IGN: Shadow Complex Review

IGN Writes: "From the moment I was first shown Shadow Complex, I knew that I wanted to play it.

Now that I've explored every nook and cranny of this massive Xbox Live Arcade game and saved the day multiple times, I still want to play it. If this is the direction the Xbox Live Arcade is going in, bring it on. At 1200 Microsoft points (US $15), Shadow Complex pushes the upper boundaries of what most would expect to pay for a Live Arcade game.

In this case, the price tag is completely justified. This massive action game, designed in the style of Super Metroid or Castlevania, is one of the best games of the summer."

[PotNoodle]

I did tell myself not to buy this game just yet, because i have spent too much recently on downloadable games both on Xbox live and PSN.

But reading this and other reviews is making it even harder not to just load up my account with microsoft points and buy it! :(

[JokesOnYou]

IGN 9.4....awesome score.

"This massive action game, designed in the style of Super Metroid or Castlevania, is one of the best games of the summer." -IGN

-Wow, I'm really getting excited for this game.

JOY

[StanLee]

This game is receiving phenomenal reviews. I'll be buying it the moments it's available on XBLA. This summer of arcade has been amazing. I've bought Splosion Man, Mavel VS. Capcom 2 and Trials HD. TMNT IV: Turtles in Time is my lone holdout. I'll wait until that game is a Deal of the week for 400 points.

[callahan09]

Sweet. Love Castlevania and Super Metroid. This game is a day one buy. I'll have to get it through Amazon, because I don't want to have leftover MS points.

[Poopface the 2nd]

ITs a prank call.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[Hideous Kojima]

And another proof of why EPIC Games (basically Microsoft's second party) is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.

[Dareaver1]

I was always interested in this game.... I miss really good 2D games... and Trials HD is freakin awesome. It is so addictive, and i only played the demo..... Now i'm hooked and i have to buy the whole thing.... Man, i can't save not a single penny at this rate.

[Millah]

Newsflash Hideous Kojima, Epic Games DID NOT develop this game. The studio that developed this game was formerly called Chair Entertainment.

Epic had nothing to do with this game. All they did was buy out Chair Entertainment and made them a small subsidiary of Epic. But the original Epic team has nothing to do with the creation of this game. All they did was give Chair Ent. the Unreal Engine.

Everybody seems to think Epic made the game...which is wrong. Jesus even Cliffy B said this at E3 when they announced the game. Give the real devs credit for this game. I love Metroidvanias and can't wait to play this game.

[Arnon]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Developer(s) - Chair Entertainment, Epic Games

There's no such thing as a "main team" in a company that creates many different games lolz. Both Epic Games and Chair worked together on this project.

[Millah]

No...just no.

So I guess that since Bethesda bought out id, we would say that Bethesda developed Rage? No, id is the team that is developing the game, not Bethesda, despite the fact that they are now technically a part of Bethesda.

Chair Ent. developed this game, end of story. Epic bought them out, thats it.

[Omega4]

9.4!!!

Wow after all those negative stories about the game being short it goes and gets a 10 in lasting appeal, 2009 could be the first time an XBLA games gets GOTY lol

[Oldsnake007]

One word, Braid!

[ShadowCK]

Can't wait. Awesome review.

Definitely going to buy this on day one.

[ShadowCK]

This game looks so incredible. Gonna buy it on day one. =D

[shocky16]

GOTY contender me thinks.

XBLA really has this summer on lockdown with Splosion man, Trials HD and Shadow Complex.

[shocky16]

Seems like some people are butt hurt the game is getting amazing scores.

[Masamori Sumimura]

what's XFD?

[FlipMode]

.

[sunnygrg]

People disagreed not because the game got 9.4, but because you mentioned GOTY. There are many other worthy games already out in 2009, and a XBLA or a PSN game getting the award is a little too far-fetched.

[II Necroplasm II]

Downloadable GOTY you mean?

[shocky16]

"Shadow Complex probably could have used a little more development time to iron out a few glitches and nail down the sometimes awkward aiming system. Even so, it stands as one of the best games yet in 2009. And I'm not just talking about the Xbox Live Arcade. The classic, exploration-heavy gameplay is a winner. Go buy this game."

