Shadow of the Beast

Hewitson · 25 March 2011, 13:44

Despite it's fantastic graphics and sound, I was never able to get into this game. After playing it for the first time in at least 10 years tonight, it's not surprising why.

It's so easy to die, and every time you do, it takes forever and a day to start a new game. For a game that was so well done in the graphics and sound departments, they really fucked up the basics BIG time. A crying shame.

deicidal · 25 March 2011, 13:50

Glad its not just me who could never get his head round it, it looked pretty but i hated it. Was a bit of a draw dropping moment with the intro for SOTB 2 , then promptly thinking the game was poo

LuMan · 25 March 2011, 13:55

It's true. The old adage "good graphics do not a great game make" has never been so well defined!! TBH, I only ever load the game to listen to the music (created on a Korg M1, I believe) and watch the multi-level parallax scrolling for a bit. Then I go to YouTube and watch the videos of someone else completing it

SOTB II however is completely different kettle of fish. I LOVED playing it so much I played it end to end 4 times in one night (using the 'ten pints' cheat, natch

). I also loved dying just to hear the death music. Sublime

Tolls · 25 March 2011, 14:04

Totally agree. There's a great feature in this month's Retro gamer magazine (87):

"The History of Shadow of the Beast
- Creator Martin Edmondson discusses the popular Amiga trilogy"

killergorilla · 25 March 2011, 14:08

Shadow of the Beast is a shit game

It does look nice though.

Retro1234 · 25 March 2011, 14:15

Try SOTB III probably the least graphically impressive of the three but nice game

deicidal · 25 March 2011, 14:25

Actually SOTB 2 was kind of ruined a bit as well as getting the angels version hot off the press, shove it in, go oooo and the intro, walk forward a few steps and the game crashed. Tad shoddy release that, they even mentioned the fact in the cractro so you would have thought maybe not to have released it and try and crack it properly.

TCD · 25 March 2011, 14:27

Even if SOTB2 is pretty much unplayable, I kinda liked the action adventure bits. But of course 1 & 2 are pretty much interactive demos.

Retro1234 · 25 March 2011, 14:28

SOTB 2 wouldnt have taken much for this to be a great! game just some play testing
Still could be fun to play with the cheat on just to solve the puzzles etc.

TCD · 25 March 2011, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boo Boo

Still could be fun to play with the cheat on just to solve the puzzles etc.

*cough* How did you know? *cough*

I knew about the 'TEN PINTS' before I got the game, so that gave me the opportunity to play the game a bit (and not die all the time). Without the cheat, it's just ridiculous as a game.

Lord Riton · 25 March 2011, 20:28

I don't agree with all of you

I loved shadow of the beast 1 ! a fantastic game !

Yes it was hard, but the graphics and animation were so good that i got hooked to it and eventough i died a LOT ! i managed to finish it !

switchblade · 25 March 2011, 21:00

I actually liked SOTB3. That game was surprisingly fun to play. At least the controls weren't complete shit on that one, and the puzzles were much more forgiving than in the first two games. At least you didn't have to restart the whole fking game because you missed a clue or a goddamn key that you had to pick up at the beginning of the game.

But I agree with the first two games. They are pretty bad.

Retro-Nerd · 26 March 2011, 00:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by switchblade

But I agree with the first two games. They are pretty bad.

No, they are historically bad!

Bloodwych · 26 March 2011, 11:33

That game badly required a code system, where you get a code for reaching certain points in the game so you could continue.

Playing the same bit over and over and over got old.

I do admit however booting it up loads just for the sound and graphics.

Retro1234 · 26 March 2011, 12:42

What about the other conversion of SOTB II like FM Towns and MegaCD -you think these redeam the game?

laffer · 26 March 2011, 23:33

I actually happen to like all three SotB games... I like SotB2 the most, then the first and I like SotB3 the least... but admittedly, this is probably because of nostalgia as I have to admit the gameplay is probably better in SotB3 than in the first game.

But anyway, I've always enjoyed the mood in these games, and for some reason I find even the very basic gameplay of Beast 1 addictive... played through it at least 10-15 times or so total

But I will admit this is a case of me liking a game despite its gameplay and not because of it... it does feel great when you've played it enough to really master it, though.
It's a nice feeling when parts of the game that used to seem near impossible become managable and eventually even easy.

