Shadow Master
| Shadow Master | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | HammerHead Ltd. |
| Publisher(s) | Psygnosis |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation, Windows |
| Release | PlayStation Windows |
| Genre(s) | First Person Shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multi-player |
Shadow Master is a video game developed by HammerHead Ltd, and published by Psygnosis [3] for the PlayStation, and Microsoft Windows. It was released for the PlayStation video game console on December 31st, 1997 in North America and January 1998 in Europe.[1] The PC version was released on February 28th, 1998 in North America, and 1998 in Europe.[2]
Gameplay
Shadow Master is a first person shooter video game, set in a sci fi universe. The player takes control of a futuristic, and heavily armed ATV to traverse each level, combat aliens, and complete level objectives. Before each mission, the player is briefed by 'strategic command' on their mission objectives. The player is then brought into the level, which they can explore. The vehicle the player uses is controlled with either the D-Pad and shoulder buttons, or the two analog sticks in the PlayStation version. In the PC version, the mouse and keyboard or joystick can be used for movement. During gameplay, your vehicle has a certain amount of health and shields, which if drops below zero becomes a game over for the player. They also have many fictional weapons that they can use to combat the enemies in the game. Some have unlimited ammunition while others have a limited supply, but all of them are limited by an overheat meter which prevents constant use of the weapons. The game contains seven different worlds to explore, separated by sixteen different levels. The levels are completed when all objectives in the current mission have been completed.
The PC version of Shadow Master also includes multiplayer support, using both IPX and serial connection.
Story
For over a millennium, two alien races had been waging an interstellar war, known as the Outer War. Now, during the fictional year of 1742[4], the people of the planet Sylvan began to grow uneasy as rumors had spread involving the disappearances of trade ships. Eventually the planet had lost contact with many of it's outlying trade ships and star ports, which led to the complete communications blackout of the systems outer worlds. Refugees had come from the outer planets and told stories of mass destruction, death and plunder, with entire worlds being stripped of their resources, and countless innocence were either enslaved or slaughtered by mechanoid monsters. A 'death black-shadow' as was referred to by the elders of Sylvan, had engulfed the system. An invasion fleet has begun to occupy the planet, with one force standing in the way of it's complete take over: you. [5]
Reception
Shadow Master received mixed reviews from critics, with the PlayStation version getting higher scores overall. GameSpot gave the PlayStation version of the game a 7.2 out of 10 'Good' rating, stating that "Hackneyed plot aside, this game is actually pretty decent for a 3D shooter." praising it's visuals, especially it's art direction stating "The resulting landscapes and creatures differ from anything you've seen before.", and the sheer number of enemies. [6] IGN gave the game a lower score of 4 out of 10, citing the games controls to be "sloppy", saying that "...piloting your vehicle is ugly. If that's not disheartening, try aiming at a gun turret behind a wall and getting stuck in a corner.". [7]
The PC version of the game garnered harsher scores, with GameSpot giving the version a lower 4.7 out of 10 'Poor' rating, giving praise to the same areas as the PlayStation version, but cited issues with the multiplayer portion of the game, noting that "Our Righteous 3D machine chugged along at an unplayable pace, even with low-resolution, flat-shaded graphics enabled. The Obsidian system ran just as slowly, which made the two-player session boring, frustrating, and as far from fun as possible.". [8]
References
- ^ a b c [1] "Shadow Master Release Information for PlayStation"
- ^ a b c [2] "Shadow Master Release Information for PC"
- ^ http://psx.ign.com/objects/002/002116.html
- ^ Opening FMV of the game states the date.
- ^ Game manual, p.4.
- ^ http://www.gamespot.com/ps/action/shadowmaster/review.html?&tag=stitialclk;gamespace
- ^ http://psx.ign.com/articles/152/152116p1.html
- ^ [3]"GameSpot Shadow Master PC Review"