The tragedy of ARK The tragedy on the ARK effected Shadow negatively. The ARK is literally where he was create, lived, and it was all he knew. Though initially those who worked on the ARK only saw him as just an experiment, the scientist and staff would gradually warm up to him, especially after seeing his bond with Maria. The people who lived in the ARK became something of a family to him, his only family. To have that life abruptly taken from him and seeing his one friend shot before him, left a heavy mental scar. This all happening when he was still struggling with his own identity. It did not help that he was immediately put into cryo for 50 years by G.U.N. the moment he landed on Earth. This in turn made him hateful, distrustful of others, especially towards humanity, and choosing to do things himself. It would take time, new experiences and meeting others, before he would be able to gradually open his heart and learn to trust/rely on others again.
Working with Dr. Robotnik Simply put, he used Eggman for his own means, though would later see him as a threat to the world. Initial meeting, Shadow had been brainwashed by Gerald before his death to seek revenge at the time. As Eggman was the one to release him from cyro, he decided to use him to complete his mission. For the most part, their only connection is through knowing Gerald, so they acted like associates at this time, both using the other toward their own means. After the events of preventing the ark from crashing into the earth, Shadow didn't work with Eggman unless there was some greater evil they had to deal with, like the Black Arms. The majority of his plans tend to threaten the world, and that doesn't exactly align with Shadow's new purpose of "protecting the earth". Even when it was Eggman who saved him after he fell from space, he could care less what happens to the Doctor. Various alternate endings in Shadow the Hedgehog shows he's capable of killing the Doctor if pushed comes to shove. Good thing Sonic and his friends are around to reason with him from going that far. Usually.
I...think Shadow Generations happened before Sonic Forces, since it lines up with the original timeline of Sonic Generations, and that stops at Colors. But I will note it here anyway. After the Eggman war, he wouldn't hesitate taking down Eggman should he encounter him.
I assume this was for Eggman, but I'll add Gerald's relations here if needed: Before Gerald went mad, he was shown to have a more humbling outlook of life. This is the Gerald that Shadow mostly remembers. To Shadow, Gerald was like a father to him, further emphasized when the Professor called him son. Their encounter in white space was complicated, Shadow knowing he would go insane. Still, he would consult with the professor on the situation and what to do.
Team Dark Up to meeting Rouge and Omega, Shadow didn't particularly have anyone he would immediately consider friends/allies he would reliably go to for a helping hand. Amnesia arc aside, Shadow saw himself as different from everyone else, and at the time, a weapon. He didn't neatly fit anywhere, and that's where Team Dark comes in. They as a team are basically a bunch of misfits, with a thief/spy, the other an abandoned Eggman robot. Though it was Rouge's idea that they work as a team initially.
With Rouge, she was one of the first to see through Shadow's cold nature. They were both aiding Eggman in SA2, and at one point, she was trapped with a time bomb while collecting the emeralds. It was Shadow who came to her rescue, saying he only did it because they needed the emeralds. Prior to this rescue though, Shadow had flashes of Maria's final moments, and to him, he felt what happened to her was his fault. And so, making parallels he went to save Rouge to prevent a repeat of what had happened to Maria. This was during a time when Shadow was still seeking revenge against the world, so that action was very unlike him to do, something Rouge noted. Since that time, Rouge has been there to lend a helping hand, and a bit of an emotional support. She has expressed several times, that no matter what, she'll always be there for him, even when everyone is against him. Shadow in turn has come to trust Rouge, appreciate an understanding without all the needless extra fluff. She's also the one who tends encourage him to get more involved with their other friends, case in point, telling him to go to Sonic's birthday party.
