Difference between revisions of "Shadow of the Beast"

Revision as of 23:46, 23 April 2021

n/a

Mega Drive
Master System

Shadow of the Beast

System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System

Publisher:

Electronic Arts (US/EU)

Victor Musical Industries (JP)

TecMagik

Developer: Reflections Interactive, Psygnosis

WJS Design

TecMagik

Original system(s): Amiga

Developer(s) of original games: Reflections Interactive

Sound driver:

Sound Images v1.0

Genre: Action^[1], Arcade^[2]

Number of players: 1

Official in-game languages:

English

Français

Deutsch

Español

日本語

English

Français

Deutsch

Español

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1992-03-27^[1]	¥8,800 (9,064)8,800e^[3]	T-60023
US	1991-11^[4]	$59.0059.00^[5]	709101
EU	1991-11^[6]		E195SMXI
UK	1991-11^[6]	£39.9939.99^[7]	E195SMXI
AU	199x
BR	199x
EU	1991-11-21^[4]		27019-50
UK	1991-11-21^[4]	£34.9934.99^[8]	27019-50
AU	199x
BR	1992		025270

Non-Sega versions
Amiga Amstrad CPC Atari ST Commodore 64 FM Towns Lynx Super CD-ROM² ZX Spectrum

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.

and jump. punches. 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.

Master Systen version is even more scaled back from the Mega Drive port. Most of the interior background art is removed and replaced with simplified dark or blue backgrounds. It has no cutscenes like the ones seen in 16bit ports and instead they are replaced with black and white text.

Developers of the Master System version somehow felt the need to introduce an inventory system to the game. In every other version, power ups and other items are instantly used while in the Master System port, they are added to the inventory, which is accessible by pressing 2 button. While this can be considered a benefical update, as it allows players to stock up and use items later, inventory can only carry 7 items and game gives no clue about the item in your possession. Not even the manual explains what these items do and only way to find out their effects is to use them, which may result in players wasting a precious quest item and potentially ruin the game. (Used quest items do not return) In the original game, all common and important items are used immidiately after picking up. Using button 2 as an inventory screen also forces players to use up in the direction pad to jump, not the best button configuration for a side scrolling platforming game. Why developers decided to make this baffling change is unknown.

Master System version is also announces the player every time a boss appears, making this the only port of the game in which names of the bosses can be seen.

Localised names

Also known as
Language	Localised Name	English Translation
English	Shadow of the Beast	Shadow of the Beast
English (US)	Shadow of the Beast	Shadow of the Beast
Japanese	シャドー･オブ･ザ･ビースト魔性の掟	Shadow of the Beast: Mashou no Okite

Magazine articles

Main article: Shadow of the Beast/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Shadow of the Beast/Promotional material.

Artwork

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

40

^[26]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

52

^[27]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

58

^[28]

Consoles + (FR)

75

^[29]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

78

^[30]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7 (RU)

40

^[31]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

51

^[12]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

84

^[5]

Gamers (DE)

33

^[32]

Games-X (UK)

90

^[33]

Génération 4 (FR)

78

^[14]

Game Zone (UK)

PAL

84

^[34]

Hippon Super (JP)

NTSC-J

60

^[35]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

90

^[36]

Joypad (FR)

84

^[37]

Joystick (FR)

83

^[16]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

PAL

62

^[38]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

51

^[39]

Mega (UK)

PAL

48

^[40]

Mega Force (FR)

PAL

80

^[41]

Mega Fun (DE)

NTSC-U

51

^[42]

MegaTech (UK)

PAL

50

^[43]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

82

^[44]

Micro News (FR)

75

^[45]

Mean Machines (UK)

PAL

82

^[46]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

82

^[47]

Megazone (AU)

79

^[48]

Player One (FR)

73

^[49]

Play Time (DE)

70

^[20]

Power Play (DE)

34

^[50]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

66

^[51]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

79

^[22]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

68

^[52]

Sega Force Mega (UK)

54

^[23]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

80

^[53]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

56

^[11]

Tilt (FR)

95

^[54]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

52

^[55]

VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US)

NTSC-U

60

^[56]

Video Games (DE)

37

^[25]

	66
Based on 40 reviews

Shadow of the Beast

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual Poster

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU
Cover

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, ZA/KE/LS/MZ/NA/BW/SZ/ZW
Cover
Cart Manual Poster

Master System version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Consoles + (FR)

