Sonic the Hedgehog 3 lastly explored the story of Shadow the Hedgehog in dwell motion Sonic the Hedgehog cinematic universe, however the character's backstory has already been subtly referenced within the Knuckles spin-off present. Earlier than Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was launched, Knuckles the Echidna rose to prominence in his personal spinoff present on Paramount+, following Knuckles as he trains Wade Whipple to face his father in a bowling event. Whereas the Knuckles collection is primarily an impartial comedy, the present arrange an enormous reveal of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in model.
Shadow the Hedgehog was teased on the finish of Sonic the Hedgehog 2with him showing within the movie's post-credits scene and being ready for Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Nevertheless, one other undertaking outlined within the Sonic the Hedgehog cinematic universe was launched between these movies: Knuckles. Though Sonic and Tails seem in Knucklesthe spinoff's story has virtually no influence on the primary movies, with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 barely recognizing Knuckles. Nevertheless, after seeing Sonic the Hedgehog 3viewers who rewatch Knuckles you will notice that there was an essential configuration.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 confirms that Shadow Crash landed on Earth in 1974
50 years earlier than the occasions of the movie
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 barely modifications Shadow the Hedgehog's origins, revealing that he's an alien who crash-landed on Earth. After being found, Shadow was welcomed by the Guardian Items of the Nations, being on the middle of Challenge Shadow. Gerald Robotnik was introduced in to experiment with Final Lifeform, with GUN planning to make use of the hedgehog's powers for some nefarious functions. Finally, nonetheless, an explosion led to the undertaking's closure, with Shadow remaining in stasis for 50 years till his escape 50 years later.
Surprisingly, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 goes into loads of element concerning the timeline of Shadow's story. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 opens in 1974, revealing that that is the precise yr Shadow landed on Earth. Though it was initially thought that he may need landed on Earth shortly earlier than this because of a personality in 2022 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 mentioning that Challenge Shadow closed 50 years in the pastthis might have been an estimate. Shadow spent an undetermined period of time with Maria and Gerald earlier than the undertaking was shut down, and he was trapped for many years.
Knuckles' ending references Shadow's origin with the 1974 alien occasion
An alien appeared on the bowling event
It seems that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was not the primary undertaking of Sonic the Hedgehog cinematic universe to reference Shadow's 1974 arrival date. Knuckles The spinoff collection lastly sees the present's two important storylines collide, with Knuckles combating villains whereas Wade Whipple competes in a bowling competitors in Reno. Throughout Knuckles' combat, the echidna is thrown towards a wall, and it falls into the constructing the place the bowling competitors is being held. Nevertheless, this isn't that stunning to the individuals.
After Knuckles' arrival, the 2 ESPN Ocho commentators talk about the matter, explaining that this isn't the primary time this has occurred. One of many commentators mentions {that a} 1974 bowling event was interrupted by an alien occasionthough few particulars are supplied about who this alien was. Nevertheless, since Shadow the Hedgehog is the one identified alien to have arrived on Earth in 1974, it's not a stretch to assume that the bowling event alien and Shadow are the identical individual.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Doesn't Fairly Line Up With Knuckles' Shadow Reference
Shadow by no means seems within the event
Whereas the joke Knuckles finale is enjoyable, doesn't fairly line up with Sonic the Hedgehog 3the portrait of Shadow's arrival. When Shadow is discovered, the house rock containing him seems to have fallen into the center of a random area, with GUN instantly surrounding him. There aren't any indicators that Shadow interrupted the 1974 bowling event, because it seems he went straight to jail as a part of Challenge Shadow.
It could be that Shadow's rapid arrival was not what interrupted the bowling event, and it's attainable that the alien encounter occurred later that yr. Possibly Shadow snapped at one level, and it wasn't proven on display screen. It could even be that one other Sonic the Hedgehog The alien arrived in 1974. For instance, it will make sense for Black Doom to return after Shadow the Hedgehog, with him probably showing within the bowling event. Nevertheless, because it's only a joke, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 I in all probability wasn't too involved about sustaining that continuity.