Difference between revisions of "Shadow of the Beast II"

From Sega Retro

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{{company|[[Psygnosis]]|system=MCD}}
 
{{company|[[Psygnosis]]|system=MCD}}
 
{{company|[[Victor Musical Industries]]|system=MCD|region=JP}}
 
{{company|[[Victor Musical Industries]]|system=MCD|region=JP}}
| developer=[[Reflections Interactive]], [[Psygnosis]]
+
| developer={{company|[[Reflections Interactive]]}}, {{company|[[Psygnosis]]}}
 
{{company|[[WJS Design]]|system=MD}}
 
{{company|[[WJS Design]]|system=MD}}
 
{{company|[[Digital Developments]]|system=MCD}}
 
{{company|[[Digital Developments]]|system=MCD}}

Revision as of 14:51, 14 January 2020

n/a

ShadowOfTheBeastII MDTitleScreen.png

Shadow of the Beast II
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Electronic Arts
Sega Mega-CD
Psygnosis
Sega Mega-CD
Victor Musical Industries (JP)
Developer:
Original system(s): Amiga
Developer(s) of original games: Reflections Interactive
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
Sound Images v1.2
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
$49.9549.95[2] 716401
Sega Mega Drive
EU
E107SMXI
Sega Mega-CD
JP
¥8,8008,800 T-60034
Sega Mega-CD
US
T-113045
Sega Mega-CD
EU
T-113045-50
Non-Sega versions

Shadow of the Beast II (シャドー・オブ・ザ・ビーストII 獣神の呪縛) is a 1992 action game by Psygnosis, originally released for the Commodore Amiga before being ported to the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Mega-CD, and also the Atari ST and FM-Towns computers. It is the sequel to the original Shadow of the Beast and the second game in the Shadow of the Beast trilogy (the third game was an Amiga exclusive, though it was also going to be released for the Mega Drive).

Story

At the end of the first game, you manage to free yourself from a life of serving the Beast Lord, only to find your baby sister has been kidnapped by Zelek to take your place as a Beast Messenger. Infuriated, you set out to find your sister and destroy Zelek.

Gameplay

The controls are simple: A jumps, B fires, C selects a weapon to fire. A flail replaces the punches from the first game. Items can be offered to certain characters by pausing the game, Gimmick sections from the first game have been removed. The game is now even more open-worlded and non-linear. Due to this openness, limited hints and the failed puzzles not killing the player, it's possible to get stuck easily.

TODO

Versions

  • Around a quarter of the screen of the Sega Mega Drive is covered by a black bar that serves no purpose. Reasons for this are unknow, although it can be assumed this is due to the Sega Mega Drive version running at a higher resolution than the Amiga original and the developers not compensation this.
  • The Sega Mega-CD and Sega Mega Drive version are largely different, with the Sega Mega-CD having more content, additional weapons, optimized graphics, slightly altered gameplay, cutscenes, extra dialogue options, more characters to interact with etc. It's generally considered to be the definite version of the game.
  • Compared to the Amiga original, both versions feature a different player sprite, with the Sega Mega-CD's hero being slightly armored, and the Sega Mega Drive's hero only wearing pants.
  • For the Sega Mega Drive version, cutscenes and background graphics were removed.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Original Game: Reflections
  • MegaDrive Conversion: WJS Design
  • Programming: Rob Povey
  • Music and Sound Effects: Tony Williams
  • Graphics: Lee Carus Westcott, Nicky Carus Westcott
  • Bits N Pieces: Noel Hines
  • Others Involved: Wayne Smithson, John White, Mike Simpson
  • Thanks To: Leo Skirenko, Philip Watts

Mega-CD version

  • Amiga Original: Reflections
  • Sega Conversion By: Digital Developments
  • Written By: Tim Swan, Andrew Bond
  • Graphics: Andrew Bond, Lee Doyle
  • FM Towns Graphics: Nicky and Lee Carus Westcott
  • Sound Effects: Tim Swan, Kavin Collier
  • Music: Derek Austin, Jimmy Jaketh
  • Guitar: Ray Deefholts
  • Music Produced By: Derek Austin, Bob Butterworth
  • Recorded In: Roland RSS Stereo at Boxmead Studios UK
  • Character Speech By: Tim Bentinck
  • Quality Control: Pat Russell, Paul Euason, Graeme Love
  • Story and Documentation: Nick Wild
  • Project Management: John White, Mike Simpson, Tony Parkes, Steve Cain
Copyright 1994 Psygnosis Ltd

Magazine articles

Main article: Shadow of the Beast II/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #52: "November 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #16: "December/January 1993/1994" (1993-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1994-03: "March 1994" (1994-02-08)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1994-06: "June 1994" (1994-05-07)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1994-09: "September 1994" (1994-08-08)
Logo-pdf.svg

