8/3/2023 0 Comments Shadow warrior 3 series![]() ![]() Granted, it would be difficult to listen to more Lo Wang, given how annoying he is. Not only does it not yield a deep enough experience to dig into, it doesn’t even give players much of a chance to do said digging with its lack of other modes. There’s value in just running through a game once, but it’s a missed opportunity here. ![]() Shooters like this benefit from mastery and this game just doesn’t allow that, which is absolutely devastating for its replayability. Since it is already pretty easy even on hard, there’s no reason to try and crank it up to the next difficulty. There’s almost no reason to revisit it, as there’s no new game plus or even a chapter select to hunt down its collectible upgrade orbs. Games are often too long, and, as Wang would probably attest to, it’s not the size that matters but how that size is used. Its campaign is relatively brief and can be cleared in around six or seven hours. There’s not much of a long run in Shadow Warrior 3. However, that power fantasy isn’t earned and, thus, not as fulfilling in the long run. All of these mechanics and the dumb enemies do make for a satisfying power fantasy at times that can be a highlight in certain scenarios. There’s also a last breath mechanic that always steps in and automatically saves the day and recharges quickly enough to make Wang feel like an unkillable god. If Doom is combat chess - thoughtful and engaging - then Shadow Warrior 3 is combat 52-card pick-up since it is exciting at first, but a little mindless and tiresome after the initial burst of energy dies down. ![]() It’s not as elegantly woven together as the most recent Doom games, which is a tough comparison but one it invites since it so clearly borrows from those titles. There are other systems here like using the sword for different resources and a clever Glory Kill-like mechanic that gives Wang a new temporary weapon (although some of those weapons are unwieldy), but the game never demands that players fully take advantage of them. Even on the hardest difficulty, this overly simplistic bestiary will almost never swarm the player in a way that’s actually intense they just don’t have the AI or the agility to be that big of a threat. Shadow Warrior 3 has off-putting things that were seemingly plucked from different games that don’t match the setting and tone of this title at all. There’s no consistency as one is a weird drill with one single, tedious attack pattern while another is a flamboyant jack-in-the-box-like being. ![]() Enemies are hideous, both in their gaudy, oversaturated color palettes and bewildering designs that look as if they were crude children’s drawings brought to life. The broad overview of its combat loop paints a blood-soaked and rosy picture of what ends up being a collection of systems that don’t always fulfill their potential. It’s quicker and more liberating, making it a step above the prior two installments. Arenas are often filled with different environmental hazards and grappling hook points that players can use to their advantage and be more creative in how they wreak havoc. Wall-running, dashing, and grappling around also lets players close the distance even more quickly, so it’s hard to not always be shooting or slicing. The general energy of combat is thrilling and switching back and forth between weapons to kill its many weird foes adds to this frenetic nature. Shadow Warrior 3’s shootouts move at a brisk pace where enemies dump in and explode at an alarming frequency, always giving the player a steady stream of poor saps to turn into goo. Levels are incredibly linear, but that’s where fast-paced first-person shooters like this excel, and Shadow Warrior 3 doesn’t stray far from what’s expected in the genre. It ditches the co-op nature and all of the superfluous loot and wide-open maps from Shadow Warrior 2, making it a more focused and traditional shooter experience. Shadow Warrior 3 is one of those third entries that quickly addresses where the second game failed and tries to channel the first game, much like the original Devil May Cry trilogy. While this third entry does tease a better, stronger Wang, it’s also a soft and disappointing package overall. The disappointing, trend-chasing sequel tarnished that reputation a little, putting pressure on Shadow Warrior 3 to get Lo Wang back on track. It was a competent reimagining that lived in the shadow of those Bethesda titles but was one decent distraction nonetheless. Doom and Wolfenstein weren’t the only two ‘90s shooters that got modern revitalizations as Shadow Warrior also got a reboot of its own in 2013. ![]()
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