I don't know what more can be said that the store page hasn't covered, but this game is truly a welcomed step back into classic text-based gaming. Though the original Shadowgate was on ancient Macintosh systems, Beyond Shadowgate is a direct sequel (35 years later to be exact) to the classic 8-bit NES port with the same type of interface and graphical fidelity, though just a tad more colorful and animated. The music and effects are directly reminiscent of the NES chip tunes and will bring you back to your childhood in no time. As for the controls...I'd have to say that they are far superior the the NES gamepad. Now, the keyboard and mouse along with shortcuts can be used to fully and quickly navigate the game instead of using a controller. On the other hand, modern controllers work just fine as well. Take your pick and play your way. As for settings...there really isn't much to tinker with. You can either use windowed or Fullscreen mode, and you have the ability to turn off timed events (a new addition to Shadowgate). In terms of specs...I do believe a toaster can play it. So, unless you are rocking out DOS, I think you'll be fine. Other than that, I recommend getting the Special edition as it comes with a fully illustrated strategy guide (use it after you have pulled your hair out...not before), 3 comics (one of which is a strategy guide for the original game), the soundtrack, and a digital game map. Lastly, go give Shadowgate (2014) a spin too if you haven't already.
The love and attention that went into this game is amazing. With this upgrade bundle, you get 3 masterfully illustrated comics: a prelude to this game, a comic based on an unreleased N64 game, and the original NES comic. In addition to that, you'll receive Beyond Shadowgate's soundtrack which is a skillfully composed album of 22 chilling NES era chip tunes that you would swear were done by the original artist. If that weren't enough...you also get a map of the game world. Last, but certainly not least...or rather...saving the best thing for last...we have the strategy guide!!! It's truly worth the entire price of the bundle. It's a parody of, or rather an homage to a classic Nintendo Power magazine. Everything about it, from the artwork to the game's history, is an absolute gem.
I don't know what more can be said that the store page hasn't covered, but this game is truly a welcomed step back into classic text-based gaming. Though the original Shadowgate was on ancient Macintosh systems, Beyond Shadowgate is a direct sequel (35 years later to be exact) to the classic 8-bit NES port with the same type of interface and graphical fidelity, though just a tad more colorful and animated. The music and effects are directly reminiscent of the NES chip tunes and will bring you back to your childhood in no time. As for the controls...I'd have to say that they are far superior the the NES gamepad. Now, the keyboard and mouse along with shortcuts can be used to fully and quickly navigate the game instead of using a controller. On the other hand, modern controllers work just fine as well. Take your pick and play your way. As for settings...there really isn't much to tinker with. You can either use windowed or Fullscreen mode, and you have the ability to turn off timed events (a new addition to Shadowgate). In terms of specs...I do believe a toaster can play it. So, unless you are rocking out DOS, I think you'll be fine. Other than that, I recommend getting the Special edition as it comes with a fully illustrated strategy guide (use it after you have pulled your hair out...not before), 3 comics (one of which is a strategy guide for the original game), the soundtrack, and a digital game map. Lastly, go give Shadowgate (2014) a spin too if you haven't already.
I don't want to give any spoilers, but this game is an absolute blast and a call back to the late 90s era of gaming! If you like cats, unicorns, blood, swearing, bad jokes, and gratuitous violence....Gori is right up your Alley, kat. The graphics are simply top-notch with both Ray-Tracing/DLSS and XeSS features included. Accordingly, the animations are smooth having visuals that are reminiscent of the Cyberpunk genre. I think the only drawback here is that there are no daytime areas in the game. The music...well, the music is a macabre metal soundtrack that never ceases to set the atmosphere whether in-game or as a casual listen during the day. I'd wager to say, that the soundtrack could hold its own against bigger AAA titles. The gameplay is a cross between DMC & GoW with Ratchet and Clank type platforming. The controls are very simple and intuitive both on Keyboard and Mouse with the ability to rebind most if not all keys. As for performance, if you meet the required specs it will run no problem whatsoever. To sum it up, you are a cat on a swearing hoverboard who deals death to unicorns. What else could you possible need?
