Difference between revisions of "Shadow of the Beast"

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Revision as of 07:09, 9 December 2017

n/a

SotB Title.png

Shadow of the Beast
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Electronic Arts (EU/US), Victor Musical Industries (JP),
Sega Master System
TecMagik
Developer:
Developer(s) of original games: Reflections Interactive
Sound driver: Sound Images v1.0
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥8,8008,800 T-60023
Sega Mega Drive
US
$59.0059.00[2] 709101
Sega Mega Drive
EU
E195SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Sega Master System
EU
27019-50
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
BR
025270

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.


Shadow of the Beast, called Shadow of the Beast: Mashou no Okite (シャドー・オブ・ザ・ビースト 魔性の掟) in Japan, is an action game developed by Reflections Interactive for the Commodore Amiga and published by Psygnosis. It was brought to a variety of systems including the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master System in 1991 and 1992 respectively. It was followed by Shadow of the Beast II and the Amiga-exclusive Shadow of the Beast III.

Gameplay

You play as the Beast Messenger. Born a human child and kidnapped at a young age by mages who serve the Beast Lord, you were transformed into a monster and had all your memories wiped to enter a lifetime of servitude. However, suddenly, all your memories return to you and you seek revenge and escape.

A and C jump. B punches. B in midair kicks. The players has 12 hit points. Losing all of them (gradually or through instant kill attacks/traps) restarts the game as there are no lives. A bazooka-like weapon can be found later on. A short flying section also exists. Hit detection is very strict. Often the player will run into situations were damage is basically unavoidable, or it's more convenient to take a hit on purpose and use the resulting invincibility to avoid further damage by running away.

The game was a baby step into the realm of non-linear game design, as stages can be at least partially explored and re-explored without having all key items. A fixed set of objectives needs to be performed to play the full however.

After collecting the bazooka, the games graphics can glitch when dying or after leaving the castle. (TODO: Confirm this also happens in the Japanese version)

Versions

The Amiga version was considered impressive for it's time with atmospheric soundtrack and graphics, which had multiple scrolling planes, color usage and diverse graphics, however the Sega Mega Drive was scaled back, with some enemies missing or their position being altered.

The Mega Drive game was not optimised for North American NTSC-U machines, and so runs too fast. This was corrected in the Japanese release, which also makes adjustments to the graphics, adds a proper ending sequence and includes a much need additional healing item in a later stage. The changes were reportedly made at the request of Japanese publisher Victor Musical Industries.

Magazine articles

Main article: Shadow of the Beast/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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Mega Drive print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #27: "October 1991" (1991-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Mean Machines (UK) #18: "March 1992" (1992-02-27)
Logo-pdf.svg
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Print advert in Mega Force (FR) #8: "Juillet/Août 1992" (1992-07-07)
also published in:
  • Joypad (FR) #11: "Août/Septembre 1992" (1992-07-1x)[4]
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Gamers (DE) #1992-01: "Februar/März 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
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Master System print advert in Hobby Consolas (ES) #1: "Octubre 1991" (1991-xx-xx)
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Master System print advert in Game Power (IT) #3: "Febbraio 1992" (1992-0-xx)
also published in:
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Artwork

