Shadow of the Beast | Versions Comparison

[@retrosutra]

👉 Check out my versions comparison of Shadow of the Beast with Spanish commentary: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5SukqOlmpJpiNU ❤ Support us by subscribing to our channel, and don't forget to click the bell icon to get new updates: kzbin.info 👉 Check out all our comparisons: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZXOn6utrtB-nKc

[@dunnono00]

This game was always an audio/visual feast... very otherworldly and cryptic. If the gameplay could have matched its other qualities, it might have been a world beater.

[@Leeki85]

Gameplay was constrained by the hardware tricks they used. Screen is divided into multiple horizontal bars. This was the only way to achieve so deep parallax backgrounds. With such design there was not much room for gameplay design. This is just one of these games, where they try to push hardware so much, that everything else doesn't matter. In Shadow of The Beast they at least managed to bring somewhat playable experience. Such games usually age really badly, since while programmers had to use clever tricks and game design to pull of that graphics on Amiga. Just few years later Playstation 1 could simply brute force such visuals without any constraint for gameplay. Pretty much put dozens (hundreds?) of sprites on as many layers as you needed.

[@roadkill_52]

@@Leeki85 Games don't "age", they are not milk. They are either good or bad regardless of your taste (and you may change your opinion over the years, which doesn't mean the game "aged", as you are the only who changed)

[@plume...]

Notice that in the C64 version PSYGNOSIS is misspelled as PYSGNOSIS in the scrolling start text :) No downloadable updates back then, that C64 cartridge is like that forever :)

[@BAZFANSHOTHITSClassicTunes]

Good shout. I never noticed the mispell and i had the cartridge.

[@TheGlovener1985]

Also it was dma design that did the conversion. Funny they went on to make gta

[@plume...]

@@TheGlovener1985 I'm surprised they didn't call themselves DAM design and go on to make TGA...

[@R3tr0-ld4xb]

The C64's music - simply awesome!

[@MagisterHamid]

The Lynx version is quite advanced for such limited hardware. It even got parallax scrolling in the backgrounds.

[@Saxdude26]

Yeeeeees! The polarising but iconic game with stellar graphics, immaculate music, and a difficulty curve that is unapologetic. I will say, I'm surprised you didn't add the PS4 remake on the end, it remains the only means of playing any version on current platforms - with the Amiga version also being included as an unlockable.

[@PlasticCogLiquid]

That wasn't really a remake. It seemed more like a re-imagining. I didn't like it much.

[@Saxdude26]

@@PlasticCogLiquid To each their own, I appreciate what it attempted, gameplay wise and aesthetically. Worse comes to worst the Amiga version is unlockable, so it's a 2-in-1 deal... still think I preferred it over Flashback's remake attempt, personally.

[@RaposaCadela]

Looks absolutely stunning on all platforms, but the Atari 8-bit and Master System versions really blew me away!

[@bearisland638]

Amiga eats all the rest for breakfast.

[@Saxdude26]

That parallax scrolling is incredible. No other port comes close, not even FM Towns which is my personal fave from this list.

[@bearisland638]

@@Saxdude26 In 1989 it made a huge impression and showed the hidden power of the Amiga. At that time, among home devices, only the Sega Genesis and Amiga offered a vibe similar to the Arcade system. Besides, you're right, Fm Town is better in some respects, but it was created 2 years later.

[@ΣπύροςΚουκάκης-ι6β]

Amiga forever!!!

[@officina_digitale]

Endeed

[@coach7304]

​@@officina_digitaleI subscribed to your KZbin channel

[@q2rlz]

Wow the C64 version looks awesome - nice smooth gameplay and that SID music :o

[@Saxdude26]

Definitely one of the more impressive low res versions.

[@ArttuTheCat]

As i remember correctly, it came out for the Commodore 64 only as the cartridge. 😺👍🕹️

[@plume...]

@@ArttuTheCat Yeah, it was a cartridge only release, although there is a cracked disk version of the game but the multiload is unbelievably bad!

[@federicocatelli8785]

It's brilliant for the hw

[@wishusknight3009]

This was more of a tech demo than an actual game.

[@thepumpkingking8339]

Back in my Speccy day's this would have been.. Love the Graphics.. But Where is the Bleep, Bleep Game... Type of game.. Apologies for the BBC censorship above.. 🙄🙄😗😗😁

[@ArttuTheCat]

I still have SHADOW OF THE BEAST I-III for my Amiga 500. When i was a little boy back in the early 1990's, i loaded it on my Amiga 500 for the first time and was absolutely amazed. The graphics are amazing, the characters are absolutely awesome, and the soundtrack 🎵🎶 is brilliant 😺👍🕹️. PERFECT SCORE 10/10!! Greetings from Vantaa, Finland 🇫🇮.

