History VideoGame / ShadowComplex

The game is part of the ''[[Literature/OrsonScottCardsEmpire Empire]]'' universe by Creator/OrsonScottCard -- the Empire novel was actually written for this game, not the other way around. The game was heavily promoted and released to near-universal acclaim during Xbox LIVE Arcade's first "Summer of Arcade" event. The gameplay is essentially just like that of a refined ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'': the protagonist, Jason, runs, guns and jumps around a 2D base, gaining equipment, items, and levels as he explores more and more of the place and unravels the sinister plot that is about to be put into action. It uses the [[UsefulNotes/GameEngine Unreal Engine 3]] and notably introduces "2.5D" elements smoothly into classic {{Metroidvania}} gameplay, such as allowing Jason to shoot enemies in the background of the stage.

A remastered version of the game was released on UsefulNotes/{{Windows|Games}}, Platform/{{macOS}}, Platform/XboxOne and Platform/{{PlayStation 4}}, giving the game a graphical overhaul, adding new content, and some quality-of-life improvements. The remaster was announced during The Games Award show and its PC version was released for free for a limited time on December 3, 2015 through the Platform/EpicGamesStore. The Xbox One version released on March 16, 2016, followed by a [=PlayStation=] 4, Platform/{{Steam}}, and Microsoft Store version was released on May 2 the same year, as well as a [=macOS=] version was released on August 4.

A remastered version of the game was released on Platform/{{Windows|Games}}, Platform/{{macOS}}, Platform/XboxOne and Platform/{{PlayStation 4}}, giving the game a graphical overhaul, adding new content, and some quality-of-life improvements. The remaster was announced during The Games Award show and its PC version was released for free for a limited time on December 3, 2015 through the Platform/EpicGamesStore. The Xbox One version released on March 16, 2016, followed by a [=PlayStation=] 4, Platform/{{Steam}}, and Microsoft Store version was released on May 2 the same year, as well as a [=macOS=] version was released on August 4.

''Shadow Complex'' is a 2009 {{Metroidvania}} action-adventure game for the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} by Chair Entertainment, a subsidiary of Creator/EpicGames. It was released in August 2009 on UsefulNotes/XboxLive.

A remastered version of the game was released on UsefulNotes/{{Windows|Games}}, UsefulNotes/{{macOS}}, UsefulNotes/XboxOne and UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, giving the game a graphical overhaul, adding new content, and some quality-of-life improvements. The remaster was announced during The Games Award show and its PC version was released for free for a limited time on December 3, 2015 through the UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore. The Xbox One version released on March 16, 2016, followed by a [=PlayStation=] 4, UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, and Microsoft Store version was released on May 2 the same year, as well as a [=macOS=] version was released on August 4.

* SaveGameLimits: The original version of ''Shadow Complex'' only had one save file. ''Remastered'' however, after an update, added support for up to 10 save slots, allowing for multiple playthroughs on different difficulties and character progress.

A remastered version of the game was released on UsefulNotes/{{Windows|Games}}, UsefulNotes/{{macOS}}, UsefulNotes/XboxOne and UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, giving the game a graphical overhaul, adding new content, and some quality-of-life improvements. The remaster was announced during The Games Award show and its PC version was released for free for a limited time on December 3, 2015 through the Epic Games Store. The Xbox One version released on March 16, 2016, followed by a [=PlayStation=] 4, UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, and Microsoft Store version was released on May 2 the same year, as well as a [=macOS=] version was released on August 4.

* AKA47: With the exception of the two made up weapons, this is almost painfully true. For the most part this consists of adding some zeros to the end of the name and switching out the real company for the fictional [=WhiteSands=], in example: H&K [=MP5=] becomes the [=WSMP50=], the model is almost exactly the same as well.
* ATasteOfPower: The game starts you off with some colonel guy in a stolen suit of power armor, armed with the game's second-best gun with a handful of Grenades, Foam, and Missiles. Unfortunately, the bad guys have the cheat codes to disable that suit and they cut him off, following with what appears to be his death.