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
42 №2/92, p128[6]
51 №1, p87[7]
84 №28, p48[2]
90 №31, p34
84 №3, p23
78 №40, p138[8]
90 №5, p40-41[9]
84 №4
83 №22, p182[10]
62 №5, p94
48 №9, p21
50 №1, p50-52[11]
82 №15, p120-122[12]
73 №15, p62-63[13]
70 №3/92, p87[14]
34 №2/92, p167
66 №27, p32-33
79 №3, p71[15]
68 №18, p67
54 №1, p89[16]
80 №1, p32-34[17]
37 №1/92, p30[18]
Sega Mega Drive
68
Based on
22 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[19]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
52
[20]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
58
[21]
Consoles + (FR)
75
[22]
Console XS (UK) PAL
78
[23]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7 (RU)
40
[24]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
51
[7]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
84
[2]
Gamers (DE)
33
[25]
Games-X (UK)
90
[26]
Génération 4 (FR)
78
[8]
Game Zone (UK) PAL
84
[27]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[28]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
90
[9]
Joypad (FR)
84
[29]
Joystick (FR)
83
[10]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
62
[30]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
51
[31]
Mega (UK) PAL
48
[32]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
80
[33]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
51
[34]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
50
[11]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
82
[35]
Micro News (FR)
75
[36]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
82
[12]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
82
[37]
Megazone (AU)
79
[38]
Player One (FR)
73
[13]
Play Time (DE)
70
[14]
Power Play (DE)
34
[39]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
66
[40]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
79
[15]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
68
[41]
Sega Force Mega (UK)
54
[16]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
80
[42]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
56
[43]
Tilt (FR)
95
[44]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
52
[45]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
60
[46]
Video Games (DE)
37
[18]
Sega Mega Drive
66
Based on
40 reviews

Shadow of the Beast

Mega Drive, US
SotB MD US Box.jpg
Cover
SotB MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Shadow Of The Beast MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Shadow Of The Beast MD US Poster.pdf
Poster
Mega Drive, EU
SotB MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
SotB MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
SotB MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
ShadowoftheBeast MD JP CartTop.jpg
SotB MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Shadow of the Beast MD JP Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, BR
SotB MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
SotB MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
92 №2, p114-115[47]
82 №121, p100-101[3]
80 №1, p154[48]
86 №2, p38-39[49]
90 №44
90 №3, p21-22
90 №5, p40-41[9]
94 №2, p104-106
92 №21, p148[50]
90 №1, p74-75[51]
80 №53, p85
80 №14, p74-76[52]
80 №19, p93[53]
79 №26, p48
90 №1, p48-49[54]
90 №1, p32-34[17]
92 №1, p24[55]
66 №4/91, p39[56]
Sega Master System
86
Based on
18 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
92
[57]
Console XS (UK) PAL
90
[58]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
82
[3]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
80
[48]
Game Power (IT)
86
[49]
Games-X (UK)
90
[59]
Game Zone (UK) PAL
90
[60]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
90
[9]
Joypad (FR) PAL
94
[61]
Joystick (FR)
92
[50]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
85
[62]
Mega Force (FR)
90
[63]
Mega Force (ES) PAL
90
[51]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
80
[64]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
80
[52]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
80
[65]
Player One (FR)
80
[53]
Play Time (DE)
41
[66]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
79
[67]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[54]
Sega Pro (UK)
90
[68]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[69]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
90
[42]
Supersonic (FR)
92
[55]
Video Games (DE)
66
[56]
Sega Master System
84
Based on
25 reviews

Shadow of the Beast

Master System, EU
SotB SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
SotB SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU

SotB SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
SotB SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
Sotb sms br cart.jpg
Cart
Sotb sms br manual.pdf
Manual

