The Cerebellum

Shadow Complex is the latest game from the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade series, and is an Xbox exclusive title. Release date: Aug 19, cost 1200 Microsoft Points, only through Xbox Live. I give it a buy, 4.5 of 5 stars.

This game takes the standard 2D side scrolling and adds a new dimension — targets down-range (which takes a bit to get used to). No load screens, which means you can travel from one side of the map to the other without the convenience of a loading screen to make a beer run. Don’t let that fool you into thinking the map is small, as you progress through and new areas open up you wonder how much more game area is there? Sometimes the size of the map can be a pain, especially with it setup so you have to go back through areas at a later time. I found myself trying to get to or on an area that is not accessible, and then finding out I need to a weapon to remove a blockade (with the flashlight on them they are orange, (gun) green, (grenades) purple, (foam) red (rockets) and blue (friction dampener).

The story goes — never-mind if you want to know about the story your not here to play an arcade game — I do recall something about the group wanting to start a civil war and attack San Francisco. The opening sequence is you controlling an operative in an armored suit — with all the weapons loaded up — which gives you a chance to get a feel for what is to come throughout the game. When the game starts in earnest, it’s you with a flashlight chasing your girlfriend into a cave, when she disappears and all you find is her backpack that’s when it gets going.

The Unreal Engine 3 game engine runs very smooth, not surprising as it is built for a 3D game and Chair puts it to great use on this scrolling platformer. The character graphics were great as you would expect from this 3D engine, with the ragdoll physics enhancing the bouncing dead bodies provided by lobbing grenades at the enemies feet.

The backgrounds were what you would expect from a side scroller, nothing to write home about, the cut scenes are rendered nicely, and move the story along. The audio pacing was good with the music matching some of the action. There were a few minor moments of clipping, but not an irritation.

The game play is fun and engaging, with not to many frustrating jump sequences. The AI is average intelligence (on normal) which leads to bots running on their paths and mostly being easy kills. About half-way through I decided to fight as many enemies with hand to hand as I could which was sweet. The full-suited boss type, are dumb and slow, it was too easy to lob grenades at their feet then back away as they try to move in close to slam the ground to attack. On hardcore the bots aim better and are stronger units, as for the boss type I’m on my second play-though, and will see if they are upgraded units.

After the credits you can restart from the climax location and return to the other areas to continue to find items, and explore the map. After completion, when you start a new game your stats and level continue on from your prior game.

Rating 4.5 of 5 stars

Here are two guides with hints and walkthroughs: Joystick has a guide and a full-marked map, IGN has a breakdown of how to get all the items.

Complaint and spoilers after the jump.

The game takes two trips through the facility to complete, on my second pass through I didn’t collect the first tool (grappling hook) so I was unable to get the others, but I was still able to complete the objectives.

Even the final battle I completed without them, maybe because the bunker has full resupply kits. The bunker also makes a perfect spot to attack the helicopters from, then go resupply, it was also a good place to hide from the big barrage from the airship. Where I hid for the first two missile strikes, on the third the airship is destroyed. Which made for an anticlimactic ending, as it was not a challenge, hopefully on hardcore, it’s not such a cake-walk.