And I didnt say it WAS GOTY, I said it could be.

[beardpapa]

I think "could be" also makes you a prime target for disagrees. I'd rather see a full game like Mass Effect 2 getting GOTY than a downloadable title. You can say Shadow Complex is a "full game" yea.. but it's a downloadable Live Arcade title! Imagine a dreadful year with horrible games, and the only game that won GOTY was a downloadable such as Joust! =D

[only on playstaychun]

Looks like a great game. 2D side scrolling games are incredibly fun. If this was out for PSN, I sure would buy it. Just find it such a shame when great XBLA and PSN games like this and Wipeout aren't released as a retail game aswell, with a lower price so that people who don't have xbox live and use PSN can enjoy it aswell...

[No_NaMe]

This is a MASTERPIECE!

[Masamori Sumimura]

Great game Great review, great score, Good score , Great Devs behind this game to.

the XBLA summer as acheived a new peak of greatness.

Shadow Complex
Trials HD
Splosion man

all I need now is Perfect Dark and GoldenEye and XBLA will be a Arcade gaming heaven

[usern4g]

Bubble Bobble NEO!

I cant wait for that game. It was pushed to after Summer of Arcade - hope the release soon.

[No_NaMe]

Trials HD , Splosion MAN , Shadow Complex and i Still Playing Battelfield 1943 !!

Damn Microsoft gives no chance !

[NeptuneMerc]

XBLA prevails once again.

Day ONE !

[Stryfeno2]

Time to spend some more moneys. :)

[Masamori Sumimura]

I Got plenty money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lightningsax]

Brudwig called it a "massive action game." Could this be a subtle jab? Well played!

[free3sixty]

One of the best games in 2009...

how long will it take to complete the game? the campaign?

[Masamori Sumimura]

Depends on how you play the game.

From what I've heard and Read if you go through the game really fast without doing all the side quest and finding all the Items it might take you a few hours but if you do all the missions etc etc it might take you 10-15 hours.

good stuff for a XBLA game if you ask me.

[_vx]

got bit of replaying value using the super running suit (finishing the game in 1 hr) so u got 6 hr worth playing, thats all :/

[Arnon]

Don't listen to numbnuts above my comment. The game is about a 8-10 hour experience for the first time through. Speed running is around 2-5 hours.

[Fiona]

hmm i was totally ignoring this game but with the reviews i might have to buy this instead of sploshion man.

[PrimordialSoupBase]

Oh how IGN needs some half decent writers.

[aldesko]

I noticed that, too. Glad I'm not the only one.

On topic: Glad it's getting good reviews.. I was somewhat apprehensive before the reviews started coming in.

[Javier19]

I dont like getting downloadable Games (I prefer owning my stuff on actual media, i.e Disk)

But I may have to get this, looks great.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

I hope this game is huge enough and they bring back Advent Rising... I can dream can't I? This and Serious Sam HD should make my year for arcade games, I downloaded other arcade games this year but none that I have wanted more than these two.

[LiquifiedArt]

nice.

[DelbertGrady]

Another certified winner for the superior online service that is Xbox Live.

[RockmanII7]

Man, first 'Splosion Man, then Trials HD, and now this. I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't have a 360 (Disincluiding the droids, of course).

[RAM MAGNUMS]

1 of the Best games of the summer?
Only 1.

Xbla still sucks a$$.

Shadow complex is another glitchy mess.

[kyrosheel1]

I think PSN games are a lot better than XBLA games, but i wouldn't say XBLA sucks.

[kyrosheel1]

Don't you guys think that this rating seems a bit inflated? Poor A.I., glichy, and awkward aiming controls, and this game got a 9.4? Most games 9+ are near flawless, Ex. Killzone 2, COD4, etc. Also the fact how this game can be beaten in 1 hour just adds to the idea that this rating may be inflated. I'm starting to believe that MS is paying for good reviews...

[MiloGarret]

HAHA I knew it! I knew some fukn moron would be saying crap like this...

Dumbest comment of the day award goes to YOU sir, well done!

