PLATFORM: PC, PS4, XBOX ONE/SERIES (REVIEWED), SWITCH | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Continuing their mission to revive lost and forgotten titles, Nightdive Sudios have turned their attention to Shadow Man, a 1999 videogame adaptation of Valiant’s 1992 comic book series. The popularity of the comic saw the game sell over a million copies at the time of its original release, finding particular success on the N64 as it became one of the very few M-rated titles available for the console. Despite its big sales, Shadow Man has largely faded into obscurity over the years, and these days it’s little more than an obscure footnote in the gargantuan library of retro relics.
A huge non-linear adventure that’s part Tomb Raider, part Legend of Zelda and part 80s kids TV show Knightmare all mixed together and boasting a rather unique gothic cajun voodoo vibe, players take the role of Michael LeRoi, the Shadow Man himself, the only person who can cross between life and death. With help from a voodoo priestess and a talking Irish skeleton snake (yep), he’s trying to track down his dead brother while also dealing with a monstrous demon hell-bent on taking over the world of the living with his band of maniacal (and deceased) serial killers. If you’re looking for something with an absolutely mind-bending mental story, Shadow Man is definitely where it’s at.
Kicking off in a hazy Louisiana swamp, you’ll travel to various locations across Liveside and Deadside in search of souls which improve Shadow Man’s strength and also grant access to Shadow Gates, behind which lie useful items and entrances to new areas. Playing like a sort of early 3D Metroidvania, you’ll be doing a lot of backtracking as you gain new abilities throughout the game that allow you to reach previously closed-off areas. There’s no in-game map or any sort of handholding to guide you around this expansive world, so there’s a strong chance that a lot of your time will be spent wandering around wondering where to go or what to do next. Its non-linear design means that it isn’t a straightforward game to play through – you definitely need a lot of patience and a willingness to explore, but you’ll be handsomely rewarded with a bizarre and eccentric yet also extremely enjoyable adventure full of spooky environments, gruesome events and grotesque enemies. If nothing else, the sights and sounds of the “Playroom” area will stick with you for a long time afterwards.
Nightdive Studios are known for their amount of care and attention to detail they put into their remasters, and this is no exception. Textures have been remade in full 4K HD, new lighting effects have been added, content that was cut from the original release has been finished and slotted back into the game, the soundtrack has been remastered by the original composer and controls have been altered to make Shadow Man easier to manoeuvre. Sure, you’re still looking at a 20 year old game and the graphical and gameplay limitations and game design sensibilities of this more primitive era can still be seen at almost every turn, but Nightdive’s attempt to utilise modern technology to create an updated and much more playable version of the game, free of the technical restrictions of older hardware, has definitely been a success. Just make sure you’ve got a walkthrough guide handy. You’re going to need it…
