Having been born in 1985 I like to think that I was born in a position to witness the evolution of video games from an exceptional perspective and seeing Shadow Complex makes me believe that genres, over time, are capable of evolving quite well. After watching Shadow Complex in action, it becomes clear that the title takes notes from both Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Heavy influences aside, it leaves the title poised to be encapsulated as a true next-gen side-scroller possibly redefining the genre once more.

Initially, I was concerned that the game would be overshadowed by its source material and would be overshadowed and lost, having no real identity of its own. However, after watching multiple examples of the gameplay, this couldn't be further from the truth. Shadow Complex, set in Orson Scott Card's Empire-verse, follows the exploits of Jason, the most average hiker you'll ever meet who while hiking in the woods with his girlfriend stumbles across a complex belonging to an organization with insidious plans to instigate a civil war in the United States. As the game goes on, Jason will collect weapons and equipment, a la Super Metroid / Castlevania, that propels him from average Joe to badass extraordinaire. Even looking at the in-game map, it reminded me vehemently of the source material, however, I never felt like it wasn't doing them justice. After all, anyone can steal an idea, but to properly pay homage is an exercise in talent. Built on the Unreal 3 engine, the game area is 780 squares in size, as opposed to the roughly 300 square size of Metroid, it's easily illustrated that the game is daunting in size.

Intriguingly enough, it seems that there is a series of almost endless achievements. In the same spirit as Geometry Wars 2, upon garnering the high score in a game type it becomes visible on Xbox Live for anyone in your friends list to beat, Shadow Complex effortlessly takes this to the next level. Giantbomb.com put it best, "Say you need 100 headshots for the achievement. Once you hit that mark, you'll see your friend has, say, 138 headshots, giving you a new goal to beat. All the game's achievements will have a unique leaderboard that shows these stats for everyone playing the game."

Conversely, I think it is interesting that games are starting to include alternate gameplay modes that would otherwise have been cut from the title because of inability to fit them into the main storyline. Very much like the Special Ops. mode that will be included in Modern Warfare 2, Shadow Complex implements Proving Grounds, which allow for the player to experience level playthroughs that wouldn't have really fit in with what the creators envisioned to be along the proper storyline, but still wished to see implemented somehow in the game. Personally, I think this is an ingenious idea. Like the All Fronts content recently released for Gears of War 2, which gave players expanded content that was initially cut from the title, the 'Director's Cut' content of relatively any title is welcome.

Seemingly though, it seems that tribute is more the order than simply trying to copy what made the source material great. Shadow Complex appears to be well done and a truly updated entry into the 2D side-scrolling genre. Not trying to beat the nostalgia so much as proper due, I'm looking forward to the title releasing August 19, 2009 on XBLA for 1200 MSP ($15) as it is looking to be worth every single point.

Check the videos attached out for yourselves. Rip-off of what many gamers grew up loving or set to truly revitalize the genre? I'm guessing that this is setting up for a definitive return to the 2D 'Metroidvania' style many have come to love over the years and truly appreciate for their gameplay mechanics and exploratory components.

--Andrew
Here's to Samus and Alucard