With Omega, did you know the majority of the alternate routes in Shadow the Hedgehog involve him? Omega really just wants him to be an andriod and take over the world with him or something :'). Ok but seriously, these two have a sort of mutual bond, being both artificial creations and having a hatred for Eggman. He's also direct about what he wants done like Shadow, which Omega has expressed it's something he likes about him. They've shown they both enjoy a bit of destruction and having friendly competitions between them. Who's stronger, the ultimate lifeform or the ultimate robot? Eitherway, to Shadow, Omega is like a partner to him, someone he can trust to complete whatever task that's been provided to the best of his abilities. Even Rouge has remarked how well they work together.
Together, they all compliment each other, Rouge being the glue of the team and Omega as Shadow's right-hand. They'll never fill the place of Maria, but they are the two who Shadow was able find trust in.
His Rivalry with Sonic Sonic and Shadow started as enemies, considering the other a faker or a copycat. More of a nusiance than anything, Shadow opinions didn't start to change until Sonic impressively manages to use chaos control with a fake emerald. It's then he starts to properly look at Sonic as an individual, a possible equal he could show some respect. He even went as far as expressing that maybe Sonic was the true ultimate lifeform during their fight against Final Hazard. Since SA2, their rivalry has become less hostile and more friendly, atleast as long as their approach to handle a problem don't clash. They occasionally have differing ideas on how to handle a situation, Shadow tending to take more aggressive methods versus Sonic having considerations of others. If Sonic was not there, Eggman would probably be a cracked egg by this point. Shadow has expressed opposing Sonic if he disapproves of his methods, but this is honestly nothing compared to their rivalry at the beginning. Shadow does care. Though the Sonic '06 timeline is erased, Shadow did visibly show he was upset when Sonic had died. As time goes on, Shadow gradually gains more faith in Sonic being able to handle things and do the right thing. In fact, he spends more time in recent games teaming up to help Sonic than go against him (Saved him twice in '06 and Forces). Still doesn't mean he's going out of his way to hang out with him though. He can only deal with his free spirit so much. In short, their rivalry is more of a clash of differing ideals that leads them to butt heads. At the end of the day though, Shadow is willing put aside differences to help the greater good.
no subject
The tragedy of ARK
The tragedy on the ARK effected Shadow negatively. The ARK is literally where he was create, lived, and it was all he knew. Though initially those who worked on the ARK only saw him as just an experiment, the scientist and staff would gradually warm up to him, especially after seeing his bond with Maria. The people who lived in the ARK became something of a family to him, his only family. To have that life abruptly taken from him and seeing his one friend shot before him, left a heavy mental scar. This all happening when he was still struggling with his own identity. It did not help that he was immediately put into cryo for 50 years by G.U.N. the moment he landed on Earth. This in turn made him hateful, distrustful of others, especially towards humanity, and choosing to do things himself. It would take time, new experiences and meeting others, before he would be able to gradually open his heart and learn to trust/rely on others again.
Working with Dr. Robotnik
Simply put, he used Eggman for his own means, though would later see him as a threat to the world. Initial meeting, Shadow had been brainwashed by Gerald before his death to seek revenge at the time. As Eggman was the one to release him from cyro, he decided to use him to complete his mission. For the most part, their only connection is through knowing Gerald, so they acted like associates at this time, both using the other toward their own means. After the events of preventing the ark from crashing into the earth, Shadow didn't work with Eggman unless there was some greater evil they had to deal with, like the Black Arms. The majority of his plans tend to threaten the world, and that doesn't exactly align with Shadow's new purpose of "protecting the earth". Even when it was Eggman who saved him after he fell from space, he could care less what happens to the Doctor. Various alternate endings in Shadow the Hedgehog shows he's capable of killing the Doctor if pushed comes to shove. Good thing Sonic and his friends are around to reason with him from going that far. Usually.
I...think Shadow Generations happened before Sonic Forces, since it lines up with the original timeline of Sonic Generations, and that stops at Colors. But I will note it here anyway. After the Eggman war, he wouldn't hesitate taking down Eggman should he encounter him.
