Shadow of the Beast was a game for the Amiga, ZX Spectrum and other platforms, developed by Psygnosis and was a visual masterpiece for its time. Psygnosis was later purchased by Sony who thus acquired the ownership of Shadow of The Beast and have now revived the IP for the Playstation 4.
The first thing to note about this game is the fact that this is NOT your traditional beat-em-up game. There are precise controls and movements to be done along with quick time events in order to do well in the game. It can be tricky to learn at first but once you get the hang of it, you will find the game is actually very fun. Some have written off this game, simply due to the control scheme and that’s pretty unfair since the game makes no illusions of what it is. Combat can be fluid and quick, or thought out and deliberate or even both but all it requires is one to follow the directions. When you do that, the game flows well and you get into it much better.
The visuals in this game are absolutely stunning. The game has beautiful layouts and transitions from 2D to 3D done so well that it can actually leave you speechless for a time. The various areas you visit all seem alive and unique, unlike anything in a video game before it. It is something truly to be seen.
However, if there is a major flaw in this game, it is in the platforming. The game attempts to mix styles but it is here where it falls short. The platforming in the game is awkward and, at times, can be downright frustrating. The game just doesn’t seem to be made with proper platforming in mind. This can really mess you up when you are in some of the later stages for example where you are in need of precise jump. Its a big mark against an otherwise great game.
The highly visual style of combat led me to jokingly call this “Odd of War” when I saw the trailer but its not necessarily a bad assessment. The game has a stunning 2D visuals and an ultraviolent combat system that is a beautiful marriage of style and substance. Its not perfect but then again, nothing is. The game can be beaten in just a few hours but there is so much replayability that you will keep coming back. There are unlockable extras including the original Amiga version, which has options to reduce the difficulty (and you will have difficulty with this). It just has so much in it, that it really does have something for everyone, for both modern and retro gamers. While the platforming does bog it down somewhat, the game is still fantastic and I can easily recommend it. For once, this is a remake that’s done right.