A "Trip" Worth Taking... for some
Shadows of the Damned isn’t an easy game to pin down. Sure, the gameplay itself doesn’t wildly deviate from Shinji Mikami’s previous titles, with the shooting aspect almost directly lifted from Resident Evil 4, and light puzzles strewn about. On the surface, it’s also a pretty traditional story. You (Garcia Hotspur) come home from a long day of demon hunting to catch Fleming, prime haunt of the underworld, stealing your girlfriend. You and your partner Johnson (a flaming skull on a stick) give chase and fight through the depths of hell to free your beloved.
The thing that makes “Shadows” so special is the personality it brings to the table. With famed director Suda51 at the helm, the characters and underworld take on unique personalities that breathe life into the proceedings. The underworld itself is a series of twisted locations directly inspired by London in the 1940s, with oddball touches like infant faces guarding important doors and giant Pachinko machines. Garcia comes off as a low-rent Antonio Banderas, and his fake Mexican accent adds a lot of charm to the game. Your pal, Johnson, is one giant phallic joke with a British accent. He can turn into a Boner, Hotboner (that shoots an “explosive payload”) and a Big Boner. In fact, the entire game is filled to the brim with similar phallic jokes. This will likely be the dividing point for many gamers; though the jokes are told well, it’s a type of humor that’s incredibly divisive. I have no doubts that someone out there absolutely hates Shadows of the Damned.
The best way to decide if you’ll end up loving or hating this game is by watching this:
http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-shadows-of-the-damned/17-4428/
The first ten minutes act as a personal barometer for how much you’ll enjoy the game. If you found the jokes offensive, crude, or annoying, this isn’t the game for you. However, if you’re willing to go along with the game’s brazen insanity and penchant for phallic jokes, you’ll find one hell of an enjoyable ride that should last you anywhere from 8 to 10 hours. My only major gripe is the lack of a “New Game +” system. It would’ve been nice to take my upgraded weapons through a second time, on a much harder difficulty setting.
(This review was republished from my blog, the Gilded Gamepad (http://www.gildedgamepad.wordpress.com))