[@BAZFANSHOTHITSClassicTunes]

But do you still have the free T shirt that came with it?.

[@ArttuTheCat]

@@BAZFANSHOTHITSClassicTunes Never had one.

[@PlasticCogLiquid]

SotB 3 is one of my favorite games, I had the Amiga 600 and it came with it

[@Random_Person.]

ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh this game is far from perfect the only things it does well are the graphics and music (in which in that case it succeeds) but we're also forgetting how shallow and not very good the gameplay is. The game is difficult not because of it being designed well its difficult because its cheap with how enemies spawn in and other then the stupidly cheap enemy attacks the gameplay is shallow.

[@mrlewz0r]

I miss these "other wordly" aesthetics. Obviously the brits were better at it than everyone, but SEGA was really good too (see their early games like Space Harrier). Everything today is completely devoid of creativity.

[@ncf1]

Nothing touches the Amiga version, neither graphically nor sonically. Gameplay-wise, they're all horrible :D

[@jonminton1878]

It looks like whoever did the Lynx version was trying to do something about that.

[@mrpositronia]

Poor Atari ST. Always disappointing. That FM Towns version though, it looks ahead of its time.

[@Kig_Ama]

Amiga version is the best, hands down!

[@esmerylan]

I've only ever played the US Genesis version, never knew about the speed issue, maybe that explains why I found it such a painful, wretched experience.

[@mattsmedley.onehandedgamin9029]

The Atari ST is a joke compared to the Amiga version. Never seen the FM towns machine before & it looked really interesting (also wasn't aware of a version on the SNES)

[@oblivieon1567]

The PC Engine CD version is really good and totally playable unlike many of the other versions.

[@federicocatelli8785]

Very true....good luck playing the one for Amiga without a trainer

[@oblivieon1567]

@@federicocatelli8785 I remember seeing it for the first time on an Amiga 500 and my mind was blown, but it played like garbage. The FM Towns version looks cool but doesn't play that well. The PC Engine CD version was done by what is now Rockstar and is totally playable.

[@JamesEmirzianWaldementer]

Uncle Roger Dean did the painting with game poster very well made.

[@ENFDO]

There is no chance, the best is Amiga 500 version for a mile. Just imagine what ment to play it back in 1989.

[@fracturedorb1]

I turn 50 next year. I had an Amiga as an USA middle schooler. I do not understand how any of the non Amiga versions compare. It does make me understand how this game never got traction outside of England though. C64 got close with the music, but OMG these games were not good back then or even now. The music is what sticks with people this long. It still stands the test of time.

[@faenethlorhalien]

Beautiful game, extremely flawed, like 80% of the gaff we used to produce in the 80s in Europe, when we were still learning.

[@RagingRowen]

Note, Japan and US are swapped in the timestamps in the description

[@retrosutra]

Fixed, thanks!

[@GCSoundArtifacts]

It's a game that still fascinates me even to this day; however, it was thanked to the Electronic Arts' version for the Mega Drive that I've gotten to know Shadow of the Beast. Painfully difficult in it and, also, in its original version on Amiga, which is, definitely, the most iconic one. The Amiga's soundtrack is a true highlight and a favorite of mine. I've played all the versions here included, and I've found that the Japanese Mega Drive, PC Engine CD and FM Towns have the best playabilities. And that accounts in my book as something important! For me, the FM Towns and the PCE-CD are the best ones, in spite of the huge importance of the Amiga original. As for the 8-bit versions, I was surprised to discover how similar is the soundtrack made for the ZX Spectrum and the Master System! In fact, the Amstrad CPC has a different variation in tonalities from the very same soundtrack. I have more familiarity with the Master System version, and I liked it... However, the Atari Lynx has the most surprising of all the 8-bit versions (or is it 16-bit...? I don't really know)...

[@iwanttocomplain]

I hate to say it but the Lynx version most closely resembles an actual game. I might tie it with SNES though as probably the best game I've seen on it with the nest sounding music. Shame it's unreleased.

[@Deimos_Fresh]

Amiga, FMTowns and PC-Engine looks and sounds great. Surprising how Japanese version of Mega Drive have correct music speed.

[@gerrytemple5044]

Nice overwiew - thank you! Know 4 versions (C64, Amiga, Sega Master, Genesis) and prefer the Genesis over the Amiga. Cheers!

[@SpaceFractal-g2o]

The original Amiga version is best, allways have a sweet spot for the music. CD Music version diddent capture the original atmosphere if you ask me, but that is taste in mind for sure who you are. There also exist a cd album with named "Amiga Immortal", im liked much more. Im do admit the PC Engine is so much cool as well the nice C64 version. Dispite the later missing a level.