References

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NEC Retro has more information related to Shadow of the Beast
  1. 1.0 1.1 File:SegaPro UK 01.pdf, page 9
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 File:GamePro US 028.pdf, page 52 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 028.pdf_p52" defined multiple times with different content
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 File:CVG UK 121.pdf, page 100 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 121.pdf_p100" defined multiple times with different content
  4. Joypad, "Août/Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-07-1x), page 26
  5. Game Power, "Marzo 1992" (IT; 1992-0x-xx), page 11
  6. File:ASM DE 1992-02.pdf, page 124
  7. 7.0 7.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, Virgin Books, page 87 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide Book UK.pdf_p87" defined multiple times with different content
  8. 8.0 8.1 File:Generation4 FR 040.pdf, page 138 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Generation4 FR 040.pdf_p138" defined multiple times with different content
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 File:HobbyConsolas ES 005.pdf, page 40 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:HobbyConsolas ES 005.pdf_p40" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:HobbyConsolas ES 005.pdf_p40" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:HobbyConsolas ES 005.pdf_p40" defined multiple times with different content
  10. 10.0 10.1 File:Joystick FR 022.pdf, page 182 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 022.pdf_p182" defined multiple times with different content
  11. 11.0 11.1 File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf, page 50 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf_p50" defined multiple times with different content
  12. 12.0 12.1 File:MeanMachines UK 15.pdf, page 122 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 15.pdf_p122" defined multiple times with different content
  13. 13.0 13.1 File:PlayerOne FR 015.pdf, page 62 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 015.pdf_p62" defined multiple times with different content
  14. 14.0 14.1 File:PlayTime DE 1992-03.pdf, page 87 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayTime DE 1992-03.pdf_p87" defined multiple times with different content
  15. 15.0 15.1 File:SegaPro UK 03.pdf, page 71 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 03.pdf_p71" defined multiple times with different content
  16. 16.0 16.1 File:SegaForceMega UK 01.pdf, page 89 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForceMega UK 01.pdf_p89" defined multiple times with different content
  17. 17.0 17.1 File:SegaForce UK 01.pdf, page 32
  18. 18.0 18.1 File:VideoGames DE 1992-01.pdf, page 30 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:VideoGames DE 1992-01.pdf_p30" defined multiple times with different content
  19. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 203
  20. Aktueller Software Markt, "Februar 1992" (DE; 1992-01-10), page 128
  21. Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-07), page 37
  22. Consoles +, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 50
  23. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 133
  24. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 250
  25. Gamers, "Februar/März 1992" (DE; 1992-xx-xx), page 33
  26. Games-X, "21st-27th November 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 34
  27. Game Zone, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-18), page 23
  28. Hippon Super, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-04), page 85
  29. Joypad, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 1991-12-1x), page 92
  30. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 94
  31. Mega Drive Fan, "June 1992" (JP; 1992-05-08), page 83
  32. Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21
  33. Mega Force, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-19), page 93
  34. Mega Fun, "11/92" (DE; 1992-10-xx), page 42
  35. Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 31
  36. Micro News, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 204
  37. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
  38. Megazone, "April/May 1992" (AU; 1992-0x-xx), page 41
  39. Power Play, "2/92" (DE; 1992-01-xx), page 167
  40. Sega Power, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 32
  41. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
  42. 42.0 42.1 Sega Force, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 30
  43. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  44. Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 46
  45. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 154
  46. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "December 1991" (US; 1991-1x-xx), page 54
  47. File:ConsolesPlus FR 002.pdf, page 106
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  49. 49.0 49.1 File:GamePower IT 02.pdf, page 40 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePower IT 02.pdf_p40" defined multiple times with different content
  50. 50.0 50.1 File:Joystick FR 021.pdf, page 148 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 021.pdf_p148" defined multiple times with different content
  51. 51.0 51.1 File:MegaForce ES 01.pdf, page 74 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaForce ES 01.pdf_p74" defined multiple times with different content
  52. 52.0 52.1 File:MeanMachines UK 14.pdf, page 74 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 14.pdf_p74" defined multiple times with different content
  53. 53.0 53.1 File:PlayerOne FR 019.pdf, page 93 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 019.pdf_p93" defined multiple times with different content
  54. 54.0 54.1 File:SegaPro UK 01.pdf, page 48 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 01.pdf_p48" defined multiple times with different content
  55. 55.0 55.1 File:Supersonic FR 01.pdf, page 20 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Supersonic FR 01.pdf_p20" defined multiple times with different content
  56. 56.0 56.1 File:VideoGames DE 1991-04.pdf, page 39 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:VideoGames DE 1991-04.pdf_p39" defined multiple times with different content
  57. Consoles +, "Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-05), page 114
  58. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 144
  59. Games-X, "27th February-4th March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-27), page 24
  60. Game Zone, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-18), page 21
  61. Joypad, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-1x), page 104
  62. Mega Force, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-19), page 73
  63. Mega Force, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-05-05), page 70
  64. Micromanía (segunda época), "Octubre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 85
  65. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136
  66. Play Time, "7/92" (DE; 1992-06-03), page 95
  67. Sega Power, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-05), page 48
  68. Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 28
  69. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72