world could do that research.
The key is not to use this bias in argument. And if I did use it, you would immediately throw it to my face. But you didn't do it, because you didn't find it. It's not because I am really good at hiding it. In fact, I am trying to expose to the world everything I feel and know and I am trying to understand how everyone else feels and what he knows. That is the only way how to make an honest argument. By using genuine observations.
I don't know where you got the idea that I want people to tell me certain specific things that would play into my theory. I want them to tell me something I didn't know yet. But that hardly ever happens. I am happy to change my theory. I am not asking for validation of my opinion. I am trying to learn the truth.
I am not asking questions to validate my feelings - I am asking questions to validate everybody's feelings - so we will one day all end up on the same page. So all Sonic fans will finally understand the real core of the problem. But first we must learn humility and empathy. Without those virtues, it can't be done. Because if you don't care about what other people think, how do you want to convince them that they should care about what you think? And if nobody is supposed to care about what other people think, then no wonder that we are in this situation.
I think the irony in this is that under different circumstances, you would completely agree with me. You say that you don't care about the franchise all that much. Yet look at this picture and your gallery. There are people who care even less - they never drew any single Sonic character, never actually cared about the content enough to spend some serious effort in demonstrating that care... yet those those people are the ones dictating what content should be in Sonic media today. And because they got what they wanted, you can no longer be interested in it, seeing how lame it is now. This new content that makes it impossible for you to care about it anymore (as you yourself said) is this way because people are consistently asking for this content to be in this way. That's why it's in the state where you can't feel any investment in it. And everyone who decides to give up is making it far more difficult for others who decide that they should change it for the better.
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Well, I never really cared about it
If people keep repeating the same complaints to you, perhaps you need to think about that yourself if they're unable to give you proper answer. Or, also likely, actually listen to the answers they give you and don't immediately write them off when you get emotional or don't like what you read.
Also, I'd recommend being more concise with your arguments. Saying a lot when a little will do muddies the point you're trying to make.
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Which is all I am always doing. Except for saying little. The problems there are too complex to describe with a simple sentence. It's straight impossible. Do not think that one or two sentences will magically make people feel for one another.
I am thinking really deeply about what people say to me. But it doesn't mean that I must agree with it. Especially when it's obviously false. When I hear people claiming that they don't like Shadow because he started the trend of adding a new character in every single game... I just can't ignore that those people do ignore like at least 12 characters that came before him out of shear convenience. Honestly, I don't think that I am the one here not thinking about what I am saying.
In fact, I am sometimes forced to perform absurd feats - to actually defend the people I disagree with. Because since their arguments don't make a shred of sense, I need to uncover what their real reasons are. I must dig deep enough to understand what they hide, either intentionally or unintentionally. And I am doing that all the time. That is what I am trying to achieve. How are you even thinking I am writing something off? I am not writing off that people think what they think. I am writing off the content of what they think when it's a fallacy. And we need to get rid of these things to understand one another.
I thought that you would be a special case. You appeared to be Sonic fan who disliked Shadow, yet you didn't appear to be Nintendo fan and you appeared to be Ratchet fan. That didn't make sense to me. And it still does not. Why writing off Shadow for the same characteristics Ratchet has? Edgy character using guns that is having his "emo" moments tailored specifically for teens. Not only it is obvious, but the creators said so. Heck, the comic you started recreating with your beautiful art (I like the way you draw Ratchet's face) starts with Ratchet brooding over his life and thinking about a friend he killed. That's dark emotional stuff for tweens, ain't it? But that doesn't matter. It's a good and interesting story. That's what matters.
And still, you didn't say many surprising things about Shadow. You said the same things I kept hearing from the kind of people who want to get rid of stories and character personalities from Sonic franchise altogether. The only new thing I learned was that you advocated to remove his powers, as if you thought that those were the cause of what went wrong with Sonic's franchise. I don't understand this. I always saw Sonic franchise as an equal to Superhero franchises like Marvel or DC. But this recommendation of yours seem to be trying to bring the over-the-top fantasy down to earth. I honestly don't think this could work. Especially since Sonic is being devoid of a real intense action for many years, and it is doing him more bad than good.
