XBLA - Shadow Complex - 1200pts

[quote name='cgarb84']I think I am getting close to beating the game but I don't want to yet if I can't continue afterwards. I've heard that the end game completely sneaks up on you without a lot of warning. Is there any way w/o spoilers someone could give me an idea of when it occurs? I am at 90% capacity right now with my suit, the only piece of armor I don't have is the one that takes all 12 pass keys to open, I think I have 2 so I'm not even close. But I have most of the map opened up and am almost fully upgraded.[/QUOTE]

My description is relatively spoiler free, but I'll wrap spoiler tags around it anyway, just in case.

There is a certain point in the game, close to the end where you should grab everything (if you're going for the completionist achievement) you're missing. It is right after you get the last gun which gives the suit "full offensive capabilities". Then, there will be a short blue path leading you from the section of orange you are in, to an exclamation point also in the orange section...do not go there until you have 100% items.
 
[quote name='aheineken']My description is relatively spoiler free, but I'll wrap spoiler tags around it anyway, just in case.

There is a certain point in the game, close to the end where you should grab everything (if you're going for the completionist achievement) you're missing. It is right after you get the last gun which gives the suit "full offensive capabilities". Then, there will be a short blue path leading you from the section of orange you are in, to an exclamation point also in the orange section...do not go there until you have 100% items.
[/QUOTE]

Oh wow I am basically right there then. Thanks for the info that's a big help. I generally don't care about achievements so I'm not really going for 100% I just want to explore a little more before I finish it.
 
[quote name='cgarb84']I think I am getting close to beating the game but I don't want to yet if I can't continue afterwards. I've heard that the end game completely sneaks up on you without a lot of warning. Is there any way w/o spoilers someone could give me an idea of when it occurs? I am at 90% capacity right now with my suit, the only piece of armor I don't have is the one that takes all 12 pass keys to open, I think I have 2 so I'm not even close. But I have most of the map opened up and am almost fully upgraded.[/QUOTE]

I stumbled upon the last boss with only 54% items found. I still went on to get 100%. So, even if you accidently go too far, you can still do it.
 
[quote name='Rodimus']For those that got the "Minimalist" achievement about how many items are you allowed to pick up? I started a new game+ and picked up 2 health upgrades and already at 5%. Was that too much?[/QUOTE]

I got minimalist yesterday and did not pick up a single health pack. I ended with 12%. I ended up getting the triple jump because I was having a hard time getting to a certain area. Afterwards, I think I could have made that jump if I'd used the foam gun.
 
Regarding finishing the game with a super-low percentage,
didn't I read here that you could just get back in the Jeep at the beginning and leave Claire behind
?
 
[quote name='jman619']Got this last night finally! Around how many hours is the game?[/QUOTE]

first run through could be anywhere from 4-7 hours imo, depends if you get stuck/lost or if you want to explore for items. to put it into perspective, a good speed run is in the 20 minute area.
 
I was on the fence about this game and after a friend recommended me to roll the dice, I'm now 100% glad I did. I can never play this less than over an hour at a time.
 
[quote name='Hoffer']Just finished up the last achievement on this game. Definitely worth $15 IMHO.[/QUOTE]

Actually it's probably worth double that at least. But I agree with your sentiment. ;)
 
[quote name='deszaras']I was on the fence about this game and after a friend recommended me to roll the dice, I'm now 100% glad I did. I can never play this less than over an hour at a time.[/QUOTE]

Agreed. I've put about 17 hours into this game so far (2 runs through + proving grounds). I'll probably go through it a few more times...still have to get the minimalist and level 50 achievements. This game has officially set a new XBLA standard for quality and value.
 
[quote name='aheineken']My description is relatively spoiler free, but I'll wrap spoiler tags around it anyway, just in case.

There is a certain point in the game, close to the end where you should grab everything (if you're going for the completionist achievement) you're missing. It is right after you get the last gun which gives the suit "full offensive capabilities". Then, there will be a short blue path leading you from the section of orange you are in, to an exclamation point also in the orange section...do not go there until you have 100% items.
[/QUOTE]

Actually, when you get to that point, it saves right before that part. So you can always reload your save and collect all the items you are missing.
 
