14 DAY TRIAL // Many retro arcade games appeared in the 1990s, and among them was Shadow Warrior, a first-person shooter that didn't take itself too seriously and offered pure, violent pleasure.
With the new Shadow Warrior title, currently in development at Polish studio Flying Wild Hog, publisher Devolver Digital wants to deliver a sort of prequel experience that's still basing its gameplay on the old core mechanics, while using all-new graphics and systems.
The result is a near-perfect mix of arcade mechanics and new elements, as Shadow Warrior feels like a game from the 1990s, with a floaty character and really hectic gameplay, much like the previous game from Flying Wild Hog, Hard Reset.
While it certainly feels old school, the game looks absolutely gorgeous, as the studio has further improved its already powerful engine to deliver even better visuals that have a distinct yellow hue but always manage to interject some red, thanks to the bloody executions performed by the protagonist Wang.
In terms of story, it's a prequel to the original game, but the developers have already emphasized that it won't take itself too seriously, instead relying on players to fill in the blanks and just enjoy the cheesy humor.
Wang can use his trusty katana to dispatch of the different demon enemies in the game, as the sword is extremely powerful and very satisfying to use. You can also opt for traditional weapons, like pistols, submachine guns, shotguns, or even crossbows, but you're probably better with the katana and the core magic abilities of the protagonist, who can heal himself during combat, emit a Shockwave to knock back foes, or pull off other tricks.
The whole experience is very bloody but still manages to get the point across that it's a fun game that will certainly deliver a great time during its single-player campaign.
While it won't have a multiplayer, Flying Wild Hog admitted that there are plans for a survival mode, much like the experience that was added to Hard Reset after its release via a free update.