This is horrendously disappointing. Not because of the gun (although it looks downright BORING and generic; if Shadow has a gun it should at least look interesting), but because I wanted a real Sonic & co. game. I have very little interest in Shadow, and this means it might be 2007 or 2008 before we get a proper Sonic game.
The gameplay actually might be pretty good if they combine Sonic and Gamma from SA. But I have no interest in this "as a fan." There's no reason to pick this over any other game. For all my talk about gameplay I have to admit that I also care about the world and characters on the screen. And if the game doesn't have even one of Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, the Chaotix, Rouge, or even Eggman, it's just not a Sonic game to me. *shrug* I'm going to check it out as if it was a whole new game, and then buy or not buy it based on how good it looks. And there are a lot of non-Sonic games that look better.
To be honest, if this was Tails, and the gun actually looked like something he invented rather than some mass produced thing, I'd probably be somewhat more interested.
This really does look like a hoax, even though it isn't. The reason it looks like a hoax is that the whole thing feels marketing-inspired and tacked-on. Buzz Bunny looked like a hoax too. What we saw of the levels doesn't suggest much new stuff in the game besides a VERY generic gun and the "hero or villain" thing, which is very vague. Sonic is about, among other things, unique designs and an abstract feel.
The biggest problem with marketing-inspired and tacked on is that it creates the impression that Sammy execs are pulling the strings instead of letting creatives do their thing. If that happens the whole series and SEGA itself are in trouble. We don't want Poochie the Rockin Hog.
The best case scenario would be Shadow getting his own series that does not interfere with the production schedule of other Sonic games. As I said, most of my disappointment is about this game probably pushing back another Sonic game.
I know... Sonic Babies was more believable than this new Shadow game.
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The gameplay actually might be pretty good if they combine Sonic and Gamma from SA. But I have no interest in this "as a fan." There's no reason to pick this over any other game. For all my talk about gameplay I have to admit that I also care about the world and characters on the screen. And if the game doesn't have even one of Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, the Chaotix, Rouge, or even Eggman, it's just not a Sonic game to me. *shrug* I'm going to check it out as if it was a whole new game, and then buy or not buy it based on how good it looks. And there are a lot of non-Sonic games that look better.
It'll probably have atleast Metal and Omega, possibly Rouge or even Eggman... those are the characters with the strongest connection to Shadow atleast.
On the point as to what other characters will turn up, I have to say that if Sonic does't appear as some kind of cameo somewhere in the game I'll be extremely surprised.
I wouldn't expect him to have any large role, but not including Sonic somewhere would be a little perplexing. Whatever way you look at it, Sonic has more market recognisability than Shadow.
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It'll probably have atleast Metal and Omega, possibly Rouge or even Eggman... those are the characters with the strongest connection to Shadow atleast.
I don't know about that. I see no evidence of Eggman's tampering in the shot's we've witnessed so far. I'm guessing there may be a cameo by Rouge, since she's not only Shadow's "Friend", but she also actually knows a bit about his past.
Metal and Omega? Maybe, but there's no real proof 'till we see a concrete storyline.
Then again, I'm sticking to my crack pot theory that Fang might show up...
Well...
| Spoilers (Select To Read) Metal and Omega went away with Shadow at the end of SH, after all. So I'd assume they'd be in it. |
old news, but whatever.
Hmm, found something on SoA's FTP site: ftp://segapr.segaamerica.com/SEGA_EVENTS/Walk_of_Game/Metreon%20Event%20Media%20Alert.pdf
So this Shadow game and Sonic DS aren't the only Sonic titles out this year...
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Since his introduction on the Sega Genesis in 1992
o.o Lies.
Also, what it says about a new game pretty much sounds like it could just be talking about the ones we know of. O_o
After watching the trailer, I've gotten the idea that this game could be very promising. The single-character gameplay featured in the trailer looks great, and it's awesome that all the team aspects have been ditched, and it's back to playing as just one character like in good ol' Sonic Adventure.
