The Gaming Nexus Review of: Publisher: GT Interactive Software Developed by: 3D Realms Required Specs: Pentium 60, 16MB RAM, CD-ROM, VGA (256 colors or better), 60 MB hard drive space Reviewed on: Pentium 200, 32MB RAM, Win95, Diamond Stealth 3D 2000, 12X CD-ROM Ah so, young grasshoppa...you wish to learn about 3D Realms Shadow Warrior. Snatch pebble from hand and I shall share with you my vast knowledge. Ready? Woota! Too slow, my son. Meditate on your failure while I do this little review. Lemme get this right out there...I know I'm gonna get flak about this...I like Shadow Warrior better than Duke Nukem 3D. Ahhh! Don't stone me yet! Let me explain. First off, the plot is much better, even though as all action gamers know the plot really don't matter. (Tuk looks to be in prime form--you have been warned. -ed) In SW, you play Lo Wang, a gruff-speaking ninja master that has attained the elite status of, yep, Shadow Warrior. Now, Lo Wang used to work for Zilla enterprises, a huge conglomeration that has control over every major industry (Sounds like a company that starts with an M and ends with an -icrosoft.) Unfortunately, this company was a bit corrupt...well, a bit in the sense that Zilla was summoning demons from the dark side to do his bidding (See?!? It IS Microsoft! Heh...I tease Microsoft. Just kidding, guys!). As a man of honor, Lo Wang quit. Zilla was not happy, and since Lo Wang was no longer working for him, he couldn't work for anyone else. So he sends a couple of grunts to dispatch him. That's where YOU come in. Yes YOU, the one with the glasses and pocket protector. So there you are, up against a horde of goons with uzis, rockets, magic napalm..why, you need some weapons! All the usual weapons are here, but in excellent form; uzis (dual uzis...John Woo, anyone?), rocket launchers (I must say this is the only game with a launcher that can launch NUKES. Sound cool? It is), grenade launchers, and fists. But along with them, you also get sticky bombs that latch on to any surface, a rail gun (time to get elased!, as Lo Wang says), a monster head (stick the fingers in different brain areas, get a different weapon effect), shurikens, and a slice-a-guy-in-half, honest-to-goodness sword. YAAHH! And you thought the Shrinker was cool. Along with weapons you get flash bombs, poison gas grenades, smoke bombs (invisibility), caltrops (little droppable spikes...step on one and YOWCH!), and the ever-present med-kit. And who doesn't love the med-kit? Now let's delve into that oh-so-delicate world of graphics. This is the only point where Shadow Warrior gets cut down a little bit. It looks almost exactly like Duke Nukem, and it really has no Quake-ish 3D, so if that's all you're judging games by, move on. 3D Realms did add some really funky water effects like whirl pools and swaying tides, and the levels have a much cleaner, less pixilatious look to them, but its still the Build engine. This barely detracts from the game at all, since its the gameplay and humor that really make Shadow Warrior shine. And since its designed to run on a minimum of a Pentium60, everyone with a fast processor can enjoy the hi-res detail mode without sacrificing gameplay to that evil demon-god of lag (grrrrrr....). High or lo-res, every object in the game is textured cleanly, which is always good. Ohhhh, and sound. You all know I love sound. And Shadow Warrior does not disappoint, with John Galt making his debut as Lo Wang, the smart-ass ninja with revenge on his mind and a throwing star in his hand. Duke had lines, yeah. Who can forget "Damn...you're UGLY!", or my personal favorite "Time to kick ass and chew bubble gum...and I'm all outta gum." I actually work this into my everyday conversation when I can. But Shadow Warrior takes the fortune cookie for humor, with a "Look out, you freaks! Lo Wang in the house!". Wise-elbow comments fly everywhich way, all said with an strangely funny Bruce Lee accent. Gameplay sounds don't miss their target either, with floor pounding explosions, the staccato ditditditiditidit of uzi fire, and an occasional sword slash. Musically, 3D Realms has done away with midi and added a real Redbook audio soundtrack, playable over normal CD players. I know we'll all