Shadows of the Damned
a game by | Grasshopper Manufacture |
Platforms: | XBox 360, Playstation 3 (2011) |
Editor Rating: | 8/10, based on 1 review |
User Rating: | 10.0/10 - 2 votes |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | Action Games, Action Adventure Games, Horror Games |
Shadows of the Damned is a third-person action title, similar in style to horror games like The Evil Within and Resident Evil 4. Playing as Garcia Hotspurr, a quick-witted and stylish demon hunter, you'll blast through the realm of the dead in order to save your beloved girlfriend. With your handy sidekick Johnson at the ready, you'll blast through foes using a variety of magical firearms. Packed with blood, gore, and awesome boss fights, Shadows of the Damned is a psychedelic journey through the underworld. By maintaining a humorous mood, Shadows of the Damned ends up being one of the most unique and entertaining third-person shooters in recent memory.
Main Game Features
- Intense third-person shooting action
- Dozens of upgrades and collectibles
- Rock-heavy soundtrack
Story
In Shadows of the Damned, you play as Garcia Hotspurr, a suave demon hunter with plenty of enemies in the underworld. One night, returning home after a long day of hunting, Garcia finds his girlfriend Paula abducted by the Lord of Demons, Fleming.
Eager to enact his emotional revenge on Garcia, Fleming kidnaps Paula and takes her to the underworld, threatening to kill her over and over again. Not wanting to sit by idly, Garcia and his shape-shifting partner Johnson pursue Fleming into the underworld, hot on his trail. Unfortunately, an army of dead awaits Garcia in the afterlife, forcing him to blast his way through countless foes to reach Paula. Over his journey, Garcia meets a handful of helpful souls, who help him power-up as he prepares for his final face-off against Fleming.
Gameplay
Shadows of the Damned is primarily a third-person shooter, but the game contains some driving sequences and puzzles as well. As you explore the underworld searching for Paula, you'll traverse through various linear story chapters, defeating enemies and avoiding hazards. Garcia's sidekick Johnson can transform into three different weapons, including a pistol, a rifle, and a shotgun. You can upgrade your guns and their abilities by spending gems at vending machines and at the merchant. In addition to standard gems, you'll also find helpful red gems hidden around the environment, which add extra abilities to Garcia's arsenal.
When you're not blasting through baddies in the realm of the dead, you'll have to navigate dark areas by solving various light puzzles. In addition to firing normal bullets, Garcia can shoot off beams of light, which illuminate various totems and objects in the environment. In order to progress through areas safely, you'll have to stay in the light, figuring out ways to brighten up subsequent areas. While these puzzles are fun at the start, they quickly grow somewhat tiresome, as the action-based gameplay is far more exciting. That said, you're more likely to find red gems while searching the environment for puzzles, so the extra time never feels like a true waste.
Conclusion
Where other third-person shooters like Resident Evil try to manufacture feelings of dread and terror, Shadows of the Damned opts for a more stylish experience. There's still plenty of blood and gore, but the overall tone of the narrative and the game is one of excitement and entertainment. The gunplay is consistently enjoyable and the upgrades are fun to equip, providing players with hours of bloody action. The game only slightly falters with its puzzle sections, which can feel a bit repetitive after a while. Luckily, the story and core gameplay is entertaining throughout the entire experience, providing players with a gory and at times hilarious adventure.
Pros
- Tons of style
- Fun shooting mechanics
- Interesting story and characters
Cons
- Obnoxious humor
- Underwhelming puzzles
Download Shadows of the Damned
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP