Shadow Man (video game)
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Short description|1999 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Shadow Man
| image = Shadow Man video game cover.jpg
| developer = Acclaim Studios Teesside
Nightdive Studios (remaster)
| publisher = Acclaim Entertainment
Nightdive Studios (remaster)
| director =
| producer =
| designer = Guy Miller
Simon Phipps
| programmer =
| artist =
| writer =
| composer = Tim Haywood
| engine = KEX Engine (remaster)
| series = Shadowman
| platforms = Windows, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Dreamcast, OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
| released = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|August 31, 1999}}|Windows, Nintendo 64, PlayStation|{{vgrelease|NA|August 31, 1999{{cite web |url=http://www.acclaim.com/company/pressReleases/product/ShadowmanShips.html |title=There's a Darkness Coming: Acclaim's Shadow Man In Stores Today |website=Acclaim Entertainment |date=August 31, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040826000805/http://www.acclaim.com/company/pressReleases/product/ShadowmanShips.html |archive-date=August 26, 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 11, 2020}}|EU|September 3, 1999{{cite magazine |author=NOM staff |url=https://archive.org/details/NintendoOfficialMagazine084TGMG/page/n19/mode/2up |title=Shadow Man |magazine=Nintendo Official Magazine |publisher=EMAP |issue=84 |date=September 1999 |pages=20–24}}}}|Dreamcast|{{vgrelease|NA|December 1, 1999{{cite web |url=http://www.acclaim.com/company/pressReleases/product/ShadowmanDCShips.html |title=The Darkness Is Coming To Sega Dreamcast*: Acclaim's Shadow Man Makes Its Bloodcurdling Debut |website=Acclaim Entertainment |date=December 1, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040825233153/http://www.acclaim.com/company/pressReleases/product/ShadowmanDCShips.html |archive-date=August 25, 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 11, 2020}}|EU|January 14, 2000{{Cite web |date= |title=Shadow Man |url=http://www.chipsworld.co.uk/detProd.asp?ProductCode=1331 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010529105728/http://www.chipsworld.co.uk/detProd.asp?ProductCode=1331 |archive-date=May 29, 2001 |access-date=January 18, 2024 |website=Chipsworld}}}}|OS X|October 18, 2013}}Remastered{{collapsible list|title={{nobold|April 15, 2021}}|Windows|April 15, 2021|PlayStation 4, Xbox One|January 13, 2022|Nintendo Switch|January 17, 2022}}
| genre = Action-adventure
| modes = Single-player
}}
Shadow Man is an action-adventure video game developed by Acclaim Studios Teesside and published by Acclaim Entertainment. It is based on the Shadow Man comic book series published by Valiant Comics. The game was announced in 1997 and was originally slated for a late 1998 release on Nintendo 64{{cite magazine |author= |title=It's grim up north |url=http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-477-19.jpg |magazine=Nintendo 64 |date=September 1997 |access-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-date=April 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416075412/https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-477-19.jpg |url-status=live }} and an early 1999 release for Microsoft Windows,{{cite web |last=Cove |first=Glen |date=June 15, 1998 |url=http://www.acclaim.com/company/pressReleases/product/Shadowman.html |title=Shadow Man |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040826000500/http://www.acclaim.com/company/pressReleases/product/Shadowman.html |archive-date=August 26, 2004 |url-status=dead}} but was delayed to August 31, 1999. A PlayStation version was also released on the same day. A Dreamcast version was released three months later on December 1.
