All things considered, it's definitely a win. Add in the fact that it's available as a very reasonably-priced download, and the package becomes even more attractive. They've crossed all the Ts and dotted all the Is, displaying a clear mastery of the material. It's extremely polished, the visual presentation is clean and attractive, and Chair has taken pains to ensure that the player is always aware of where they need to go and what they should be doing. In fact, I could imagine Shadow Complex being fairly mindblowing to newcomers who haven't had the pleasure of playing through Super Metroid or Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. On the other hand, I certainly see a lot of value here for people who may not be as familiar with the formula. After all, I could've sworn I'd already finished it years ago. Unable to shake the constant feeling of déjà vu, I was content to take the path of least resistance and simply put the game aside when it was done. Some of the super-suit abilities and weapons feel like they were unabashedly lifted part-and-parcel out of Nintendo's franchise, and as someone who has played numerous games in this category already, I found it a little difficult to become fully engaged. In fact, in many areas, it's a direct copy of 1994's Super Metroid. It's just that Shadow Complex doesn't bring a lot of new to the table. It even contains the sort of late-game keyfetch that does nothing but waste time and annoy players like me.ĭon't get me wrong, there's nothing bad about this formula. It adheres firmly to all of the previously established concepts like requiring certain weapons to gain access to particular areas of the map, and encouraging players to explore every corner of the territory in pursuit of 100% item collection. SHADOW COMPLEX MAP MISSING BLUE LINE FULLAlong the way he picks up super-powered armor and ordinance to match, each new piece of found technology turning him bit by bit into an extremely able operative.Īlthough it adds twists like depth-of-field effects, rendering in full 3D, and a good amount of cut-scenes, there's no getting around the fact that Shadow Complex will feel extremely familiar to players who've spent time with other games in the so-called "Metroidvania" genre. SHADOW COMPLEX MAP MISSING BLUE LINE CRACKRooted firmly in the long-established formula made popular by Samus Aran back in 1987, Shadow Complex stars a visually indistinct dude who's got to go into an underground facility and crack some skulls after his girlfriend's kidnapped. That said, there is certainly a point at which someone can borrow too much. After all, very few people truly invent more often, it's a matter of iteration. Where do you draw the line between homage and plagiarism? Since there's really nothing new under the sun, it's hard to fault anyone for creating a work that has a degree of similarity to something already established. LOW Never shakes that been-there, done-that feeling. Lots of polish and clever thinking go a long way
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