Shadow The Hedgehog

A horribly misinterpreted and misrepresented Sonic character that Sega loves to hate. Shadow debuted in Sonic Adventure 2 for the Sega Genesis and Nintendo Gamecube as the Ultimate Lifeform created 50+ years ago by Dr. Eggman's grandfather, Professor Gerald Robotnik on the Space Colony ARK. Though Shadow was designed to be a living weapon, his more secretive and primary purpose was to save the life of Professor Gerald's granddaughter, Maria, who was diagnosed with a very rare and life threatening disease. He never got to fulfill his purpose as G.U.N. suddenly shut down Project Shadow, and Maria was killed in the midst. Despite his stoic and quiet front, Shadow is a very compassionate and lonely character. He's not an anti-hero or villain, but an ally who rivals Sonic's speed and skills. Rouge and Omega are his friends; he respects Sonic as an equal, if not a superior. Unfortunately, with Sonic '06's massive failure, Sega decided to dumb down all of their characters and stories, and Shadow took the brunt of it, being shoved to the side and reduced to the joke his titular game presented him to be; a dark, angsty, over-the-top edge-lord loner who's too good for friends and hates Sonic because... reasons???