I completely agree on the shooting. Considering a good portion of the game seems to have you firing into the screen, it seems to take a long time to lock on and when you move, it goes back to 2D meaning a lot of the heavy weapons guys in the distance become a real pain.

I thought the same thing about the shooting, but it got better later in the game, this might be because: I got used to it (I don't think I really did), the accuracy boost, and the fact the enemies earlier in the game have more annoying cover, I died far more in the beginning than I did at the end.

I find the shooting to be fine, after I got used to it, it felt  pretty good, but not as good they made it seem to be. I've only been really frustrated at a couple points in the game, otherwise I'm having a great time with it. I've already ran through once, and then went through again just to leave Claire behind, which took like 30 minutes. Now going through again on hardcore. 
 
Sucks that you're not having as good a time with it. =/

The graphics are hit or miss, people either appreciate UE3 or they don't. I personally do outside of the texture lag and I never quite understood why so many people complain about the dull gray art styles its a video game not a tie dye contest. As for the gameplay, not saying this for good or bad but it sounds like you're from a younger generation. The aiming and combat in SC is way way better than the 2D side-scrollers of yesteryear. Being able to manually aim and shoot objects on different planes and angles is far better than the old Metroids where you could only shoot whats directly in front of you, directly above you, and whatever is at a 45 degree angle.

The finesse of the shooting is annoying, it always takes me ages to line up a head shot. I'll have the laser on the guys head but quickly lose it, etc. I guess that's me just being shit though, right? 

" Has Shadow Complex made anyone else want to play Symphony of the Night? "

" Has Shadow Complex made anyone else want to play Symphony of the Night? "

It is overrated. I almost regret buying it because of all the issues it has. It still has it's moments though.

I agree with this blog. $15 down the drain.

"The graphics are hit or miss, people either appreciate UE3 or they don't.

I plan to find out for myself tomorrow when I finally pick the game up.

The graphic complaints come off as more nitpicky than anything else. The shooting is something that certainly could have used some fine tuning, but it has never cost me a life, so I don't feel that it's as bad as you make it out to be.

" Has Shadow Complex made anyone else want to play Symphony of the Night? "

" @SUBL1ME said:

"The graphics are hit or miss, people either appreciate UE3 or they don't.

This is a ludicrous as misinformed statement. What the game looks like has nothing to do with UE3 engine. Correlation does not equal causation, just because the 'Gears' look is 'cool' these days does not mean anything put into the UE3 engine instantly looks like Gears, it's down to the artists how the game looks, after all the engine can only take models and textures that have already been made, the style of which has already been decided upon, the engine doesn't magically generate them in accordance with a particular style. If you want proof waltz on over to ModDB and take a look at some of the different things people can do with the UE3 engine, including replicating almost flawlessly, the Team Fortress 2 shaded look. I'll also have you know that Borderlands, DC Universe Online, Hail to the Chimp, Leisure Suit Larry, Lost Odyssey, Mirrors Edge and The Last Remnant all use the UE3 engine. I think you'll agree there is a largTree diversity of graphical styles represented there, and many more that could be used but do not require the advanced tech (and thus the cost of licensing) the UE3 engine.  As for Shadow Complex itself, I get the feeling that Summer of Arcade has spoiled this game for me. A few more months of polishing the controls and interactions and the game would have felt perfect, as it is feels a little clunky in areas but I wouldn't call it $15 wasted by any means. Unfortunately I get the feeling they rushed it out for the summer of arcade promotion. "

I like it enough to continue playing it but I must agree that it has a lot of problems. I am only about 2 hours in as well, but the shooting is really finicky and imprecise. Headshots either come by luck or holding the analog still perfectly still. Many times I shoot them in the head but they do a crouch move when I hit them that nullifies the whole headshot in the first place. Shooting grenades is also a bit annoying; I can't get them to go along a predictable path because the laser sight does not relate to the grenade movement. Still, I am enjoying the game no matter these complaints; it just is not the "GOTY" type of game I have been hearing about.

I personally love the game, just finished up my S-Rank on it and I still want to play it some more. 

It's fine and dandy when you're shooting and the camera is close to you but whether already frustrating camera feels the need to show the entire are you are in, you're forced to squint your eyes just to see if you're shooting the person and not the wall.

I really enjoyed the trial version I downloaded but the shooting will take a bit to get used to. By the end of the demo let's just say I started getting used to it and I wanted more.

I agree that the game is pretty overrated.  It really lacks the soul and personality of other metroidvania games.  The backgrounds aren't that interesting and neither are the enemies.  The bosses are a joke and the enemy design is just so blahh ...... generic.  It also feels a lot more linear then most metroidvania games in a bad way.  I personally think that all of the handeheld castlevania games are much better then Shadow Complex.  Oh yea the combat is pretty crap too.  The foam gun is hardly ever used to solve environmental puzzles.  In fact you only really need it once or twice outside of using it to open the purple doors.  Later on you can just use the hookshot.   The only saving grace of the games is that it is addictive.

