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Post by edmonddantes on Dec 13, 2018 2:52:52 GMT -5
So lately I for some reason got randomly interested in this game. I just watched an Amiga longplay.
This game is... well, at first I wanted to call it an example of "16-Bit Dark" aesthetic that I mentioned in another topic, but in actuality, no its much closer to the Souls games, or--as one reviewer put it--like playing through a Heavy Metal album cover (whereas "16-Bit Dark" is more something like Valis where its dark-but-in-a-fun-way). Watching it now there's something fascinating about it.
I tried to play it, but... well... its a game that seems to actively hate being played. I mean: ONE LIFE. you die, you restart the entire game. It weirdly kinda reminds me of Dragon's Lair in a way--you have to do the exact right thing at the exact right time or you will die. My first attempt, I took a wrong ladder and wound up munched to death by giant grasshoppers.
All this on my quest to punch a big thing in the foot enough times.
But I'm thinking emulation for a computer I never grew up with might not be the best way to experience this game, so I'm wondering about the various ports and how they compare? The only thing I've ever heard directly is that the Sega Genesis version runs faster due to programming issues and this supposedly makes the game much harder (I dunno, it almost sounds like it could be a boon), but otherwise I haven't heard jack. Has anyone ever done an in-depth version comparison on this game?
Also apparently there was a remake on PS4. How is that?
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Post by condroid on Dec 13, 2018 5:43:17 GMT -5
The graphics of Shadow of the Beast were heavily inspired by Roger Dean's style, who also provided the cover art for the game. IIRC the original release also included a t-shirt with a similar design. The correct way to play the game today is using a trainer (comes with most cracked releases) so you can enjoy the audio and visuals while ignoring the awful game design. Purely in terms of gameplay I'd say the best (but still not great) version is actually the Lynx release. It's much more playable than most other ports but obviously also lacking the wow-factor of the Amiga original. The Genesis version was designed for PAL and was not properly adjusted for NTSC. As a result, the US release runs way too fast which makes an already pretty difficult game almost impossible to play.
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Post by ommadawnyawn2 on Dec 13, 2018 21:45:35 GMT -5
It's more prog rock and new age in style.
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Post by zaphie on Dec 14, 2018 20:39:08 GMT -5
I recommend checking out shadow of the beast on fmtowns/megacd, the added cdda is pretty amazing and heightens the experience, same with Flashback on megacd.
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Post by acidonia on Dec 15, 2018 9:29:18 GMT -5
The console versions of shadow of the beast 1 are kinda odd since all change or add stuff from the original Amiga Version for some reason.
.Japanese Megadrive version had options to start with more health,Lots of sprites are more detailed and have different brighter colour palettes,the ending is no longer a one screen wall of text like in the non Japanese megadrive version which was made before Japanese version and ties into the sequel more yet japan ever got the sequel. .Master system version has a items menu no other version does. .TG16 version had the sound track playing in a different order.It also adds some animation to the backgrounds not in any other version and changes the whole attack pattern of the final boss. .super shadow of the beast on SNES,Has 100% new sprites but less enemy types, is even harder,a new game over screen and ending,has continues but healing items do not respawn if you continue. It removes the final stage altogether and replaces it with a new one with a new final boss. .The Lynx version uses the SNES final stage and final boss.
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Post by ReyVGM on Dec 15, 2018 21:51:02 GMT -5
Never liked this game and I don't understand why it was so "popular". Bad controls, bad hit detection, bad combat, unfair gameplay.
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Post by edmonddantes on Dec 16, 2018 1:43:15 GMT -5
I recommend checking out shadow of the beast on fmtowns/megacd, the added cdda is pretty amazing and heightens the experience, same with Flashback on megacd. I actually have the PC-CD ROM version of Flashback (with the new CGI intros replacing the polygonal ones). From what I understand the main thing the Sega CD version added was background music?
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Post by zaphie on Dec 16, 2018 14:47:57 GMT -5
Yeah and if I remember correctly the ending in Sega Cd Flashback (maybe also on pc/3do) was redone as to give a tie-in to the upcoming Fade to black sequel.
What makes the sega cd version the best version is that the cdda keeps rolling during the level, on the 3do the cdda just ends and you'll have to play the rest of the level in silence.
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