I went ahead and finished it tonight. Since it saves right before the end it doesn't screw me over if I ever want to go back and try to 100% it. Really great game overall, best downloadable game I've ever played I think.
 
I just finished my first run, took about 8 hours with 100% map and items.
Spectacular game. It makes me think I should give Undertow a chance.

I played on Hardcore throughout. I thought it was a bit on the easy side overall, but I can easily see the challenge if one aims for the minimalist achievement.

The story was forgettable, and the characters largely uninteresting but the gameplay, well-designed world and watching your character develop into Iron Man made up for those shortfalls.
 
[quote name='looploop']The story was forgettable, and the characters largely uninteresting but the gameplay, well-designed world and watching your character develop into Iron Man made up for those shortfalls.[/QUOTE]

I totally agree. I also really enjoyed how visceral the combat was. The way the bodies fly with the impact of the bullets is just so awesome.
 
Now that I have the suit, accelerator, and foam gun, I'm going back around to find items I missed or couldn't grab before and there's one that was confusing me greatly. It's a passkey, according the GameFAQs map, that is right by where the first boss is at in the n-shaped nook above the storage room and I can't seem to find it. I don't think I grabbed it before since it still shows the ? in the map, so is there something I've missed in that area?
 
[quote name='FriskyTanuki']Now that I have the suit, accelerator, and foam gun, I'm going back around to find items I missed or couldn't grab before and there's one that was confusing me greatly. It's a passkey, according the GameFAQs map, that is right by where the first boss is at in the n-shaped nook above the storage room and I can't seem to find it. I don't think I grabbed it before since it still shows the ? in the map, so is there something I've missed in that area?[/QUOTE]

Check up a few posts for the map link I posted... Soooooo freaking helpful it's not funny.

edit: I'll put it here also

http://www.jackpattillo.com/shadowcomplex/
 
It's really amazing to hear about people blowing through the game in 5 hours and complaining it's too short. I'm 4 hours in with only 30% of the map unlocked.

I don't pay attention to the map or anything to do with the hint system. I just explore and go wherever I feel like going. Listen to me, because the way I play this game is the right way to play it. :)
 
[quote name='ChernobylCow']So Orson Scott Card doesn't support same-sex marriage.[/QUOTE]

Neither does most of America, so what does that have to do with the game?
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']Neither does most of America, so what does that have to do with the game?[/QUOTE]
Apparently there's quite a few people boycotting the game because of its association with Orson Scott Card. Pretty damn ridiculous if you ask me. The man is marginally associated with the game. I strongly disagree with his views, but why take that out on Chair and their awesome game?
 
[quote name='silautumn']Apparently there's quite a few people boycotting the game because of its association with Orson Scott Card. Pretty damn ridiculous if you ask me. The man is marginally associated with the game. I strongly disagree with his views, but why take that out on Chair and their awesome game?[/QUOTE]
This ^.
 
[quote name='silautumn']Apparently there's quite a few people boycotting the game because of its association with Orson Scott Card. Pretty damn ridiculous if you ask me. The man is marginally associated with the game. I strongly disagree with his views, but why take that out on Chair and their awesome game?[/QUOTE]

That is pretty stupid. His views are really not rare, unique, or even in a minority of the views shared in this country.

Then again, it's just like people boycotting Sean Penn movies because of his radically retarded outspoken views, it is lame and makes no sense. He is a skilled actor and you can still enjoy his work without agreeing with his politics.

"Oh I have no tolerance for those that don't think the same way I do, so I'll boycot everything related to them in any way - maybe if enough people do so they will change their mind and think like me."

I don't know anyone that likes Scientology or L. Ron Hubbard, but it's still ok to enjoy his sci-fi work, as some do.
 