" @SUBL1ME said:

"The graphics are hit or miss, people either appreciate UE3 or they don't.

This is a ludicrous as misinformed statement. What the game looks like has nothing to do with UE3 engine. Correlation does not equal causation, just because the 'Gears' look is 'cool' these days does not mean anything put into the UE3 engine instantly looks like Gears, it's down to the artists how the game looks, after all the engine can only take models and textures that have already been made, the style of which has already been decided upon, the engine doesn't magically generate them in accordance with a particular style. If you want proof waltz on over to ModDB and take a look at some of the different things people can do with the UE3 engine, including replicating almost flawlessly, the Team Fortress 2 shaded look. I'll also have you know that Borderlands, DC Universe Online, Hail to the Chimp, Leisure Suit Larry, Lost Odyssey, Mirrors Edge and The Last Remnant all use the UE3 engine. I think you'll agree there is a large diversity of graphical styles represented there, and many more that could be used but do not require the advanced tech (and thus the cost of licensing) the UE3 engine.  As for Shadow Complex itself, I get the feeling that Summer of Arcade has spoiled this game for me. A few more months of polishing the controls and interactions and the game would have felt perfect, as it is feels a little clunky in areas but I wouldn't call it $15 wasted by any means. Unfortunately I get the feeling they rushed it out for the summer of arcade promotion. "

" @SUBL1ME:  If you're gonna critisize an art style, do that, not the engine as it has very little bearing on how the final game looks artistically. I called out what you said as misinformed and ludicrous, and I stand by that, trying to rectify the situation by lashing out more bullshit about 'taking it or leaving it' and "but but but... gears!!!" is just silly. If you're gonna compare it to Gears, then do that, don't paint the engine with the same brush, it's like painting Americans with a giant brush simply because a few of them are ignorant... Besides, unless you've worked with it, what the fuck right do people who simply play the games have to comment on anything other than texture pop and lighting effects, as it's about the only thing you people ever see anyway, everything else varies from game to game and is solely down to the artists at work. The fact anyone wants to pin any complaints solely on the engine really is misinformed and ludicrous, it's not my fault they are misinformed, i'm simply letting them know.   I  have a good few issues with UE3, i'm not here to lick it's balls, however hating on it simply because it's UE3? Get out. Take your issue with whatever art style it is you have issue with. By making such comments people like you are no better than the soccar mums who talk shit about video games in general without having the slightest clue about the specifics. "

The reason people look over the problems in shadow Complex is it sucks you in and makes you want to collect everything. When people really like the game, they look over all the problems.

Listen to Drain. The engine really isn't responsible for any bland art style as he says. Don't like the art? Fine, but blame the artists.

I agree, I hate the shooting parts of the game, the aiming is kinda werid.
I love bashing people with the 'B' button and the platforming is fun :)

what is up with these games where you can actually die?!?! I mean wow, who is the asshole who thought that was a good idea?!?! it's too bad this $15 game has only the best graphics in a DL 2d game. i say we all boycott games that do not have crysis quality graphic!?!? shadow complex is a fantastic download only game. i don't know how anyone can complain about the aiming system, saying it's too hard when it practically auto aims for you. the only complaints i have about the game were some minor clipping and the fact that it's too easy to find everything if you're not playing on insane.

" @The_A_Drain said:

" @SUBL1ME:  If you're gonna critisize an art style, do that, not the engine as it has very little bearing on how the final game looks artistically. I called out what you said as misinformed and ludicrous, and I stand by that, trying to rectify the situation by lashing out more bullshit about 'taking it or leaving it' and "but but but... gears!!!" is just silly. If you're gonna compare it to Gears, then do that, don't paint the engine with the same brush, it's like painting Americans with a giant brush simply because a few of them are ignorant... Besides, unless you've worked with it, what the fuck right do people who simply play the games have to comment on anything other than texture pop and lighting effects, as it's about the only thing you people ever see anyway, everything else varies from game to game and is solely down to the artists at work. The fact anyone wants to pin any complaints solely on the engine really is misinformed and ludicrous, it's not my fault they are misinformed, i'm simply letting them know.   I  have a good few issues with UE3, i'm not here to lick it's balls, however hating on it simply because it's UE3? Get out. Take your issue with whatever art style it is you have issue with. By making such comments people like you are no better than the soccar mums who talk shit about video games in general without having the slightest clue about the specifics. "

You really seem like kind of a dick, like really why are you so uppity about all this shit? I said one thing about UE3 and its like I raped your mom for Christ's sake. Dude get over yourself. Whenever someone critiques a game's graphics people like you always jump in and say if you're not a graphic designer or whatever you have no right to say anything about it, well neither are you so what gives you the right to talk shit and not me?  I said nothing that wasn't true, all I said is its basically the same graphics style as Gears and you either like Gears or you don't, you've said nothing outside of expressing some sort of weird obsessive hate for me. So in short, pull the stick out of your ass and grow up. Learn to treat other peoples opinions as that, opinions. "