Shadow of the Beast (Genesis) Playthrough

A playthrough of Electronic Arts' 1991 action game for the Sega Genesis, Shadow of the Beast.
The Sega Genesis version of Shadow of the Beast was the first console port of Psygnosis's 1989 Amiga mega-hit to hit the market. The TurboGrafx, Sega Master System, and Atari Lynx all came along the following year.
I already spoke about the core game in some detail when I posted my playthrough of DMA Design's TurboGrafx-CD version ( • Shadow of the Beast (T... ), so I won't be rehashing all of that here. Please check that out if you're interested.
I remember the Genesis game being a big deal when it came out. It got a lot of attention for the quality of its graphics, ads touting its "13 levels of challenging arcade action" and "8 megs of ultra-compression memory" were everywhere in magazines around the time of its release, and the distinctly EA-style box art was eye-catching and stylish.
Taken at face value, the Genesis port comes off as a fair approximation of the original game. Though there were some clear cutbacks made to the color, parallax scrolling effects, and overall level of detail, the game looks quite similar to its Amiga counterpart. None of the levels, items, or "puzzles" were cut in the transition, and the music remains more-or-less intact, though the FM renditions of the tunes don't do the soundtrack any favors.
The gameplay doesn't fare quite as well, unfortunately. The Amiga game was designed to run at the PAL standard of 50 Hz, but since no adjustments were made to account for the timing differences between video standards, the 60 Hz NTSC Genesis version runs 20% faster than intended. The controls require the same level of pixel-perfect precision as the Amiga game's did, but the increased speed makes the game significantly harder - as if the original wasn't already known for its challenge! - and the lack of a continue option feels outright cruel, especially when progress relies as much on trail-and-error as it does here. The game also suffers from random crashes, so that's not great.
The problems don't make the game unplayable, but unless you have strong nostalgic ties to the Genesis version, you'll probably have a lot more fun playing it on an Amiga, TurboGrafx, or Master System.
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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[@NintendoComplete]

Say what you will about Shadow of the Beast's gameplay, but it certainly knows how to create an atmosphere.

[@ignorethis214]

Never heard of this game before, but your comment certainly looks right. Awesome atmosphere. It's very relaxing to watch, but it looks pretty dreadful to play.

[@ElZorroHonesto]

The Amiga version is the quintessential British/European game of the time period. Extraordinary graphics, extremely little gameplay, what there is of it is practically impossible to play.

[@bigduke5902]

Say what you will about the entire PS5/XBox Series xXx generation's gameplay, they sure know how to ape movies.

[@persona83]

I totally agree. Few games of that era could create such an atmosphere. Soothing and daunting at the same time.

[@ezekielmeza1973]

The atmosphere, along with the box art, scared me as a kid! I never got far into the game because of it.

[@MatteoTomatto]

They screwed up the conversion from the Amiga original to the Genesis. They made the game 20% faster by accident because they overlooked the fact that the original ran at the PAL standard 50hz, while NTSC standards are 60hz. That's why the enemies come at you so aggressively and also why the music sounds off.

[@maestro-zq8gu]

Interesting bit of info there thanks. Music doesn't just sound off to me it sounds pretty bad for what the Genesis shoulda been able to do. Graphically it looks very slick.

[@user-op3zp6ud2i]

the US version is a mess. its was fixed in the later japense version.

[@KillThad]

The Japanese version of this port is actually a major improvement, as publisher JVC refused to release the title in this state, so sent Electronic Arts a laundry list of changes and fixes that they would need to make before they would publish it.

[@mattalan6618]

ao this is one of those rare cases that if you're gonna play the game play the Japanese version?

[@Mia-dt3gl]

The Japanese version’s ending also showed Aarbron turn back into a human.

[@TheT0nedude]

The Amiga original of this game was used to showcase the power of the system back in the day. Quite frequently you'd see Amigas running this like a demo in shop windows in the late 80's early 90's... I bet it sold quite a few.

[@maestro-zq8gu]

You are so right. I remember being blown away by that very demo at a Waldensoftware back in the day. I'd argue this game probably sold the most Amigas, for games at least, lol.

[@persona83]

At the time, they said it was almost impossible do beat this game, so my hapiness when I did was epic. Personaly, I like this game a lot, it has a great challenge and an atmosphere few games can reproduce. Only took note of this speed issue many years later, but it didn't avoid me to have lots of fun playing it.

[@scorpionwins6378]

For many years I thought the bouncing orb thingy was untouchable so I gave up trying to grab it. Every time I reached the bone barge of death I thought the game soft locks the player since you die instantly if you touch it and that giant slab of granite blocks you from going backwards. So after dying for the hundredth time I realized that I could run up and punch it as it retracted but it eventually did a full sweep and wiped my ass out. I honestly don't know how anyone could have ever figured out how to beat this game.

[@Terry_Star_]

Game the music was very scary

[@avastaley3379]

Oh lord this game… never had a clue what to do or where to go but it sure did freak me out

[@Esirre]

I scrolled down to see this was port but just assumed this was an early title released on genesis I'd never heard about before. All of the weird, nightmarish stuff going on: eyeballs materializing into the air, blood covered horns erupting from soil, etc. seems fitting for a genesis game in the early 90's

[@caucasoidape8838]

It gives me the same unsettling vibe as Altered Beast. Too bad this port was shit.