[quote name='silautumn']Apparently there's quite a few people boycotting the game because of its association with Orson Scott Card. Pretty damn ridiculous if you ask me. The man is marginally associated with the game. I strongly disagree with his views, but why take that out on Chair and their awesome game?[/QUOTE]

I'm betting the people boycotting the game are folks who wouldn't have purchased it anyway. Hell, I don't agree with his views, but that didn't stop me from enjoying his good books (Ender series/Alivn Journeyman series) and hating his bad ones (Empire/the later Ender books/the later Homebound books).

It's not like there's a lot of connections to the Empire series anyways. Change the name of the secret group to something else and their motive and it'd remain largely the same game.
 
It's weird to me that as I get further into the game and near the end, the game is getting more broken and incapable of handling the stuff I can do to enemies. I'm punching dudes and they launch through walls, objects, or their rag doll gets stuck on something and starts shaking. Same for bombas, as they sometimes stick to walls when shot or go through walls when kicked.

I do love punching guys or punting bombas into other rooms, where they disappear, or getting above ground and launching a grunt out of the picture like this is Smash Brothers.
 
*Vicariously playing SC by watching YouTube walkthroughs.*

Just got the foam gun. So far it's making BC:R look mediocre; if enemies can be grabbed with the hookshot I'll lose it! :whee:

Nolan North is way too overexposed. :bomb: The part where you dive underwater and see bullets whizzing needs to be standard in every shooter. :cool:
 
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I want to get 100% but I also don't want to go hunting every time I get a new item. Is there a point of no return I can look out for so I can get 100% before some boss battle or something?
 
[quote name='whiptcracker']
Change the name of the secret group to something else and their motive and it'd remain largely the same game.[/QUOTE]

Oh yeah!? What if I changed the name of the group to something like...um....I don't know...how about....Cobra! :lol:
 
Ok so I've beat the game at 100% - if I select to start a *new* game does it carry my level over - I'm at like level 27 or something - or does that start over too? I'd like to get the level 50 achievement but would also like to start a new game.
 
[quote name='bordjon']Ok so I've beat the game at 100% - if I select to start a *new* game does it carry my level over - I'm at like level 27 or something - or does that start over too? I'd like to get the level 50 achievement but would also like to start a new game.[/QUOTE]

You carry your level over. :cool:
 
It says I am missing one passkey. I have watched every video of every passkey and I can remember doing every single one of them. I am wondering if something is broken.
 
I doubt it, you probably missed one.

Retrace your steps, and leave the ones you think you got for sure for last.
 
[quote name='whiptcracker']I'm betting the people boycotting the game are folks who wouldn't have purchased it anyway. Hell, I don't agree with his views, but that didn't stop me from enjoying his good books (Ender series/Alivn Journeyman series) and hating his bad ones (Empire/the later Ender books/the later Homebound books).

It's not like there's a lot of connections to the Empire series anyways. Change the name of the secret group to something else and their motive and it'd remain largely the same game.[/QUOTE]

I get all this - it absolutely makes sense to me - but at the same time, I can't quite resolve myself to putting money in someone's pocket who might well use it to support some views that I'm not cool with.

Maybe I should just paypal Chair $3 and tell "Can't buy your game because Card's possibly maybe a douche but I loved the demo, buy the office a 2 litre of Pepsi on me."
 
@olde_english: I totally respect that position. Your solution gave me quite a laugh. Cheers.


Onto the game:

More 2D Metroidvania games, please. Just a few weeks before playing this game, I started new games in both Metroid Fusion and Metroid Zero Mission on the GBA. And though I feel those games are superior (especially MZM, which has absolutely perfect controls), Shadow Complex is a great entry in a genre that has sadly diminished to a once-in-a-while DS Castlevania.

If I could change one thing about this game, it would probably be adding some better boss fights. A spinning wheel? Really?

If I could change a second, it would be the not-so-great aiming into the different planes (background and foreground). It really is frustrating almost every time you attempt it. Besides a few control issues, there are very few things to really complain about.

