The Maria Mystery Begins

Maria Robotnik is known as Shadow the Hedgehog's closest friend. She is also granddaughter to Professor Gerald Robotnik, the cousin to Sonic's sworn enemy, Ivo Robotnik ("Eggman"), and was friends with the future commander of GUN.

Basic Storyline

Professor Gerald Robotnik, as his title suggests, was a Professor. One of the most brilliant minds of the past, he inspired his grandson, Dr. Eggman. At some point, Gerald worked on the Space Colony ark and began Project Shadow.

Maria lived on the Ark with him. Maria played with a boy who is now known as "the Commander."

It's not known if there were other children on board, or the Commander's reasons for being there. It's possible he was the son of a researcher, a GUN solider, or perhaps there were "normal" people living on the Ark as well.

Maria became good friends with Shadow. In the Japanese version of Sonic X, Maria says he would watch over and protect them "like a shadow." In the small "Sonic Comic," by Sonic Channel, Maria chooses the name "Shadow" because shadows reveal light.

Eventually the government decided to "shut down" the colony and project. Maria died helping Shadow escape, leaving him with a promise. The event was covered up as "an accident" and blamed on the Professor.

Besides the memories and journals of those who knew her, only the description in Shadow the Hedgehog sheds official light on who she was.

"The professor's lovely granddaughter...who was like a sister to Shadow."
--Shadow the Hedgehog (guide)

The "Mystery"

While the basics of who Maria are known, her different appearances cause conflicting theories.

• Like Shadow, Maria was only meant to appear in SA2. When Shadow returned, his past was further explored. With the years between these games (and with the birth of other new ideas), she looked different and some events slightly changed.
• Maria made several, contradictory appearances with in Sonic X. The show may have influenced Shadow the Hedgehog.
• Some parts of the Japanese Sonic X would be changed or censored. Shadow the Hedgehog would also be slightly changed/censored when they decided to make it E 10+
• Maria's first appearance in the Archie comics was oddly off in design. Future appearances would ignore this and try to closer reflect the games. However, do to changing writers and artists, this Maria's appearance was inconsistent.

Next Time...

What is "NIDS" and is it a part of the story or not?