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Out of all the game announcements so far, I am the most excited about Epic’s XBLA offering Shadow Complex. Looking like a combination of Bionic Commando, Metroid, and Contra, Shadow Complex is an old school side-scroller with gorgeous graphics, fast paced gameplay, and, most important to me, gigantic, jaw-dropping bosses.

Check out the screens in the gallery and the epic trailer above.

With news that this hot-looking game will be released within a few short months, Shadow Complex has officially become my most wanted game of the year so far. Well, besides Uncharted 2 and God of War III. Okay, fine, one of my most wanted games of the year.

What do you think? Does Shadow Complex appeal to you?

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Chad Concelmo is Destructoid's features editor. He loves hanging out with awesome people. That's why Destructoid makes him so happy, since it is full of THE MOST AWESOME PEOPLE OF ALL TIME! Also, dolphins. Likes Chad enjoys punching old ladies in the face, Super Metroid, Zelda: A Link to the Past on the SNES (best system ever!), Final Fantasy VI, Day of the Tentacle, Shadow of the Colossus, Mother 3, Beyond Good & Evil, Contra III, Valkyria Chronicles, Punch-Out!!, Half-Life 2, and Super Mario Galaxy 2. Meet the rest of the team



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38 comments | showing # 1 to 38
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Sheir's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 16:59
Sheir
Am I the only one that thinks this looks awful?
Chad Concelmo's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:04
Chad Concelmo
@Sheir,
I think the embedded trailer doesn't do it justice. To me, the live stuff at the press conference (although the exact same footage) looked much more badass.

But, yeah, honestly, I could see this game going either way once I look past the awesome explosions and stuff. :)
Justice's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:04
Justice
I didn't realise Epic was behind it. It really shows in the trailer. The mix of 2D and 3D looks really good and knowing Epic, this will be a must-buy.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:04
Holyetheline
I don't think it looks that good either, Sheir.
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:11
Darren Nakamura
I thought we weren't posting videos as header images any more. Bad!
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:11
Chronic Logic
The visuals are a litte hard to discern between environment and the enemy. Maybe the screen is just a bit too dark or cluttered. Anyways this game has got me excited. However, I see that they have third person action going on when you use a gun turret.
lyfeforce's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:11
lyfeforce
It looks somewhat like Bionic Commando: Rearmed when side scrolling to me. I might be able to get down on this.
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:13
Kyousuke Nanbu
Looks really awesome.
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:14
Darren Nakamura
Also, Sheir, yes. How can you hear about a Metroidvania style game in HD developed by Epic and think it won't be good? Boy, you crazy.
glandseck's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:15
glandseck
It looks somewhat bland, visually, but that won't stop me from grabbing it. We need more metroidvanias!
Chad Concelmo's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:16
Chad Concelmo
@Dexter345,
We are making an exception for E3. :)
Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:20
Los255
Amazing. I like the combination of perspectives. Can't wait.
Android8675's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:22
Android8675
I see a little Rolling Thunder in there too. Amazing. My wallet is crying.
NeoChaos's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:22
NeoChaos
s much as I'd like a platformer for the 360, I'm sort disappointed that Epic's newest foray into the platformer/shooter genre *isn't* a Jazz Jackrabbit title.
somatix's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:24
somatix
The concept sounds really interesting; but the screens don't look so great. Everything just looks incredibly bland and boring. Where's the personality? Anyway, hopefully, it is good because I wouldn't mind a new Metroidvania game; but I have my doubts about this one.
ZeroTolo's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:28
ZeroTolo
Maybe it's me, but does the father's voice at the beginning of the trailer sound like Christian Slater to anyone else?
mmmpek's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:33
mmmpek
the voice of the main character sounds really familiar, like hes been in a bunch of other games. cant put my finger on it... on well.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:37
Tubatic
Looks good, enough. The cinematics look a little wonky, but I'd have to be truly joyless about games to not be excited about the concept and the implied execution.

But that's just me.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:42
Cowboy TTop
Looks great. Nice to see somthing different at last, especially from Epic. I'd certainly buy this game.
fetusmilk's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:45
fetusmilk
i dont see the castlevania or metroid refrences in THIS video. maybe they mentioned it but dont SEE it.

but it just looks like a zoomed in version of soldat and crash commando if you ask me.
Deathofthedead's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 17:47
Deathofthedead
This looks pretty good, especially if there's plenty of exploration. Although overall I think I prefer high-quality sprites for side-scrollers (ala Odin Sphere) to this kind of 2.5D, high-gloss visual style. Glad to see Metroidvanias getting some action on the 360, though!
Hitogoroshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 18:02
Hitogoroshi
Looks cool. Mech bosses remind me of Strider 2.
Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 18:08
Dan CiTi
If only it didn't have a story, it'd be perfect. No one cares about a boring super generic story. Also the art style is extremely bland. I hope the gameplay saves it, it could shape up until summer.
Kraid's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 18:11
Kraid
I came.
Diverse's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 18:14
Diverse
God damn those character designs are ugly, but man, the Shadow Complex looks fun as hell. Can't wait to get my hands on some side-scrolling shooter action.
grafkhun's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 18:47
grafkhun
This is one of my dream game concepts come to reality. 2D shooting, 3D turret sections, melee abilities, and some nifty navigation, damn... I am looking forward to this. I'm not expecting anything more than a great lengthy 2D metroidvania action game, story and characters you say? uh yeah whatever, just let me fight that Ghost in the Shell like boss.
DaedHead8's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 18:54
DaedHead8
This looks totally awesome. And it'll be done soon. Sweet!
theredpepperofdoom's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 19:06
theredpepperofdoom
Looks great, although hopefully there won't be a huge emphasis on story.
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 19:34
Wedge
I... what? I don't even know what to think of it, it looks like it has 5 different kinds of gameplay all mashed together, so I think I'd need a more comprehensive explanation (or demo rather) to figure out what exactly is going on...
welkstar's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 20:02
welkstar
Yes! 2.5D sidescroller!
DarkSaint76's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 20:06
DarkSaint76
I had my eye on this one for a while, at least on the three screenshots that were in an old EGM. They've been quite mum on this one. I hope we'll see it this year, but I still can't shake 2010 out of my mind. <Crosses fingers>
Trevor McGee's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 20:17
Trevor McGee
Looks pretty cool, but I'm not really seeing the Metroid/Castlevania influence here. Contra, yeah, but not the other two.
Rusty Ghia's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/01/2009 23:12
Rusty Ghia
I'm always excited for 2D side-scrollers, but I have a feeling that this is going to be grotesquely over priced at $15-$20. Put it on a disk, then I'll buy it, but if it's digital only or has DRM, then I refuse to spend more than $10.
Bodb's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/02/2009 06:28
Bodb
Time to get a 360. Speaking of which, have they invented a model which doesn't self destruct yet? I'd like to keep my investment for more than a year.
tergtutabma60's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/14/2011 17:44
tergtutabma60
door. The lamp above was lit; it rained a November drizzle, as it had lynoral online
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