An alleged leak of Shadow the Hedgehog’s design in the upcoming film Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has been the talk of Sonic Fans everywhere. It could be seen as shocking that there could possibly be even crazier news for the franchise on the horizon.
Sonic the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2022), Paramount Pictures
The internet has begun much speculation after SEGA announced that their upcoming remake of the 2011 classic Sonic Generations dubbed Sonic X Shadow Generations will seemingly be featuring an unexpected fourth playable character to join Modern Sonic, Classic Sonic, and the newly added, Shadow the Hedgehog.
Just who this character is, has Sonic Fans scratching their heads, especially since SEGA has not brought back many characters as “playable” from the 2000s era of Sonic games over the past decade.
A screenshot from Sonic X Shadows Generations’ website teasing a potential fourth playable character
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SEGA has been very selective on the “call backs” to games from 2003 to 2009 due to the era being seen by many at the time as “Jumping the Shark.” A returning character from that era could both see high acclaim and some laughs due to the polarizing nature of that era of the franchise. The games featured many “uncanny” decisions and moves such as Sonic kissing a human princess in “Sonic 06” and Shadow swearing while wielding an assault-rifle in his self-titled game in 2005.
However, we now live in a very different time. Many from that era are now adults and Sonic games have had a mixture of games throughout his over 30 year history being seen as “unforgettable classics” or “unforgettable abominations” from all eras.
A screenshot from Sonic X Shadows Generations (2024), Sonic Team
The speculation has many fans excited that the franchise could see the return of an era that has seen less attention in recent times compared to its older 90s brethren. However, just who the character is remains a mystery.
There is speculation that the series could see the return of Silver the Hedgehog who starred as a major playable character in the “ill fated” “Sonic 06.” Silver saw a swing in popularity due to his portrayal in the Sonic the Hedgehog comics written by Ian Flynn. Silver has seen a lot of “Fan Hope” across X, with fans eager for a return of the psychic hedgehog and the stories to tell with him.
Blaze the Cat could also be seen as the character even though there has been a “surprisingly” lack of speculation. A possible playable return could be seen as fitting as she is one of the few characters in the franchise that is a “high speed” character like Sonic and Shadow. With Sonic X Shadow Generations being at its core a remake, Blaze would theoretically fit in very well due to the gameplay not needing to be as drastically modified to accommodate a character with very different attributes and abilities. Blaze’s fire super powers could be a wild compliment to Shadow’s early 2000s “ emo rock band” edge.
A screenshot from Sonic X Shadows Generations (2024), Sonic Team
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With the content in the new remake being definitely the most exposure SEGA has given the 2005 Shadow the Hedgehog video game in years, fans are also considering that a character who appeared in the game could see a bigger role this time around. Shadow’s close relations to the thief turned GUN Agent, Rouge the Bat, or perhaps his ally and robot-friend, E102-Omega, could join the party to “answer the signal.” Both Rouge and Omega played prominent roles in Shadow the Hedgehog, but their lack of “high-speed” gameplay hurts their high chances.
Other beloved Sonic characters such as Metal Sonic, Maria Robotnik, and even a “classic” version of Shadow the Hedgehog are also seeing much speculation. However, one character who may return “out of left field” could be Emerl from the “more obscure” Sonic Battle. Emerl saw most of his time in the spotlight in his debut game and in the anime Sonic X. The robot can copy the opponent he faces in combat, making him one of the most dangerous Sonic characters to date. His copy powers may even give Kirby a run for his money. The fuel for the inclusion of Emerl is due to the character’s surprising return in the upcoming animated prelude for the new game called Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings. Whether or not he returns, remains to be seen.
A screenshot from Sonic X Shadows Generations (2024), Sonic Team
Whoever the fourth playable character is, hype will definitely continue for Shadow the Hedgehog leading to his silver screen debut in December. Sonic X Shadow Generations is set to come out October 22, 2024.
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