92

^[57]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

90

^[58]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

82

^[8]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

80

^[59]

Game Power (IT)

86

^[60]

Games-X (UK)

90

^[61]

Game Zone (UK)

PAL

90

^[62]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

90

^[36]

Joypad (FR)

PAL

94

^[63]

Joystick (FR)

92

^[64]

Mega Force (FR)

PAL

85

^[65]

Mega Force (FR)

90

^[66]

Mega Force (ES)

PAL

90

^[67]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

80

^[68]

Mean Machines (UK)

PAL

80

^[69]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

80

^[70]

Player One (FR)

80

^[71]

Play Time (DE)

41

^[72]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

79

^[73]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

90

^[74]

Sega Pro (UK)

90

^[75]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

90

^[76]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

90

^[53]

Supersonic (FR)

92

^[77]

Video Games (DE)

66

^[78]

	84
Based on 25 reviews

Shadow of the Beast

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

?

CRC32	1575581d
MD5	abc8a9e43c588c7d0535cc8305bdbf94
SHA-1	45943b021cbaee80a149b80ddb6f3fb5eb8b9e43

256kB

Cartridge (EU)

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Shadow of the Beast

Shadow of the Beast
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Maps \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Video coverage \| Reception \| Promotional material \| Region coding \| Technical information \| Bootlegs No results

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200702232146.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fmegadrive.2Fsoftware_l.html-1] 1.0 ^1.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)

[:File:SotB_SMS_EU_Box.jpg_p-2] File:SotB SMS EU Box.jpg

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1992-03.pdf_p10-3] Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1992" (JP; 1992-02-08), page 10

[:File:SegaPro_UK_01.pdf_p9-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 9

[:File:GamePro_US_028.pdf_p52-5] 5.0 ^5.1 GamePro, "November 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 52

[:File:SegaPower_UK_25.pdf_p11-6] 6.0 ^6.1 Sega Power, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-10-30), page 11

[:File:SegaPower_UK_27.pdf_p33-7] Sega Power, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 33

[:File:CVG_UK_121.pdf_p100-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Computer & Video Games, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-15), page 100

[:File:ASM_DE_1992-02.pdf_p124_.28128.29-9] Aktueller Software Markt, "Februar 1992" (DE; 1992-01-10), page 128 (124)

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1992-04.pdf_p37_.2835.29-10] Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-07), page 35 (37)

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p87-11] 11.0 ^11.1 Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p87-12] 12.0 ^12.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 87

[:File:GamePro_US_028.pdf_p52_.2848.29-13] GamePro, "November 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 48 (52)

[:File:Generation4_FR_040.pdf_p138-14] 14.0 ^14.1 Génération 4, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 138

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_005.pdf_p40_.2840-41.29-15] Hobby Consolas, "Febrero 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 40-41 (40)

[:File:Joystick_FR_022.pdf_p182-16] 16.0 ^16.1 Joystick, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 182

[:File:MegaTech_UK_01.pdf_p50_.2850-52.29-17] MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 50-52 (50)

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_15.pdf_p122_.28120-122.29-18] Mean Machines, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-28), page 120-122 (122)

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_015.pdf_p62_.2862-63.29-19] Player One, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 62-63 (62)

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1992-03.pdf_p87-20] 20.0 ^20.1 Play Time, "3/92" (DE; 1992-02-05), page 87

[:File:SegaPower_UK_27.pdf_p32_.2832-33.29-21] Sega Power, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 32-33 (32)

[:File:SegaPro_UK_03.pdf_p71-22] 22.0 ^22.1 Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 71

[:File:SegaForceMega_UK_01.pdf_p89-23] 23.0 ^23.1 Sega Force Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-24), page 89

[:File:SegaForce_UK_01.pdf_p32_.2832-34.29-24] Sega Force, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 32-34 (32)

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-01.pdf_p30-25] 25.0 ^25.1 Video Games, "1/92" (DE; 1992-02-03), page 30

[26] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 203

[:File:ASM_DE_1992-02.pdf_p128-27] Aktueller Software Markt, "Februar 1992" (DE; 1992-01-10), page 128

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1992-04.pdf_p37-28] Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-07), page 37

[29] Consoles +, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 50

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p133-30] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 133

[31] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 7, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 250

[:File:Gamers_DE_1992-01.pdf_p33-32] Gamers, "Februar/März 1992" (DE; 1992-xx-xx), page 33