Sure the gun looks tacky on Shadow, but from what I've seen the gun doesn't really hamper the gameplay badly, and it's refreshing to see a new style of gameplay in the Sonic series that isn't a complete dropoff of all the moves we've gotten used to; Shadow still has the speed of the Sonic games, and now the fighting's starting to get interesting.
Now getting to the character... I can see why some of you are upset that Shadow's usurping Sonic's status. I see no reason as to why Shadow would have Sonic's speed, regardless of his "hover boots," and there's a great possibility that Shadow could replace Sonic if this game does well, much to the dismay of those of us who have gotten used to our cool blue which faces the threat of being replaced by a "darker", edgier version.
BTW, if anyone cares, this game now ranks both #1 and #3 at GameSpot's "most popular games". It seems to be popular. This isn't really too much of an indication of whether it's good or not, but...
I'm surprised Zelda isn't at the top, myself; you'd have half-expected the Nintendo fanboys to flock to the trailer like flies to an open jar of honey. Or hey, maybe even UT2K4, which is where GameSpot currently has the video of the sexcellent Unreal Engine 3 (it's really boggling how they can render all those bricks, and yet have the wall (polygon-wise) as flat as a wall from DOOM... the original DOOM...). But no, it's Shadow. Meh.
Wait... that's just weird. I mean I can understand Shadow getting alot of views from around the universe, that stands to reason due to the WTF factor it has sent rippling through the fandom.
But how on Earth did it get to be a more popular download than the new Zelda trailer, which is like joy trapped in a video.
First, off I'm gonna give my impressions. I think this game could be good and as a Sonic fan(Shadow's a Sonic character so I have to be a fan of his) I gonna buy this more than likely. I have mixed feelings on the gun; I am by no means anti-gun but Shadow is the ultimate lifeform and don't see why he has a gun, but I got me a little theory as to why he has it.
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You CAN choose to be "Evil" or "Good" (I doubt it, even though it looks like that's how it'll be) and the Evil Shadow uses a gun throughout the game.
That's what I was thinking Deus; maybe that's when he has a gun: when he's a villain. Personally, I think, and I'm actually surprised no body's mentioned this, that maybe the evil Shadow(and the one that holds a gun) is one of the many Shadow clones we see in Heroes, and he does not completely weld the power the real Shadow has and therefore has to use a gun to compensate for the lost power. The hero Shadow is the real Shadow(I'm gonna go on a limb and say this is the one from SA2B, SH, and SB), and he is the one that just uses homing attacks, etc. Throughout the game, we will think evil Shadow and good Shadow are the same, but we may get some hints in each story that they maybe more than one Shadow, a little bit of foreSHADOWing if you will.(Sorry, I could not pass up the pun.
) In both stories, the Shadows will have their own separate and different final bosses, and then in the final story, the Shadows will met each other and they will have a final dukeout with the real Shadow chaos controlling the gun-toting Shadow into a stasis tube like the ones in heroes. If my theory proves to hold water, would you be more open to it, and hey, is this a good theory? On a side note, Shadowglass, you sound as thoughtful and eloquent as always, sir!
Good guys can weild guns aswell. Why instantly assume that "evil Shadow" is gun-tooting, whereas "good Shadow" (mysteriously missing from the video, screenshots and box art preview) has no gun.
That's silly ;p
*remembers the RE4 commercial* and stangely, the movie set up such ....coincidence.
Announcer: Forget everything you knew about the Sonic the Hedgehog series, because Shadow blows crap up with a gun now.
That lame sounding announcer: This game has not been rated, but it'll probably be T. If at the very most a M with those realistic looking guns Shadow has, I mean, seriously...
Humor aside, it looks intresting.
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Good guys can weild guns aswell. Why instantly assume that "evil Shadow" is gun-tooting, whereas "good Shadow" (mysteriously missing from the video, screenshots and box art preview) has no gun.
Craig, I(nor Deus as far as I know) am not saying good guys cannot weild a gun; just saying the Shadow we know may not use a gun, but an evil, not-as-powerful Shadow clone may use, and may even need, to use a gun. And just because a "good" Shadow is not being shown does not mean he does not, or cannot, exist because let's face it over half of that trailer was talking about the former Sonic games and therefore the "good" Shadow may have been left out for spoiler reasons. But heck, for all I know maybe the possible "good" Shadow channels chaos energy through his gun, and the "evil" Shadow uses bullets, pellets, lasers, or what ever from his. It's all just speculation, Craig, relax.
I knew one of the webcomics would take a stance on this, I'm glad Penny-Arcade was the first to do it, though they're more worried about Sega than the Sonic series (as it's pretty established that the duo hate the Sonic series, even if Gabe keeps getting in the neighbours pool and playing with the old toys)
So, I present ye:
Look what I found in my boredom.
www.wizard-alcove.net/index.php?strip_id=77
And no, I still think it's a hoax.
I prefer PSX's movie poster, it has alot more effort put into it than that one.
And IT IS NOT A HOAX.
I personally think this will be the start of hammering the nails into the coffin for the Sonic franchise!
If they are resorting charaters to using guns... they REALLY must be desperate for ideas! I think it's stupid that the only one Shadow loved was Maria... and SHE was shot with a gun, so why would Shadow would want one himself??
I think we should start a petition to CANCEL this game... either that, or make them change their minds about the gun thing.
Only thing that could really push this rating if Sega adds a lot of blood and makes it very realistic...let's all hope Sega doesn't give him a dog...this could be like Max Payne...
Quote from The Growler:
I think it's stupid that the only one Shadow loved was Maria... and SHE was shot with a gun, so why would Shadow would want one himself??
Perhaps somewhere between storylines (or what looks like a storyline **coughSonicHeroescough**), Shadow looks for revenge and what's the best generic way to punish those who have wrong you? Why with the same thing they used to attack you.
Now if the storyline doesn't explain why Shadow has a gun, then I would agree with you.
that doesn't explain what we saw in the trailer - that Shadow has a range of different guns [see bottom-right where at one point it shows you can chose from 2 guns (that are shown, of course)]
I think all Shadow needs now is a cowboy outfit 
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Another Gun point:
*hears western music in the background* "do you feel... lucky, punk?" *is shot by Shadow at gun point* 
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I think we should start a petition to CANCEL this game... either that, or make them change their minds about the gun thing.
It's not going to work... not to mention there seems to be a positive response to the game OUTSIDE our circles, as odd as that is.
I'm not really a Shadow fan, but I am curious about this game. I actually was hoping for a Sonic game that had a bit of a darker side to it, but what concerns me about this game is that it's possible it could have a higher rating than "E". I mean, a game can be serious and have depth to it and still be suitable for all ages, but using realistic guns could possibly change that. I know I'm going to be criticized for bringing this up here, but what I always like about Sonic SatAM (I'm only using it as an example...the fact that it's a Sonic-verse is irrelevent), is that it, in my opinion, had a good story and could be kind of dark, yet didn't need to revert to violence to keep a lot of older fans.
Someone said something about it a few pages back...Sonic has never had anything really objectionable in it (unless you want to count Rouge's outfits, lol), but some people are going to be turned off but Shadow's arsenal, which would leave a bad image on Sonic games as a whole. I'm not saying it doesn't suit Shadow, just that there may have been other ways to go about presenting his story.
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It's not going to work... not to mention there seems to be a positive response to the game OUTSIDE our circles, as odd as that is.
Where? Even at non-gaming communities such as AnimeNation the reception is pretty much the same.
I turn on my computer to find out about this...
After reading through 12 pages I still haven't overcome the WTF feeling in me. O_O
OK, I'm a Shadow fan girl, but somehow all of this sounds very wrong...I mean the gun and...I dunno, I preferred Shadow to be left out completely from Sonic games or only appearing in cameos or as a bonus char than this.
Though the gameplay does look promising, running, homing-attacking and shooting at high speeds, hmm..
I don't know I've got mixed feelings about this, I think I'm going to wait for the game to be released before I give my judgment.
So.... This isn't fake? GOD SAVE US ALL! OMFG! MAYBE IT'S GOT SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE QUESTIONNARE ON SONIC!!! OMFG!!! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE.
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I think we should start a petition to CANCEL this game...
