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Shadows of the Damned: Beautiful, stylish, fantastic music ...and an absolute bore =(

A

AgentOtaku

Member
ShadowsOfTheDamned.jpg
ShadowsOfTheDamned.jpg
ShadowsOfTheDamned.jpg


I've been trying to finish this for months now and I just keep losing interest, going off to play other things instead.

What went wrong here? I mean it's:

- It's stylish as hell..

- Visually has it's moments

- Has some of the most AMAZING loadscreen music I've ever heard (and great music in general)...

- Some pretty great writing and an under-appreciated performance from Steve Blum

- Solid controls that someone like say, Capcom, could learn a thing or two from

...but it's an absolute bore to actually play.

I got up to the
part right after the 2D shmup
. That alone really compounds the problem with the game as a whole. A series of inspired moments with nothing interesting to do in-between but lazily trudge onward until you hit the next spike.
Even early on, I struggled to accept the core mechanics of the game ....because they felt so basic and flat. I heard myself time and time again repeat in my head "Is this it? ...I hope not"

The actual shooting (not the handling, that's fine) is pretty aggravating because the developers felt that making your targets as small as possible would be a fun challenge ....it isn't, it just further increases frustration and tedium as you're continuously trying to hit itty-bitty red spots.
Maybe the roughness/unrefined gameplay loop is part of the appeal? Like say Grasshopper's other "Punk" experience, No More Heroes? I think it's just an excuse for undercooked gameplay that feels sloppily thrown together. I mean, how many times was this game rebooted anyway?
Also, even though I think it's technically pretty good from a visual standpoint (a UE3 game that is actually better on PS3!?), it's also stiflingly repetitive, with both the environments and enemies, of which you will fight the same 3 or so types over and over again.

I feel like it's my duty to just suck it up and appreciate the genuine uniqueness of the title. But I don't think I (or anyone else) should have to suffer for meh gameplay just because something is exceedingly cool to look at.

=(
 
S

Semblance

shhh Graham I'm still compiling this Radiant map
It's just okay. Not something I'd ever go back to, admittedly, and I don't think I'd recommend it to friends either.
The third sister boss fight
and onward felt as if they stopped caring and just wanted to wrap things up.
 
T

TheOddOne

Member
I'm feel the complete opposite, it has it's rough edges but some reason they compliment it too.

Still, this game should have gotten a year extra development and it would have been a classic.
 
J

Jenga

Banned
Okay I loved No More Heroes even with all its flaws.

I love Akira Yamaoka.

Should I buy this for 20 bux down the line or just get the OST?
 
I

IzzyF3

Member
Sounds like my exact complaints on Dead Space 1 (Dead Space 2 was great). I thought the shooting was pretty terrible upon first impressions. The aiming was really wonky and the sound of the weapons was incredibly dull, but after a few hours in, I got used to the aiming and the game really grew on me. Doing head shots in this game is much more rewarding than any other single player shooter since the controls does require a bit of mastery.

The bosses come fairly often which means your weapons gets an upgrade just as quickly. I loved all of the weapon upgrades. Did the fast pace of the game not pull you in?

It's a lot of fun, but still highly flawed. Just like many of Suda's other works, you play it for his world, but just as you said, it does feel like the environments repeat quite often, and I generally don't like UE3 games because of the texture pop-in and this game has a LOT of it. They are all distractions from feeling completely immersed with Suda's world.
 
E

EatChildren

Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Easily one of my favourite games of last year. Awesome atmosphere, incredible soundtrack, great encounter/level variety, crazy story, and meaty feeling shooting mechanics. The only thing I didn't really like was how short it was, or more specifically the lack of unlockables. Everything else was the bees knees.
 
V

Vinterbird

Member
Jenga said:
Okay I loved No More Heroes even with all its flaws.

I love Akira Yamaoka.

Should I buy this for 20 bux down the line or just get the OST?
Click to expand...

It's a entertaining as hell game, it's a flawed and not as good RE4 gameplay experience, but the voice acting, the visuals and the overall feel of the game is totally worth it. Buy it, and dedicate a saturday to take it in one go.
 
M

MagicWithEarvin

Member
Quite the memorable game...
I actually got the Platinum Trophy for the game - not that it was challenging, but it was fun to get. I liked it - crazy ass, bats*** insane world, even though it felt slow as hell.
 
A

AgentOtaku

Member
EatChildren said:
Easily one of my favourite games of last year. Awesome atmosphere, incredible soundtrack, great encounter/level variety, crazy story, and meaty feeling shooting mechanics. The only thing I didn't really like was how short it was, or more specifically the lack of unlockables. Everything else was the bees knees.
Click to expand...

Short it is?

I feel like it goes on forever and ever =(

Maybe I'll rebuy down the road for $10 or something and give it another go
 
E

Edgeward

Member
OneMoreQuestion said:
There are three more
shmup
events, I hope you like them.
Click to expand...

