Shadow of the Beast (TurboGrafx-CD) Playthrough - NintendoComplete
Vložit
- čas přidán 8. 12. 2021
- A playthrough of NEC's 1992 action-platformer for the TurboGrafx-CD, Shadow of the Beast.
Shadow of the Beast was a 1989 game originally created for the Commodore Amiga, and it was an early effort by Reflections Interactive, who would later go on to develop games in the Destruction Derby and Driver series before eventually being folded into Ubisoft in the late 2000s.
The game was ported to several computer and console platforms in the early 1990s, the most well-known perhaps being the Sega Genesis version ( • Shadow of the Beast (G... ). It was quite an advanced game for its time, though, designed specifically to exploit the abilities of the Amiga's hardware. The console versions had to be scaled back somewhat as a result, but if you didn't have an Amiga A500 computer, the TurboGrafx-CD version arguably provided the best way to experience Shadow of the Beast.
Shadow of the Beast is a simple game at heart. It's a 2D platformer that rarely asks you to do more than punch enemies and climb ladders. There are a few small self-contained areas (the well and the castle) to be explored, each capped with a boss, and these are connected by linear corridors (the forest and the jetpack stages) that act as transitions between them. The goal of the adventure is to defeat the titular beast and to step out from beneath its shadow.
Purposely designed to be as challenging as possible, the Amiga game is indeed renowned for its difficulty level. The controls are stiff, the swarms of enemies are relentless, and cheap hits come fast and often. It's a short game, but it's one that forces you to work hard for its ending.
The TurboGrafx port, handled by DMA Designs (now known as Rockstar), is a thoroughly excellent effort. It smooths out some of the frustrating mechanics of the original: the controls are snappy and precise, the enemy respawn rate has been reduced dramatically, and the options menu allows you to choose how many lives and credits you begin the game with. These simple tweaks make this version of the game more approachable and fun than the Amiga game or its Genesis conversion.
The graphics are excellent despite some of the compromises that had to be made. The Amiga version used up to twelve layers of parallax scrolling to create its stunning backdrops. The effect has been cut back for the Turbo's hardware, but the visuals are still pretty impressive in motion and benefit from the Turbo's huge color palette. The enemies are big and pack a lot of detail (especially those bosses!), the scrolling is liquid smooth, there's no slowdown, and instances of sprite-flicker are rare and brief.
This version of the game includes a few FMV cutscenes to help flesh out the story, and the soundtrack is comprised of an incredible collection of CD remixes of David Whittaker's original Amiga tunes. The gameplay demo theme, especially, is out-f'ing-standing.
I've always enjoyed Shadow of the Beast in any form. Even when it was brand new the gameplay felt dated, but it has so much character that I never really minded, and for me, the TurboGrafx-CD port's improvements have made it my preferred way enjoy the game for many years now.
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games! - Hry
The Turbo Super CD version of Shadow of the Beast is my favorite way to play the game, and that soundtrack is pure gold.
Beauty Isn't it mates?
I just love that they used kettle drums instead of toms (or at least that's how it sounds)
I didn't even know this port existed and it's amazing! For some things that it loses in the transition, it gains many others like those short yet amazingly produced cutscenes, an improved player character (smooth animation, walking sounds) and a superb soundtrack. The core game is still the same and far from amazing but the job they did to improve on it is.
Makes me think of an alternate timeline where more Amiga games had this treatment.
I remember seeing screenshots of this game when I was 12 years old and being completely blown away. 😆
Great game, fantastic atmosphere. Only tried it on the Amiga, but this looks better.
This version is probably the best way to play "Shadow of the Beast." While it may not look _quite_ as good as the original Amiga version, it's still a good looking game and that character animation is buttery smooth. The FMVs are cool and describe the plot in greater detail than any other version, this port actually seems to be properly optimized - unlike the Genesis version - and the soundtrack is awesome. I'd argue that it even beats the Amiga OST.
There's actually quite a bit more color/shades in this PCE version, which I think stands out more than the reduced or missing parallax. There are enemies in the original that are straight up monochrome 3 and 4 color. It's very noticeable IMO.
It plays much better...
This game is so atmospheric it hurts. I love the soundtrack to the game, it really did justice to the original version on the Amiga, and the extra cutscenes do make the narrative make a bit more sense (but I still question just WHY the protagonist was attacked and transformed, was this magic? Was he dreaming?) but at any rate the game is so weird and yet wonderful.
atmospheric wise is much better on the Amiga original, but they fixed most of the gameplay issues that was in the Amiga original in this great playable port. One thing im did do newer liked in the Amiga version is the turning animation that slow down the game (why?), and require tight timing. Here that issue is fixed and is spot on in this version, so its much easier to attack enemies behind you. C64 version is also a great version.
There's something weirdly extra unsettling about those primitive graphics in the cutscenes, reminds me of Waxworks or DarkSeed
Waxworks is undoubtedly one of my favourite games. I remember buying the big box version for the Amiga and was immediately blown away (apart from the Egyptian level which had some horrendous puzzle elements).
Gotta love that sepia tone that compensates for the low color depth, eh?
