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* Right before Devil Doom, the video the Chaotix activate to snap Shadow out of Black Doom's mind control starts with Professor Gerald Robotnik calling Shadow his son.
* During the perfect ending, when everybody in G.U.N. HQ is celebrating after the comet is destroyed, and the realization that Professor Gerald, and the project that created Shadow, had been misunderstood, the President says: "After the way we all treated him, he saved us all in the end. We were all wrong about the professor." And many responsible for the original attack on the station join in with many a MyGodWhatHaveIDone lines to go around.
* The music for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmMeV54GckY&feature=youtu.be Final Haunt]], the final level in the Pure Hero path, perfect captures the mood of the level -- Shadow has remembered his faithful promise to Maria to protect others, and now he's going to honor that promise by storming the Black Comet, the home of the Black Arms. Regardless if you go dark (more like FriendlyRivalry at this point, since Shadow is challenging Sonic so he can be stronger to defeat the Black Arms as well as being there for their "little friendly competition") or hero (which ends with both Shadow and Sonic confronting Black Doom), Shadow has found the meaning that he's searched for so long, and is finally at peace. This is even summarized in this [=YouTube=] comment.
-->'''[=YouTube=] Commenter:''' If there’s one thing this game did right, it’s the fantastic parallels between [G.U.N. Fortress] and Final Haunt (the final Pure Hero mission). Both of them have pretty slow, relaxed themes. At least, considering what you’d expect from fast-paced, violent final levels. But it represents the fact that there is no more inner conflict within Shadow. His mind is fully made up. He knows where his heart is. The difference is, in Final Haunt, Shadow knows who he is. He’s found what he was after. (...) Final Haunt is upbeat. Shadow has discovered who he is. His mind is made up, and he’s going to fulfill his best friend’s dying wish. He can finally put the past behind him and move on. Because he’s at peace.
* In the Pure Hero ending, Shadow stands triumphantly alongside his comrade Sonic with the seven Chaos Emeralds before recalling that faithful promise he made to Maria in protecting the Earth, one he is fully intent on keeping. Especially since he is on pretty good terms with Sonic and his friends now. [[WhenHeSmiles His bright smile]] as the screen blacks out to the credits just seals the deal. He is truly at peace with himself.
-->'''Shadow:''' I'm Shadow the Hedgehog, and I made a promise that I intend to keep! With the power of these Emeralds, Black Doom and his army are finished! This is who I am!
** In the Pure Hero - Dark ending, Shadow explains to Sonic before their battle that he is not siding with the Black Arms, seeing as they're already pretty much defeated; but only siding with whoever goes up against Sonic himself, making it clear to him that he's here for their ''little friendly competition''. It's kind of sweet to see Sonic and Shadow [[FriendlyRivalry fight each other on more friendly terms]] unlike the other boss battles.
*** It's even reflected at the ending where as opposed to the darker versions of the ending -- where [[EtTuBrute the defeated Sonic asks in a horrified tone]] on why Shadow is siding with the Black Arms -- in this version, he's simply [[GracefulLoser complimenting Shadow on his victory]].
---->'''Sonic:''' (''[[WorthyOpponent quietly impressed]]'') Man... heh, I didn't think you had it in ya.
* The Semi-Hero - Dark ending. Unlike the other endings where he mercilessly kills Eggman after defeating him, he spares him on the condition that he leaves the Space Colony ARK and never returns; swearing to guard the place that was his home for as long as he lives.
* In the Semi-Hero ending, Shadow defeats Black Doom to make up for being the cause of incident on the ARK. This is in spite of being revealed to be a Black Arm like Doom. After realizing his existence was meant to cause pain and suffering, [[HeroicBSoD Shadow is completely overwhelmed with guilt and horror]]. Vector tries to cheer him up in spite of hearing the AwfulTruth about him, and encourages him as much as he can in the last battle.
** In the scene before Mad Matrix, Shadow is unusually chummy around Team Chaotix, as he helps them hack into Eggman's computer.
--->'''Vector:''' Well, well! If it isn't Shadow! Your timing is impeccable. You know that Eggman fella pretty well don't ya? Well we need your help to hack into his computer, and don't ask why! And we don't have anymore time to waste! \\
'''Shadow:''' Hmmm... well, what a coincidence. I'd like to know what the good ol' doctor's up to as well!
* Shadow's dialogue with Maria in Lost Impact and The Doom.
** Even his dialogue after he defeats Black Doom in Final Haunt, shows how dead-set he is on keeping his promise to Maria to protect Earth.
--->''"Maria loved this planet. I will '''not''' let you destroy it!"''
* Quite a lot of the post-game messages in Expert Mode are this. When you replay the game after completing it, you would hear your ally or an important NPC communicate with you; the replaying of the game is stated to be one massive training simulation.
-->'''Cream:''' Good day, Shadow! Thank you so, so much for rescuing me the other day![[note]]Cryptic Castle, Hero Mission[[/note]] Cheese and I will be cheering you on during your training! Good luck!\\
'''Maria:''' Shadow, I believe in you!
** One important one is how the G.U.N. Commander will actually inform Shadow that he has become a grandfather. The fact he is telling him this shows the development the man has gone through in his relationship with the ultimate lifeform.
