Shadow Man: Remastered

[OCH]

 

This ain't Banjo...

 

It's been a long, long time since I played an N64 game. There are certain things you forget, that are distinct to that console. "Jank" I believe is the modern term. I don't remember the platforming being as weird as it is here? Perhaps because I was used to how the platform worked regarding 3D jump mechanics at the time. Fast forward to now and it is jarring to say the least. Jumping is precise and quite unforgiving. Ironically, you cast no shadow to judge if you will land on the platform you are aiming for. There was an infuriating little jump early on, along the way to acquiring the Asson that brought out a little frustration. Later exemplified in areas involving death traps and (early game) one-hit KO lava. You have a dodge mechanic. But it doesn't work as smoothly as you might expect, coming into this from the perspective of modern From Soft titles etc

 

The remaster gives us camera control with the second stick. It is both an improvement and not. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the swimming mechanics. The first time I swam in this game. I tapped the action button, as standard and promptly drowned when I couldn't right myself. Later, I discovered the problem and it's solution. You don't use the action button to swim... You use both sticks. Forward on the left stick to move and steer with the right stick. If it sounds like tank controls, it basically is. But being in the water, it does become intuitive quicker.

 

Ultimately my first session went on for about an hour and a half. Collecting four Dark Souls. The second weapon in the Asson and 66 Cadeaux. Quite intrigued to continue at this point.

[Maf]

I played this for an hour today and this game isn't what I remember, either. I remember the start where you run to the church and there's a bit of suggestive talk between Mike and Agnetta. I remember the enemies that run fast with big sword arms. I remember a room surrounded by lava with a big block in the middle and I think that's as far as I ever got.

 

What I didn't remember is how this game is a bit of everything. Metroidvania, platformer, light puzzle game. All I remembered was the shooting. I thought it was way more linear than what it is but it's actually quite an open game. I'm also realising I've already seen everything I remember because the game used to freak me out so much as a kid I never got very far. Not even further than the first hour it seems. 

 

It's kind of awesome and kind of not. It's interestingly designed and I like the gameplay. The first part of the game where I was making progress was really fun and I liked it. But I got to the Asylum, explored it a bit, had my 3rd reminder from Shadow Man to go speak to Agnetta so I did, just to be told to go to the Asylum to find the 5 serial killers. Bitch I was already there. 

 

Now I'm returned to the start and am lost and don't know where to go. 

 

One of the funny things is I'm playing on PC with ray tracing and the lighting is pretty fucking superb but the graphics, even with HD textures is definitely not. I mean for a N64/Dreamcast game they've done a good job but it's weird to see the game still look blocky and flat then pass a grate or cage and see the lighting and shadows be so perfectly lit.

 

I'm not sure how much more of it I'll play. I am enjoying it, it's a fun revisit. But it's definitely showing it's age and being lost already, both in terms of where to go and how to navigate, has killed my momentum 

[mfnick]

My over riding memory of this game is definitely getting lost a lot. I was young and stupid though & desperate for a more “mature” game on my N64 so remember forcing myself to like it still. Going to have to check it out at some point since my memories are mostly positive.