Artwork

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
76 [5]
88 [10]
86
85 [11]
86 [12]
60 №6, p28-31
70 [13]
59 №13, p40/41
58 [14]
82 [15]
98
51 №39, p50
78 №16, p53
78 №18, p67
79 №2, p44/45
68 [16]
45 №18, p75
Sega Mega Drive
73
Based on
17 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[17]
Consoles + (FR)
65
[18]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
76
[5]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
65
[19]
Game Power (IT)
76
[20]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
88
[2]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
86
[21]
Joypad (FR) PAL
85
[22]
Joystick (FR) PAL
86
[12]
Mega (UK) PAL
70
[13]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
59
[23]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
35
[24]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
58
[25]
Player One (FR)
82
[26]
Play Time (DE) PAL
68
[27]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
51
[28]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
78
[29]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
78
[30]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
79
[31]
Sega Force (SE)
98
[32]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
68
[33]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
45
[34]
Supersonic (FR)
86
[35]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
54
[36]
Video Games (DE) PAL
27
[37]
Sega Mega Drive
68
Based on
25 reviews

Shadow of the Beast II

Mega Drive, US
SotB2 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
SotB2 md us cart.jpg
Cart
Shadow Of The Beast II MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
SotB2 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
SotB2 md us cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega-CD version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
60 [38]
89 [39]
34 [40]
60 №19, p84/85
70
40 №294, p40
63
58 [6]
83 №10, p26-28
20 [41]
70 [42]
62 №7, p78
65 №55, p36/37
59 №32, p56/57
Sega Mega-CD
60
Based on
14 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
60
[43]
Consoles + (FR)
89
[44]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
34
[40]
Electronic Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
50
[45]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[46]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
40
[47]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
63
[48]
Joypad (HU)
82
[49]
Mega (UK) PAL
58
[6]
Mega Power (UK) PAL
83
[50]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
50
[51]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
0
[52]
Player One (FR)
70
[42]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
62
[53]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
51
[54]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
65
[55]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
59
[56]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
38
[57]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[58]
Sega Mega-CD
58
Based on
19 reviews

Shadow of the Beast II

Mega-CD, US
SotB2 MCD US Box Back.jpgSotB2 MCD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
SotB2 MCD US Disc.jpg
Disc
Sotb2 mcd us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega-CD, EU
SotB2 MCD EU Box Back.jpgSotB2 MCD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
SotB2 MCD EU disc.jpg
Disc
Mega-CD, JP
SotB2 MCD JP Box Back.jpgSotB2 MCD JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
ShadowoftheBeastII MCD JP Spinecard.JPG
Spinecard
SotB2 MCD JP Disc.jpg
Disc

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega-CD
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
456,043,392 CD (EU) T-113045-50
Sega Mega-CD
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
606,827,760 CD (JP) T-60034

References

  1. Sega Visions, "November/December 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 93
  2. 2.0 2.1 GamePro, "March 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 48
  3. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 11
  4. 4.0 4.1 Sega Zone, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-28), page 8
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Computer & Video Games, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-15), page 76
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Mega, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-19), page 39
  7. Computer & Video Games, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-15), page 82
  8. Game Players, "Vol. 6 No. 12 December 1993" (US; 1993-1x-xx), page 152
  9. GamePro, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 188
  10. GamePro, "March 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 46 (48)
  11. Joypad, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 98/99 (98)
  12. 12.0 12.1 Joystick, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 237
  13. 13.0 13.1 Mega, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-17), page 56
  14. Mean Machines Sega, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-28), page 58/59 (58)
  15. Player One, "Janvier/Février 1993" (FR; 1993-01-10), page 94/95 (90)
  16. Sega Force, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-14), page 78/79 (78)
  17. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 203
  18. Consoles +, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 74
  19. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 87
  20. Game Power, "Gennaio 1993" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 54
  21. Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1993" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 46
  22. Joypad, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 98
  23. MegaTech, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-20), page 40
  24. Magazina Igrushek, "1/1996" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 64
  25. Mean Machines Sega, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-28), page 58
  26. Player One, "Janvier/Février 1993" (FR; 1993-01-10), page 94
  27. Play Time, "6/93" (DE; 1993-05-05), page 106
  28. Sega Power, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-07), page 50
  29. Sega Pro, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-14), page 53
  30. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
  31. Sega Zone, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 44
  32. Sega Force, "2/93" (SE; 1993-03-18), page 8
  33. Sega Force, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-14), page 78
  34. Sega Force, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-06), page 75
  35. Supersonic, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 12
  36. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 154
  37. Video Games, "2/93" (DE; 1993-01-27), page 88
  38. Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 20 (22)
  39. Consoles +, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 130/131 (130)
  40. 40.0 40.1 Computer & Video Games, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-15), page 67
  41. Next Generation, "April 1995" (US; 1995-03-21), page 94 (96)
  42. 42.0 42.1 Player One, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 114
  43. Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 22
  44. Consoles +, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 130
  45. Electronic Entertainment, "July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 86
  46. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 34
  47. Famitsu, "1994-08-05" (JP; 1994-07-22), page 1
  48. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 3 March 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 56
  49. Joypad, "2/1994" (HU; 1994-xx-xx), page 12
  50. Mega Power, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-21), page 26
  51. MegaTech, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-19), page 62
  52. Next Generation, "April 1995" (US; 1995-03-21), page 96
  53. Sega Magazine, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-16), page 78
  54. Sega Magazine, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-15), page 96
  55. Sega Power, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-04-28), page 36
  56. Sega Pro, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-21), page 56
  57. Sega Zone, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-xx), page 48
  58. VideoGames, "February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 80