Shadow Complex is one small step for man, one large step for Xbox Live Arcade games. Let me just start by saying, this game rocks. Anyone who is still holding a grudge against Epic for failing to make GOW2 as good as the first should think again. Epic/Chair squeezed this one out almost under the radar and ever since first news of the title being released I’ve been interested.
The Story is based off of the novel Empire written by Orson Scott Card, and while the game’s story should not be considered its main selling point, it definitely is the catalyst to countless hours of exploration and badassery. Shortly after beginning this awesome adventure we witness the Vice President’s assassination, and soon discover a secret agency whose plan is to overthrow the U.S. Government, their goal, to send the country spiraling into turmoil and a second Civil War. It is up to you, Jason Flemming, to save the world from such disaster. After being burdened by such a heavy task, he shortly finds out there is much more to be discovered than what’s visible to the naked eye.
Drawing heavy influence from such games as Castlevania and Super Metriod, this game is a true throwback, albeit with stunning visuals and gameplay rarely seen from XBL arcade games. Priced at 1200 MS points (US $15) this title is definitely worth the cost.
As you progress throughout the campaign it only gets better. You find new guns, upgrades for your suit, unlock new areas to explore and gain exp., the max level being 50. Many areas of the map can only be reached after you unlock certain abilities, so exploring for all those hidden items is a must, not to mention half the fun. My first run through of the game clocked up to about nine hours, that’s with 100% of all the Items, but even after saving the world and exploring it throughly I still am not ready to put the controller down. Another play through on the Insane difficultly is next on my agenda, and ranking to level 50 for the achievement isn’t out of the question either. There is just so much to do in this game. It’s really shocking that this much is offered from an XBL arcade game.
Along with the campaign there is also another part of the game called the “Proving Grounds”, where players can test out their skills in a multitude of time trial and ability specific challenges. This I spent even more time on. The challenges are just that, challenging. And getting all gold, or even platinum, is not an easy feat. This game is a big step up from other XBLA titles and throughout my time playing I only found only one minor complaint – that the aiming system is a bit buggy, although while some may feel this hinders the gameplay a bit I totally disagree. Having unlimited ammo does a really good job of balancing that out.
If you haven’t already checked this one out, you need to. Especially if you’re a fan of Super Metriod. Of all the many XBLA tittles I have played, this one ranks up there with titles like Castle Crashers and Braid. Visually, it’s at the top of its class as far as XBLA games go and jam packed with hours of fun, offering up many challenges to test out your heroic skills. This game sets a new standard for XBLA games, and it’s unbelievable. Thank you, Epic/Chair.
