How does one
go about making a side-scroller in 2009? Where do you even begin? With so many
technological advancements since the heyday of the genre and most gamers looking
for a different kind of action these days, the revival of the side-scroller
doesn’t seem like an attainable reality. Enter Shadow Complex, a game
that takes the best aspects of Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony
of the Night and mixes them with some tremendous new ideas, breathtaking
action and fantastic weaponry. Shadow Complex made me giddy in ways that
very few other games have, as I was barley able to contain the child-like joy
that exuded my face from beginning to end.
The story of
Shadow Complex is loosely based on the works of author Orson Scott Card,
though none of that really matters in the end. As lovable boyfriend Jason
Fleming, you are hurled into a life or death situation when your girlfriend gets
kidnapped while hiking in the woods. You stumble upon a secret underground base
full of guards in high-tech super suits, and are forced to traverse the
dangerous military facility to find out what is going on and where they took
your lady. While the plot is told decently enough through a series of nicely
produced cut scenes, the true joy of Shadow Complex is in how it plays.
Shadow
Complex utilizes
fully 3D visuals, but your character is stuck moving along a 2D plane. You are
allowed to shoot in any direction using the right analog stick, which offers
enough precision to nail head shots or pop sneaky fools hiding in the
background. During your six to eight hour journey, you’ll come across a number
of pistols, assault rifles and shotguns, as well as some special items like
missiles, grenades and even a grappling hook. You can also upgrade Jason by
finding a body suit that opens up some special abilities like turbo running and
rocket jumps, all of which are a hoot to use. The world of Shadow Complex
is entirely open, with nary a loading time or interruption in sight. Only a
series of locked doors and blocked paths keep you from seeing everything at the
get-go, sending you on a quest to find the tools you will need to battle your
way through the massive military installation.
This
exploration aspect ends up being one of the most enjoyable parts of the game, as
the world is jam-packed with things to see, do, and blow up. From a dank,
converted cavern to a large, open factory full of machinery, fire, and dozens of
armed workers, each area of the sprawling, multi-tiered site has their own look
and feel. The developers at Chair Entertainment have also added an extra level
of exploration to each environment with the upgrade icons, which can increase
the power or storage of your weapons, special items, health, or armor. These
icons are all cleverly hidden and require the use of every tool at your disposal
along with some—if not all–of your cunning to decipher their whereabouts. Also
worth mentioning is that nearly everything you do earns Jason some XP, which
nabs him new moves, better accuracy and increased stamina. Needless to say, I
often found myself torn between hunting down ‘just one more’ hidden upgrade and
heading to the next objective.
Of course,
no side-scroller would be complete without massive boss fights, and Shadow
Complex delivers on this in droves. You will face a series of towering
mechanical horrors throughout the campaign, each more dangerous and diabolical
than the previous. As with all of the combat in the game, these fights stay
consistently entertaining thanks to the huge variety of weaponry, clever use of
the special abilities and unique designs of the bosses. You will also notice
quite a few nods to other classic side-scrollers throughout the game, all of
which are far too good to spoil here.
Shadow
Complex uses all
of the power of the mighty Unreal Engine 3 to deliver a visual experience that
is above and beyond anything else on XBLA. The lighting paints each room as a
cold, dangerous landscape of death. The character models are equally detailed,
with the only downside being some lifeless facial animation during cutscene
close-ups. The game’s soundtrack is full of engaging ambient sound that makes
the facility feel like a tangible place, as the cavern’s echo, the machinery
grinds and the laboratories bustle with the sounds of working scientists. The
voice acting is equally excellent, with Nolan North of Uncharted fame
infusing Jason with enough personality to make him likable.
Shadow
Complex ends the
Summer of Arcade on an unbelievable high note, delivering a retro-inspired romp
that will thrill any gamer with a pulse. Does it have any flaws? Sure, as some
of the elements might feel a bit too familiar to long time side-scrolling
fanatics and the absence of cooperative play really stings the trigger fingers.
But at only $15, Shadow Complex is an absolute must-buy, offering an
experience that exceeds the quality found in most disk-based 360 releases.
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Gameplay: 9.0
Shadow Complex
takes the best gameplay mechanics of side-scrolling classics like Castlevania,
Contra and Metroid but infuses them with enough slam-bang action,
RPG-like leveling aspects and innovative ideas to keep the combat strong.
Graphics:
8.5
The game’s sharp
graphics include fantastic lighting and great visual design. Easily the best
looking game on XBLA, and also comparable to many full-priced 360 blockbusters.
Only some occasional slowdown and awkward facial animation mars it.
Sound: 9.0
Tremendous
ambience makes each of the industrial settings feel palpable and real. The
orchestrated soundtrack rarely pipes in but is always excellent, and the voice
acting is uniformly superb.
Difficulty: Medium
Shadow Complex
features four different difficulty levels, each balanced to fit a certain type
of gamer. Higher settings will offer a challenge to those who want it, but less
experienced gamers will be able to cruise through the campaign on the easier
settings.
Concept: 9.0
A new 2D side-scroller
platform/action game doesn’t sound like that like anything new in theory, but
the awesome weapons, screen-filling boss fights, nonstop variety and brilliant
mechanics that Shadow Complex offers makes it feel like something
entirely new and different.
Overall: 9.0
Shadow Complex
offers a retail-quality experience for 1/4th of the price. Fans of
any type of action-adventure gaming would be crazy to miss out on this
refreshing shooter. Now bring on Shadow Complex 2!
