Shadow Complex Review

Now that it's starting to feel like fall outside, I've begun looking back at the amazing list of games that have come out over this past summer. The "Summer of Xbox Live Arcade" event that Microsoft has been running has featured one great title after another, the latest of which is Shadow Complex. It's a game that has seen the love and attention of a big name developer, Epic Games, but doesn't feature the hefty price tag seen on most of their releases. Fighting against the misconception that low price equals low quality, Shadow Complex's serious tone plays counterpoint to other recent (and more playful) platformers like 'Splosion Man. It's a title that's made me reconsider what a platforming game can do.    Set in the modern day “real” world, Shadow Complex tells a tale of conspiracy and rebellion while putting some cool twists on the standard two dimensional gameplay you'd expect to find in a platformer. Players are limited to moving in 2D but the game world itself is fully 3D, and enemies are free to move into and out of the background and foreground. Beautiful visuals and an elegantly simple auto-aim system make this aspect of the game stand out even more. This 2.5D setup really adds an indescribable something to the game, but you have to see it in motion to truly appreciate it.

   Many sections of the game have an almost movie-like element to them, with good voice acting and a thin but sufficient story backing them up. Occasional cutscenes move things along but expose a few rough edges in the graphics. Overall the game feels like a sleek, modern action movie, with the fact that it's done entirely in a 2D platformer making it even more impressive. Consider the differences between a Super Mario game and a Schwarzenegger film and you'll understand what I mean.

   The steady stream of action in Shadow Complex is given some depth by a few roleplaying game conventions that have been thrown into the mix. Exploring, fighting and just about everything else you'll do in the game grants you experience points. These translate into your character gaining levels as the game progresses, increasing your stats and giving a sense of accomplishment for doing what you're supposed to. Also spurring players along are the scattered components of a secret armored suit that you'll spend most of the game collecting. Not only did these keep me coming back to the game to find more, but each adds new abilities to your character, many of which are a complete blast to use. One such example are a pair of speed boots that allow you to run on walls and ceilings, and the graphical effect of creating a sonic boom on foot makes for one of the coolest powerups ever.

   You'll also find weapon upgrades along your way, and not just pistols and rifles. Grenades, missiles, and an oddly effective foam launcher not only bulk up your arsenal and add new ways for you to take out the bad guys, but they unlock secret areas too. Your character's flashlight can be used to find special color coded secrets throughout the levels, with each color corresponding to the special weapon needed to open it up. Finding grenades, for example, allows you to blast open doors and hatches that you couldn't get through before to access the upgrades hidden away behind them. In a game that requires you to do a fair amount of backtracking, the developers have taken something that's normally boring and tedious and turned it into an enjoyable treasure hunt.

   Shadow Complex is one of the best games I've played this year, and is worth every penny of its fifteen dollar pricetag. I've heard many people comment that they'd have picked it up even at full price, and I can't say that I disagree with them. I'd managed to beat it within a day or so of buying it, and that's not something I've done with a game in a long time.    If this style of play sounds even remotely interesting to you, then there's absolutely no reason not to grab the free demo off of Xbox Live Arcade. It'll give you the chance to play through the first thirty minutes or so of the game, as well as see the 2.5D effects in action. Shadow Complex proves something that many gamers still don't seem to believe: A game doesn't have to cost sixty bucks to be great.

Title: Shadow Complex
Price: 1200 Microsoft Points ($15)
Platform: Xbox Live Arcade
ESRB Rating: T for Teen
Score: 9.5 out of 10

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Lance Darnell

September 15, 2009

So would YOU have bought this game for $60? And I just love that Foam Launcher! ;)

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Eric Majkut

It's a bit short for $60, honestly.

Bryan Glynn

Yeah, I can't say I would pay $60 for this. The achievements and challenges are the main impetus behind replaying the game... but then again, there are a fair amount of good retail games I've played that I still second-guess the $60 price tag. At any rate, it's WELL worth the $15 price tag, and is, in my opinion, second only to Braid for top Arcade title, with 'Splosion Man in a close third. Interesting you mention the foam launcher, Lance, as I hardly used it at all during the campaign outside of the necessary purple obstructions. I know it was heralded at the awesome, iconic weapon of the game, but I suppose my unwillingness to try new things in games left me feeling content enough with my grenades and whatever rifle I had. The gun just felt gimmicky to me during combat, especially during intense situations or large numbers of enemies. And it was never really required to reach new heights. Shortly after, you would obtain the rocket boots, double rocket boots, and the hookshot (the Proving Grounds were another story; I was actually forced to get creative with the foam gun for certain tasks).

September 16, 2009

I wasn't a big fan of the foam launcher, either. The grenades and rockets were a lot more entertaining for regular usage. Thanks for the pity comment, Lance ;)

Jonathan Betonio

September 21, 2009

I dunno, people, on subsequent playthroughs I actually enjoyed getting up close and personal, running all over the place and smacking baddies, exploiting the enemy AI after I realized you don't really have to try and sneak around. Totally broke the immersion, but it did tweak the cinematic experience for me in a campy way. Then again, after infinite secondary ammo, yes, rockets like there was no max SFX budget, thrown in when you just can't reach the bad guys with your ham fists.