Recent reviews by Astor Reinhardt

Going to keep this short and quick.

I bought this during the summer sale for $9.74. I'm not sure it's worth that. I'd say unless you're a huge fan of Corpse Party or you REALLY want to play it on the PC, stay away. You're better off getting the 3DS version or the PSP version.

Pros:

- Text in English (no patches required)
- Sound (the PSP version with patches can sometimes have sound issues)
- Easy to play

Cons:

- Graphic bugs/errors (I had to redownload to fix most of my errors, but it was still missing some text even after redownloading it)
- Missing CG scenes (as in they're not even in the game!)
- Missing flavor text (some notes in other versions are missing here)
- Bad artwork (it's an older game so it's to be expected)
- Limited voices (oddly enough the voice acting is very spotty in this game, they'll have voices for some parts of text and others they leave unvoiced, even in the same conversation)

So not only do you have a version of the game that may or may not have bugs in it but it's missing a lot of stuff other games have in them. As I said this game is for fans, not for people trying out the series for the first time. If you are, again, go with a different version. This isn't the best version to start on.

I want to start this review off by saying I liked the game, a lot. It's beautiful looking and sounding. The story is really REALLY good. But...not $20 good.

It's a VERY short game. I finished it in 3 hours...I'm sure others could finish it faster. $20 for a 2-3 hour indie game is a lot of money to ask for something like this. I'd say it's more of a $10 game.

If anyone knows Steams rules for refunds you'll know I can't get a refund once I play over 2 hours. I kinda wish they'd increase that time limit.

I'm not saying I want the refund because the game was horrible or anything...far from it. I just think the game is overpriced for what they offer you. If it had more story, or different branching paths to change the final outcome, or even more land to explore (as it was the game felt very confined...like it wanted you to go down one path...really I tried looking, there's not many paths you can take in the game) then it MIGHT be worth $20. Or just some replayability factor, because there is 0 replayability. I played it once and that was enough...you can't change the outcome of the game at all, or effect the story in any way other then a few SLIGHT changes.

But as it stands, it's not worth it. I also have some slight issues with the game.

- Things clip/fall through the world
- The ropes can clip through the world
- You can easily get stuck on rocks
- The ending...

The first three things can be fixed with updates I suppose...but that ending...I won't spoil anything but it was a let down. But that doesn't effect my feelings on the game isn't worth the price they ask. It's just a disappointment.

I write this now with the knowledge of the Kotaku article about one of the Devs writing to someone who had the same feelings I do...that they didn't think the game was worth what they paid for it. I read the Devs response...game developing isn't easy...no job is. I get that. I still feel the same way, the price shouldn't be as high as it is.

Now...do I recommend it? Yes...if you can finish it in under 2 hours. Otherwise wait for it to go on sale for 50% off.

The game looks beautiful, but sadly it's hardly possible to play with the keyboard and mouse...so I can't play it.

If you play with a controller, then your good to go.

On the surface Shadow Warrior is very much just a mindless hack and slash with guns tossed in. But after playing it all the way through...I realized it's deeper then that. I won't say this is the best game or it had the best ending or even that while I feel it has deeper meaning to it, I don't think it's mindblowingly deep. There are much better games out there for that. But it was surprising and a little refreshing to see it all come together in the end, and it even moved me a little.

But it's not a perfect game, and I'll explain why.

Cons:

- Several times I was able to get "outside the map" into areas where the players should not be able to get to. And I wasn't even trying very hard.

- In some of the earlier levels (I didn't see it much in the later levels) the bamboo was floating off the ground. That just looks messy and unfinished. Not something that should be in a finished game.

- I had some audio glitches in one of the last levels. No idea why.

- Some of the "boss battles" in the later stages were pure BS. A constant gang bang of demons? Seriously? I get that it's trying to give you a "challange" but it was just lazy. It was unfair and made me almost want to quit the game and stop playing.

- The story had some flaws, like why did Zilla do it.

Now for the pros.

Pros:

- Lots of fun humor

- TONS of easter eggs and nods to the classic game

- Hoji is very funny

- The cutscenes were beautiful

- Some of the levels in this game are breath takingly stunning

- The story was really good (but it had it's flaws...)


I'd say it's a good game for people who want to hack and slash through demon scum with lots of blood and body parts flying while in some stereotypical Asian settings (temples, dojos and so on...). But I'd also say get it on sale because it has some bugs and glitches that should not be in a finished game.