A perfect Action platformer, utter brillance.
Shadow complex is a brilliantly designed action platformer, capturing the essence of Metroidvaniabetter than any title in years. It is addicting and utterly engrossing from start to finish, with great 3D visuals and impressive fast action.
The game doesn’t waste time getting to the action, the narrative is largely in the background, but it is an interesting story of a secret army attempting to start a civic war in America and create an empire out of the ashes. I would have liked to have seen it fleshed out a bit more, but the games action can stand for itself.
Presented with 3D visuals on a 2D plane of action, the game looks great with the 3D adding real depth and perspective. Very enjoyable rag doll physics and some nice weapon effects only add to its visually pleasing nature.The game begins with only a flashlight available, but very quickly a large very fun series of weapons and abilities are doled out. From double and triple jumps to speed boost and a one of the best grappling hooks in years. The equipment is very cool, and all work together to make for some impressively vertical platforming and very fast action. Its very well paced as new equipment is constantly added, and the world begins to open up with new paths and options.
An intelligent auto aim helps to ease the difficulty in targeting enemies arriving from outside the 2D plane; on a whole the shooting is remarkably precise for a sidescroller.
The game world is choked full of concealed ammo upgrade and health packs, all hidden in very classic ways, down vents or behind crates, it brings back wonderful memories of Super Metroid. I was hopelessly immersed in my quest to hunt down every last one.
Shadow Complex is a masterpiece, its action very fast and enjoyable, and the huge world of the underground military facility very well designed. Some truly devious challenging platform sections harken back to the good old days of 2D adventures, when all of the abilities are unlock my humble explorer became an agile super solider capable of astonishing feats of violence and swiftness. The abilipts all work together to provide a wonderful experience, using the double and triple jump to gain vertical position over opposition or the grappling hook to effortlessly swing through rooms. One of the best collections of moves and weaponry in recent memory.
A true successor to Super Metroid in every way, It sells for 15 dollars on Xbox live but I would have gladly paid full retail for a disc version. The environments and enemies could have been used more variety, and the bosses lack the impact the could have, but upon completion I immediately began a new game, the action is so unashamedly fun and the world so fun to explore that I will be playing this game for a long long time to come.