* ExperienceMeter: An XP meter is shown above the player's Health meter, with their current player level shown next to it.

* GambitRoulette: Jason taking down the complex was all planned, and encouraged during the process, by [[spoiler: his girlfriend Claire]].

* ImplacableMan: You, if you can find the Passkeys to unlock the Fusion Helmet. As a bonus, the forcefield that allows this requires that you don't increase your movement speed beyond UnflinchingWalk if you want it to stay active.

* MinimalistRun: [[invoked]] The game acknowledges two different levels of this challenge. There is an Achievement for finishing the game with 13% or fewer items, and a 'Master Challenge' for only collecting the backpack, grenade, foam, and missile -- even picking up the pistol will result in failing the challenge. [[spoiler:However, if you've found all of the gold bars, you'll have access to the gold weapons, which don't count against you. So you can grab the best gun in the game, skip the pistol, and grab the 3 sub-weapons to complete the challenge. This also skips essentially ALL of the story.]]

* NeckSnap: The ''Remastered'' version adds two ways to snap a Restoration goon's neck: one by using the Hook to suspend yourself slightly above their heads then proceed to snap his neck with your legs, and another by breaking his neck by hand from standing on top of an elevated object.

* OlympicSwimmer: Presumably, Jason's pre-game fitness regimen included a ''lot'' of swimming.

* SaveGameLimits: The original version of ''Shadow Complex'' only had one save file. ''Remastered'' however, after an update, added support for up to 10 save slots, allowing for multiple playthroughs on different difficulties and character progress.
* RailingKill: Doable by killing enemies when they are standing near by railings. There's also an achievement for performing 100 of these.

* ShortRangeShotgun: Inertial Element is a rare example where it is effective in both short- and long-ranged combat, and it can rip apart heavily-armored enemies with relative ease from far away.
* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: The final weapon upgrade is a super-shotgun that can kill lesser enemies in one hit and high damage to heavily-armored ones, at super-long range.

* TenSecondFlashlight: The flashlight's batteries run out in just a few minutes, but they recharge quickly as well.

* HundredPercentCompletion: Required if you want the Completionist achievement, which involves finding every collectible throughout the game.

* BlingBlingBang: Finding all the Gold Bars grants you access to a room containing golden versions of all the weapons in the game. In ''Remastered'', you also get a golden Omega Armor.

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Shining Jason's flashlights on destructible walls will reveal what tool he can use to destroy them: normal bullets or ground pounds (yellow), grenades (green), foam (purple), missiles (red), or high-velocity collisions (blue).

* DramaticIrony: Jason runs into a TortureTechnician who tells him "You don't ''look'' like a killer" in an attempt to psych him out. By this point in the game, the player has probably killed a few dozen Restoration goons, and a tank or two. Jason simply shoots the guy in the head from point blank range.

* EquipmentBasedProgression: Par for the course as a Metroidvania game. Jason gradually becomes more powerful not only through XP, but also harnessing the high-tech equipment from the Restoration scattered throughout the game that allows him to reach great heights, run at the speed and force of a rocket-powered bulldozer, breathe underwater, protect himself from enemy fire with a shield-generating helmet, and arm himself with advanced weaponry. By the end of the game, Jason goes from an average joe with military experience to a nearly unstoppable OneManArmy in a PowerArmor.
* ExperiencePoints: Players can level up Jason through gaining XP, which can be earned by defeating enemies, exploring the game world, accessing the map terminals, and collecting items that upgrades Jason's stats or abilities. If players can take out enemies using melee takedowns or creatively using hazards against them (e.g. punting a Bomba next to a solider), they can earn an XP multiplier that multiplies the amount of XP gained.

* ExperienceMeter: An XP meter is shown above the player's Health meter, with their current player level shown next to the XP meter.

