Remember when a game’s graphics stole your breath away? When the visuals were so piercingly beautiful that they pushed the very limits of contemporary technology, and sold said game, along with the machine that played it, in droves?
The original Shadow of the Beast did just that on the Commodore Amiga computer in 1989. Published by the legendary Psygnosis, the title took gaming graphics to the next level and left audiences positively salivating. While it wasn’t exactly what we would call a “killer app” for the Amiga, it did underscore just how powerful the machine was, and really put the machine on the map. Beast did have a downside, in that its frustratingly difficult gameplay couldn’t match its striking visuals. 30 years later, enter little known game developer Heavy Spectrum Entertainment Labs, who have taken it upon themselves to remake this storied title exclusively for the Playstation 4 console.
Set in a mysterious dark fantasy world, Beast mimics its predecessor’s story, casting the player in the role of Aarbron. Bearing the ghoulish visage of a fiendish monster, Aarbron was once an ordinary child abducted from his parents by the despised sorceror Maletoth. He had identified great magicks inherent within the boy, and so magically bound the child to him in order to harness his innate powers. This spell of indenture also twisted poor Aarbron into a ghastly monster, capable of superhuman feats of strength and speed. Aarbron goes on to slay his own father after he attempts to rescue him, but the very act of patricide causes Aarbron to finally become aware of the control Maletoth commands over him, thus liberating him of his magical fetters. Free of his bonds, but not of the awesome powers and beastly physique, Aarbron now becomes an agent of bitter and ruthless revenge.
Being a remake, there are naturally plenty of overtures to the original. These references include harkening back to Psygnosis’ moody ambience, with the game featuring strange but mesmerising levels and weird enemy types (yes, those floating eyeballs are back). The soundtrack is suitably evocative, just like in the 1989 release, and despite being set in a fantasy setting, the final boss must be defeated with a laser gun and jetpack, just like last time. But we mustn’t forget the most prominent homage to the 80s classic, which are the graphics. Let’s not mince words here – Beast looks spectacular, a side-scrolling work of art that is visually just as arresting as its predecessor. The lighting effects and amount of detail packed into the level design are nothing short of stunning. The visuals are so gorgeous that you won’t mind having to restart levels when you die, as it allows you to relive all those tasty textures and gorgeous backdrops.
As is common in many single player experiences nowadays, Beast features numerous side content for players to unlock. After accumulating enough in-game currency, you can view the iconic box art from the 1989 Beast, listen to its legendary soundtrack, and even play the classic title on your PS4. Extensive grinding to access such electronic delights often frustrate me, and so I’m pleased to say that you don’t have to do too much to access all this nostalgia – I found replaying a level or two was sufficient. One of the unlocks struck me as a little odd however, in that it provides a written translation of what the alien characters are saying to Aarbron. Without this, their speech would remain unintelligible, impeding the player’s understanding of the game’s plot. Surely this crucial feature should have been implemented from the start.
On a more general note, I’ve always thought blending fantasy with science-fiction poses quite the challenge. Even introducing mild futurism concepts into medieval worlds, ones that are otherwise dominated by occult magic and arcane technology, can be difficult to pull off, as the sci-fi elements tend to come off feeling awkward and incompatible. The best examples I have encountered that successfully intermingle the two genres are A Plague of Angels by Sheri S. Tepper and the He-Man comics and cartoons. However, Beast carries off this tricky fusion seamlessly, not to mention stylishly. I really found myself enamoured with its otherworldly atmosphere and truly alien landscapes, just like I had in the eighties.
So the burning question – how does Beast’s gameplay hold up? Afterall, frustrating playability was the issue that plagued the original title thirty years ago, and so it was interesting to see how the remake addressed this. I’m happy to say that Beast was not just a pleasure to behold, but also to play. For the most part, the controls are smooth and responsive, helping you take the fight to your enemies. Some internet commentators have criticised how, after the jump button is pushed, Aarbron will take a step or two before vaulting. I personally wasn’t put off by this, as I saw it as a stylistic inertia that was common in many old school platformers such as Prince of Persia, and I quickly got used to timing my jumps.
One thing that did annoy me was that, when confronted with adversaries attacking you from both sides, you can enter a combo-state called Rage mode, in which on-screen arrows tell you whether to direct your attacks to either in front or behind you. Successfully doing this allows you to chain multiple hits and accumulate in-game currency via a multiplier. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I found that by the time said arrows appeared, it was too late, and I was knocked out of the rage state by a successful enemy attack. I managed to bypass this by mentally noting how many enemies were advancing on my position before entering Rage, then attacking either behind or in front using recall.
I’ll admit it – I’m a sucker for aesthetics. Pretty things make me smile, and as I played through this remake, I smiled alot. Like its 1989 predecessor, this game is beautiful, a veritable electronic masterpiece. The gameplay matches the graphics this time, making it a mostly fun experience for the player. It’s clearly evident that the developers were big fans of the original, creating a remake that is both a loving homage as well as an entertaining adventure in its own right. I enjoyed this remake so much it made me wish it was available on more gaming devices, and not solely on the Playstation 4. Shadow of the Beast is a remake done right, and I recommend it to not only lovers of the original, but fans of the platform genre in general.
David Muscat Literature 