[:File:GamesX_UK_31.pdf_p34-33] Games-X, "21st-27th November 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 34

[:File:GameZone_UK_03.pdf_p23-34] Game Zone, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-18), page 23

[35] Hippon Super, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-04), page 85

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_005.pdf_p40-36] 36.0 ^36.1 Hobby Consolas, "Febrero 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 40

[:File:Joypad_FR_004.pdf_p92-37] Joypad, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 1991-12-1x), page 92

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p94-38] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 94

[:File:Mdfan_JP_1992-06.pdf_p83-39] Mega Drive Fan, "June 1992" (JP; 1992-05-08), page 83

[:File:Mega_UK_09.pdf_p21-40] Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21

[:File:MegaForce_FR_03.pdf_p93-41] Mega Force, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-19), page 93

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1992-11.pdf_p42-42] Mega Fun, "11/92" (DE; 1992-10-xx), page 42

[:File:MegaTech_UK_01.pdf_p50-43] MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 50

[:File:Micromania2_ES_045.pdf_p31-44] Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 31

[45] Micro News, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 204

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_15.pdf_p122-46] Mean Machines, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-28), page 122

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p140-47] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140

[:File:Megazone_AU_21.pdf_p41-48] Megazone, "April/May 1992" (AU; 1992-0x-xx), page 41

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_015.pdf_p62-49] Player One, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 62

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1992-02.pdf_p167-50] Power Play, "2/92" (DE; 1992-01-xx), page 167

[:File:SegaPower_UK_27.pdf_p32-51] Sega Power, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 32

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p67-52] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67

[:File:SegaForce_UK_01.pdf_p30-53] 53.0 ^53.1 Sega Force, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 30

[:File:Tilt_FR_097.pdf_p46-54] Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 46

[55] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 154

[:File:VG.26amp.3BCE_US_35.pdf_p54-56] VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "December 1991" (US; 1991-1x-xx), page 54

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_002.pdf_p114-57] Consoles +, "Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-05), page 114

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p144-58] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 144

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p154-59] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 154

[:File:GamePower_IT_02.pdf_p40-60] Game Power, "Gennaio 1992" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 40

[:File:GamesX_UK_44.pdf_p24-61] Games-X, "27th February-4th March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-27), page 24

[:File:GameZone_UK_03.pdf_p21-62] Game Zone, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-18), page 21

[:File:Joypad_FR_002.pdf_p104-63] Joypad, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-1x), page 104

[:File:Joystick_FR_021.pdf_p148-64] Joystick, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 148

[:File:MegaForce_FR_03.pdf_p73-65] Mega Force, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-19), page 73

[:File:MegaForce_FR_06.pdf_p70-66] Mega Force, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-05-05), page 70

[:File:MegaForce_ES_01.pdf_p74-67] Mega Force, "Mayo 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 74

[:File:Micromania2_ES_053.pdf_p85-68] Micromanía (segunda época), "Octubre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 85

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_14.pdf_p74-69] Mean Machines, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-29), page 74

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p136-70] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_019.pdf_p93-71] Player One, "Avril 1992" (FR; 1992-04-10), page 93

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1992-07.pdf_p95-72] Play Time, "7/92" (DE; 1992-06-03), page 95

[:File:SegaPower_UK_26.pdf_p48-73] Sega Power, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-05), page 48

[:File:SegaPro_UK_01.pdf_p48-74] Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 48

[:File:SegaPro_UK_06.pdf_p28-75] Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 28

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p72-76] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72

[:File:Supersonic_FR_01.pdf_p20-77] Supersonic, "Mai/Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 20

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1991-04.pdf_p39-78] Video Games, "4/91" (DE; 1991-12-06), page 39

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@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 | originaldevelopers=[[Reflections Interactive]]
 | originalsystem=[[Amiga]]
-| languages=<br>{{MD}}{{LanguageList|en|fr|de|es|jp}}{{SMS}}{{LanguageList|en|fr|de|es|}}
+| languages=<br>{{MD}}{{LanguageList|en|fr|de|es|jp}}{{SMS}}{{LanguageList|en|fr|de|es}}
 | releases={{releasesMD
 | md_date_jp=1992-03-27{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20200702232146/https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html}}

Difference between revisions of "Shadow of the Beast"

From Sega Retro

Revision as of 23:46, 23 April 2021

Contents

Gameplay

Versions

Localised names

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Artwork

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Master System version

Technical information

ROM dump status

References