Shadow Man was re-released on September 17, 2013, on GOG.com,{{cite web |last=Sunu |first=Steve |url=https://www.cbr.com/shadow-man-game-returns-with-digital-distribution/ |title='Shadow Man' game returns with digital distribution |website=Comic Book Resources |publisher=Valnet Inc. |date=September 17, 2013 |access-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-date=April 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416075331/https://www.cbr.com/shadow-man-game-returns-with-digital-distribution/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gog.com/news/release_shadow_man |title=Release: Shadow Man |website=GOG.com |publisher=CD Projekt |date=September 16, 2013 |access-date=October 19, 2013 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125145810/https://www.gog.com/news/release_shadow_man |url-status=live }} available for Windows{{cite web |url=https://www.gog.com/game/shadow_man |title=Shadow Man |website=GOG.com |publisher=CD Projekt |access-date=November 17, 2013 |archive-date=April 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406062445/https://www.gog.com/game/shadow_man |url-status=live }} (with a version for Mac OS X subsequently added),{{cite web |url=https://www.gog.com/news/bonus_more_mac_games_on_gogcom |title=Mac Game Update: 34 New Additions |website=GOG.com |publisher=CD Projekt |date=November 15, 2013 |access-date=December 26, 2013 |archive-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227063530/https://www.gog.com/news/bonus_more_mac_games_on_gogcom |url-status=live }} and later on Steam, available for Windows and OS X.{{cite web |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/251770/ |title=Shadow Man |website=Steam |publisher=Valve Corporation |access-date=October 19, 2013 |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208180653/https://store.steampowered.com/app/251770/ |url-status=live }}
Nightdive Studios, who re-released Shadow Man in 2013, developed Shadow Man Remastered, a remastered version of the game which includes 4K resolution, improved shadow mapping, per-pixel lighting, anti-aliasing and missing content that was cut from the original game. The game was released for Microsoft Windows on April 15, 2021, while the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One ports were released on January 13, 2022, and the Nintendo Switch port on January 17, 2022.{{cite web |last=Wales |first=Matt |date=March 24, 2021 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-03-23-nightdives-shadow-man-remaster-gets-april-release-date-on-pc |title=Shadow Man: Remastered is out today, so enjoy this weird launch trailer |website=PC Gamer |accessdate=March 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113174444/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-03-23-nightdives-shadow-man-remaster-gets-april-release-date-on-pc |url-status=live }} The original game was also re-released on the Nintendo Classics service via the Mature 17+ app on October 28, 2024.{{cite news |title=Shadow Man & Turok 2: Seeds of Evil added to Switch Online today |url=https://gonintendo.com/contents/42103-shadow-man-turok-2-seeds-of-evil-added-to-switch-online-today |access-date=October 29, 2024 |work=GoNintendo |date=October 29, 2024 |language=en}}
A sequel, Shadow Man: 2econd Coming, was released for PlayStation 2 in 2002.
Another game starring Jack Boniface, Shadowman: Darque Legacy, has recently been announced.{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/05/shadowman-darque-legacy-announced-for-ps5-xbox-series-and-pc|title=SHADOWMAN: Darque Legacy announced for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC|last=Romano|first=Sal|website=Gematsu|date=May 4, 2023|access-date=April 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507030507/https://www.gematsu.com/2023/05/shadowman-darque-legacy-announced-for-ps5-xbox-series-and-pc|archive-date=May 7, 2023}}
Gameplay
Plot
In 1888, Jack the Ripper – lamenting the fact that his ritualistic murders have not unlocked a mystical power that he believes to exist – prepares to perform the ritual upon himself at the expense of his own life. A man named Legion appears and tells Jack that the power he seeks does exist and offers to share this power with him if Jack constructs an insane asylum for like-minded killers in Deadside – the land of the dead. Proclaiming "for we are many!", Jack commits suicide.
In the present day, Michael LeRoi becomes the current Shadow Man – a lineage of voodoo warriors who protect the world of the living (known as Liveside) from threats crossing over from Deadside – after the voodoo priestess Mama Nettie bonds the Mask of Shadows to him. Nettie has a prophetic dream that Legion is preparing to usher in the Apocalypse by claiming the Dark Souls – the immortal souls of damned warriors – and using them to create an immortal army and send it into Liveside. Nettie reveals that Michael cannot stop the Five, a group of serial killers recruited by Legion, without his powers. The Five, who each have a Dark Soul within them, are hiding in Liveside, where Michael's powers do not work during the day. Michael travels to Deadside with the use of his dead brother's teddy bear, which serves as a link between both worlds.
After collecting all of the Dark Souls in Deadside and passing trials set by the gods of Deadside, Michael assembles a magic knife called the Eclipser. Returning to Liveside, Nettie uses the Eclipser to trigger an eclipse, which enables Michael to become the Shadow Man in Liveside. The ritual drains Nettie of her powers and causes her to go into a deep sleep.
Michael returns to Deadside and finds the Asylum as well as the Dark Engine which powers it. Michael finds his long-dead brother Luke within the Dark Engine along with several paths to Liveside which lead to the hiding places of the Five. Michael defeats the Five and claims each of their souls in the process. During this time, Michael finds Jack the Ripper's diary, which contains instructions on how to shut down the Engine. Michael returns to Deadside and shuts down the Engine, giving Luke his teddy bear back. Luke reveals himself to be Legion in disguise.
Legion reveals that he sent Nettie the dream so that Michael would be forced to collect all of the Dark Souls and confront Legion, enabling Legion to claim all of the souls at once and use them to power the Engine, creating his army and sending it into Liveside. After an intense battle, Michael gives Legion all of the souls, whose combined power overwhelms Legion and kills him, destroying the Asylum as well. However, Michael is now stranded in Deadside but embraces his position as lord of Deadside.
