Not a bad game at all. In fact, it is pretty enjoyable, even with playing as Shadow, despite having some flaws.

User Rating: 8 | Shadow the Hedgehog (Player's Choice) GC

My 12th review after Star Fox Adventures.

Now this game is and isn't a Sonic game …and it wasn't really that bad at all. I mean Shadow the Hedgehog is one of my favorite characters, but when I played this game at my cousin's house before, I really thought this game was enjoyable, in spite of added guns and cursing in a Sonic game as that could've made it rated T for Teen. Sonic is a very happy, innocent, and friendly video game franchise. The controls may be terrible, camera is awful, level design is pretty sloppy, and there are no target locks. What's good about it is the music, the several paths to take through the game, and the replay value. Anyway, this game is about Black Doom, the leader of the Black Arms and the main villain of the game who tells Shadow to find 7 chaos emeralds and bring them to him. You have a choice to be a hero or dark side. When your hero gauge is full, you have the power to use the Chaos Control. When your dark gauge is full, you have the power to use the Chaos Blast. There are many video game franchises known for being cartoony that can succeed in having proper darker or more proper serious games, such as the Mega Man X or Zero series, Jak II, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, and many others. Anyways, this game gets an A-. Here the results:

Voice-acting 6/10: Voice-acting may sometimes be very decent, sometimes it can be mediocre, despite Shadow saying mild swear words like "damn" and "hell". The characters swearing really must be just like South Park.

Gameplay 9/10: The gameplay is so enjoyable! You're playing as one of the greatest video game anti-heroes from a very happy, innocent, and friendly video game franchise where you have an optional choice of being a hero or villain and is also full of dark violence. The level design may be very sloppy and even too huge to the point where they can get confusing and maze-like. However, what's good is the replay value.

Graphics 9/10: The graphics are very cool, even though they may be too dark.

Controls 1/10: Yeah, the controls may be terrible, and of course, the camera is as awful as the controls, not to mention there is no target locks, like seriously, why doesn't this have any lock-on targets? Many shooting games do, but not this one though.

Sound/Music 10/10: Really awesome music in spite of it's use of hard rock music!

Lasting Appeal 8/10: Granted, there are problems about the game like the controls, camera, level design, no target locks, moments of the game's story being too dark for a Sonic game as well as the story being inconsistent with many plot holes, which I won't mention in deeper details just to avoid spoiling it, but those don't stop the game from being enjoyable.

Overall, Shadow The Hedgehog is not a bad game at all!

The Good:

-Shadow the Hedgehog, by himself, is one of the greatest characters in video games, not only from the Sonic franchise as always with plenty of character development in the game

-Awesome, good music, despite it's use of hard rock music

-Terrific graphics, even though they may be too dark

-Cool and awesome cover

-Black Doom is actually a likable and excellent villain

-Weapons are fun to use, despite being ridiculous and out-of-place for a Sonic game

-Decent replay value

-There can be some funny moments, despite it's "darker and mature" tone

-The GameCube version has stable framerates than the PS2 version does

-The idea of making a darker and mature Sonic game along with a route system and Shadow himself as the main playable character were an interesting idea from scratch

The Bad:

-Terrible controls

-Awful camera

-No target lock-ons

-Sloppy level design as well as it being too huge, confusing, and maze-like

-Some moments of the story can be too dark for a Sonic game

-The story can be inconsistent with many plot holes contained

The cover is also really cool to stare at. You'll have to consider giving it a chance to see if you like the game or not. If you didn't like the game, that's okay as I can respect your opinion, especially since I'm a massive Sega and Sonic fan and Shadow is one of my favorite characters from the Sonic franchise and even in video games in general. That's the end of my review. Have a nice day!

Shadow The Hedgehog gets an 8 out of 10!

-sonic_rareware8