I think that the main explanation you provided that makes sense of it all is that you don't care about Sonic now. Which of course is something I really keep seeing everywhere from all the people I ask. That might be the real association. After all - it makes sense. If you examined how SEGA treats this franchise, you would see that they themselves do not care.
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Perhaps me repeating what others have told you should be an indication of something then.
You are right though, I forgot in the first SEGA games they had a new character every game. However, that doesn't change the fact that it is a problem. Shadow was the first character introduced into the franchise that followed a particular style choice though. One that I feel is where the misstep took place in the whole franchise. It stepped away from stylization and was seen as 'cartoony' and tried to become 'edgy'. But including a character who has the one dimensional disguise of being edgy does not make something automatically more adult. That is the same logic that young people have. They will write off things which appear lighthearted and innocent but have incredible depth to their characters, in favour of charater who APPEAR to have substance but are really one note.
That is another big problem with Shadow. He is very one note. Outside of his backstory and how that relates to his current personality and status in the franchise... I can't actually tell you anything about him as a 'human being'. He is merely a stereotype designed to fill a certain role. There is no psychology to him. There isn't much below his surface.
And you mistake me. I have NEVER cared deeply for Sonic. My interest is not a fan who left the fandom. I was never part of it to begin with, and had no desire to be.
But it seems you're not willing to listen to anything I really have to say about the subject. Your mind seems made up and I'm not going to change it. Again, I don't think you're going to find the answer you would like to find from me.
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Ooooh... I thought you were Sonic fan once.
My mistake though.
But then again, I can't really say that what you are telling about Shadow is truth by any means. Sonic was designed to be edgy and for teens since Sonic 1. And the first Sonic Adventure also was supposed to be a major shit to edgy storyline. Just look at the covers.
Not even his role is any new. The VERY FIRST new Sonic characters were hedgehogs - three of them Sonic clones: Silver Sonic, Metal Sonic, Mecha Sonic and Amy. And aside of Amy, those are quite literally edgy.
I fail to see how is Shadow hollow. He is the only character that has held his personality till 2006. Most of the other characters lost their personality much sooner, especially Knuckles and Tails. I think that you focus too much on how you remember him instead of how he really is.
Asking people is not the only research I am doing. I needed to invest hundreds of hours to watch all official material that ever featured Shadow. And surprisingly, only minority of his appearances seemed hollow. In fact, the games where he was completely without any substance (Sonic Rivals, Sonic Rivals 2 and Sonic Free Riders), all other characters were even worse.
I think you fell victim to what the other people who barely know the source material told you. And again, I know that what they say is what they believe. But believe doesn't really account to anything, if it's based on misinformation. Anyone who would want to claim that any other Sonic character is deeper then Shadow would have to analyze the other characters so much that he would have to look for hidden qualities that are not even there. And if the same method was applied on Shadow, of course there would be also the same results.
I think that you must be thinking that I am maniac just because I like Shadow. But I like Tails equally as him. In fact, almost all other characters as well. Doesn't make too much difference for me. I bet that Shadow fans are in the minds of other people described as social rejects that live in a basement, while fans of characters like Tails are smarter and more logical people who are perfectly fine in society.
Well. I rather won't bother you anymore. I thought that people who spend so much time and talent on pictures of Sonic characters would be fans of Sonic franchise.
I am perfectly aware of few wiggle rooms in my theories. That is why I am preparing myself for an interview with some people who have strong argumentation skill and hold some position in public space. I am interested what they wanna offer.
My work is so far mostly in my journal. If you feel like I really have something very very wrong, feel free to correct me there. Some articles of mine are getting over 1000 views, but still nobody speaks against me. That's disturbing... I don't really want to be always right. Because in case I am right in everything, it doesn't look really well with Sonic franchise.