Development
Acclaim Studios Teesside began by creating the game engine, with no specific concept in mind. Acclaim Entertainment then offered them about eight comic book series to create a game from, and the developers chose Shadow Man.{{cite magazine |title=NG Alphas: Shadow Man |magazine=Next Generation|issue=38|publisher=Imagine Media |date=February 1998|pages=66–69}}
The game's development budget was more than $6 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93946368/newsday/|title=Shadowman, the Film?|newspaper=Newsday|page=59|date=August 20, 1999|accessdate=February 1, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
The developers drew heavily on the decaying industrial structures which littered Northeast England (where Acclaim Studios Teesside was headquartered) for the design of Deadside. Asylum headquarters's design was based on Pieter Bruegel the Elder's painting The Tower of Babel.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| SDC = true
| N64 = true
| PC = true
| PS = true
| na = true
| GR_SDC = 76%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/198600-shadow-man/index.html |title=Shadow Man for Dreamcast |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505090137/https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/198600-shadow-man/index.html |archive-date=May 5, 2019 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 13, 2020}}
| CGW_PC = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Nguyen |first=Thierry |url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_184.pdf |title=Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (Shadow Man Review) |magazine=Computer Gaming World |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=184 |date=November 1999 |page=144 |access-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207112206/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_184.pdf |url-status=live }}
| EGM_SDC = 8/10{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/3/37/EGM_US_127.pdf |title=Shadow Man (DC) |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=127 |date=February 2000 |page=176 |access-date=September 28, 2022 |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316080953/https://retrocdn.net/images/3/37/EGM_US_127.pdf |url-status=live }}
| EGM_N64 = 8/10{{cite magazine |last1=Smith |first1=Shawn |last2=Davison |first2=John |last3=Johnston |first3=Chris |last4=Chou |first4=Che |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d6/EGM_US_123.pdf |title=Shadow Man (N64) |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=123 |date=October 1999 |page=222 |access-date=September 28, 2022 |archive-date=November 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129194923/https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d6/EGM_US_123.pdf |url-status=live }}{{efn|In Electronic Gaming Monthly{{'}}s review of the Nintendo 64 version, one critic gave it 9/10, two gave it each a score of 8/10, and another gave it 7/10.}}
| EuroG_PC = 7/10{{cite web |last=Bye |first=John "Gestalt" |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/shadowman |title=Shadow Man (PC) |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |date=September 30, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816031352/http://www.eurogamer.net/content/shadowman |archive-date=August 16, 2000 |url-status=live |access-date=March 6, 2016}}
| GI_SDC = 7.75/10{{cite magazine |last=McNamara |first=Andy |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=3373 |title=Shadowman [sic] - Dreamcast |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=82 |date=February 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001202114600/http://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=3373 |archive-date=December 2, 2000 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 6, 2016}}
| GameFan_N64 = 74%{{cite magazine |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Tyrone "Cerberus" |last2=Chau |first2=Anthony "Dangohead" |last3=Mylonas |first3=Eric "ECM" |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_7_Issue_10/page/n17/mode/2up |title=Shadowman [sic] (N64) |magazine=GameFan |publisher=Shinno Media |volume=7 |issue=10 |date=October 1999 |page=17 |access-date=November 13, 2020}}{{efn|In GameFan{{'}}s viewpoint of the Nintendo 64 version, three critics gave it each a score of 75, 77, and 70.}}
| GamePro_SDC = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |author=Scary Larry |url=http://gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/4815.shtml |title=Shadow Man Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Entertainment |date=February 27, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209090307/http://gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/4815.shtml |archive-date=February 9, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 6, 2016}}
| GamePro_N64 = (FED) 4.5/5{{cite magazine |author=Four-Eyed Dragon |url=http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-1666-120.jpg |title=Shadow Man (N64) |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Entertainment |issue=133 |date=October 1999 |page=118 |access-date=November 14, 2020}}
(U.D.) 4/5{{cite magazine |author=Uncle Dust |url=http://gamepro.com/nintendo/n64/games/reviews/1409.shtml |title=Shadow Man Review for N64 on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Entertainment |date=September 25, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050213233826/http://gamepro.com/nintendo/n64/games/reviews/1409.shtml |archive-date=February 13, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 6, 2016}}
| GameRev_SDC = B−{{cite web |last=Liu |first=Johnny |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32234-shadowman-review |title=Shadowman [sic] Review (DC) |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |date=December 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912073429/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/shadowman |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=November 13, 2020}}
| NGen_N64 = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen59Nov1999/page/n119/mode/2up |title=Shadow Man (N64) |last=Trueman |first=Doug |magazine=NextGen |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=59 |date=November 1999 |page=117 |access-date=November 13, 2020}}