[@stefanimal5257]

Shoutout to the fan-made Soul of the Beast for Atari 2600! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYqsmp2ZpN6KbsU

[@SarahWestCrazyTaxiQueen]

Shadow of the Beast is a Centerpiece that Psygnosis and Reflections did in 1989.

[@theamiga2000]

amiga

[@GiewsBueno]

There it is, the source of my nightmares.

[@PixelsNcreatureS]

I loved it on Amiga and even with junk backgrounds i think my fave version is for TGCD

[@stevenwhuntva]

4:26 they spelled the company's name wrong o_O

[@atifmir7409]

The graphics were ground breaking when it first came out for the Amiga. The artwork was outstanding, shame the gameplay was average at best. Surprised to see the PC Engine the best of all versions. Not surprised as Rockstar made it.

[@Rozorov1]

I remember this game and how bastard hard it was!

[@wimwiddershins]

The LYNX version is actually quite playable compared to the Amiga.

[@federicocatelli8785]

For the look Amiga, music and playability of PC engine .

[@BAZFANSHOTHITSClassicTunes]

Shadow of the Beast sold more Amigas than Commodore ever could. It was phenominal in 1989. It really embarrased the STfm.

[@MartinJSUK]

the ST could have done better than this though, check out ST Wrath of the Demon for proof.

[@yousefslimani99]

Oh wow I didn’t know there’s a SEGA Genesis/Megadrive version of this game! Good to know

[@KacperSobierajVargskeletor5421]

The FM Towns has the best graphics of them all.

[@xenorac]

Did you not see the Amiga version?

[@davebear9825]

Never seen the FM Towns version.. pretty Good Soundtrack

[@amanloop]

Easily the amiga version

[@yousefslimani99]

Hey retrosutra long time no see 👋🏻

[@Grenier_des_Joueurs]

Mazette ! DMA Design (Rockstar) made the conversion of C64 version of Shadow of the Beast ?! I prefer Lemmings x)

[@schnubbel76]

Wow, i always thought, Atari ST and Amiga versions of any game are mostly very similar besides some details, especially sound quality. But here the Atari ST version is really bad. Even the C-64 version (while looking crap of course due to it's limitations) has fluid gameplay and has nice music, wich Atarai ST both lacks.

[@Maraka77i]

I think ST version was ported badly on purpose as Amiga needed something special to keep up with the ST sales in those days. There are much better game engines on the ST such as Enchanted Lands, Beastlord or Deathbringer which shows how much closer it would have been possible to go with a skillful developer team. Not to mention numerous demo engines like Phaleon Gigademo's Beast main menu.

[@swapd0]

Just have a look to the previous game from this channel, Wrath of the Demon, it looks like Shadow of the Beast but the ST version is way better than this one, and very close to the Amiga version.

[@schnubbel76]

@@swapd0I just checked Wrath of the demon comparison out. It looks quite good on Atari ST to be honest. Still not as good as Amiga, (and the damn horse is pink lol). But it is fine, the visual difference is not nearly as bis as with Shadow of the beast. But the sound/music is horrible again, sounds more like c-64 or Amstrad CPC sounds. I don't know much about the technical features of the Atari ST, but the soundchip does't seem to be the best of it's time.

[@qwaH]

had it back on my C64GS & love the soundtrack more than the Amiga one, best version until I heard the PC Engine/FM Towns CD soundtrack, still fire some of the tracks up from time to time even if not playing the game though the game was fun as well, of a little tough

[@elijahvincent985]

The Master System and Atari ST ports are such a joke. Those two systems are FAR more than capable of what was released...

[@paul1979uk2000]

I never thought much of the game and it felt more like a tech demo on what the hardware could do, in this case, the Amiga original. I do feel the Amiga version is the overall better one, it's got that gritty feel from the visuals and music, whereas many of the other versions seem to have messed that up and gone for a cartoon like look, especially on the colour palette that looks quite bad on some versions. I do wonder how much better the Amiga version could be over the original, especially because when the game was released, the Amiga was getting a lot of ST ports with little in the way of enhancements and developers were still figuring out how to use the Amiga hardware, which is in the early 90's where it really shined, so I wonder how much more they could get out of the A500 if the game was released around 94 and not 89.

[@QuanAnhAnimationMM]

believe it or not, my best version, PC Engine CD (Turbo Grafx-16) was created by DMA Design Yep, same creator of Lemmings and Menace These games have a huge fate that change them to be "Rockstar" shine for the future Grand Theft Auto series for Rockstar Games, with DMA now R* North

[@Toadette369]

Do the game over comparisons for this game!

[@retrosutra]

I'll do It, thanks for the suggestion

[@mailsprower9462]

pYSgnosis

[@kzbxvz]

An ATARI 2600 version would have been awesome.

[@drewba7741]

Whoever made the FM Towns port really gave a fuck.

