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Shadow the Hedgehog cube Game Reviews
Shadow the Hedgehog
Critic Score
Metascore: 51 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.7 out of 10
based on 22 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 41 votes
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Rate this game

Shadow The Hedgehog allows players to collect an arsenal of weapons, vehicles, and objects to rocket through more than 50 unique missions. In his feature debut, Shadow is tormented by a dark past, struggling to discover his true identity. He is caught in a complex battle between aliens, the G.U.N. army, and Dr. Eggman, and discovers that he may be the very element that will tip the scales between good and evil forever. Is he an android created by Dr. Eggman? Is he the original Shadow simply suffering from amnesia? Or is there an even more sinister explanation? Now, gamers will decide in a race against time by choosing between any number of routes by which to unveil the secrets of his past. Multiple endings reflect critical decisions at every stage of the game. Gamers have ultimate control over Shadow's past, with the potential to rewrite his history time and time again. [Sega]

PUBLISHER: Sega
DEVELOPER: Sega Studio USA
GENRE(S): Action, Platform
PLAYERS: 1
ESRB RATING: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)
RELEASE DATE: November 15, 2005

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

80
Nintendo Power
An enjoyable, high-octane adventure. Naysayers be damned. [Jan 2006, p.111]
75
Play Magazine
I narrowly recommend it for series die-hard, unless it keeps you from buying "Rush", in which case you should opt for your DS all the way. [Dec 2005, p.58]
75
Nintendophiles
At its worst, Shadow is a solid platformer with enough fun to keep hardcore Sonic fans in one place for a few days. At its best, it's an engaging gameplay experience that isn't jaded by its otherwise glaring storyline-related setbacks.
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70
Game Over Online
Shadow the Hedgehog has a couple good ideas that are ruined by sorry gameplay. What happened?
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67
Gamer's Hell
The choice of speed and rehashed gameplay are what drag the game down. Shadow the Hedgehog is still a fun game for Sonic fans, but is too average to be really interesting to casual gamers.
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60
BonusStage
A monumental letdown, no ifs, ands or buts about it.
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53
IC-Games
The magic of the 2D versions have all but been lost in a search for technical accomplishment and it suffers terribly for it.
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52
N-Insanity
That game is made the way Sonic games should be. That isn’t to say there are no fun parts in Shadow, but they are far too rare.
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52
Electronic Gaming Monthly
This premise would still be stupid even if Shadow didn't suffer from slowdown issues, a nonexistent lock-on system, a horrible camera, and bottomless pits in which to fall. But it does, and it is stupid--just like this is a stupid way to spend 50 bucks.
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50
Total Video Games
As a long-term Sonic fan Shadow the Hedgehog fills me with absolute dread and disdain; it’s an abysmal game that manages to expand upon the issues of previous Sonic games, whilst completing negating the core ingredients of the Sonic series.
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50
Cheat Code Central
Unlike last years popular and more importantly, playable, "Sonic Heroes," Shadow The Hedgehog is a misstep in almost every direction.
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50
Sydney Morning Herald
The action is also largely mindless, with a poor targeting system and a game camera that never quite follows the action the way you want it to.
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49
IGN
A long list of shortcomings, from stupid level design, unrefined controls and useless gunplay to disappointingly outdated graphics.
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48
GameSpot
Shadow the Hedgehog fails to live up to its pedigree due to terrible controls, an uncooperative camera, and an overall lack of effort.
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40
GameSpy
The lack of speed is a real problem here.
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40
GamerFeed
The game suffers from lackluster gameplay, as well as uninspired work in the graphic and audio department. It does have moments of appeal, but they're buried beneath a pile of rushed presentation.
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40
Times Online
Sega seems to be lazily exploiting a franchise that appears way past its sell-by date. Reinvent the character by all means, but give him back his sharp edges.
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40
Game Informer
The new gun combat is horrid. [Jan 2006, p.138]
40
AceGamez
The poor controls, tricky camera and an irritation-filled gaming experience is unfortunately what Shadow the Hedgehog is presented as, and this doesn't deserve to be found under too many Christmas tree's this year.
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40
Thunderbolt
From its stripping down of the series’ most successful gameplay elements to its obviously desperate addition of weapons and ‘street’ cool this is still a product of a development studio with a good imagination. But also, it seems, a lazy one only too happy to jump on the same GTA bandwagon that’s currently carrying way too many developers.
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35
NintendoWorldReport
That is nothing like any Sonic game I played as a kid. Those games were fast, colorful, simple, and fun - all things that Shadow the Hedgehog not only misses, but flat out ignores.
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25
Gaming Age
Combine the relatively poor visuals with monotonous level designs, and you'll find yourself in the middle of a level with no real visual cues of where you are within the level.
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 7.7 (out of 10) based on 41 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it a5:
Basic gameplay, terrible graphics, and a story of unrealised potential make for a game that can balance out the bad with the good but not outweigh it. Before 4kids got to him, Shadow was an awesome and deep character. His game however, is not so awesome.

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
One of the best sonic games ever, Shadow the hedgehog gives a new meaning to the word "fun", which anybody who gave it about 70% or below may have lost their sense of. This is to all those who scraped or otherwise brutaliated this game. Get a life.

Samuel C. gave it a9:
I understand that it's sometimes hard to control Shadow because of the controls, but this is a problem that can easily be forgotten due to great level design and the originality of finding the character's personality. Yes the game has guns and has nothing to do with the other Sonic games, but this is another type of game by Sega. Try it. You'll be happy.

Jen R. gave it a9:
I admit, the controls can be a little difficult and sometimes very frustrating, but the only reason I have this game in my collection is because of Shadow's story. I had been a fan of that hedgehog since Sonic Adventure 2 and always will be.

Liz K. gave it an8:
I love Sonic, so pretty naturly I love this game. But, guys, if you DON'T like Sonic, don't get it. And if you have not even heard of Sonic and characters, rent first. And there is a HUGE improvement on the mouths since the last ones. I think Sonic Team did well this time.

Phillip M. gave it a10:
Of couse i'm a sega fan. But the game actually shows shadows true personality. It really gets the gamers thinking hard.

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