e037: I Wanna Go to Bed

[modeps]

http://evavhost.com/podcast/wp-content/images/shotgun_lg.jpg

Big ole show for you tonight, we start off with a user review of Shadow Complex, announce our BF1943 Community Game Nights for Xbox.com and Evil Avatar.com, and even a giveaway. We discuss a bit about Batman Arkham Asylum and our feelings on the Wet demo. TeKuru has a quick recipe for us as well (you can download that PDF here (http://evavhost.com/podcast/wp-content/episodes/Puttin-On-The-Ritz.pdf))

Games Discussed: Batman: Arkham Asylum, WET, Castle Crashers, bricks4ever, The Adventures of Cookie and Cream, Battlefield 1943, Shadow Complex

Please feel free to leave us feedback here, to our email address at podcast@evilavatar.com, via our voicemail number (619) 573-6699, or come join us on IRC (irc.slashnet.org #evilavatar)

Episode 37 (8/30/2009):
Direct Download (http://evavhost.com/podcast/wp-content/episodes/Shotgun037.mp3) - RSS Feed (http://evavhost.com/podcast/feed) - iTunes Store (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=307766308) - Zune Marketplace (http://social.zune.net/my/ContentRedirect.ashx?mid=a7ad514a-433a-442f-a451-56bfa4081938&mtype=Podcast) - Twitter (http://twitter.com/shotgunpodcast)

[Tintivilo]

Don't get paid enough to list the games discussed anymore? *spits on the ground near you*

[pwnophobia]

Don't get paid enough to list the games discussed anymore? *spits on the ground near you*

In modeps defense he WAS tired and is asleep now. In no particular order:

Arkham Asylum
WET demo
Castle Crashers
bricks4ever
Cookie's n Cream
Battlefield 1943
Shadow Complex

[modeps]

Don't get paid enough to list the games discussed anymore? *spits on the ground near you*

UPDATED just for you Tintivilo.

[Tintivilo]

It won't be the last time you do something just for me! ;) *waves hand* "rake my yard"

[Shela Monster]

Yeah, sorry about my Epic review. (See what I did there?)
Oh well, I'll try not to put as much effort into it next time.
:D

~Shela Monster

[modeps]

No problem Shela, it was a great email just a bit long for me to read in its entirety... mind if I post the whole thing here?

[Shela Monster]

No problem Shela, it was a great email just a bit long for me to read in its entirety... mind if I post the whole thing here?Fine by me!
I have no problem with it, it was meant for the community! ;)

~Shela Monster

[modeps]

OK, here's Shela Monster's full mail to Shotgun, unedited and pure:

Hi Shotgun Crew!
Writing in at the request of my friend pwnophobia about my recent purchase of Shadow Complex.
This is my first write in to the show, so I may or may not cover too much/too little.

Shadow Complex is a very gorgeous game, with plenty of detail, graphics and a well balanced amount of RPG and Shooter elements.
I had no idea that it was a side-scroller along the lines of other popular games in the genre such as Castlevania or Metroid.
I was expecting a game much like 'Splosion Man, where levels are treated as a play-by-play basis.
Instead, once you start to get into the game, you can go and do most anything you like, including going back to earlier parts in the game, where maybe you didn't have the right equipment at the time.

Speaking of equipment, there is a bit of a puzzle type of game-play thrown in, where certain weapons (grenades, missiles, foam) allow you access to specific areas of the map.
This can be a good thing or a bad thing, in my case I too often forget earlier parts/places where I have been and needed different equipment.
Luckily the developers thought this in and added a "?" to areas that still contain hidden items you might have missed, as well as shaded areas you have yet to discover.

There are a few frustrating parts of the game though.
Sometimes you will miss an area you need to access simply because a vent or door is so small or otherwise hidden so well you can't see it.
There have been plenty of times I was stuck and it was all because of something that was right in front of me, but was difficult to see.
A flashlight is given to you as a way to see, and also to reveal what weapon (grenades are green, foam purple, and missiles red) is needed to pass a certain area, but more often than not, something in the foreground will/can block your vision of certain things.

Another issue is the targeting system.
Since the game is a 2-D and 3-D scroller, there are times where enemies will appear in the background shooting at you.
This gives the game a nice sense of depth, but adds the hassle of trying to shoot something "behind" you.
Another issue is the game gives you a laser sight to scope in on your enemies with the Right Thumbstick.
You can easily aim in most directions, but there have been plenty of times where the Stick is not sensitive enough to get a head shot, or target an enemy through a narrow passage way.

The RPG element of the game is that you can find better equipment if you wish.
These include gun upgrades from a pistol to a full automatic rifle, or how much of a secondary weapon you can hold, such as the grenades, missiles and foam.
Every time you discover a new place on the map, or kill an enemy you gain XP.
When you level up, a random attribute such as accuracy and stamina, or even heath is upgraded.
I haven't played the game too long to see what a maxed character is like, be even at the level I am now, I have noticed quite a difference since the beginning


All in all, it is a very good game, the replay value seems good enough, as there are plenty of items to find and get.
Best part is you can beat the game in a few hours, or if you have OCD like me, you take quite a bit of time trying to collect everything possible.

I'd give the game a solid 9 out of 10.

Hope this helps some people on the fence about buying it.
I'd recommend this game to a friend who enjoys some shooting and adventuring!

~Shela Monster