This article contains information on the manuals that were included with copies of Shadow the Hedgehog.

United States[]

The English story prologue found in the United States manuals:

It's that black hedgehog that shares the all too familiar silhouette of Sonic... he's Shadow the Hedgehog.

Some 50 years ago, this "Ultimate Life form" was the result of the army's secret research. With no records of what transpired, his true character is shrouded in darkness and even his own memory cannot serve as a key to unlock the mystery; there is only emptiness...

"Who am I... and why can't I remember anything?"

One day as Shadow sat trying to remember anything, he was suddenly shrouded in darkness. Out of the skies came the black creatures, calling themselves the Black Arms. By their sheer numbers and power, they left a path of destruction in their quest to overtake the world.

As Shadow looked on, the cities were engulfed in fire and explosions as the Black Arms tattooed their presence in red... From the ashes arose their leader, Black Doom...

"Shadow... As you can see, the day of reckoning will soon be here. Find the SEVEN Chaos Emeralds and bring them to me as promised."

Perplexed by the dark figure who somehow knew him by name, Shadow was left wondering what clues Black Doom holds to his past and what was meant by "the day of reckoning." After a moment of silence, Shadow's puzzled expression quickly changed into that uncanny sneer... as he realized what he must do to recover his past.

"If he says he knows the truth about who I am... then like it or not, I have to believe him. The only way I'm going to get the secrets to my past is to get those Chaos Emeralds!"

Thus, the adventure of Shadow to uncover the mysteries of his forgotten past unfolds. Once again, the chase for the Chaos Emeralds intertwines with the full cast of Sonic and his friends, including that mad genius, Dr. Eggman.

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Nintendo GameCube[]

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Japanese[]

Translation of the story prologue found in the Japanese manuals:

A black hedgehog who resembles Sonic, "Shadow the Hedgehog".

He is said to be the "Ultimate Life Form" created by top-secret military research 50 years ago, but there are no records of him at the time, and his true identity is still shrouded in darkness.

Even the memories of the person himself, which could be the only clue, are now gone...

Who am I? And why was I born?

One day, when he was spending his days repeating his questions with no answer, the sky was suddenly enveloped in darkness.

Before long, the mysterious invaders "Black Arms" swooped down from the dark sky, and began destroying cities around the world one after another with overwhelming numbers and power!

In front of Shadow, who coldly watches the city dyed in red by explosions and flames, the leader of the Black Arms, "Black Doom", appears.

Shadow, the promised time will soon come... Collect all the Chaos Emeralds as soon as possible!

Shadow is bewildered by the sudden appearance of someone who knows him. After a long silence, his confused expression turns into an eerie sneer.

Huh, funny... If the Chaos Emeralds, which are said to cause miracles when you collect seven of them, hold my answer, I will definitely get them!

Thus, Shadow's heart, which had been frozen for a long time, begins to move, and the harsh adventure to find his true self begins!

And the story of the Chaos Emeralds involves the evil scientist Dr. Eggman, who plans to conquer the world, Sonic and friends who try to stop him, and even the government forces that protect this planet...

Characters[]

Image	Character	Biography
	Shadow the Hedgehog	The main character of this game. A black hedgehog that looks a lot like Sonic. He possesses a speed that matches Sonic's, who boasts the world's fastest speed, and a strong body. It is said that he is the Ultimate Life Form created by Professor Gerald, who was praised as the genius scientist of the century, through his top-secret research "Project Shadow", but no one knows the truth. Long ago, when he and Sonic gave up their lives to save this planet from crisis, he temporarily disappeared and lost all memory of his past.
	Sonic the Hedgehog	The fastest supersonic hedgehog in the world, second to none when it comes to running. Instead of acting with a sense of justice and responsibility, he always lives according to his own rules. Time and time again, he has easily crushed Eggman's craziest ambitions. The appearance of the "Black Arms" reignited his adventurous spirit.
	Black Doom & Doom's Eye	The mysterious army "Black Arms" suddenly appeared from the sky and dyed the world in darkness. Black Doom is the leader and creator of the legion. He guides Shadow to the Chaos Emeralds through his third eye, Doom's Eye. Where did they come from and why are they looking for the Chaos Emeralds? And how do they know about Shadow...? The mysteries will be revealed as Shadow approaches the truth.
	Doctor Eggman	An evil genius scientist with an IQ of 300. He plans to conquer the world again, this time in order to build his utopia Eggmanland. He built secret fortresses around the world as his base. He regards the Black Arms, who threaten the world with destruction, as "troublemakers who defile [his] world".
	Commander	Commander-in-chief of the Guardian Units of Nations (commonly known as GUN). He is always calm and collected, possessing strong mental strength and ability to make accurate decisions. Known as a man with a heart of iron, he was unfazed by the Black Arms' attack, but for some reason he doesn't try to hide his strong hatred towards Shadow. He is also one of those who know Shadow's past.
	Prof. Gerald Robotnik	A scientist who is said to be the most brilliant in the history of science, and his granddaughter. He was researching the creation of the Ultimate Life Form as a top-secret national project. However, 50 years ago, the government thought that the research results would turn into a threat for humanity, and everyone who knew the contents of the research was buried in darkness along with the materials. Maria, who had a brother-sister relationship with Shadow, also became a victim.
	Maria Robotnik

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Nintendo GameCube[]

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