Summary
- Release Year: 1997
- Genres: Fighting, Shooter
- Platforms: DOS, iOS, Linux, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Developers: 3D Realms, General Arcade, Westlake Interactive
- Publishers: Atari Games, Devolver Digital, GT Interactive Software, MacSoft Games
Shadow Warrior (1997): A Build Engine Masterpiece
Released in 1997, Shadow Warrior was a groundbreaking first-person shooter that pushed the limits of the Build engine and set a new standard for the genre. Developed by 3D Realms, the game featured a unique blend of over-the-top violence, tongue-in-cheek humor, and innovative gameplay that set it apart from its contemporaries.
Gameplay
Shadow Warrior is a classic FPS in the vein of Doom and Quake, but it introduced several new features that helped it stand out from the crowd. One of the most notable innovations was the introduction of true room-over-room situations, which allowed for more complex and vertical level design. The game also made use of 3D voxels instead of 2D sprites for weapons and usable inventory items, which gave them a more realistic and immersive appearance.
Another key feature of Shadow Warrior was its emphasis on melee combat. In addition to a variety of firearms, the player could also wield a katana and a variety of other melee weapons. This gave the game a more varied and dynamic combat system than many other FPS games of the time.
Story
Shadow Warrior tells the story of Lo Wang, a skilled ninja who is hired by a powerful sorcerer to retrieve a stolen talisman. The game’s story is full of twists and turns, and it features a cast of memorable characters, including the wise-cracking Lo Wang himself.
Graphics and Sound
Shadow Warrior was one of the best-looking games of its time. The Build engine was capable of producing stunning graphics, and the game’s levels were full of detail and atmosphere. The game’s soundtrack was also top-notch, and it featured a mix of heavy metal and traditional Japanese music.
Legacy
Shadow Warrior was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish 3D Realms as one of the leading developers of FPS games. The game has since been ported to a variety of platforms, and it remains popular with fans of the genre today.
Review
Shadow Warrior is a classic FPS that still holds up today. Its innovative gameplay, memorable characters, and stunning graphics make it a must-play for fans of the genre.
Score: 8.5/10
System Requirements
- OS: Windows 95/98/Me/XP/Vista/7/8/10
- Processor: 1 GHz Pentium III or equivalent
- Memory: 256 MB RAM
- Graphics: 3D graphics card with 32 MB VRAM
- DirectX: Version 9.0c
- Hard Drive: 1 GB available space
Additional Information
- Shadow Warrior was developed using Ken Silverman’s Build engine.
- The game was ported to Mac OS in August 1997.
- A combination of Duke Nukem 3D and Shadow Warrior was published by GT Interactive in March 1998, titled East Meets West.
- Shadow Warrior was re-released on Steam in 2013.
- A reboot of Shadow Warrior was released in 2013.
Conclusion
Shadow Warrior is a classic FPS that deserves to be remembered as one of the best games of its era. Its innovative gameplay, memorable characters, and stunning graphics make it a must-play for fans of the genre.
Review Score
8.5/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
