Shadow the Hedgehog

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]

Game Over Online

Shadow the Hedgehog has a couple good ideas that are ruined by sorry gameplay. What happened?

BonusStage

A monumental letdown, no ifs, ands or buts about it.

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.

Just RPG

The ability to choose your own destiny in Shadow the Hedgehog is cool, but much of that is overshadowed by the problems with the camera, controls, targeting, and so on.

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.

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.

Cheat Code Central

Unlike last years popular and more importantly, playable, "Sonic Heroes," Shadow The Hedgehog is a misstep in almost every direction.

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.

My Gamer

Sonic Team really dropped the ball on mission design, the graphics are lackluster, camera control issues can result in needless deaths, and the storyline can be a little hard to follow for anyone that is not a Sonic junkie.

GameSpot

Shadow the Hedgehog fails to live up to its pedigree due to terrible controls, an uncooperative camera, and an overall lack of effort.

IGN

A long list of shortcomings, from stupid level design, unrefined controls and useless gunplay to disappointingly outdated graphics.

TotalGames.net

Nasty visuals, odd camera work, silly levels - Shadow suffers from all the problems for which people have criticised every other 3D Sonic game only, for the most part, to a greater degree. Deserves to get lost among the Christmas rush and never found or spoken of again.

Worth Playing

The new ideas they've had work surprisingly well - sure, the hero has a gun, but it's a gun that works fluidly and effectively. The only problem is that the rest of the game has been dressed up in an attitude that really doesn't fit the franchise in the least, and then further marred by graphical inadequacy and unpleasant sound.

Jolt Online Gaming UK

Shadow the Hedgehog is awful. Stay away from it.

GameSpy

The lack of speed is a real problem here.

Game Informer

The new gun combat is horrid. [Jan 2006, p.138]

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.

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.

PALGN

Shadow the Hedgehog could signal the death of Sonic spin offs, the title tries too hard to be impressive and ultimately fails miserably.

Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK

Flaccid gunplay, horrible stop/start pacing and dull bosses mean that Shadow isn't ready for the limelight just yet. [Apr 2006, p.84]

Digital Entertainment News

Someday, Sega might actually do Sonic right in 3D, but at the moment, this is the worst attempt yet.

GamePro

For all the consternation about a gun-toting enigma invading a kid-friendly video-game series, the only thing to fear in Sega's Shadow the Hedgehog is the game's slap-dash excution. [Mar 2006, p.80]

DarkStation

Sega has jumped the shark with their Sonic franchise, as this release massively disappoints with frustrating controls and useless camera.

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.

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

A couple of good ideas, a couple of bad ideas, but all executed so poorly that the game almost feels unfinished. Combine that with a control and camera system that's been getting progressively worse for the past six years or so, and it's official: The hedgehog has jumped the shark.

PSM Magazine

We could go on and on about the frustrating platforming, inconsistent graphics, but we're anything but sadists. [Jan 2006, p.78]

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.