@@NintendoComplete like the fog in Silent Hill, the workaround to overcome technological limitations of the platform serendipitously improve the atmosphere
@@martinljones9875 the Egyptian level was downright unfair but didn't compare to the absurd difficulty of the plant stage
Wait. DMA Design?
*ROCKSTAR NORTH* helped with the TurboGrafx version!?
And they used the main character's fully human form from the third game retroactively for the first game to show his curse from the beginning? Holy shit, that's wild.
Let's take a second and reflect on what a CF the US genesis version was. Not adjusted for NTSC rates so it ran quicker than it should, no attempt at a story after the castle, and it just ended when you beat the giant foot. Seeing the ending here makes the beginning of the second far more understandable.
That is how the Amiga original ended.
@@openskiesmedia yeah, I get the feeling so much quality content was lost with each newer port of the game. I started with the genesis, so I had to go back and piece the story together from previous games and reviews. Even the Japanese mega drive version was better than the US Genesis version.
6:40 poor snail.
Holy shit! This kicks ass.
Note: to me this looks like an mix of Sega Genesis altered beast meets Forgotten Worlds gameplay wise, but that’s just me…
It's literally open world altered beast
The Genesis version already have good soundtrack, but with CD quality soundtrack in NEC? Make it perfect
Amiga ftw
This one also runs at the proper speed!
Excellent gameplay bro 😏👉👉
Never saw this version before, but I'm digging the music! It sounds way better than the Genesis soundchip.
The music in the second area (from around 2:34) seems like it was the inspiration for the upper part of KUR in Axiom Verge. I don't know why but it has the same vibe.
The soundtrack to this game is absolutely mesmerizing. How I miss this era of gaming and the music it brought with it.
Luv it
Too bad the Remake\Remaster of "Shadow of the Beast" was a PS4 Digital exclusive :/ ... they should have ported it to PC or publish it on Physical Media
This Turbo Super CD is great and I was they had done this with the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive game it would have been good if they had tweaked the gameplay along with the enemy spawns too
Shadow of the Beast might not be a very good game, but it IS one of the best games of all time
Perhaps in this version, it was all a horrific nightmare....
Don't you hate it when some weird fog creeps under your door at night and you turn into a freakish alien monster?
Happens to the best of us.
Still somewhat preferring the original soundtrack, expecially the "exploration theme".
Have you played the PS4 reboot of this game? Its not bad for a remake imo.
I haven't. I completely forgot about it tbh. Maybe I'll check it out.
@@NintendoComplete It's okay, everyone else did too.
It's too linear and the camera disorients in the rage cutscenes
Muito melhor essa versão do que a do Mega!
It looks like some of my favorite monsters were cut. The final boss is a lot lamer without his hand wielding a club.
thkd mate +1 sub
What a really short game...
Alot of games back then seemed short if you play them through perfectly.
They use save states. If you played the game it would be longer
disappointed they changed the pulse rifle sound of the rifle in the Amiga original. Other than that, all good 🙂
Press F today
F
This or amiga which is better?
This one is the best to play...on Amiga looks slightly better but it's a pain to play (without a trainer)
@@federicocatelli8785 Thank you
From gems like this to an absolute travesty remake of three GTA games. How DMA (Rockstar) has fallen.
I prefer Amiga version.
The amiga sound track is better
I don't agree with the description : ok,maybe some sprites animations are betters, but if you look to the background,it is pretty empty,a lot of details miss and this game have definitively not the atmosphere of the Amiga game. The music sounds not bad wirh the cd quality,but it seems not keep pace with the action in the game and some importants tracks are missing ( like for boss fighting). And for me,the FMV are awfulls and useless. The story told in the instruction notice with the Amiga game was quite more interesting and the cutting scenes in the Amiga game (with nice pictures and descriptions) was better for the game atmosphere again. It could have be better for a CD-ROM Nec game. For me, it's definitively not the best version of this game.
Also the story of this PC engine game is also not accurate to the Amiga storyline. The true story is about the protagonist becoming a beast to serve as a slave, and escapes his enslavement. He doesn't become a full human until the end of the second game. By the end of the first game he's a beast-human hybrid who still has an elongated skull.
@@f1uc1k1y1o1u Brits made the PCE port.. so it's canon. Can't get any more canon than that hahah
The Amiga version runs with pretty big clipped screen; 280px. You know, PCE has that same res too, and it's 344px. That would be like this PCE low res mode being clipped from 256px wide down to like 212px wide. And yet, the PCE one isn't. The PCE version also adds a lot more colors in the enemies. The Amiga original has like 3 or 4 monochrome-color enemies, and the BG layers underground have like 4 shades to them. Sure, they're dark and moody.. but that was just an Amiga gimmick/trick back in the day to make the low amount of color shades appear less granulated and coarse - quite a few Amiga games did this (I'm looking at your Chunk Rock). The Amiga original as just a glorified tech demo in the guise of a game.. it was shallow (even if pretty at the time). It didn't fool anyone. At least this version has some balancing brought back to the gameplay to make the actual game feel and play better.
The graphics and music are terrible......The genesis version was way better and it wasn't even a cd system.
Completely trash.
Tus juegos son muy aburridos jajjajajajajaj