Cab driver Mike Le Roi unwittingly
gets wrapped up in Mob
business, and the ruthless gangsters
show their disapproval by
murdering his entire family. Joining
forces with a voodoo princess,
Mike is transformed into Shadowman
so that he may avenge his
families death.
Shadow Man springs from the pages
of a comic book, but to describe this
third-person shooter from Acclaim
as comical would be a grave mistake.
Shadowman fearlessly explores the
darkest corners of psychotic
human minds, in what will likely
be the most ghoulishly disturbing
title on the system. As a result,
players who become squeamish
while hunting undead serial killers
may want to think twice before
entering this world ruled by
voodoo and populated with practitioners
of black magic.
Thanks to its comic book origins,
where accidental infusion of
super-human powers became cliche
long ago, the story surrounding
Shadow Man is refreshingly unique.
Cab driver Mike Le Roi unwittingly
gets wrapped up in Mob
business, and the ruthless gangsters
show their disapproval by
murdering his entire family (martyrdom
is also becoming
commonplace in the new wave of
comic heroes, but not yet a
cliche).
Seeking vengeance, Mike acquires
the assistance of a voodoo
princess, who implants a spiritual
mask in his chest. Le Roi is then
transformed into Shadowman, and
is granted the power to travel
between the world of the living
and the psycho-infested Deadside.
Playing as Mike Le Roi, you must
hunt five serial killers in the
Liveside, and transform into Shadowman
to eliminate the murderers
in the Deadside. The game is loaded
with over 40 graphic
cut-scenes and plenty of voice
samples to maximize the gloomy
effect of the highly stylized graphics,
powered by the Expansion
Pak.
Acclaim plans to include 16 levels,
set in locations such as a Texas
prison and a New York Tenement.
The developers actually received
the official blueprints of the
London Underground before beginning
work on a spooky environment
set in the city's submerged tunnels.
The areas will take on new appearances
and characteristics as Shadowman
crosses from the Liveside to the
Deadside.
The nonlinear gameplay will involve
heavy exploration and complex
puzzle solving, often requiring
players to backtrack throughout
levels to complete tasks. Acclaim
anticipates that most players will
require 70 hours to complete the
game, and they have included
multiple endings which vary according
to the player's performance.
Shadowman will have the ability
to fire two different weapons at
once, and will be able to aim each
weapon at a different target.
Similar to the device used in The
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time,
Shadowman can 'lock on' to enemies
and circle around them while
attacking. Players will be able
to control the camera during
gameplay to provide the best view
of the action.
With its haunting environments
and gruesome cast of characters,
Shadowman is shaping up to be an
engrossing game with plenty of
other-worldly action. This intriguing
adventure is scheduled to
cross over to the Liveside this
Summer.