Each one is more tedious than the last. The boss of those levels is also drawn out and boring. And if they just stopped with so much of the light/dark segments I would like it better because when it does become more actiony and throws a number of enemies at you it becomes quite entertaining, rolling and shooting. Also chase sequences. Fuck that. Didn't know about the secret until after I did them all but still. Scary, yes. Frustrating? Even more so.
 
T

The Return of

Banned
I fucking love the theme song for this game!!!! !!! !!!!!!

I really really enjoyed this game, the only thing I didn't like were no unlockables and the 2D levels. Everything else felt fine and really enjoyable to me.

Edit: I should play this game again though because I actually played this game while my PS3 was dying. I had tons of artifact issues popping up which was distracting me from gameplay, also I now have a bigger tv.
 
L

Ledsen

Member
Small targets? Limited gameplay? Did we play the same game? To me, SotD has some of the most fun gameplay this gen, in terms of third-person shooters. Really loved the core mechanics, the enemies and the basic gameplay loop. Very satisfying controls, animations and sound design. I've never heard someone complain about small targets though, and I never had a problem with it either.
 
P

psykomyko

Member
One of the best games of last year, absolutely loved it. The soundtrack is one of the best in video games I have ever heard.
 
A

amar212

Member
Ledsen said:
Small targets? Limited gameplay? Did we play the same game? To me, SotD has some of the most fun gameplay this gen, in terms of third-person shooters. Really loved the core mechanics, the enemies and the basic gameplay loop. Very satisfying controls, animations and sound design. I've never heard someone complain about small targets though, and I never had a problem with it either.
Click to expand...

My exact sentiments.

Great and special game.
 
KingJ2002

KingJ2002

Member
I agree 100 percent... i forced myself to complete the game.. sent it right back to gamefly and was happy to do so.

loved the game design but man... i just couldn't keep interested.

maybe if it had a more arcade like feel to it's gameplay... like what vanquish accomplished... it would have added to the replay value.
 
C

Chemo

Member
Damn, I don't understand this at all. Shadows of the Damned was in my top 3 of 2011, and I've played through it multiple times. Was just considering another playthrough the other day... this thread seems like a good reason to go right ahead and do it.

Sucks you couldn't get into it, though.
 
A

abstract alien

Member
Yeah, I can completely understand where you are coming from honestly. I think I was able to get into it due to the fact that I rarely play shooters, and this one just happened to come around at the right time for me. A few parts really keep it from where it should be, but outside of those its a very decent game. Got into it and where the story was going, really enjoyed the characters, the wit...I guess I would say I ended up liking it. I hate obviously bad design choices though, and this game had its share of them.

It didn't keep me from having fun with it though, which says something I suppose.
 
A

AgentOtaku

Member
Ledsen said:
Small targets? Limited gameplay? Did we play the same game? To me, SotD has some of the most fun gameplay this gen, in terms of third-person shooters. Really loved the core mechanics, the enemies and the basic gameplay loop. Very satisfying controls, animations and sound design. I've never heard someone complain about small targets though, and I never had a problem with it either.
Click to expand...

No offense, but you play ALOT of 3rd person shooters this gen?

SO MUCH MORE better stuff out there.

That being said, the controls are satisfying ...now if only the enemies were, you know, actually fun to shoot.

abstract alien said:
Yeah, I can completely understand where you are coming from honestly. I think I was able to get into it due to the fact that I rarely play shooters, and this one just happened to come around at the right time for me. A few parts really keep it from where it should be, but outside of those its a very decent game. Got into it and where the story was going, really enjoyed the characters, the wit...I guess I would say I ended up liking it. I hate obviously bad design choices though, and this game had its share of them.

It didn't keep me from having fun with it though, which says something I suppose.
Click to expand...

Yep, sincerely think the world is pretty rad ...dat gameplay though =(
 
jufonuk

jufonuk

not tag worthy
I feel the same as the OP, I keep losing interest in the game... for some reason I am not compelled to carry on to the end..I lose interest... I keep coming back to it at a later date

it isn't boring on the Whole but I fail to get Hooked, don't kill me Suda51/Mikami GAF, it's just the way I feel

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=29224410&postcount=1810

jufonuk said:
Game Hasn't Clicked with me.. I thought I was gonna get blown away by it.. but so far it seems pretty standard fair..why does Suda 51 love poop so much?

also very linear, wish it had more to explore..
so far it seems to be:
go through here, is dark ? y/n
N, Kill demons with Johnson

Y, Shoot goat head or light fireworks kill gargoyles,deal with dark demons. repeat until done.

proceed through here, Demon pubes, wait until dark shoot connection,. walk some more
baby faces in gate, they need feedin strawberry or brains, go find them, swamped by multiple demons kill them until you can proceed, give baby food proceed.
run through darkness deal with demons, light fireworks or grab human hearts, ruuuuuun to goat head shoot it clear darkness, kill demons
big boss fight learn weak point kill boss, oh look hears Paula, wait.. she is dying again...next level repeat

(get up grades etc while playing).. I am not hating on the game I am really not, it just hasn't got me hooked, yet, so far I am in area 5-2 I think, how many chapters ?

