Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Sonic the Hedgehog 3!

Shadow the Hedgehog is one of the most powerful characters in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but the film only gives a small glimpse of the character’s true power levels. Shadow the Hedgehog is famous for being incredibly powerful, with him literally having the тιтle of the Ultimate Life Form in the video game series. So, while Shadow does pull off some pretty impressive feats in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the film is far from showing off the extent of his abilities.

After he was introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 2‘s post-credits scene, the introduction of Shadow the Hedgehog immediately became the most exciting part of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The film was set to include the beloved Project Shadow storyline, and upon its release, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 adapted it perfectly. Maria and Gerald Robotnik were handled fantastically in the film, and while Keanu Reeves’ Shadow the Hedgehog was great, the film only offers a tease of what he is capable of.

Shadow Only Uses His Full Powers In Sonic 3 After Removing His Limiter Rings

He Was Holding Himself Back Throughout The Movie

Throughout Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Shadow proves that he is a force to be reckoned with, with him easily handling Team Sonic during their first encounter. However, in every scene up until the climax, Shadow can be seen wearing two rings below his gloves. Although fans of the video game franchise know that these are his limiter rings, the film doesn’t reveal what they are for until Shadow and Sonic finally team up.

After becoming Super Shadow, Shadow takes off his limiter rings in an attempt to stop the Robotniks, increasing his power level immensely. Soon after doing this, Shadow presumably explodes with the Robotnik space laser, meaning that the film only showed off a few moments of Shadow’s full potential. However, Sonic the Hedgehog 3‘s post-credits scene showed Shadow coming back to get his limiter rings, confirming that he survived the explosion and implying that he will return in a future movie.

Sonic 3 Ensured Shadow Can Still Become More Powerful In Sonic 4 Or A Spinoff

But He Can Also Put His Limiter Rings Back On

Now that Shadow’s power has been shown off, it can be expanded on when the character returns in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 or in his own spinoff movie. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 built up to the reveal of Shadow’s power, and now the next movie can fully explore it, highlighting how he is truly the Ultimate Life Form.

However, by having Shadow find his limiter rings again, future movies can decide if he needs to be nerfed in order to raise the stakes of the story. This way, the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie series can have its cake and eat it too, giving it plenty of options after Shadow’s big reveal at the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.