Software:Shadow of the Beast (2016 video game)

From HandWiki
Shadow of the Beast
Developer(s)Heavy Spectrum Entertainment Labs[1]
XDev
Publisher(s)Sony Interactive Entertainment
Composer(s)Ian Livingstone
SeriesShadow of the Beast
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)PlayStation 4
ReleaseMay 17, 2016
Genre(s)Platform, action-adventure, hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player

Shadow of the Beast is an action-adventure game developed by Heavy Spectrum Entertainment Labs and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4 in 2016. It is a remake and re-imagining of the 1989 game of the same name.

Gameplay

Gameplay of Shadow of the Beast combines platform and action elements, with the introduction of combos. Players have to defeat enemies. This can be achieved by counter-attacking to strike them down; shield-wielding foes must be ducked behind in order to defeat them.[2] It features a traditional health bar, combos through quick time events, traps, and puzzles. The game features the parallax scrolling from the original title, using some 3D elements.[3][4]

The original Shadow of the Beast is included in the remake as an unlockable extra. An "infinite lives" mode was added to make the original game easier to play.[5]

Plot

The game follows the story of its original predecessor. Players control Aarbron, a seventh born to a seventh child, who was born so strong that Maletoth, a reaper of spirits, saw in him the potential to hold a great power. Maletoth kidnaps Aarbron. While Aarbron's mother leads the search of her son, perishing in the process, Maletoth brings Aarbron to the Gate of Souls, where he ordered the Council of Mages to corrupt Aarbron through magic. Aarbron becomes a monstrous warrior-servant manipulated by Maletoth for his quest to conquer the world.

Later, Maletoth learns of another strong child, so he commissions the mage Zelek to kidnap this child by using Aarbron. In the meanwhile, Aarbron's father had turned to the Seekers, a group of people dedicated to stopping Maletoth. The Seekers discover Maletoth's plan to kidnap this second child to replace Aarbron. The Seekers find the child before Zelek in the attempt of keeping her safe from Maletoth. However, Zelek learns of this plan and uses Aarbron to slaughter everyone involved in protecting the child, including Aarbron's father.

Killing his father awakens Aarbron. He pursues Zelek, who had found refuge in the lands of the Dryads and given the child to the Queen of the land. The Queen sends the child to Maletoth, while unsuccessfully trying to kill Aarbron. The child is delivered to Maletoth, while Aarbron learns of Maletoth' machinations from a dying Zelek.

Aarbron goes to Hydrath's castle to defeat Hidrath and enter the portal the leads to Maletoth. The Sentinel, another of Maletoth's creation that seek revenge, sees in Aarbron the power to finally take on Maletoth and helps him in this endeavor. The Sentinel brings Aarbron to the Graveyard of the Fallen so that he could channel the soul trapped there and gain power. Empowered by these souls, Aarbron defeats Maletoth, taking his power for his own.

Development

Shadow of the Beast was announced for PlayStation 4 during Gamescom.[6] The first trailer was revealed, together with the announcement of Heavy Spectrum Entertainment Labs being the developer of the game.[7] The first gameplay footage during E3 2015.[8] The game was released on May 17, 2016.[9]

The game uses the Unreal Engine 4 as its underlying engine technology, and Audiokinetic Wwise for audio.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic64/100[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge5/10[11]
Famitsu30/40[12]
GameRevolution3/10[13]
GameSpot5/10[14]
Hardcore Gamer3.5/5[15]
IGN7.6/10[16]
OPM (UK)5/10[17]
Polygon3/10[18]
Push SquareStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[19]
USgamer4/5[21]
Digital SpyStarStarStar[22]
Slant MagazineStarStarStarStar[23]

Shadow of the Beast received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[10] IGN said: "Bloody, elegant combat and an otherworldly vibe make Shadow of the Beast a successful reboot of the Amiga classic."[16] GameSpot, however, said, "For a remake, it's not a good sign that the best part about the modern Shadow of the Beast is revisiting the game that inspired it."[14] In Japan, where the game was ported for release on May 19, 2016, Famitsu gave it a score of one eight, two sevens, and one eight for a total of 30 out of 40.[12]

Writing for Metro, David Jenkins gave the game eight out of ten and described it as taking the inspiration from the art and concept of the somewhat flawed original and marrying this with influences from modern action games, such as Castlevania and Heavenly Sword, to create something greater than its own legacy.[24] Jed Pressgrove of Slant Magazine gave it four stars out of five, saying that the game "surpasses its predecessor by articulating a horrific but heroic myth underneath the clothes of a traditional platformer and beat-'em-up."[23] However, Sam Loveridge of Digital Spy gave it three stars out of five, saying, "Shadow of the Beast might not be exactly what true fans were expecting, especially with a few strange gameplay and narrative choices, but there's still something here for everyone. It's short, but it's only £11.99 and there's plenty of replayability here - not to mention it's two games for the price of one."[22]

