Shadow of the Beast (TurboGrafx-CD) Playthrough - NintendoComplete
213A playthrough of NEC's 1992 action-platformer for the TurboGrafx-CD, Shadow of the Beast.
Shadow of the Beast was a 1989 game originally created for the Commodore Amiga, an early effort by Reflections Interactive who would later go on to develop games in the Destruction Derby and Driver series before eventually being folded into Ubisoft in the late 2000s.
The game was ported to several computer and console platforms in the early 1990s, the most well-known perhaps being the Sega Genesis version. It was quite an advanced game for its time, though, designed specifically to exploit the abilities of the Amiga's hardware. The console versions had to be scaled back somewhat as a result, but if you didn't have an Amiga A500 computer, the TurboGrafx-CD version arguably provided the best way to experience Shadow of the Beast.
Shadow of the Beast is a simple game at heart. It's a 2D platformer that rarely asks you to do more than punch enemies and climb ladders. There are a few small self-contained areas (the well and the castle) to be explored, each capped with a boss, and these are connected by linear corridors (the forest and the jetpack stages) that act as transitions between them. The goal of the adventure is to defeat the titular beast and to step out from beneath its shadow.
Purposely designed to be as challenging as possible, the Amiga game is indeed renowned for its difficulty level. The controls are stiff, the swarms of enemies are relentless, and cheap hits come fast and often. It's a short game, but it's one that forces you to work hard for its ending.
The TurboGrafx port, handled by DMA Designs (now known as Rockstar), is a thoroughly excellent effort. It smooths out some of the frustrating mechanics of the original: the controls are snappy and precise, the enemy respawn rate has been reduced dramatically, and the options menu allows you to choose how many lives and credits you begin the game with. These simple tweaks make this version of the game more approachable and fun than the Amiga game or its Genesis conversion.
The graphics are excellent despite some of the compromises that had to be made. The Amiga version used up to twelve layers of parallax scrolling to create its stunning backdrops. The effect has been cut back for the Turbo's hardware, but the visuals are still pretty impressive in motion and benefit from the Turbo's huge color palette. The enemies are big and pack a lot of detail (especially those bosses!), the scrolling is liquid smooth, there's no slowdown, and instances of sprite-flicker are rare and brief.
This version of the game includes a few FMV cutscenes to help flesh out the story, and the soundtrack is comprised of an incredible collection of CD remixes of David Whittaker's original Amiga tunes. The gameplay demo theme, especially, is out-f'ing-standing.
I've always enjoyed Shadow of the Beast in any form. Even when it was brand new the gameplay felt dated, but it has so much character that I never really minded, and for me, the TurboGrafx-CD port's improvements have made it my preferred way enjoy the game for many years now. _____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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