The Year of Shadow reaches its apex with the release of the “Dark Beginnings” series to promote the next “Sonic the Hedgehog” game.
“Sonic X Shadow: Dark Beginnings” is a short, three episode YouTube series on the official “Sonic the Hedgehog” channel following the prelude to Shadow the Hedgehog’s story in the upcoming game “Sonic X Shadow Generations.”
This year is dedicated to “Shadow the Hedgehog” and celebrates his character by releasing games and other media revolving around him.
Released on Sept. 25, Oct. 3 and Oct. 10, the three episodes run from four to six minutes and feature phenomenal animation and stunning fight choreography. They are similar to the short animations released to promote the previous sales of “Sonic Frontiers” and “Sonic Superstars.”
The episodes feature familiar characters closely tied to Shadow such as Rouge the Bat, E-123 Omega, Maria Robotnik, Gerald Robotnik, Abraham Towers (also known as The Commander), Emerl and Black Doom.
In the first episode, Shadow is thrust into a vision of painful memories as he recalls what happened early in his past as well as his failure to prevent the deaths of Maria and Gerald Robotnik. After Shadow leaves his trance, he decides to head back to the ARK, the place he was created that is also a space station orbiting the Earth, to investigate a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.
In the second, Shadow stumbles upon his other teammates, Rouge the Bat and Omega, seeking unknown information from a secret base. In order to reach the ARK, Shadow will need a spacecraft from another military base, which leads into the third episode.
In the third, the three arrive at a military base, make their way through armed forces and robots and launch Shadow back to the ARK. The episode concludes on an emotional note with Shadow recalling his memories with Maria and an ominous shot of what appears to be Black Doom in the ARK, thus concluding the prelude to the upcoming game.
With the series concluded and the stage set for “Sonic X Shadow Generations” to kick off Friday, it begs the question of how the game will begin now that we know how and why Shadow went to the ARK in the first place.
All episodes can be watched on the official “Sonic the Hedgehog” channel with the full 14-minute animation available as well.
