Top 10 Games of 2009 - 2. Shadow Complex (Xbox Live Arcade)
by transience
I can't really think of a more loved game than Super Metroid. It gets so much critical praise and its fanbase -- myself included -- just gushes about it. Super Metroid does so many things right, things that both defined a genre and showed how effectively you could set up an atmosphere and a narrative without a second of dialogue or interaction. That's what makes it so great. So when you set out...
I can't really think of a more loved game than Super Metroid. It gets so much critical praise and its fanbase -- myself included -- just gushes about it. Super Metroid does so many things right, things that both defined a genre and showed how effectively you could set up an atmosphere and a narrative without a second of dialogue or interaction. That's what makes it so great.
So when you set out to recreate an absolute classic and the first words out of your mouth are "I want to make a next-gen Super Metroid", you better know what makes it tick. And for the most part, Shadow Complex gets it. It takes the Super Metroid formula and pushes it into 2009. It's basically a 2d Gears of War with a Super Metroid map. You've got grenades, cover, and even a small bit of stealth. You've got autosaving and checkpoints. You've got a couple of 3d sequences.
With a couple of notable exceptions, Shadow Complex blends the old and the new well. The 3d sequences kinda suck and shooting into the background was a bad design decision, but it works all right once you stop fighting it. Aiming is a nice touch that gives Shadow Complex more depth than the simple shooting mechanics of Super Metroid. The powerups here are good, though a bit uninspired. You've got your speed booster. You've got your Ice Beam. You've got missiles that you can use to open red doors. Any huge Super Metroid fan plays this and gets a huge rush at being able to explore a big map on a console for the first time in who knows how long. Shadow Complex is a great throwback.
The best thing about the game is how addictive it is. Once you get going, it's really hard to put this game down. There just never seems like a good spot to stop. The entire middle of the game flows together really well. I can't praise this enough: Shadow Complex is just damn fun to play.
Despite this, the game has loads of issues. Some are just minor quips about how the character controls. You can't shoot very well in mid-air. The game can be glitchy or perfect depending on the day. The difficulty curve is kind of backwards, with enemies doing good damage to you early and no damage late. This was a problem with Super Metroid as well though - by the end, regular enemies were just not going to phase you whatsoever. Boss fights are really not that interesting, with most just being massive mechs or some random armoured soldier.
The biggest problem is the narrative which is just terrible. It isn't even that the cutscenes are bad -- which they are -- but it completely contrasts with the style of the game. Super Metroid was atmospheric; Shadow Complex is generic. There's very little music as well, mostly sticking for sound effects or a quick tense song when something big is going on. As far as aesthetics go, Shadow Complex is not too great.
But it's still a fantastic attempt at a Super Metroid. It has the scope and the scale that portable versions lack. It has its heart in the right place. It's a formula that is among my favourites in video games. The inevitable sequel should hopefully clean up some of the rough spots since the core is really a fantastic game. As far as XBLA games go, this is a clear step above what you usually see on the platform and something that could have been sold at retail.