miss the comforting low-impact beat of midi...but you gotta hear this soundtrack. Imagine non-midi midi maybe. By the way, here's a tip for everyone who already owns Shadow Warrior; put the CD in and play track 14...the Lo Wang rap! Gameplay is right up there with every other top-notch first person shooter on the market, even though the graphics may not be. Now, the AI isn't spectacular...but since most of the bad guys can do everything you can (jump, duck, hide, climb), it makes things interesting. I was shocked one day when I fired a missile at a grunt and he ducked the thing! Then he got up and I shot him, but hell, it was cool. And mowing through crowds of baddies isn't exactly a detractor, either. And since this game is made with the Build engine, you can expect new levels (along with multi-player of course) to boost up the replay value. And the single-player game itself is very big, with 22 big levels to hi-karate through. On a personal note, if you don't use a mouse to play ANY first-person game with, you're a shmuck. I can only find a few points to complain about in this game. First, as I mentioned, the graphics are a ways behind the times; with 3D engines now standard in all new first person games, the Build engine is getting a bit stale. Also, AI is not stupendous; bad guys have a wide range of actions but they mostly seem to just attack continuously, aside from ducking. But I must say that there aren't many games that DO have good AI. Also, the violence and sexual innuendoes may offend some younger gamers or the more politically correct crowd. Other than that, Shadow Warrior is definitely one of the new bad-ass mothers on the block. And even though it may be overshadowed by its bigger brothers Hexen II, Quake II, and Half-Life, its a treat that should not be missed by any action fan. So checka it out! I slappa your teeth out if you don't. You no mess with Lo Wang...er...the Tukman. Note: We sent Tuk to therapy and that didn't do a whole lot. We'll keep trying, I promise. -ed -Adam Tucker -Submit Your Own Review The Nexus Breakdown: Overall Value: A- Look out Duke; Lo Wang's in the house and he's looking like a worthy successor. Loads of humor, gobs of shooter action, and more levels than a Tokyo skyscraper make Shadow Warrior a winner in my book. Quake may look better...but you've never heard a space marine crack one-liners. Graphics: B Old technology is a bit of a problem here. Since this is the last game made with the Build engine (probably), it marks the end on an era. 3D shooters like Quake are the new standard, and Shadow Warrior is definitely not a full 3D shooter. But the graphics are well drawn, excellent looking in many places. Besides, the levels in SW are DEFINITELY better than anything in Quake. Sounds: A A full Redbook audio soundtrack replaces the old midi files here, and a good soundtrack it is. It sets the tone well with moody, Oriental-sounding tunes. Game sounds are good as well, especially the Wangspeak. 3D Realms has done it again! The best of the bunch happens when you slice someone in half "Oh ho! Split personalities!". Stability: A- No crashes, no glitching, and only a little bit of graphic lag...eeexcellent. I did have the Win 95 installer crash on me several times in the middle of the install, which ticked me off, but this may just Win 95 bugging it up. Gameplay/Replay Value: A+/B+ Smooth as silk gameplay, with the same easy learning curve as Duke Nukem 3D. Awesome weaponry and the cool new ability to drive tanks, boats, and man gun turrets add heavily to the fun. The replay value is ok, since the game can be pretty hard at times and there are quite a few levels, but they get boring after a couple of times through them. And multiplayer...well, you need a network of a TEN subscription to really play it against others, although Kali does provide cheap gametime as well. Manual: B A short description of the plot, full weapon, powerup, and enemy description complement the standard manual stuff (key layout, troubleshooting, etc.). The only problem is it comes in the form of a CD case insert booklet, and I ALWAYS lose those things. Maybe its just me. code======================================== The Gaming Nexus Review of: Shadow Warrior


