So first off, lets get this right out of the way first...this game only costs $15. Thats about a quarter of what most games cost today, and really, the fact that I'm reviewing it, and I didn't start title it "TERRIBLE VIDEO GAME REVIEW #2" should tell you that you should just close your computer screen now and go download it. You can also look at those graphics there with that big ol' fancy robot about to waste that little stick figure you play as and you might think...wow, thats a downloadable game? But indeed, yes it is, and its a mighty fine lookin' one at that. It's also incredibly awesome.So, why is it awesome, is of course the main question I am here to answer. The answer is (much like Bionic Commando) NOT the story. It's stupid. You won't care about it. Don't worry about what happens. Apparently Orson Scott Card slapped his name on this thing somewhere, maybe because not enough people were buying his books or something, but if the story to this game is based on any of his books, well then he might want to find another line of work. You once again won't give a rats ass about any of the characters and the main character actually...and I shudder as I type this...but he actually reminded me a lot of the main character of that very pretty trainwreck of a game, known as a Prey. In Prey, another 360 exclusive by the way, except that one you don't WANT to play unless you find it for $6 and either a) need a coaster or b) want to have a good laugh at a game developers expense with friends, your main character is a tool. And I mean that in every sense of the word. Hes a douchebag. Hes useless. Here he is, just saw his freakin' relatives get slaughtered by crazy aliens that are hellbent on world domination, and this idiot is supposed to be the sole savior of the world, and whats he bitch and moan about the whole time? He just wants to find his girlfirend. He wants to find her, head back home, throw his arm around his woman and crack open a beer. Yes, jackass, because this freakin' ALIENS, that are destroying SOCIETY AS WE KNOW IT, will just let YOU head back and kick it with your girlfriend. ...thinking about that game makes me angry. Can you tell? But anyways, the main character of Shadow Complex...I honestly don't remember his name, you might as well just call him Jim or Bob or Billy, whatever you want, but he reminds me of that tool. That's no a good thing. His girlfriend is equally useless and surprise! She gets kidnapped at the beginning of this game too. You won't care about saving her. You WILL care about the awesome time you are having exploring the really cool world that this game has however.
It's also a very pretty world, and thats really saying something for a game that won't break your wallet. Hell a 12 year old could afford this with their allowance (I always spent mine on comics, though). And you could do much worse for $15 (like the new Nickleback, Fall Out Boy, or Britney Spears cd). So as usual with most of the games I review, I've established we have us a mighty purty game. This shot here is one of the opening areas where the game starts you with...drumroll please...a flashlight! Thats it. And you know what? Thats awesome. You don't even have a gun when you get tangled up in this mess, and you can't punch dudes. You have to work your way from the ground up, and games that start you with nothing always really work that "I feel accomplished" angle. As you become more and more badass in the game, you feel more accomplished, and stuff you might have struggled with at the beginning will be chump stuff later on. This game uses that whole...and I don't like this moniker, but its out there, so what the hell...but the whole "metroidvania" philosophy, which is pretty much just another word for...2D masterpiece. Metroid games are classics, heck they even managed to do a pretty good job integrating it into 3D with the past few games, and I am usually staunchly against changing stuff that probably shouldn't be changed. And Castlevania...well cmon now. That 2D franchise has been incredible since Symphony of the Night way back on the Playstation, and they just keep cranking them out on the handheld systems, and finding new ways to make the tried and true formula fresh. Shadow Complex doesn't really do anything new, but it does do all of those old cliches really well. Theres backtracking, theres finding a place you really want to get to but don't have the item for yet. Theres a fancy suit that gives you different powers that you slowly build upon as you make your way through the "Shadow Complex" (name drop!). Theres new enemies you will encounter, and theres also
a whole bunch of different robots and henchmen for you to blow up.Robots such as this one. But basically, it has all the formulas down for a great 2D exploration game, and thats exactly what you get here. And why did I want to talk about it today? Because we don't get games like this anymore, and we especially don't get them on next gen systems. Kudos (remember those granola bars called that back in the day, that weren't good for you at all cuz they were Snickers or Milky Way flavored? Man those were good) to Microsoft for picking up this indie game developed by the dudes at Chair. I hope that this game sells well, and it certainly should at $15, and it starts a craze for more 2D goodness, and really, this has been the year for 2D. Another great just came out, and thats Muramasa on the Wii, which I'll review later on. Like I said, you don't need to care about the story. This game will keep you exploring for right around 10 hours or so, and theres some challenge rooms packed on there too that will keep you busy for another hour or so. It's all good stuff, and guess what? Alot of $60 games won't even take you 10 hours anymore. Lots of em take 6, some even less (like the recent travesty of a game, if you can even call it that, Terminator Salvation) than that. And this one costs a quarter of the price. Really, why are you still reading my review, just go download this game now if you have a 360, and enjoy 10 hours of your life spent on an awesome game with a crappy story. As I've said before, Ebert has it kinda right with some aspects of video games, we don't quite have the grand epic tales down for some games, but if you are having a good time, does it really matter that much? This game, much like Bionic Commando, is the equivalent of a great popcorn flic from the summer. And there ain't nothin wrong with that sometimes. So check this game out, and on to the scores!
One more thing: look at this idiot. Would you want this guy to be the one to save your life, with his $10 spiky hair cut, douche face, and goofy ass costume? Of course not. Give me one of the androgynous Final Fantasy dudes with their emo clothes and goofy haircuts, at least they got some style! You see 10 of this guy just walking into a Hollister store - assuming you'd ever go near one of those (and I hope you wouldn't).Graphics - If you are talking about compared to a $60 game, well then 7/10. Its pretty, but there are some issues with it, you'll clip into some things (that means overlap the scenery, and it looks all goofy, to the uninitiated), some of the background stuff looks kinda weird up close, and the character models could be animated a little better. But talking as a downloadable game, that will only set you back $15? A 10/10. It's the cream of the crop as far as that stuff goes, its gorgeous, and even with a 7/10 score as opposed to more expensive games, this game could still hang with most anything out there today. It's purty.
Sound - 9/10. The voice acting is pretty dumb, even though its voiced by that cool guy from Uncharted and Prince of Persia (same guy does those main characters voices too), but I'd blame that on the writing more than anything else. But the sound effects will make you jump, the guns sound great, robots sound accordingly menacing, and everything blows up real good. It won't disappoint you. Crank on the surround sound and feel the G's.
Challenge - 8/10. Nothing too tough. You can crank it up higher, of course, just like any game nowadays. But on the default, nothing that will piss you off too much. Theres an experience system so if you feel like you are too weak (and you won't) for a particular enemy, go level up. It gets pretty easy toward the end when your character is all souped up, but aren't you supposed to be a true badass by the end of any game? The answer is yes. The challenge rooms have some annoying trials but nothing you can't get past without a bit of dedication, and they didn't even really need to tack those on anyways. The game only costs $15 for gods sake!
Fun - 10/10. Game is fantastic. You'll love exploring, you'll love getting new items, finding some cool secrets, and...well, I guess the ending is alright. Much like the Metroid and Castlevania games, you may even want to do it all over again in a few months. Or weeks. Maybe even days, if you missed something the first time.
Overall - 9/10. If you are talking about sheer value, then its a 16/10. Most games that cost full retail won't even last you 10 hours these days. Game length has really lessened over the years, which probably relates to our ridiculously short attention spans. So I guess its not a real big deal, but 10-15 hours is really pretty ideal. Hell thats almost a buck an hour, which taint' half bad. Go download this today. Its the first 360 exclusive to come down the pipe in a long time thats really worth your time.
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