[Aloren]

Yeah, right... or maybe Sony paid you to say this... or even better : MS paid you so that people would feel the need to defend them, how clever and evil, damn MS.. Or maybe that game is great.

[Lex Luthor]

Killzone 2 near flawless? hahahahahahahahaha

[Homicide]

Dude, you're comparing a full priced retail game to an XBLA game. They're not even in the same genre. This comparison is ridiculous.

[kyrosheel1]

I'm not comparing Shadow Complex to Killzone or COD, I'm simply listing examples of games which scored 9+ on IGN, and are near flawless (with just a few minor problems). But if you want me to list a game similar to Shadow Complex, then take a look at Bionic Commando Rearmed. BCR scored a 9.4, and well the only problem i can think of with that game is probably the length or lack of voice acting...

[kyrosheel1]

Funny how you guys get really defensive. I never said this game is bad, infact, it looks pretty good, but from the cons they stated i don't see how it comes up to a 9.4. I could see this as a 9, or even an 8.8. Whatever, this is my opinion, i just find it hilarious how defensive you guys get.

[SaberEdge]

Anybody that believes that Microsoft is paying for good reviews is automatically off in loonyville and not worth taking seriously. Sorry.

[kyrosheel1]

There is just as much evidence supporting corporations paying for good reviews as there is denying corporations pay for good reviews. Obviously, a higher scoring game is more likely to sell more than a lower scoring game. It is a possibility that MS did not pay for this good review, but i just think that the rating is pretty inflated.

[Hobadoon]

No? Then go fire up your PS3 and kindly sthu. The people that reviewed this game... PLAYED IT.

Why does it matter to you anyways?

[likeaboss302]

I hope this does well. So Konami with take note and release a 2D/3D Castlevania this way for PS3/360.

[Alex_Mexico]

As long as you are referring to a "PS360 2D Castlevania HD metroid-style" game then yes: My thoughts exactly!

[Light Yagami]

Awesome score. Shadow complex, a true AAA downloadable game.

[Double Toasted]

...for graphics...yeah.

[Alex_Mexico]

Hope this game sells so freakin' Konami and/or Nintendo make sense for the last time and see there's a market waiting and pleading for these kinds of games.
Castlevania 2D HD and a new 2D Metroid for the Wii/DS (I would prefer Wii but oh well...) everyone is asking for!

[Alex_Mexico]

There was a time I was jealous of the 360 for its Braid and Castle Crashers. But both of those games are coming to the PS3 now.

Now I can safely say, Im jealous again. Very very jealous. More than before. Well played, Microsoft ;)

btw, is SC's developer a Microsoft first/second party studio? Cuz I want to know if there's ANY small chance this game might come to the PSN later on just like CC and Braid.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

first

[gameman]

the first decent game for the 3fixme in 2009 well after 3 month we will be in 2010 you know enjoy the 4 hour game bots

[Mo0eY]

Confirmed:

54.2Box 360's only AAA game this year is XBLA title. Where are those god forsaken Halo War stats?

54.2%

[Pirateogta]

Anyone who believes the 360's failure rate is 54.2% is a complete and absolute moron. A 5,000 person survey from a gaming magazine is not something any sane person would take seriously. Obviously, there would be a lot of bitter PS3 fanboys who have never owned a 360 in their entire life voting that they had the RROD just to skew the 360's results. The same thing happened with the PS3's results. The PS3 does not have a 10% failure rate. It is much lower than that.

Look at polls on any gaming website or reader reviews for games. Fanboys of either console are always rating the opposing console's exclusives with 0's without having played them. The fanboys are so fierce this gen, they feel their life purpose is to defend their console of choice at any cost. Would you ever take the average user review of a game on a website seriously, when 90% of the votes are 10's and 0's and only 10% of the people are honestly reviewing the game?

Also, the people voting that they have had the RROD could have had it years ago, when the console's failure rate was much higher. Now, the 360 has a much lower failure rate, but the past can't be changed. The last we heard officially, the 360 has a 16% failure rate. It is probably under 10% by now. If the poll was conducted with only newly bought consoles, the results would be way lower.

[FlipMode]

.

[CryingDemon]

I dont know about everyone else,but i would get it.