--->'''G.U.N. Commander:''' Shadow, do you read me? First, [[CharacterDevelopment I want to... apologize for the other day]]. Actually, I just became a grandfather last week, and I was thinking of maybe having you over. I know training is tough, but try and do your best!
** And special attention goes to the dialogue in Last Way (the final stage of Expert Mode), in which everyone, even [[BigBad Black Doom]] cheers Shadow on.
--->'''Eggman:''' This is the final stage!\\
'''Sonic:''' Great job making it this far, Shadow!\\
'''Tails:''' Give it your best shot and make your way to the last Goal Ring!\\
'''Knuckles:''' You can do it!\\
'''Rouge:''' Good luck, Shadow!\\
'''Amy:''' Good luck, Shadow!\\
'''Vector:''' Give it all you got!\\
'''Charmy:''' Fight!\\
'''Espio:''' You're gonna do fine!\\
'''Cream:''' Good luck!\\
'''Cheese:''' Chaaoo!\\
'''Omega:''' Good luck.\\
'''Black Doom:''' Now, go! Head for the Goal Ring!\\
'''President:''' We're all counting on you, Shadow.\\
'''Secretary:''' Best of luck!\\
'''Commander:''' Good luck!\\
'''Gerald:''' Good luck.\\
'''Maria:''' Shadow, I believe in you...
* This one is quite subtle, but it's still there. G.U.N. are asked to hunt Shadow down, right? Well, Rouge is also a G.U.N. agent, quite possibly high up in the ranks. And yet, in the hero missions, Shadow is still willing to help her out, and Rouge appears to not tell G.U.N. what is going on. It's as if she's trying to protect Shadow, even at the possible risk of being fired. It shows how far the two have come since the events of ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' and ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes''. TrueCompanions indeed.
* This game's take on Maria's speech from ''Sonic Adventure 2'', which has improved characterization, voice acting, and even context, is even better. In ''Adventure 2'', Maria is an innocent little girl with not much in the way of personality whose innocence motivated both Gerald and Shadow to do horrible things. In ''Shadow the Hedgehog'', she's a hero in her own right -- trying to save other people despite being terminally ill and occasionally still laughing at and whimsically pondering over things much like a child would, even during a disaster. It makes her sacrifice both a lot more human and a lot more poignant.
-->'''Maria''': Don't worry, Grandfather! Shadow and I will protect this planet! Right, Shadow?
* Another moment is in the final battle, after you spend about seven minutes in the battle.
-->'''Dr. Eggman''': Shadow, can you hear me? This may be the last chance I get to speak to you, so... what I said about having created you? It was all a lie. Everyone thought you had died during [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 that horrible incident]]. But I rescued you with one of my robots! You lost your memory, that's all. You really ARE the UltimateLifeform my grandfather created!
* The titles of some library sequences in which Shadow starts out taking the Dark path, then goes full Hero after encountering certain characters. For example, going full Hero upon meeting Amy in Cryptic Castle results in a sequence titled [[LoveRedeems "The Miracle of Love"]].
* You can toss [[VideoGameCaringPotential Heal Units on harmed G.U.N soldiers]]. Not only does it fills up your Hero gauge, but the saved G.U.N soldiers won't attack you anymore and be thankful you saved them.
-->'''G.U.N Soldier''': I won't forget this!
* Sonic's involvement in the story and relation to Shadow is this. He's always warm and welcoming to Shadow and believes in Shadow's abilities and capacity for fighting the good fight. Up until the end, no matter how bleak things get, Sonic ''always'' believes in Shadow and it's only when things reach the most dire of breaking points that Sonic's hand is forced and he sounds [[EtTuBrute absolutely devastated that it's come to this.]] The fact that various paths that lead to the Pure Hero ending of Sonic and Shadow working together to stop Black Doom's invasion have titles like "Power of Love", "For Love's Sake", "Beloved Memories" and "Under the Name of Love" also puts Sonic's motivations for [[LoveRedeems believing in Shadow]] in a [[ICanChangeMyBeloved different light]] for [[ShippingGoggles those who want to see it.]]
* A minor one, but the fact that (if the player chooses) Shadow takes the time out of his day to help Amy find Cream and Cheese in a haunted castle, then getting the two out of the area to safety. What makes it even more heartwarming is this mission is in a level that is only available on the ''Pure Dark route''. Perhaps even the Ultimate Lifeform has a soft spot for the extremely kind rabbit girl.
** Even more heartwarming, if Shadow chooses to go full hero from this point on, he can still reach the Pure Hero ending and take out Black Doom for good. In the game's eyes, Shadow choosing to help Cream and Cheese is more than enough to redeem him for his atrocities in Westopolis and Digital Circuit.
* The fact that Rouge is the player companion for G.U.N. Fortress, the final level of the Dark pathway. Even after everything Shadow's done and the countless soldiers he's left for dead up to this point, Rouge still sees some good in him and tries to get him to help defend the final chaos emerald from the aliens. It goes to show just how much Rouge trusts and respects her friend to be the only one willing to still stick by him after the rest of the world has written him off as a remorseless monster that needs to be brought down.