Microsoft’s second Summer of Arcade is winding down with a final release this week. But they’ve saved the best – or at least the highest-profile - for last. This week, we’ll be running and gunning through Chair / Epic’s newest platformer adventure title Shadow Complex.
Shadow Complex plays like a 2D side-scroller, but is rendered in full 3D. Powered by Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 (Gears of War, Unreal Tournament III) and featuring old-school level design, gameplay is centered on exploration and fast-paced combat. Collect power-ups, overcome obstacles, thwart legions of enemies, and win the game! The story’s based around a novel written by Orson Scott Card. He wrote the insults in The Secret of Monkey Island, so we’ll see if this game can top that.
Chair was responsible for Undertow, another UE3 title, which was more multiplayer-biased but had an amazing style and impressive graphics, especially given the limitations XBLA titles had at the time. With the blinders off, Shadow Complex looks like it’s trying to be the benchmark for Arcade releases on Xbox LIVE.
I have an impression I’m going to have a hard time putting this one down. From what I’ve seen of the achievements, it looks like there are a few reasons to go back and give it another play-through. Who else plans on joining Shadow Complex Club?
Brad Petch has been playing games longer than most gamers have been alive. This does not mean he's good at them, or has good taste in them. Online interactions are not rated. 