The Gaming Nexus Review of:

 

  • Publisher: GT Interactive Software
  • Developed by: 3D Realms
  • Required Specs: Pentium 60, 16MB RAM, CD-ROM, VGA (256 colors or better), 60 MB hard drive space
  • Reviewed on: Pentium 200, 32MB RAM, Win95, Diamond Stealth 3D 2000, 12X CD-ROM

 

Ah so, young grasshoppa...you wish to learn about 3D Realms Shadow Warrior. Snatch pebble from hand and I shall share with you my vast knowledge. Ready? Woota! Too slow, my son. Meditate on your failure while I do this little review.

Lemme get this right out there...I know I'm gonna get flak about this...I like Shadow Warrior better than Duke Nukem 3D. Ahhh! Don't stone me yet! Let me explain. First off, the plot is much better, even though as all action gamers know the plot really don't matter. (Tuk looks to be in prime form--you have been warned. -ed) In SW, you play Lo Wang, a gruff-speaking ninja master that has attained the elite status of, yep, Shadow Warrior. Now, Lo Wang used to work for Zilla enterprises, a huge conglomeration that has control over every major industry (Sounds like a company that starts with an M and ends with an -icrosoft.) Unfortunately, this company was a bit corrupt...well, a bit in the sense that Zilla was summoning demons from the dark side to do his bidding (See?!? It IS Microsoft! Heh...I tease Microsoft. Just kidding, guys!). As a man of honor, Lo Wang quit. Zilla was not happy, and since Lo Wang was no longer working for him, he couldn't work for anyone else. So he sends a couple of grunts to dispatch him. That's where YOU come in. Yes YOU, the one with the glasses and pocket protector.

So there you are, up against a horde of goons with uzis, rockets, magic napalm..why, you need some weapons! All the usual weapons are here, but in excellent form; uzis (dual uzis...John Woo, anyone?), rocket launchers (I must say this is the only game with a launcher that can launch NUKES. Sound cool? It is), grenade launchers, and fists. But along with them, you also get sticky bombs that latch on to any surface, a rail gun (time to get elased!, as Lo Wang says), a monster head (stick the fingers in different brain areas, get a different weapon effect), shurikens, and a slice-a-guy-in-half, honest-to-goodness sword. YAAHH! And you thought the Shrinker was cool. Along with weapons you get flash bombs, poison gas grenades, smoke bombs (invisibility), caltrops (little droppable spikes...step on one and YOWCH!), and the ever-present med-kit. And who doesn't love the med-kit?

Now let's delve into that oh-so-delicate world of graphics. This is the only point where Shadow Warrior gets cut down a little bit. It looks almost exactly like Duke Nukem, and it really has no Quake-ish 3D, so if that's all you're judging games by, move on. 3D Realms did add some really funky water effects like whirl pools and swaying tides, and the levels have a much cleaner, less pixilatious look to them, but its still the Build engine. This barely detracts from the game at all, since its the gameplay and humor that really make Shadow Warrior shine. And since its designed to run on a minimum of a Pentium60, everyone with a fast processor can enjoy the hi-res detail mode without sacrificing gameplay to that evil demon-god of lag (grrrrrr....). High or lo-res, every object in the game is textured cleanly, which is always good.

Ohhhh, and sound. You all know I love sound. And Shadow Warrior does not disappoint, with John Galt making his debut as Lo Wang, the smart-ass ninja with revenge on his mind and a throwing star in his hand. Duke had lines, yeah. Who can forget "Damn...you're UGLY!", or my personal favorite "Time to kick ass and chew bubble gum...and I'm all outta gum." I actually work this into my everyday conversation when I can. But Shadow Warrior takes the fortune cookie for humor, with a "Look out, you freaks! Lo Wang in the house!". Wise-elbow comments fly everywhich way, all said with an strangely funny Bruce Lee accent. Gameplay sounds don't miss their target either, with floor pounding explosions, the staccato ditditditiditidit of uzi fire, and an occasional sword slash. Musically, 3D Realms has done away with midi and added a real Redbook audio soundtrack, playable over normal CD players. I know we'll all miss the comforting low-impact beat of midi...but you gotta hear this soundtrack. Imagine non-midi midi maybe. By the way, here's a tip for everyone who already owns Shadow Warrior; put the CD in and play track 14...the Lo Wang rap!