I think thats a bit extreme, I mean, its got quite a while before it comes out, they might actualy be able to improve some if the things like the graphics, and further news items might explainjust WHY the ultimate life form has the gun, (although, taking down GUN with a gun does sound kinda Ironic, those who live by the gun, die by the gun)
you do of course realise that if this actually turns out to be a good game we're probably gonna be feeling a little sheepish for torching it beforehand
<points up> and I think Jaffa Cake needs some semi-permenant sarcasm tags 
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No thanks, I think I'll stick with it..... OMFG!!! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If this turns out to be a good game, then Sega will churn out more games with gun toting violence, which would mean more of the same which could be good or bad depending on the the content of this game. Sega is in a way like Bush... looking for more places to dig for oil then once found, suck it dry.
<shrugs> whatever floats your boat
THE END IS NIGH!!! T'IS THE APOCALYPSE!!!
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GOD SAVE US ALL! OMFG! MAYBE IT'S GOT SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE QUESTIONNARE ON SONIC!!! OMFG!!! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE.
Ok, the above is exactly the type of response I was referring to when I said that the responses were overly dramatic.
There are plenty of Shadow fans, and if you look at much of the fan fic and fan art (outside of Carnival island), you often find Shadow associated with blood, violence and adult themes. It has nothing to really do with the source material, but apparently a lot of people would like to view Shadow in this way. This must be the kind of audience Sega wishes to entice, and responses like the above will do little to deter it.
Once again, as far as petitioning against it, I just don't see why. Some of us want it, and those you you who don't know precious little about it beyond your dramatic, impulse reactions. If you don't want it, don't get it. It's as simple as that. This game is not going to shatter the Sonic series into little shards of broken glass, not would it's cancelation turn it into a new Sonic game. People have already put too much work into it. Canceling it would just lead to everyone who liked it being let down.
Also, think of this: If it was cancelled, it would join the cryptic ranks of Sonic Crackers, Genocide City and Sonic X-tream. If you strike it down, it would become more powerful then you could ever believe. There would be thousand of topics on this sitet alone, with crack-pot theories talking about how Shadow was stalking Bark and Bean, collecting Time Stones, or that it all came down to a search for princess Sally.
The least painful solution is to just grumble quietly, and not buy the game.
But if they spend to much money on this game, they just might send a ton of cash down the drain. And that may mean no more Sonic games, and that'd be damn BAD. WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!
No. Because then Sonic Team would get the idea that the majority of their fanbase liked this kind of stuff. And so they'd make more. And we'd start this crazy ride all over again.
It's annoying enough that this game is being developed instead of something a little more interesting and not so utterly devoid of any actual innovation. It's also not so much that there's nothing new - it's also that they've seemingly gone backwards.
Please stop with the "WERE ALL GOING TO DIE! THE END IS NIGH! APOCALYPSE!!!!!"
It was okay a few days ago as an 'initial reaction' but now its getting old and is unnecessary.
Sigh.. Every second that passes I feel worse about this... I think I'm going to take Shadow off my favourite char list.
What were Sonic Team smoking when they came up with this?
I can only hope in good gameplay, I guess.
Though the little voice of hope still tells me:
Remember, everyone thought Sonic Battle would suck and Sonic Heroes would be great and it turned out to be the other way round.
By the way, do you think there is another Sonic game in development aside this..thing and Sonic DS?
I really hope so, as I was looking forward to a new big Sonic game, not a weirdo spinoff.
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If this turns out to be a good game, then Sega will churn out more games with gun toting violence, which would mean more of the same which could be good or bad depending on the the content of this game. Sega is in a way like Bush... looking for more places to dig for oil then once found, suck it dry.
I wouldn't have any problems with this if Shadow didn't have that gun, especially a realistic looking gun. It goes against all that is pure about the Sonic universe. When it comes down to things leave this stuff to the appropriate franchise. Not an all ages one. It doesn't fit with the franchise or the art style.
He's the Ultimate Lifeform. He shouldn't even need to use a gun in the first place. His Chaos powers should be enough to takeout anyone who stands in his path.
Shadow having a gun sounds like a bad marketing device.