* FacelessGoons: The Restoration's entire membership all seem to enjoy wearing helmets that don't even possess a ''visor''. Glowing lights on the side of the masks seem to indicate cameras of some sort. Interestingly, the hero can become faceless should he pick up the breathing mask or the fusion helmet. The {{Mooks}} don't even take their helmets off when they are sitting down to eat in the mess hall!
* FakeDifficulty: The "difficulty" in shooting bad guys in the background or being shot by bad guys from offscreen.

* FreezeRay: The Foam Gun is functionally this, in that it's a weapon that instantly immobilizes enemies à la HarmlessFreezing by covering them in rapidly-hardening plastic foam.

*** Destroying the Blackbird helicopter during the prologue rewards the player with an achievement called "[[Literature/ToKillAMockingbird To Kill a Blackbird]]".

* MilestoneCelebration: [[invoked]] A Master Challenge in ''Shadow Complex Remastered'' is called "Gets Better With Age" which references the original game's release date (August 19, 2009).

* TwoAndAHalfD: One of ''Shadow Complex''[='=]s defining features is its 2.5D presentation; the game was developed using Unreal Engine 3 and features 3D graphics, but its gameplay is 2D like the Metroidvania games it took inspirations from. Despite being 2D in nature, the game makes use of the 3D space to allow interactions with the background possible, such as the frequent shootouts with the Restoration soldiers and mechs whether on foot or from a mounted turret, as well as hiding behind background objects for cover. Objects and sometimes characters can sometimes be blown across the background or the foreground.

* BoomHeadshot: Shooting the Restoration soldiers in their heads deals more damage than shooting them elsewhere. You get an achievement for scoring a certain number of headshots.

* EquipmentBasedProgression: Par for the course as a Metroidvania game. Jason gradually becomes more powerful not only through XP, but also harnessing the high-tech equipment from the Restoration scattered throughout the game that allows him to reach great heights, run at the speed and force of a rocket-powered bulldozer, breathe underwater, protect himself from enemy fire with a shield-generating helmet, and arm himself with advanced weaponry. By the end of the game, Jason goes from an average joe with military experience to a nearly unstoppable OneManArmy.

* MegatonPunch: Taken to new heights once you get the Omega Armor. Performing take down moves with the Omega Armor equipped will send enemies flying across the room when punched.

* PermanentlyMissableContent: The [[InfinityPlusOneSword Inertial Element]] is the only power-up that you can render completely unobtainable. [[spoiler:If you don't get it before the control center explodes, you can never get it.]] This issue, however, can be circumvented if players has unlocked the golden weapons room for finding all of the golden bars, but golden weapons do not count towards item collection percentage, which is required for the Completionist achievement.

** The third {{spider tank}} boss fight is a homage to the fight at the end of ''Franchise/GhostInTheShell''. The design of the tanks themselves are blatantly modeled after the ''[=GitS=]'' tank, as well.
** One of the Master Achievements is called Jason Bailey, a reference to the "Justin Bailey" password from ''VideoGame/{{Metroid|1}}''.
** Reaching Level 20 in ''Remastered'' rewards players with an achievement called "Charted", nodding to the ''VideoGame/{{Uncharted}}'' series; specifically the fact Jason is voiced by Creator/NolanNorth, the voice actor for series protagonist Nathan Drake.

* TwoAndAHalfD: One of ''Shadow Complex''[='=]s defining features is its 2.5D presentation; the game was developed using Unreal Engine 3 and features 3D graphics, but its gameplay is 2D like the Metroidvania games it took inspirations from. Despite being 2D in nature, the game makes use of the 3D space to allow interactions with the background possible, such as the frequent (if somewhat troublesome) shootouts with the Restoration soldiers and mechs, as well as hiding behind background objects for cover. Objects and sometimes characters can sometimes be blown across the background or the foreground.

* BlingBlingBang: Finding all the Gold Bars grants you golden versions of all the weapons in the game. In ''Remastered'', you also get a golden Omega Armor.

