Customer Reviews

Shadow Man

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I bought this game on the faith that it just might be of the graphic caliber of SoulReaver. Imagine my dismay when I actually saw it. My first instinct was to snap the disc in half, my second to return it. The graphics are boxy, flat and pixilated, the movements hardly refined and the transitions horrid. I would suggest you buy SoulReaver instead. Now that is a prime example of what can be done for the Playstation. Whatever you do, do NOT get this game for PSX.

When I first shelled out the 60 bucks for the Nintendo 64 version of this game I was a bit skeptical. The box made it look good, but I had been disappointed recently by Castlevania 64 and Superman (64). But this game really kicks butt!

Fans of Zelda 64 and Super Mario 64 will love this game, as I did. The game is very non-linear. In other words, you have no set goals at first, just freedom to roam around, searching for items and wasting freakies. The bad guys are pretty cool looking and at one point in time, when I was playing alone in the dark, I actually became scared! What fun!

Definitely get this game because it is well worth the money and will take you a while to beat. I bought a hint book and it's still taken me over 20 hours!

I had played this game before on the Nintendo 64. I am currently going back and getting some of my old school favorites. This is one of those games.

Thank you to the seller who sent this to me quick.

Very strange and gloomy, and very complex 3d environments. The exploration amongst this crazy world is also very complex and intricate as you find cadeau that look like strange red peppers that will give you later use as you insert them into the slots of special consoles of some kind that you later find in such a complex world with the weirdest looking goons that you will come across. This game is alot like Legacy of Kain but more freaky and dark-like as you find evil dark souls hidden within govi objects and giant goons, and hunt down bad serial killers. And if that wasn't enough, there are many areas of the very weird and unique environments that you are not able to pass yet, such as hot burning coals as ground, bloody waterfalls outdoors and in condemned houses(yes you heard me right), deep acid water, rock barriors,etc, but once you find a certain artifact you will gain powers to allow to walk on the hot coals, swim in deep acid water and break rock barriors to go to new areas. This game is just breath taken and one of my favorites along with Shadowman 2econd coming on PS2, I love both of them.

Okay, I was about thirteen and a friend of my mother had this game. I watched him play for hours and I realized I really wanted the game. After constant pestering (I was a kid) he gave it to me.
Now, over seven years later, it is still my favorite game... But there are problems.

Do NOT get the PSX version of this game. it is by far the worst version. I would recommend, since I own (and only bought n64 and Dreamcast for this title) the Dreamcast version, considering the n64 has a few things missing.

The reason the PSX version is so bad, well... reasons:

1. Terribly converted graphics - It's like playing an original Nintendo, only worse because it is supposed to be 3D.

2. Terrible controls - This is the only version that suffers from the control factor. You have to execute your jumps perfectly, there is no grace point. It's like Tomb Raider II, only worse... a lot worse. Not to mention, then you're strafing, sometimes he will get locked in the motion and fall into lava or something.

3. Extreme load times - Ok, so I know the levels are massive (taking about 4 to 5 hours a pop once the game really steps up) but I timed the load length once and clocked a 1:36 second load for one of the smallest levels in the game (Mordant Street, NY).

and... get ready.

4. There are a lot of things amended from this version. Little things that don't really matter (Mike's glasses, One-liners from Jaunty and Netty when you're not engaged in a cutscene, little decorative trinkets here and there) to things that are very important (I've beaten this game about thirty times, with a guide, and there are not 120 dark souls in the game each time [sometimes there are a few that fail to load I guess, yet load other times]). Not to mention the Book of Shadows is way different. The Book of Shadows in the n64 version gave you cheats you unlocked by exploring a 'secret' area (Like the second Altar of the Loa), but not only does the PSX version NOT have the secret codes, instead of a second Violator (bad-*** arm mounted machine gun) that you find at the very first bloodfall in Deadside, you get a book 'called' the Book of Shadows that just has artwork and a terrible poem.

Either way, this is an amazing game, most people that hated it were unfortunate enough to only play this version and not try a better one (Who could blame them), and the others that hated it aren't into the deep adventure games. This game will make you very angry more than a few times, but there is not a good game made that doesn't frustrate you. Where's the fun in that?

If you're still skeptical, look at YouTube for Shadow Man videos, and read my Dreamcast review. It will actually explain this game as opposed to reasons not to buy it.

Thank you.

Shadow Man on its own is an awesome adventure game with nonlinear exploration and a dark and twisted plot that becomes more and more interesting as you progress.

HOWEVER-and that's a very BIG however, DO NOT buy this game for the playstation. The graphics are horrible! The textures and pixels block together in a muddy picture that will make you squint after about 3 minutes of gameplay. On top of that, the framerate is bearable at some moments, but more often you'll find yourself straining to see what's happening as you move in what looks like a slideshow.

The controls work well, and it's still a good game, but the bottom line is if you get the playstation version of Shadow Man you will most likely be very dissapointed because of the nightmarish graphics.

If you're willing to risk your money on it though, Shadow Man is a deeply involving adventure that is vaguely based on the original comic books. Acclaim significantly changed the whole look and feel of the franchise, making it much darker and creepier. Even on the playstation, the ambient ghoul-filled areas you explore can become uniquely hellish and terrifying. There are so few action-adventure games out there like this one.

You travel through the pre-apocalyptic world of the living and the demon-infested wasteland of the dead from a camera that follows behind the character. You can rotate the camera at 90 degree intervals which can feel complicated at first, but it is necessary for surviving certain dangerous traps. (getting the right angles).

There is also a lot of item-collection, but it doesn't feel tedious and the rewards are worth it. Over time you gain new abilities as you overcome several challenges and dangerous quests in the other-worldly temples of Deadside, the world of the dead.

The combat may take some getting used to, and on the playstation I'm not sure it can ever feel smooth or fun. It's all shooter-based fighting, with either an assortment of guns or magical weapons that shoot fire and energy to damage your foes. Shadow Man can hold two guns at once, and I found the ambidextrous usage of weapons to be effective and simple enough to get used to. Imagine the dual-wielding you get in Halo 2, except you change your weapons in an inventory menu but you draw them in real time. There is no strafing with the default controls, but when you lock onto your enemies with the target system you can circle-strafe to avoid projectiles.

Shadow Man is an incredible and uniquely thrilling adventure that you definetely don't want to miss out on. But as I said before, if you want the actual experience, get the Dreamcast or Nintendo 64 version. DO NOT BUY THIS GAME FOR THE PLAYSTATION!

This game has a great story line which has good graphics and sound effects.The voice acting and game play are great.The game will last you 70 to 80 hours of game play.It is a very fun game to play and for the price you pay for this game is worth buying and is one of the scariest game you will ever play.

I love this game, the plot is cool, the levels get harder, and there are still games out there that make you think. I have a strategy guide and the game is still hard at times.....Great, what gaming is all about

This game is the coolest game of 1999. You get to kill horrific ghouls and goblins while still having to solve puzzles. It is not a game you can just rent and conquer either. It takes a lot of time. So it is even better when you conquer it.

This game was a bit of a disappointment. The Shadowman comic book series was a well-done piece of work, but this game smacks of a cheap imitation of Soul Reaver. The cutscenes are interesting and the game concept is good, but the gameplay and graphics are choppy.