References

  1. ↑ "Shadow of the Beast details". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/shadow-of-the-beast/details/?platform=playstation-4. 
  2. ↑ Robinson, Martin (April 16, 2015). "The new Shadow of the Beast is one man's dream come true". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/the-new-shadow-of-the-beast-is-one-mans-dream-come-true. 
  3. ↑ Turner, Jack (May 19, 2016). "Shadow of the Beast review, PS4: More for gamers seeking nostalgia". The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/games/shadow-of-the-beast-review-ps4-more-for-gamers-seeking-nostalgia-a7037316.html. 
  4. ↑ Bierton, David (May 18, 2016). "Digital Foundry vs Shadow of the Beast on PS4". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2016-vs-shadow-of-the-beast-on-ps4. 
  5. ↑ Orry, James (May 5, 2016). "Shadow of the Beast PS4 also includes the original Amiga game". Resero Network. https://www.videogamer.com/news/shadow-of-the-beast-ps4-also-includes-the-original-amiga-game/. 
  6. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (August 20, 2013). "Shadow of the Beast remake coming to PS4". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/shadow-of-the-beast-remake-coming-to-ps4/1100-6413250/. 
  7. ↑ Barker, Sammy (August 22, 2013). "GamesCom 2013: So, Shadow of the Beast Is Making a Comeback". Hookshot Media. https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2013/08/gamescom_2013_so_shadow_of_the_beast_is_making_a_comeback. 
  8. ↑ Birch, Matt (June 26, 2015). "New Shadow of the Beast footage and screens from E3 2015". Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2015/06/26/new-shadow-of-the-beast-footage-and-screens-from-e3-2015/. 
  9. ↑ Birch, Matt (March 30, 2016). "Shadow of the Beast Launching May 17th on PS4". Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/2016/03/30/shadow-of-the-beast-launching-may-17th-on-ps4/. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Shadow of the Beast". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/shadow-of-the-beast/. 
  11. ↑ Edge staff (August 2016). "Shadow of the Beast review". Edge (Future plc) (295): 118. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Romano, Sal (May 17, 2016). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1433". https://www.gematsu.com/2016/05/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1433. 
  13. ↑ Whitaker, Jed (May 18, 2016). "Shadow of the Beast Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/70372-shadow-of-the-beast-review. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Concepcion, Miguel (May 23, 2016). "Shadow of the Beast Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/shadow-of-the-beast-review/1900-6416437/. 
  15. ↑ Shive, Chris (May 20, 2016). "Review: Shadow of the Beast". Hardcore Gamer. https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-shadow-of-the-beast/207922/. Retrieved October 17, 2023. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Ingenito, Vince (May 16, 2016). "Shadow of the Beast Review". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/17/shadow-of-the-beast-review. 
  17. ↑ "Shadow of the Beast". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK (Future plc): 84. July 2016. 
  18. ↑ McElroy, Justin (May 16, 2016). "Shadow of the Beast review". Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/2016/5/16/11657852/shadow-of-the-beast-review-PS4. 
  19. ↑ Tailby, Stephen (May 16, 2016). "Shadow of the Beast Review". Hookshot Media. https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/shadow_of_the_beast. 
  20. ↑ Jones, Darren (June 16, 2016). "Shadow of the Beast (PS4)". Retro Gamer (Future plc) (156). 
  21. ↑ Rignall, Julian "Jaz" (May 16, 2016). "Shadow of the Beast PS4 Review: Classic Platform Brawler". Gamer Network. https://www.vg247.com/shadow-of-the-beast-ps4-review-classic-platform-brawler. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Loveridge, Sam (May 16, 2016). "Shadow of the Beast review: Amiga brawler reboot shows that nostalgia can [be problematic"]. Hearst Communications. https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/a794257/shadow-of-the-beast-review-cult-classic-jumps-from-amiga-to-ps4-but-nostalgia-isnt-always-a-good-thing/. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Pressgrove, Jed (May 17, 2016). "Review: Shadow of the Beast". https://www.slantmagazine.com/games/shadow-of-the-beast/. 
  24. ↑ Jenkins, David (May 16, 2016). "Shadow Of The Beast review – revenge of the Amiga". Metro (DMG Media). https://metro.co.uk/2016/05/16/shadow-of-the-beast-review-revenge-of-the-amiga-5885337/. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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