* MadeOfIron: Even before he gets the Omega Armor, Jason can take a surprising amount of gunfire in only a shirt, compared to the armored guards he fights who can only take one or two shots.

* MultiPlatform: The original is an Xbox 360-exclusive. ''Remastered'', however, is an Xbox One, [=PlayStation=] 4, Windows and [=macOS=] release.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler:Going back to the car in the beginning will have Jason simply drive off commenting that there are plenty of fish in the sea. It gives you an achievement as well.]]

* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: The soldiers scream when you send them flying (whether by uppercutting them with the Omega Armor, blowing them up with missiles or grenades, dive-bombing them with the GroundPound, plowing into them with the Friction Dampener, and more often than not when you "stealth" kill them with melee, notably early on when you can pull an unsuspecting enemy into the water you are swimming in, even with several others nearby), and there's an achievement for making a hundred of them scream.

* ATasteOfPower: The game starts you off with some colonel guy in a stolen suit of power armor, armed with the game's second-best gun. Unfortunately, the bad guys have the cheat codes to disable that suit and they cut him off, following with what appears to be his death.

* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: The final weapon upgrade is a super-shotgun that can kill anything in one hit, at super-long range.

''Shadow Complex'' is a 2009 {{Metroidvania}} action-adventure game for the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} by Chair Entertainment, a subsidiary of Creator/EpicGames. It was released in August 2009 on UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade.

* {{BFG}}: The Inertial Element, the best weapon in the game, varies from the other weapons in the game in that it acts more like a shotgun than an automatic weapon. It also kills any soldier in one shot, and does more damage than missiles to armored vehicles and walkers.

* BlownAcrossTheRoom: Punching soldiers after getting the Omega Armor will send them flying.

* GroundPunch: Jason can gain this ability by acquiring the Omega Armor, which allows him to slam his fist into the ground at great velocity and instantly disintegrate lower-tier enemies.

* InfinityMinusOneSword: The Coil Gun has the highest bullet count in the game, is slightly stronger than the [=WSM4000=] assault rifle, and shoots incredibly fast.

* PoweredArmor: You eventually come across the Omega Armor XOS-7, a prototype combat exoskeleton that grants Jason a GroundPunch ability and a 30% damage reduction, which can be further boosted by Armor Upgrades. Several {{Heavily Armored Mook}}s have powered armor as well, though their version is [[MightyGlacier much bulkier and more encumbering]].

* RPGElements: As Jason fights enemies, travels the game world, and finds items, he gains XP that increases levels and grants him bonuses to his Stamina (affects how much damage you take), Accuracy (reduces the spread of your weapons), and Precision (affects the likelihood of scoring headshots). For every 10 levels that Jason reaches, up until Lv. 50, he gains a new special perk as well.

** The third {{spider tank}} boss fight is a homage to the fight at the end of ''Franchise/GhostInTheShell''. The design of the tanks themselves are pretty blatantly modeled after the ''[=GitS=]'' tank, as well.

* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: The soldiers scream when you send them flying (whether by uppercutting them with the Omega Armor, blowing them up with missiles or grenades, dive-bombing them with the GroundPunch, plowing into them with the Friction Dampener, and more often than not when you "stealth" kill them with melee, notably early on when you can pull an unsuspecting enemy into the water you are swimming in, even with several others nearby), and there's an achievement for making a hundred of them scream.

* GroinAttack: Once you get the Omega Armor, this is the default melee attack -- the player can send enemies flying hundreds of feet away with a simple punch to the groin.

* PoweredArmor: You eventually come across the Omega Armor XOS-7, a prototype combat exoskeleton that grands Jason a GroundPunch ability and a 30% damage reduction, which can be further boosted by Armor Upgrades. Several {{Heavily Armored Mook}}s have powered armor as well, though their version is [[MightyGlacier much bulkier and more encumbering]].