Posted August 29, 2010
The shareware demo of Raptor: Call of the Shadows was amazing when I was a kid. It's nice that so many years later I can experience the full version on a modern system.
Unfortunately, this port has some problems, at least running on Windows 7 64 bit. The most glaring issue is that you are unable to save your game. This was one of the great features of the original: if you only have time to play one level then just play one level! Save and try out the weapons before you buy them and realize their ups and downs! Unfortunately, although the save features seem unmodified from the original, attempting to save will only display an error message.
I also have experienced 3 crashes when navigating the main menu of the game.
The game itself has not stood the test of time. It's still fun for me, but that's because I played it when I was younger and I can try out the weapons I never tried back then and play through the levels that weren't in the shareware version. I imagine that a new person coming into this game would leave overall unimpressed. There is an addictive element built it by the in-game money and shop systems, but in reality there are very few weapons which are practical and effective considering their costs.
The fun weapons, the deathrays and murderbeams are underpowered compared to the more passive homing weapons to the point where you'll be more at risk and you'll be losing out on money because you're killing less enemies to avoid getting shot down.
Enemies are very basic but become increasingly deadly and swarmy, especially when reaching the second episode. Unfortunately, due to the busted save feature I haven't been able to make it past the second episode yet.
Anyway, verdict:
Don't buy this version unless you just absolutely must quench your nostalgia. The broken save feature does much to ruin the game. Its archaic gameplay just isn't compelling enough considering all the other great games on GOG.com.
Unfortunately, this port has some problems, at least running on Windows 7 64 bit. The most glaring issue is that you are unable to save your game. This was one of the great features of the original: if you only have time to play one level then just play one level! Save and try out the weapons before you buy them and realize their ups and downs! Unfortunately, although the save features seem unmodified from the original, attempting to save will only display an error message.
I also have experienced 3 crashes when navigating the main menu of the game.
The game itself has not stood the test of time. It's still fun for me, but that's because I played it when I was younger and I can try out the weapons I never tried back then and play through the levels that weren't in the shareware version. I imagine that a new person coming into this game would leave overall unimpressed. There is an addictive element built it by the in-game money and shop systems, but in reality there are very few weapons which are practical and effective considering their costs.
The fun weapons, the deathrays and murderbeams are underpowered compared to the more passive homing weapons to the point where you'll be more at risk and you'll be losing out on money because you're killing less enemies to avoid getting shot down.
Enemies are very basic but become increasingly deadly and swarmy, especially when reaching the second episode. Unfortunately, due to the busted save feature I haven't been able to make it past the second episode yet.
Anyway, verdict:
Don't buy this version unless you just absolutely must quench your nostalgia. The broken save feature does much to ruin the game. Its archaic gameplay just isn't compelling enough considering all the other great games on GOG.com.