Tried out a bunch of ports too but I find the Amiga one is the best, bar none... because of the great atmosphere mainly.
The SNES and Lynx versions differ greatly in design and it might be argued the gameplay in those is a bit better... but sadly they messed up the music in the SNES version and the Lynx is a handheld game so the music there is nowhere near as good.

The Commodore 64 version has great SID renditions of the tunes, btw... it's quite an impressive game for the C64, but I wish they had drawn the graphics better.
They're technically impressive but from an artistic viewpoint, they're not really that great.
For one thing it always bugged me they picked black as the outside background color.

And finally - if you find it silly how the final boss fight in the Amiga version has you hitting a giant foot while avoiding a big club.... well, the C64 version is even more laughable here - in this version you're hitting a toenail on the giant foot! Until it falls off and the boss is defeated

EDIT - some shameless self-promotion for my dead channel I haven't updated in ages now

But it has longplays of several of the various Beast versions, just in case you would like to have a look at how different some of them are (or maybe have a look at the forementioned final boss in the C64 version

)... just search for Beast or something like that and you should find several videos.

http://www.youtube.com/user/laffer35

desiv · 27 March 2011, 04:56

I like all 3 games as well, even the original. Yes it's difficult, but it's more a memory/reflex game than an action game per se.. And I like those as well. I've never disliked a game just because it has patterns. I always that was just part of the game..

Then again, I like Dragon's Lair too... :-)

desiv

donnie · 10 July 2011, 16:19

Shadow of the beast 3 is one of the better games of its type on amiga. Holds up very well imho.

mattbarton.exe · 10 July 2011, 16:53

I pretty much have to agree. It was one of the games you wanted to boot up to show off your Amiga to your friends. I really liked the art and the music. But the gameplay just wasn't there...

I guess little has changed in the industry since then!

gimbal · 11 July 2011, 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbarton.exe

I guess little has changed in the industry since then!

If by that you mean there are still good games and bad games with nice graphics, yes not much has changed

25 March 2011, 13:44	#1
Hewitson Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 41 Posts: 3,773	Shadow of the Beast Despite it's fantastic graphics and sound, I was never able to get into this game. After playing it for the first time in at least 10 years tonight, it's not surprising why. It's so easy to die, and every time you do, it takes forever and a day to start a new game. For a game that was so well done in the graphics and sound departments, they really fucked up the basics BIG time. A crying shame.

26 March 2011, 23:33	#16
laffer Zone Friend Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Norway Age: 43 Posts: 1,335	I actually happen to like all three SotB games... I like SotB2 the most, then the first and I like SotB3 the least... but admittedly, this is probably because of nostalgia as I have to admit the gameplay is probably better in SotB3 than in the first game. But anyway, I've always enjoyed the mood in these games, and for some reason I find even the very basic gameplay of Beast 1 addictive... played through it at least 10-15 times or so total But I will admit this is a case of me liking a game despite its gameplay and not because of it... it does feel great when you've played it enough to really master it, though. It's a nice feeling when parts of the game that used to seem near impossible become managable and eventually even easy. Tried out a bunch of ports too but I find the Amiga one is the best, bar none... because of the great atmosphere mainly. The SNES and Lynx versions differ greatly in design and it might be argued the gameplay in those is a bit better... but sadly they messed up the music in the SNES version and the Lynx is a handheld game so the music there is nowhere near as good. The Commodore 64 version has great SID renditions of the tunes, btw... it's quite an impressive game for the C64, but I wish they had drawn the graphics better. They're technically impressive but from an artistic viewpoint, they're not really that great. For one thing it always bugged me they picked black as the outside background color. And finally - if you find it silly how the final boss fight in the Amiga version has you hitting a giant foot while avoiding a big club.... well, the C64 version is even more laughable here - in this version you're hitting a toenail on the giant foot! Until it falls off and the boss is defeated EDIT - some shameless self-promotion for my dead channel I haven't updated in ages now But it has longplays of several of the various Beast versions, just in case you would like to have a look at how different some of them are (or maybe have a look at the forementioned final boss in the C64 version )... just search for Beast or something like that and you should find several videos. http://www.youtube.com/user/laffer35 Last edited by laffer; 26 March 2011 at 23:40.