[@Esirre]

@@caucasoidape8838lol yeah same. I saw footage of an Altered Beast game on GBA I never knew existed. Dude - it's super bizarre

[@alanstevens5775]

I played this so long ago when I was a teenager. The farthest I ever made it was halfway through the castle. It was incredibly frustrating, considering there were no checkpoints.

[@rcblazer]

The Genesis' famous "Blast Processing" works against it in Shadow of the Beast. The soundtrack on the PAL version was more atmospheric and haunting, while the Genesis version gives us the Dance Remix, which is still kinda fun to listen to.

[@curtisholland16]

I always thought "blast processing" was just a sales pitch and not a real thing lol

[@solarflare9078]

@sonic-templeos That's not even PSG. It's just poor use of FM

[@caucasoidape8838]

The castle track replacement comes off like they purposely made it shitty.

[@SarahWestTheXanaduQueen]

Excellent Job! I love Shadow of The Beast.

[@marcoelhodev]

I just finished this game today. Really hard, especially for a Mega Drive game. If I wasn't using emulator with save states, I would have died many times over. I have no clue how anyone thought this game was fair, but it is certainly nostalgic.

[@sammydavidjr]

I love the music

[@pureflix8086]

14:37 Lol, hes got a t-shirt gun now!

[@TheEman590]

Another game featured on Nickelodeon Arcade. The kids usually had a 50/50 ratio of beating the point challenge. Had no idea as a kid that it was an Amiga computer game first.

[@caucasoidape8838]

I didn't even know what an Amiga was until the internet age.

[@dmockracey]

That was quick!

[@MrS13Silvia1]

Some of the best video game music ever composed!!

[@RetroPiero]

So I would just like to add that the Japanese Sega Mega Drive version made by JVC is SUPERIOR over the American Sega Genesis version made by WJS for the following reasons, the SMD Japanese ver of SOTB has... -Adjustments to the graphics -Better collision detection -Fixed the jump kick timing -Added missing art assets, -New/Corrected audio -Soundtest option included -Ability to increase or lower live count -Added a proper ending sequence That is a lot of fixes over the US version & an understanding to why the JP version is more sought after.

[@aaronbruceladner1983]

I First Heard of SHADOW OF THE BEAST, When It was on NICK ARCADE

[@UltimaKeyMaster]

I. It was on what. *Oh god those poor kids had to play the Genesis version???*

[@caucasoidape8838]

@@UltimaKeyMaster Nickelodeon is known for rigging their game shows. lol

[@rabidrabbitshuggers]

It’s like Altered Beast and Chakan had a very boring baby that read too many Frank Herbert novels.

[@NintendoComplete]

The Dune novels that were written by Herbert himself were awesome. The later ones, not so much.

[@lacuna17]

So basically you fight a giant Monty Python hand from the clouds and win the game. Okkkk then.

[@caucasoidape8838]

It's even dumber in the Turbografx version. No hand with club, just slime balls coming from off screen.

[@Jamesamong007]

If you havemt played the remake for PS4 you should its really good, it even has an option you can unlock that lets you play the game the original amiga soundtrack.

[@NotSure876]

Do you know how to unlock the amiga version?

[@PORCHMANKEY]

One of the most confusing games on the system

[@willdavies2003]

This is not Sonic, but in America it's rolling around at the speed of sound.

[@TheLonelyGoomba]

Lol the tone is completely off here imo

[@thecunninlynguist]

haha, projared just covered the sequel being released 30 years ago.

[@NintendoComplete]

​@celebrategout1008 Wow, someone get this guy some Midol and a Snickers.

[@FingerBreakerWu]

This has to be a later build of the game. I got it when it first came out on the Genesis and you start on an open plain scrolling from left to right and there is no scoring or narration.

[@Dorian_Scott]

I was actually introduced to _"Shadow of the Beast"_ through the levels in _"Lemmings"_ (Genesis). Honestly, this game just looks pretty terrible. The art style is really cool and the music (though mostly boring) complements the game's atmosphere. I'd hate to see the other versions of this game.

[@NintendoComplete]

The Super Nintendo version of Lemmings had a few Beast inspired levels too. They were some of the coolest levels in the entire game.

[@DrGreenThumbNZL]

Amiga classic

[@hernancastillo283]

Could you do a playthrough of wild arms 1 for the ps1? If you can that is?

[@superbn0va]

How does the PAL version compare to the NTSC version?

[@OriginalMasters]

Right, as others have noted, the US version runs too fast, and this makes it extra tough to hit many enemies, especially paired with the strange hitboxes and puny attacks. Also, you get one life and no continues.

[@1madzilla]

Such a short game

[@axguzman-gq9fz]

Este juego debió salir en el saturn la tercera parte

[@sammydavidjr]

La mejor versión es esta.... sobretodo en la música

[@axguzman-gq9fz]

@@sammydavidjr hizo falta fuera trilogía

[@startervisions]

6:30

[@Jay_76]

Is this what's it's like to get high on LSD? I think this is what's it like to get high on LSD.

[@dragnalus787]

really hated this one personally, aged like milk as old as the game itself and just feels poorly thought out all around. really was not a fan of getting softlocked in the castle due to missing an item and having to start from the beginning

[@hopetagulos]

Este jogo é um porte ruim.... ainda lembro da decepção, com meu primo, de ter alugado isto numa locadora cheia de games.

[@caucasoidape8838]

The castle music especially sucks in this version.

[@xianjansenx]

bit anticlimactic

[@wodorek_sodu2]

Amiga version was better

[@Antonio-hx7yh]

a b it more coloured. Different, ugly irritating music. Amiga original version is the best