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And that may mean no more Sonic games
Even if you're not looking forward to this new Shadow spinoff there's still Sonic DS that's in the works to look forward. Not to mention that nameless Sonic title for the Gamecube, assuming that this new Shadow game isn't the results of that game.
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Remember, everyone thought Sonic Battle would suck and Sonic Heroes would be great and it turned out to be the other way round.
Hmmmm... If we say it'll suck.... It'll be good! 
AHA! My fellow MoFos. I have a solution to make it good! Say it sucks!
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When it comes down to things leave this stuff to the appropriate franchise. Not an all ages one. It doesn't fit with the franchise or the art style.
They said that about Jak 2, but it ended becoming a landmark for PS2 owners.
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I think I'm going to take Shadow off my favourite char list.
If it turns out good, it may put him higher on other people's.
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What were Sonic Team smoking when they came up with this?
That's classified.
Considering how protective SEGA has been of Sonic's image the past few years, I'm surprised they would make such a huge shift in content like this. By "Sonic" I don't mean just the character but the whole Sonic universe.
Well, this isn't really putting down Sonic's Image, as it is Shadow's. And we all know that image was defamed in Heroes.
But yeah, my initial reaction to seeing the poster was "hey that looks pretty funny. That's one hell of a nice looking fan made hoax."
but I was wrong... dead wrong.
It seems as though now, that this game is coming out whether we like it or not. And there's nothing we can do about it. Except maybe NOT buy it. (This is coming from the guy who bought DragonBall Z Budokai 2 because it looked pretty.)
So yeah, rather than complain about it, I'm trying to look for some good in this gross rape of Shadow's character- er.. I mean game.
The gameplay looks pretty decent, something like Sonic Adventure 2, and it has destrucable enviroments. and that weird energy release thing he does.
I'm not gona judge this thing gameplay-wise until I play it.
I'm just utterly shocked that they would give Shadow a gun (I thought he hated weapons. My only guess is that this is a sort of prequel to Sonic Adventure 2 and is on a mission to kill G.U.N. by shooting them (a bit of an irony, no?).
But yeah, my hopes aren't TOO high. But I have to SOMETHING to look forward to, I guess.
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Also, what it says about a new game pretty much sounds like it could just be talking about the ones we know of. O_o
Quote from Sega's media alert PDF:
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In addition to presenting a retrospective Sonic video, SEGA of America president Simon Jeffery and Takashi Iizuka, game director, SEGA Studio USA surprised attendees of the 'Walk of Game' induction ceremony with a sneak-peek of a mysterious trailer labeled Shadow the Hedgehog; one of
several new projects coming from the Sonic franchise in 2005. SEGA did not release any details about this new game, but assured fans that there will be more information about several new Sonic titles forthcoming.
Sounds like more than just Sonic DS and the Shadow game to me.
The PDF can be found on Sega's FTP.
Has anyone noticed from the trailer that some of the enemies that Shadow faces look very similar to a certain water beast?
Makes u wonder what G.U.N. are up to now...
(the crates have the G.U.N. insignia on them)
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On the gun issue: I'd be pretty satisfied if it was the gun that shot Maria, and Shadow was hunting down it's previous owner. Remember Sonic X is a separate continuity, so for all we know, that soldier could be a high-ranking general now. Yeah, it's cliched, but what recent Sonic narrative isn't to some extent. And given Sonic cliches, the Soldier would probably turn out to be an emotionally suffering good guy that Shadow takes pitty on, and they both work together to confront some kind of bigger evil.
Now that's a storyline I would be satisfied with. Problem is, Shadow totes around multiple guns in the trailer while Maria was only killed by one.
I'm not doubting that Sega can't hook this up. It's just that this trailer isn't giving me a good feeling of what might happen.
Just a though here, but would everyone (well, at least those who oppose this game) here be as up in arms if the game stared Fang as its gun-toting anti-hero?
I wouldn't be. But then it would be a much different scenario.
A) Fang carries a gun anyway. He's carried one since he was first created. So if Fang were to appear in a game with a gun, it wouldn't seem like some desperate attempt to tack on a fad that doesn't fit the series.