Love Christopher though..he is like the merchant but more insane.
Love the Music, love the interplay between Johnson and Garcia.


please don't think I am trolling or hating,still cracking on with the game though when I get time to play. I am just not feeling it as much as I thought I would...

ohh here goes posting this anyway...
Click to expand...

my old post about the game, sums it up
 
U

Urban Scholar

Member
Not sure if it means anything but I only played this game when I had a bout of insomnia. In the middle of the night all the low points were tolerable plus I guess it helped I was sort of out of it.
 
L

Ledsen

Member
AgentOtaku said:
No offense, but you play ALOT of 3rd person shooters this gen?

SO MUCH MORE better stuff out there.

That being said, the controls are satisfying ...now if only the enemies were, you know, actually fun to shoot.



Yep, sincerely think the world is pretty rad ...dat gameplay though =(
Click to expand...

Yes, I've played tons of them.
 
B

Bjoern the Smexy

Member
I think this is one of Suda51's best games.
The only gripe I have with this game is that it's quite buggy.
In one level I accidentaly opened the game's developer console...I don't know how I did that.
I mean, I have the game for PS3. How the hell did I do that?

Anyway I love the game not only for it's awesome story (and the pretty cool twist at the end) but also for it's funny humor and movie references (I really LOVED the Evil Dead reference in that one level).

Great game. I had fun playing it. Was not bored at all.
 
E

EatChildren

Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
AgentOtaku said:
No offense, but you play ALOT of 3rd person shooters this gen?

SO MUCH MORE better stuff out there.

That being said, the controls are satisfying ...now if only the enemies were, you know, actually fun to shoot.
Click to expand...

See, I think it's tons of fun to shoot enemies. I love the weight and sound behind enemies, the gore, and the satisfying impacts. Great aiming controls too. I didn't have any of the shooting issues you had.

I mean, it's no Vanquish, but I had more fun shooting shit in SotD than I did the Uncharted trilogy.
 
S

Spwn

Member
Breezed through the game on the hardest difficulty in a couple of day although I did have some trouble with the final boss. One of my favorite games of last year, although I admit the gameplay was it's weakest point. The contrast between the absolutely hilarious dialog and the deliberately over-the-top horror setting accompanied by the seriously haunting music made it a delight to go through. Sure it is linear and simplistic gameplay-wise, but the uniqueness of it is so charming.
 
D

Dascu

Member
Bjoern the Smexy said:
I think this is one of Suda51's best games.
The only gripe I have with this game is that it's quite buggy.
In one level I accidentaly opened the game's developer console...I don't know how I did that.
I mean, I have the game for PS3. How the hell did I do that?

Anyway I love the game not only for it's awesome story (and the pretty cool twist at the end) but also for it's funny humor and movie references (I really LOVED the Evil Dead reference in that one level).

Great game. I had fun playing it. Was not bored at all.
Click to expand...

Maybe it was intentional, like in Killer7's pause menu.
 
P

Pie and Beans

Look for me on the local news, I'll be the guy arrested for trying to burn down a Nintendo exec's house.
If there had been a demo of the first level and perhaps boss, I would have taken away everything of worth this game had to give. They clearly had no idea where to take the mechanics at all beyond a certain point, so it all feels repetitive and drudging.

3 of the same slow, boring, side-scroller shooter bits is bad enough, but 3 un-intuitive turret section dooms the entire package to writing Grasshopper out of my gaming interests forever more. Maybe Chainsaw Lollipop will be alright, I dunno. I won't touch it until plenty of others weigh in.
 
N

Nocturnowl

Member
I enjoyed the game far more than I expected to almost entirely due to how much I was enjoying the shooting, even if the game got repetitive at times there was still something so satisfying about taking down enemies whichever way you went for it, which is something that I don't tend to enjoy in most modern shooters.
Felt like an enjoyable and humorous spin on the Resi 4 style, though the 2D shooter sections were pretty horrible.
 
N

Natiko

Banned
I can't agree with the OP here. It wasn't a homerun but it certainly wasn't a bore to me. I'd say it easily outclassed plenty of third person shooting games as far as gameplay. That combined with the presentation from style to music to the voice acting, it was just a really great package. A shame more people didn't give it a shot.
 
B

Brazil

Living in the shadow of Amaz
I wasn't bored at all during my first playthrough. I tried going for the Platinum shortly after and couldn't, though.

The gameplay is basically Resident Evil 4 101... And I don't find that boring. It ain't really challenging or innovative, but it's fun.
 
R

randomlyrossy

Member
I just played through it last week myself. I enjoyed pretty much everything about it, though I agree the shooting isn't great. The pistol is the main issue, it's far too hard to aim it properly.

But that's why I stuck with the other weapons like the machine gun for most of it and only used the pistol when I absolutely had to.

By the end I did think it was dragging on a bit, but I loved the world and atmosphere. Some of my favourite moments though were the times you'd just get to sit and listen to Johnson and Garcia talk, whether it be reading a book or whatever.

Definitely glad I played it, a unique and fun experience for the most part.
 
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