As far as the Orson Scott Card debate: he's a dick that has a right to be a dick, just as much as opponents of his opinions and actions have the right to disagree or boycott. And it's unfortunate that some of the money made off of this game probably goes to OSC; some of which is then funneled to the anti-homosexual lobbyist groups, of the Church of Latter Day Saints (the same thing, if you ask me). One option that some folks are kicking around is to 'cancel out' that funneling by donating an equal or greater amount to a pro-gay rights group. That way, you are able to support a great game, without hating yourself at night, with bouts of shame-eating.

The one thing that bothers me slightly, is that Chair chooses to continue to partner with and promote OSC. If it were my company, I would choose to write the uninspired, generic sci-fi myself, and sever ties. But, I suppose the professional route is to judge someone by their body of work, not by their beliefs.

Some of the worst human beings produced some of the most wonderful bodies of art.

Either way, I probably wouldn't worry about Chair going out of business over this. Shadow Complex sold brilliantly. Had it not, I doubt we'd be seeing another game from them. Hopefully, now, we can get a sequel (or a game of similar design). Even better: an original IP, unrelated to bigoted, hack authors.
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']It says I am missing one passkey. I have watched every video of every passkey and I can remember doing every single one of them. I am wondering if something is broken.[/QUOTE]

The easiest one to miss, and the only one that doesn't appear as a question mark on the map is the one in the Scuba Mask Room.
 
[quote name='olde_english']I get all this - it absolutely makes sense to me - but at the same time, I can't quite resolve myself to putting money in someone's pocket who might well use it to support some views that I'm not cool with.

Maybe I should just paypal Chair $3 and tell "Can't buy your game because Card's possibly maybe a douche but I loved the demo, buy the office a 2 litre of Pepsi on me."[/QUOTE]
Oh wah. My taxes go towards supporting a myariad things I find despicable. I am sure every time you buy a game there are people who worked on it who's views you would find far worse. Its just hilarious that people wait for someone famous who is vocal before they need to act all offended.

[quote name='looploop']The easiest one to miss, and the only one that doesn't appear as a question mark on the map is the one in the Scuba Mask Room.[/QUOTE]
thanks. That might be it.
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']Oh wah. My taxes go towards supporting a myariad things I find despicable. I am sure every time you buy a game there are people who worked on it who's views you would find far worse. Its just hilarious that people wait for someone famous who is vocal before they need to act all offended.[/QUOTE]

reminds me of last year when people got pissed because Will Wright donated money to the RNC
 
Just finished. 12 hours and 20 minutes. Best $15 I've spent in video game history.

It's sad when a $15 game provides more entertainment and higher quality entertainment than most $60 games.

OSC has a "Special Thanks" in the credits. Big deal.
 
Finished it in 10 hours. Enjoyed it for the most part, until I got too overzealous building foam bridges, and accidentally prematurely beat the game. I literally blocked my way to a weapon upgrade. Kind of bummed, need to take a break before I go for a replay.
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']Oh wah. My taxes go towards supporting a myariad things I find despicable. I am sure every time you buy a game there are people who worked on it who's views you would find far worse. Its just hilarious that people wait for someone famous who is vocal before they need to act all offended.[/QUOTE]

And again, I get all of this and you are absolutely right, I have no idea how many paedophiles or date-rapists worked on Arkham Asylum and I daresay there may be a couple and yet I bought that. I can only make a decision based on the information I'm presented with, and knowing what I know about LDS and their beliefs and where their tithe money goes, I can't really feel any other way about Card and the game. Given the choice to be morally ambivalent about things that matter to me, I won't be.

Maybe when I send Chair the money for the Pepsi I promised them, I could also send a sign for it that reads "Do not drink this if you are a kiddie-fiddler or queer-basher or have ever thought about kicking my wife in the ladybits." Would you feel better about my position then?

Those who have the game, I hope you enjoy it and I bet you do because it appears to be awesome. I'm done contributing to the thread derailing now and will summarily leave to defend among other things, my gay friends and my partner's vadge.
 
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