Sonic The Hedgehog 3 completely changes Shadow's introduction 2 years later

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog 32024 was a very exciting year for cinema, and one of the most anticipated releases of the year was Sonic the Hedgehog 3the last film of the very successful Sonic the Hedgehog film series. The film has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of all Sonic film, with a lot Sonic 3Reviews focused on the film's introduction of one of the franchise's most iconic characters, Shadow.

Although Shadow's introduction occurred during Sonic 3he was briefly teased at the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 2in the film's post-credits scene, to set up the next entry. However, the tease at the end of the previous film is interesting because it differs from what happens in the actual filmas they both show a very different version of the same event. Sonic the Hedgehog 3The ending also teases what's to come Sonic 4so the differences between the second and third films may indicate how Sonic 4 will change things.

Shadow's arrest in Sonic 3 is very different from Sonic 2's post-credits scene

Both scenes show a very different prison for the ultimate life form

After Robotnik is defeated at the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 2there is a post-credits scene where Commander Walters discusses files with a subordinate who gives details about Project Shadow as the camera cuts to Shadow the Hedgehog in some kind of containment unit. However, Prison Island, one of Sonic 3lots of video game references, it's visually very different, with one of the big differences being that Sonic 2 shows Shadow frozen in ice, while in Sonic 3 he is in a liquid containment unit.

The post-credits scene is also strange in the context of Sonic the Hedgehog 3why Commander Walters is apparently learning where Project Shadow is for the first timeseeming surprised that they found files related to him, when the most recent film makes it seem like Shadow has been in captivity at gunpoint since Maria's death, 50 years before Sonic 3. Shadow is kept on a small prison island that seems entirely dedicated to keeping him safe, but Sonic 2The post-credits scene implies that GUN had no idea where he was.

Sonic 3 Retcons Shadow waking up in the credits of Sonic The Hedgehog 2

Shadow is still unconscious at the beginning of Sonic 3

Another change of Sonic 2 to Sonic 3 is that, in Sonic 2Shadow's eyes open and glow with energy as soon as the film ends, obviously implying that the character woke up at that momentand that the next film will pick up exactly where the previous one ended. However, it is clear that this did not happen, as Sonic the Hedgehog 3 takes place a few years after 2, and Shadow has supposedly been sleeping for 50 years, and only wakes up when Gerald Robotnik hacks GUN's systems and frees him.

The reason for this disconnect between the two films is probably simply a desire to generate excitement at the end of the film. Sonic 2but then the filmmakers discovered they wanted Shadow to have his own custom introduction during the third film. It makes sense, as Shadow's escape from prison is a great scene, although not as epic as Sonic 3the final battle, and simply Relying on the audience's knowledge of what happened at the end of the last film would probably leave many viewers a little lostat least for the first act.

Even the way the shadow is contained is different in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

There are very few similarities between the two representations

Sonic 2Shadow's post-credits scene shows Shadow on ice, but he is also restrained in various ways, with two large restraints around his wrists, two around his legs, and then a large cuff around his stomach, keeping him in place. or in place. However, in Sonic the Hedgehog 3Shadow is in a GUN installation, and there are no restraints keeping him in place as he is simply floating asleep in a tank. The difference in their conditions is strange, but not entirely unexpected, especially considering the other changes made to their prison.

While the changes seen between the two versions of Shadow's prison are very striking when compared directly, in the film itself, it doesn't feel like a surprise and fits as naturally with the spirit of the world and characters as the previous two. entries in Sonic franchise setup. Even the Shadow's design is fundamentally different when compared directly, but Sonic the Hedgehog 3The major changes in Shadow's introduction still don't take away from how excellent they are.