Gameplay is right up there with every other top-notch first person shooter on the market, even though the graphics may not be. Now, the AI isn't spectacular...but since most of the bad guys can do everything you can (jump, duck, hide, climb), it makes things interesting. I was shocked one day when I fired a missile at a grunt and he ducked the thing! Then he got up and I shot him, but hell, it was cool. And mowing through crowds of baddies isn't exactly a detractor, either. And since this game is made with the Build engine, you can expect new levels (along with multi-player of course) to boost up the replay value. And the single-player game itself is very big, with 22 big levels to hi-karate through. On a personal note, if you don't use a mouse to play ANY first-person game with, you're a shmuck.

I can only find a few points to complain about in this game. First, as I mentioned, the graphics are a ways behind the times; with 3D engines now standard in all new first person games, the Build engine is getting a bit stale. Also, AI is not stupendous; bad guys have a wide range of actions but they mostly seem to just attack continuously, aside from ducking. But I must say that there aren't many games that DO have good AI. Also, the violence and sexual innuendoes may offend some younger gamers or the more politically correct crowd. Other than that, Shadow Warrior is definitely one of the new bad-ass mothers on the block. And even though it may be overshadowed by its bigger brothers Hexen II, Quake II, and Half-Life, its a treat that should not be missed by any action fan. So checka it out! I slappa your teeth out if you don't. You no mess with Lo Wang...er...the Tukman.

Note: We sent Tuk to therapy and that didn't do a whole lot. We'll keep trying, I promise. -ed

-Adam Tucker

-Submit Your Own Review

The Nexus Breakdown:

Overall Value: A-

Look out Duke; Lo Wang's in the house and he's looking like a worthy successor. Loads of humor, gobs of shooter action, and more levels than a Tokyo skyscraper make Shadow Warrior a winner in my book. Quake may look better...but you've never heard a space marine crack one-liners.

Graphics: B

Old technology is a bit of a problem here. Since this is the last game made with the Build engine (probably), it marks the end on an era. 3D shooters like Quake are the new standard, and Shadow Warrior is definitely not a full 3D shooter. But the graphics are well drawn, excellent looking in many places. Besides, the levels in SW are DEFINITELY better than anything in Quake.

Sounds: A

A full Redbook audio soundtrack replaces the old midi files here, and a good soundtrack it is. It sets the tone well with moody, Oriental-sounding tunes. Game sounds are good as well, especially the Wangspeak. 3D Realms has done it again! The best of the bunch happens when you slice someone in half "Oh ho! Split personalities!".

Stability: A-

No crashes, no glitching, and only a little bit of graphic lag...eeexcellent. I did have the Win 95 installer crash on me several times in the middle of the install, which ticked me off, but this may just Win 95 bugging it up.

Gameplay/Replay Value: A+/B+

Smooth as silk gameplay, with the same easy learning curve as Duke Nukem 3D. Awesome weaponry and the cool new ability to drive tanks, boats, and man gun turrets add heavily to the fun. The replay value is ok, since the game can be pretty hard at times and there are quite a few levels, but they get boring after a couple of times through them. And multiplayer...well, you need a network of a TEN subscription to really play it against others, although Kali does provide cheap gametime as well.

Manual: B

A short description of the plot, full weapon, powerup, and enemy description complement the standard manual stuff (key layout, troubleshooting, etc.). The only problem is it comes in the form of a CD case insert booklet, and I ALWAYS lose those things. Maybe its just me.

 

 

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