10 Video Games You Didn't Realise Were VERY Successful
8. Shadow The Hedgehog
After the Sonic antihero, Shadow, became hugely popular (for some reason), the rebellious hedgehog got his own spin-off. In 2005, Shadow the Hedgehog hit shelves, and BY GOD, it was terrible. The dark themes and gun violence feel totally out of place in this Sonic title. Even if you were onboard with the edgy style and Shadow's too-cool-for-school attitude, every other aspect of the game is woeful. The level design is barren. You'll careen to your death more times than you can count, thanks to the unpredictable controls. The music, baddies, bosses, and the plot are utterly forgettable.
You'd assume Shadow the Hedgehog would fail for two reasons. Firstly, it's very, very bad. Secondly, it was the first Sonic-based title to receive an E10+ rating, limiting its potential audience. Also, to reiterate - very, very bad.
And yet, Shadow the Hedgehog sold 2.06 million units, outperforming Sonic Adventure 2, which is considered the last great Sonic title devised by Sega. Although the Sonic brand is widely inconsistent, Shadow the Hedgehog is among the most successful entries in the franchise over the last 20 years despite being... y'know... absolutely terrible.