Pads & Panels

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Did you miss Shadow Complex for Xbox Live Arcade? It was the #8 pick on our list of Best Games of 2009. It’s really good. But if you missed it, you’re in luck. We’re going to be doing a series of giveaways with some of the games that appeared on our year-end list. We can’t tell you what all of them are just yet, but we can tell you that the first is a redemption code for Shadow Complex, which developer Chair Entertainment was kind enough to send our way for this contest. Entering is as easy as registering for the site and commenting on some of our stories, and we’ll be giving away the code by the end of next week. (more…)

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#8 – Shadow Complex (XBLA)

Publisher: Microsoft – Developer: Chair Entertainment

Our Review

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Take equal parts Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Super Metroid and the technical prowess of today’s consoles; put them together and you’ll get Shadow Complex. As the standout Xbox Live Arcade game of the year, Shadow Complex has erased the public’s preconceived notions of what a downloadable title can be, and what the next year might have to offer. Shadow Complex could have been released as a disc-based game and I’d still snatch it up. –John (more…)

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Title: Shadow Complex

Platform: XBLA

ESRB Rating: T

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Chair Entertainment

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

Old-school gaming fans are in for one hell of a treat with Shadow Complex – the sophomore Xbox Live Arcade title from Chair Entertainment (Undertow) – a side-scrolling action-platformer that takes its influences from the likes of Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (with a visual style reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid), but reinvents them for a new generation rather than simply rehashing old ideas for a retro cash-in.

Shadow Complex is based on the Orson Scott Card novel Empire. The player controls Jason, who is on a camping trip with his girlfriend, Claire. The two become separated and Claire is abducted by a shady military organization. Armed only with a flashlight to start, Jason goes in search of his love only to find a larger conspiracy unfolding before his eyes, one that could see the whole country, then world, in disarray. Jason continues the search for Claire, but the two realize they must also do something to stop the bigger threat. Jason acquires bigger and more lethal weapons and gadgets, and explores an incredibly large underground base, strategically taking on enemies as he goes. (more…)

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From Comic-Con Part 9 – Microsoft Meetings

By Bill Jones

Microsoft invited us over to the Omin Hotel July 23 to get into a nice, air-conditioned executive skybox suite for 30-minute meetings away from the flatulence-heavy exhibit floor over at the San Diego Convention Center. It was nice. While we were there, we also sat down with developers to get demonstrations of Shadow Complex and Alan Wake. (more…)

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