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25 March 2011, 13:50	#2
deicidal Registered Insane Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ununited Kingdom Posts: 792	Glad its not just me who could never get his head round it, it looked pretty but i hated it. Was a bit of a draw dropping moment with the intro for SOTB 2 , then promptly thinking the game was poo

25 March 2011, 13:55	#3
LuMan Amigan - an' lovin' it!! Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Nottingham, UK Age: 55 Posts: 557	It's true. The old adage "good graphics do not a great game make" has never been so well defined!! TBH, I only ever load the game to listen to the music (created on a Korg M1, I believe) and watch the multi-level parallax scrolling for a bit. Then I go to YouTube and watch the videos of someone else completing it SOTB II however is completely different kettle of fish. I LOVED playing it so much I played it end to end 4 times in one night (using the 'ten pints' cheat, natch ). I also loved dying just to hear the death music. Sublime

25 March 2011, 14:04	#4
Tolls Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: :England: Posts: 264	Totally agree. There's a great feature in this month's Retro gamer magazine (87): "The History of Shadow of the Beast - Creator Martin Edmondson discusses the popular Amiga trilogy"

25 March 2011, 14:08	#5
killergorilla Lesser Talent Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 7,957	Shadow of the Beast is a shit game It does look nice though.

25 March 2011, 14:15	#6
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,790	Try SOTB III probably the least graphically impressive of the three but nice game

25 March 2011, 14:25	#7
deicidal Registered Insane Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ununited Kingdom Posts: 792	Actually SOTB 2 was kind of ruined a bit as well as getting the angels version hot off the press, shove it in, go oooo and the intro, walk forward a few steps and the game crashed. Tad shoddy release that, they even mentioned the fact in the cractro so you would have thought maybe not to have released it and try and crack it properly.

25 March 2011, 14:27	#8
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,733	Even if SOTB2 is pretty much unplayable, I kinda liked the action adventure bits. But of course 1 & 2 are pretty much interactive demos.

25 March 2011, 14:28	#9
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,790	SOTB 2 wouldnt have taken much for this to be a great! game just some play testing Still could be fun to play with the cheat on just to solve the puzzles etc.

25 March 2011, 20:28	#11
Lord Riton Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: France Age: 52 Posts: 507	I don't agree with all of you I loved shadow of the beast 1 ! a fantastic game ! Yes it was hard, but the graphics and animation were so good that i got hooked to it and eventough i died a LOT ! i managed to finish it !

25 March 2011, 21:00	#12
switchblade Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: United States Age: 37 Posts: 99	I actually liked SOTB3. That game was surprisingly fun to play. At least the controls weren't complete shit on that one, and the puzzles were much more forgiving than in the first two games. At least you didn't have to restart the whole fking game because you missed a clue or a goddamn key that you had to pick up at the beginning of the game. But I agree with the first two games. They are pretty bad.

26 March 2011, 11:33	#14
Bloodwych Moderator Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: I'm behind you! Posts: 3,763	That game badly required a code system, where you get a code for reaching certain points in the game so you could continue. Playing the same bit over and over and over got old. I do admit however booting it up loads just for the sound and graphics.

26 March 2011, 12:42	#15
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,790	What about the other conversion of SOTB II like FM Towns and MegaCD -you think these redeam the game?

27 March 2011, 04:56	#17
desiv Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 1,770	I like all 3 games as well, even the original. Yes it's difficult, but it's more a memory/reflex game than an action game per se.. And I like those as well. I've never disliked a game just because it has patterns. I always that was just part of the game.. Then again, I like Dragon's Lair too... :-) desiv

10 July 2011, 16:19	#18
donnie Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: sthlm Posts: 226	Shadow of the beast 3 is one of the better games of its type on amiga. Holds up very well imho.

10 July 2011, 16:53	#19
mattbarton.exe Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St Cloud, MN/USA Posts: 328	I pretty much have to agree. It was one of the games you wanted to boot up to show off your Amiga to your friends. I really liked the art and the music. But the gameplay just wasn't there... I guess little has changed in the industry since then!

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