I assume this was for Eggman, but I'll add Gerald's relations here if needed:
Before Gerald went mad, he was shown to have a more humbling outlook of life. This is the Gerald that Shadow mostly remembers. To Shadow, Gerald was like a father to him, further emphasized when the Professor called him son. Their encounter in white space was complicated, Shadow knowing he would go insane. Still, he would consult with the professor on the situation and what to do.
Team Dark
Up to meeting Rouge and Omega, Shadow didn't particularly have anyone he would immediately consider friends/allies he would reliably go to for a helping hand. Amnesia arc aside, Shadow saw himself as different from everyone else, and at the time, a weapon. He didn't neatly fit anywhere, and that's where Team Dark comes in. They as a team are basically a bunch of misfits, with a thief/spy, the other an abandoned Eggman robot. Though it was Rouge's idea that they work as a team initially.
With Rouge, she was one of the first to see through Shadow's cold nature. They were both aiding Eggman in SA2, and at one point, she was trapped with a time bomb while collecting the emeralds. It was Shadow who came to her rescue, saying he only did it because they needed the emeralds. Prior to this rescue though, Shadow had flashes of Maria's final moments, and to him, he felt what happened to her was his fault. And so, making parallels he went to save Rouge to prevent a repeat of what had happened to Maria. This was during a time when Shadow was still seeking revenge against the world, so that action was very unlike him to do, something Rouge noted. Since that time, Rouge has been there to lend a helping hand, and a bit of an emotional support. She has expressed several times, that no matter what, she'll always be there for him, even when everyone is against him. Shadow in turn has come to trust Rouge, appreciate an understanding without all the needless extra fluff. She's also the one who tends encourage him to get more involved with their other friends, case in point, telling him to go to Sonic's birthday party.
With Omega, did you know the majority of the alternate routes in Shadow the Hedgehog involve him? Omega really just wants him to be an andriod and take over the world with him or something :'). Ok but seriously, these two have a sort of mutual bond, being both artificial creations and having a hatred for Eggman. He's also direct about what he wants done like Shadow, which Omega has expressed it's something he likes about him. They've shown they both enjoy a bit of destruction and having friendly competitions between them. Who's stronger, the ultimate lifeform or the ultimate robot? Eitherway, to Shadow, Omega is like a partner to him, someone he can trust to complete whatever task that's been provided to the best of his abilities. Even Rouge has remarked how well they work together.
Together, they all compliment each other, Rouge being the glue of the team and Omega as Shadow's right-hand. They'll never fill the place of Maria, but they are the two who Shadow was able find trust in.
His Rivalry with Sonic
Sonic and Shadow started as enemies, considering the other a faker or a copycat. More of a nusiance than anything, Shadow opinions didn't start to change until Sonic impressively manages to use chaos control with a fake emerald. It's then he starts to properly look at Sonic as an individual, a possible equal he could show some respect. He even went as far as expressing that maybe Sonic was the true ultimate lifeform during their fight against Final Hazard. Since SA2, their rivalry has become less hostile and more friendly, atleast as long as their approach to handle a problem don't clash. They occasionally have differing ideas on how to handle a situation, Shadow tending to take more aggressive methods versus Sonic having considerations of others. If Sonic was not there, Eggman would probably be a cracked egg by this point. Shadow has expressed opposing Sonic if he disapproves of his methods, but this is honestly nothing compared to their rivalry at the beginning. Shadow does care. Though the Sonic '06 timeline is erased, Shadow did visibly show he was upset when Sonic had died. As time goes on, Shadow gradually gains more faith in Sonic being able to handle things and do the right thing. In fact, he spends more time in recent games teaming up to help Sonic than go against him (Saved him twice in '06 and Forces). Still doesn't mean he's going out of his way to hang out with him though. He can only deal with his free spirit so much. In short, their rivalry is more of a clash of differing ideals that leads them to butt heads. At the end of the day though, Shadow is willing put aside differences to help the greater good.