[@LtCdrRoyFokker]

The Atari 2600 version is missing! :) I don't know if it was a full game or just a short demo proof of concept but it was impressive nonetheless given the hardware.

[@roadkill_52]

It's fan made

[@dragonteargames]

Minha versão favorita é do mega drive. 😊

[@Dicassx]

🎉

[@xcom457]

mmm FM Towns is number one.

[@hyaenaGemah]

It is just me or the C64 version says "Pysgnosis" instead of Psygnosis?

[@diegofloor]

I wonder why some versions swapped the original first level song for that four chord vi - IV - I - V lame song? Why? The original was a progressive rock inspired masterpiece that fits the surreal visuals of the game like a glove.

[@Grenier_des_Joueurs]

Megadrive music is a sacrilege ! The Megadrive can give us more rock/metal vibe ! WHY IT'S A FLUTE PAN AND SOME BASIC PLUNKS ?!

[@Grenier_des_Joueurs]

Like always, Genesis is speed up version of the same game. 50 hertz to 60 hertz

[@doug8171]

wow parallax background on st!

[@sheepshead77]

I had this on Amstrad CPC, a multi load that came on four tapes 😮 and was a bit crap

[@david55200]

PC Dos got to bad scrolling management for get an update from shadow of the beast

[@JacquesMartini]

The PS4 remake is missing!

[@marcelzocker947]

Why show mega drive versions from europ, amerika and japan when its exact the same console and game? I realy like your videos but many times you show versions of the games they are exact the same with no difference. Thats a bit boring to watch. I want see the different versions and not 10 times the exact same version on system A, B, C, D ect.

[@retrosutra]

I understand you perfectly. Perhaps it was unnecessary to show the American version, but I wanted to highlight the speed conversion issue. Maybe I could have shown just a small fragment. The Japanese version does present substantial graphical differences.

[@marcelzocker947]

@@retrosutra for this video ok but for the Galaxian video for example you show dont know how many times the pixel perfect emulation from the arcade version they sold as Namco collection for many systems. They all the same (exept for the Gameboy Advanced ofcours) or the difference are so minor that no one will see any difference. An option whould be to show this version from the Namco Collection and write all the systems together where this collection was released. I hope you understand what i mean. Anyway you can do your videos like you want, i still like them. Its just my opinion as a customer to not repeat the same clips of the same version over and over again. Love your vids and i have much to watch on your channel. My favorite versions are most time from the C64 because the SID soundchip music sounds so much better then any other versions and the musicans like Ben Daglish or Chris Hülsbeck are real sound artists. 😊

[@tofik5939]

👍👍

[@GamSin1981]

While the Amiga is the original you got to feel it's not the best. FM Towns or the PC Engine for me. The cd audio track and the fmv parts really lifts the game.

[@MainStreetBusinessStrategies]

I am always SHICKED by how terrible the ST version is. Later versions added some little elements, but seemed to lose the moody feel, with bright colors. The Sega version's music is horrendous.

[@LurchNZ]

Amiga wins, FM towns is interesting but looks squashed? The sound is also annoying :)

[@ssdivizion]

The Atari ST version is disappointingly bad, the Amiga version is simply great, and for Spectrum, Amstrad, etc. so that's the capabilities of the hardware

[@fradd182]

Amiga - classic. ST - not as good as Amiga, jerkiness and lack of colours are evident. C64 - great version, looks a bit rough but probably much better on CRT. ZX - Meh, they probably did the best they could on a system, but still.... CPC - rubbish. ATARI 8-bit : what a hell is that.

[@bighairydel]

c64 is a lot better than the st. St couldn't handle scrolling

[@davidvfx]

The Atari ST has no excuses, there is not much difference in graphical capabilities, only the sound is inferior, it seems that Intercontinental did it badly to harm Atari.

[@luismedeiros8005]

I hate this game on any version... Its design is so strange... it seems like the creators didn't really know what they wanted.

[@Naturd420]

They improved the gameplay on the pc engine cd version so you can instantly turn which makes it alot more playable

[@luismedeiros8005]

@@Naturd420 you've got this badass character and sometimes its enemies are just balls or rocks... This was a total missed oportunity. They could do a lot with this character.

[@Naturd420]

@@luismedeiros8005 yeah, even though the pc engine version controls better the enemy placement is still pretty ass

[@silastherobloxlovergamer3687]

First

[@silastherobloxlovergamer3687]

By that i mean comment, also this is the first reply

[@darrancoyle8394]

God, I hated this game. Found it disturbing, depressing and confusing.👎

[@federicocatelli8785]

Try the third Shadow of the Beast if you are interested in a good game ,the first one only if you're in "tech demo"

[@roadkill_52]

"disturbing, depressing and confusing" are not necessarily bad things

[@rockman7perez]

10:58 Thicc Sorry