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Trust me. My opinion is well formed from my own experiences. To argue in Shadow's favour by saying the other characters are also bad does not forgive him as a bad character "but slightly better than the others". A kick in the shin is slightly better than a kick in the face. it doesn't make it good.
I have done my best to try and point out where you are wrong, but you seem unable or unwilling to listen.
So, all the best. I hope you find whatever you feel you're looking for.
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I am not sure that if you knew this about Shadow, however in the final boss of the game Shadow The Hedgehog, during the final boss, you can hear an audio clip from Robotnik-
"Shadow... can you hear me...? This might be the last chance I have to speak to you, so... What I said, about having created you... it was all a lie. Everyone thought you died during that horrible incident... but I rescued you, with one of my robots... You lost your memories, that's all... You really ARE the Ultimate Life Form my grandfather created!"
-Eggman
Shadow's death confused me for a while too.
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Personally, I'd have to agree with you there on the fact that Shadow should have stayed dead on SA2, mainly because he served his purpose already and I think it might be too much of the dark and gritty that made Sonic games have a huge downfall in 2005-2006 (at least, in terms of story). I really like your version of his back story as it keeps him as Sonic's rival, yet giving him an edgy enough tone to take seriously.
And this is just a suggestion to add to the backstory (you totally have right to ignore this part), but this is concerning Maria. Maria's death had a huge impact on Shadow and became a driving force as to why he did the things he did (he believed she wanted vengeance against those who took her life and all that jazz. I'm sure you know the drill). Would the same apply in this Sonic AU?
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Thank you very much X3
I'm having trouble trying to work with Maria to be honest. She needs to exist because otherwise Shadow will only have known rejection and cold indifference in his life and he needs a representation of the goodness of the world or he'd just destroy it without any kind of conscience. On the other hand, the way the canon has the story set up, Maria is a textbook "Woman in refrigerators" trope. And that's... really not ok.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in…
So I want to try and work the story so that she has a better role than just being there to spur the ACTUAL character into action. It's really tricky @___@
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Well, considering she is related to Robotnik/Eggman (they were cousins… I think), you could choose not to kill her. Like, she's the Snivly to your version of Robotnik/Eggman or something like that. It's all up to you.
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Why is his eyes green and not red? Anyway yay, it Shadow.
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You know, I'm really starting to get interested in your story!
I love your idea of Shadow better XD
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Heh, my exposure was watching my cousins play the games on Sega Genesis and LOTS of The Animated Series. So I've gotten kuky ideas too.
Ahhh angelfire and GeoCities...
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XDD My main exposure aside from the interwebs was the Sonic Underground cartoon and when Sonic 3 was released we had like an early version of "Twitch plays" where they would have some-one on TV playing the game with a caller directing them. It was weird.
Twinkly star gif backgrounds!
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Oh sweet mercy the backgrounds...
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He looks adorable
And I love how you did the shading.
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I AGREE Shadow should have stayed dead in SA2 his arc finish in that game and shouldn't have been expanded upon in his spin-off game.
and trying not to be a petty Sonic Fan (I do love the series a lot) but......(fangirl rage income)........WHO'S IDEA AT SEGA WAS TO THINK OF HEDGEHOG WITH GUNS (PLUS SLIPPY CONTROLS) AND ADDING ALIENS INTO THE SAD BACKSTORY WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR A GAME, I MEAN REALLY THIS IS A FRANCHISE THAT FOCUS ON PLATFORMING AND SPEED, NOT GUNS AND RANDOM SWEARING!
oh well I guess your doing that whole series of Sonic character redesign again? (if you are I would like to see how Blaze could turn out)
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I guess I am XD it seems every year early in the year I go on a Sonic kick. Why I have no idea. Maybe because i WANT to like the frachise but it frustrates me so much.
I probably won't be doing Blaze XD I'm pretty much Nixing most of the characters that were introduced after Sonic CD. Shadow is the exception because he's so damn popular and I like his colours. Plus the gripes I have about him I spoke about here.
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you are so welcome~ do you do art trades?
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I'm afraid I don't XD;; I'm not good at them. I always let people down.
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