Although many reviewers criticized the Shadow the Hedgehog video game, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 offers the perfect opportunity to adapt certain elements from the game to film. Since the beginning of the Sonic the Hedgehog live-action movie franchise, the Sonic films have received largely positive reviews. Specifically, the movies have earned praise for their acting, humor, action sequences, and incorporation of video game elements. In addition, the Sonic movies have performed well at the box office, earning a combined total of $705.2 million in theaters and making Sonic the Hedgehog 2 the highest-grossing film based on a video game in the United States.

Based on this success, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has already set up Sonic the Hedgehog 3. During Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s mid-credits scene, G.U.N. Commander Sam Walters found an old government file, which revealed that Project Shadow still existed in a previously hidden location. Project Shadow turned out to be Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic’s archrival in the games, who was contained in a secret research lab. When asked about Sonic the Hedgehog 3, writer Josh Miller explained that Shadow would be a key part of the Sonic the Hedgehog movies moving forward. In particular, Miller would “love to incorporate elements from… Shadow the Hedgehog” in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Related: Sonic 3: How Powerful (& Fast) Shadow Is Compared To Sonic & Knuckles

While viewers were excited to see Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the idea of using aspects of Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 might concern some audiences. While Shadow the Hedgehog was Shadow’s first standalone game, it received negative reviews for its mature themes and storyline, greater violence, and difficult controls. However, none of these factors should create issues for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, allowing the Sonic threequel to incorporate the best elements from the Shadow the Hedgehog game.

 

The first reason Shadow the Hedgehog received criticism was its unexpectedly mature story and gameplay. Unlike other video games in the Sonic franchise, Shadow fought with guns even though he could have used his powers. In addition, Shadow the Hedgehog surprised players by including swearing. The game’s storyline was also dark, involving an invading alien race called the Black Arms that wanted to harvest humans as an energy source. However, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 would not have to include any of these elements. Since the Sonic movies are known for pop culture references, Sonic 3 could easily make fun of Shadow the Hedgehog’s edgy nature. In this way, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 could incorporate aspects of Shadow the Hedgehog’s plot and character development – and recognize their source of inspiration – without becoming too dark.

Additionally, many critics disliked Shadow the Hedgehog due to the difficulty in using the game’s controls. While gamers enjoyed playing as Shadow, the controls were known for being too sensitive. Even small movements by the player would cause Shadow to rapidly run or turn, making it easy to crash into objects or enemies. However, given that movies do not require players to control characters, this instability would not factor into Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Although the Shadow the Hedgehog video game had issues with its maturity level and controls, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 could adapt the best aspects of Shadow’s story and character growth without including either of these pitfalls.

Next: Sonic 3: Why Shadow Is The Perfect Villain To End Sonic’s Trilogy Arc