B) Fang needs a gun. Shadow doesn't. Shadow's saved the world multiple times without the use of one, and has officially stated that he dislikes weapons.
C) Fang's gun wasn't as realistic as the one we saw in the trailer. So he could still carry his around and maintain the "fantasy/all-ages" feel that the game has been giving off since 1991.
I think the main reason people oppose the gun in the game is because it's irrelevant for the character who's using it and it just doesn't fit the series. Sonic built his empire on abstract landscapes, super speed, and animals hidden inside robots created by a mad scientist shaped like an egg. He uses gold rings for power, not uzis. He can practically outrun bullets, so why would he need them? Since Shadow has roughly the same powers as Sonic, the same examples can be applied to him.
Fang shot corks out of his gun in Sonic the Fighters.
Whoa Whoa Whoa. Now I am a HUGE Shadow fan. I'm talking Ursa Major. *shot for horrible attempted pun* He's my favorite. I've wished for him to have a game many times. Well it's here. And what do I have to say about it. "Hmmm...interesting." I'm in a state of shock. The fact that he has a game of his own is driving me bonkers. I'm not as excited as I was for Heroes, though. Not sure why. Maybe it's the gun. Shadow + Gun = one of those great inventions that happens by accident. Or Shadow + Gun = Major Screw-Up. Honestly I don't think it's OOC. He's an angsty little tyke and he's releasing it now...with firepower. I'll admit he surely doesn't need one...but he does have one. Now if you ask me, everyone here is acting as if this was the end of the world...literally. *referring to Doc's joke I think it was about the Apocolypse* I mean I know you all are probably trying to not get pumped about this game considering how Heroes was such a...ummm...different approach. *coughletdowncough* Although I only read the 1st page, being that 5 pages have been made already and this is my first day online since Sunday...this is too much for me to take. I'm with ShadowAldrius on this one...give this game a chance. Of course it looks really goofy right now, but I think alot of games do when you first see it.(Ok not a bunch but i'm trying to defend my favorite guy here) If you think about it Windwaker was made fun of so many times it got old. Now it came out...it's said to be one of the best in the series. Now Link wasn't given a gun in WW, I understand, but there's hope? *shrugs* Honestly if you ask me...the only bad thing about this game so far would be the gun. If it was removed and Shad had his usual manipulation of Chaso Energy, i'd be much more pleased. I say wait until E3 when it's been polished some more and worked on a bit more. I don't think SonicTeam has lost it. I have faith in them. They brought us the great Genesis titles and rather controversial Adventure titles and even a new approach with Heroes. I think ST may throw us all for a loop. We'll just have to wait and see, eh?
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C) Fang's gun wasn't as realistic as the one we saw in the trailer. So he could still carry his around and maintain the "fantasy/all-ages" feel that the game has been giving off since 1991.
Fang's gun wasn't all that fantastical in Sonic Chaos. It was only in Fighters where they turned it into a silly pop-gun. Until then, I thought he carried a generic revolver.
On that note, he never really used it on Sonic in their adventures. Photos exist of a Beta where Fang shoved the barrel in Sonic's mug, but it was taken out, presumably because it was an off-color image.
I still say, with the gun play, Fang would make a good rival. Perhaps, with Fang gunning for Shadow, the ULF might carry a firearm to even the odds.
Another point...
We complain that Shadow doesn't need guns because of his chaos powers. Well, technically he didn't need Rouge and Omega in Heros, but he lugged them around anyway, and he seemed perfectly willing to have Omega do all the work during Chaos Control. There were also quite a few times that old fashioned warping Chaos Control (or even Chaos Spear) would have been useful in their adventures, but he refrained from do so.
When you get down to it, Shadow is a god. He can distort space and time, and he can summon raw energy into teleporting spikes. That gives him a terribly unfair advantage. For game-play reasons, you have to tone down his omnipotence. Having him use the gun, for whatever reason they come up with, would help to accomplish that.
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Fang shot corks out of his gun in Sonic the Fighters.
Actually, he originally had a real gun, but it was cut for obvious reasons.