| NP_N64 = 8.3/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-366-141.jpg |title=Shadow Man |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo of America |volume=124 |date=September 1999 |page=141 |access-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-date=April 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416075352/https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-366-141.jpg |url-status=live }}
| OPM_PS = {{Rating|1.5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Rybicki |first=Joe |url=https://archive.org/details/Official_US_PlayStation_Magazine_Volume_3_Issue_3_1999-12_Ziff_Davis_US/page/n165/mode/2up |title=Shadow Man |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |volume=3 |issue=3 |date=December 1999 |page=171 |access-date=November 13, 2020}}
| PCA_PC = 8/10{{cite magazine |last=Osborn |first=Chuck |url=https://archive.org/details/PCXL14Oct1999/page/n99/mode/2up |title=Shadow Man |magazine=PC Accelerator |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=14 |date=October 1999 |page=100 |access-date=February 21, 2021}}
| PCGUS_PC = 74%{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/shadow_man.html |title=Shadow Man |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Imagine Media |year=1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315135529/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/shadow_man.html |archive-date=March 15, 2006 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 6, 2016}}
}}
The Dreamcast, PC and N64 versions of Shadow Man received favorable reviews, while the PlayStation version received mixed to negative reviews, according to video game review aggregator GameRankings. Alan Lackey of Computer Games Strategy Plus gave the PC version four-and-a-half stars out of five, calling it "an example of how [integration and manipulation of the gamer's emotion] can be done successfully. Shadow Man is graphically rich and emotionally binding. Top it off with an excellent storyline and superb gameplay and you have a game that you must experience to truly appreciate."{{cite web |last=Lackey |first=Alan |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/022/068/shadowman_review.html |title=Shadow Man |website=Computer Games Strategy Plus |publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. |date=August 23, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030530104334/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/022/068/shadowman_review.html |archive-date=May 30, 2003 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 13, 2020}} Edge gave the same PC version eight out of ten, saying: "Shadow Man, near-peerlessly expansive in size and demands on player time, is a child of both eras, comprising the best and worst of each."{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |url=https://archive.org/details/edgeuk076/page/n71/mode/2up |title=Shadow Man (PC) |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=76 |date=October 1999 |pages=88–89 |access-date=November 13, 2020}}
Damien Thorpe of AllGame gave the Dreamcast version four stars out of five, saying: "Shadow Man is lengthy and difficult, and can cause you some frustration, but if you're not interested in completing it the first week that you have it, then it can also reward you with hours of enjoyable and challenging gameplay."{{cite web |last=Thorpe |first=Damien |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=20161&tab=review |title=Shadow Man (DC) - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115212032/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=20161&tab=review |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 6, 2016}} Likewise, Jason White gave the PlayStation version the same score of four stars, saying: "While this game is very challenging, it's not the kind of challenge that will make you put your foot through the TV. If you're a fan of the horror or comic book genre, Shadow Man is a must have."{{cite web |last=White |first=Jason |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19220&tab=review |title=Shadow Man (PS) - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116022602/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19220&tab=review |archive-date=November 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 6, 2016}} However, Anthony Baize gave the PC version three-and-a-half stars out of five, calling it "a good game that can get bogged down as any complex game can. Its replay value is very high, because there is a plethora of hidden goodies waiting to be found. If I keep attacking Shadow Man in small chunks, I might just solve it. For now, I am satisfied running, searching, and shooting."{{cite web |last=Baize |first=Anthony |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19273&tab=review |title=Shadow Man (PC) - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116105757/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19273&tab=review |archive-date=November 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 6, 2016}} PlanetDreamcast gave the Dreamcast version 6.5 out of 10, saying that it "offers a good filler game until the next batch of games hits your local store."{{cite web |author=Gameslave |url=http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/shadowman/ |title=Shadow Man |website=PlanetDreamcast |publisher=IGN Entertainment |date=February 24, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131132126/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/shadowman/ |archive-date=January 31, 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 6, 2016}}
Jes Bickham of N64 Magazine gave the Nintendo 64 version 93%, calling it "a dark and glittering jewel in the N64's gaudy crown. Open the door, step into the night, and revel in its bloody charms. You won't be disappointed."{{cite magazine |last=Bickham |first=Jes |title=Shadowman [sic] |magazine=N64 Magazine |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=32 |date=September 1999 |pages=46–55}} Dan Toose of Hyper gave the same console version 90%, calling it "a refreshing breath of stale air with the sweet smell of decay thrown in."{{cite magazine |last=Toose |first=Dan |title=Shadow Man (N64) |magazine=Hyper |publisher=Next Media Pty Ltd |issue=71 |date=September 1999 |pages=64–67}} However, Doug Trueman of NextGen called the same console version "a well-intentioned misfire".
{{clear}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/shadow-man}}
{{Jack the Ripper media}}
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