Though Valiant Comics may not be as well-known as Marvel, DC or even Image, its characters have still starred in numerous video games. One such game was the cult classic Shadow Man, which was a loose adaptation of one of the company's more supernatural characters. The action-adventure title from 1999 is one of the most mainstream appearances of the Valiant Universe, and it will soon reach a new generation of gamers.
Shadow Man Remastered brings the original game to modern consoles, as well as graphical and gameplay upgrades for a modern experience. Developed by Nightdive Studios, the game will allow players to enjoy the macabre adventure as Michael LeRoi tackles the dead and the dying in the video game version of the Valiant mythos. Here's what gamers and comic book fans should know about the upcoming re-release of the 1999 game.
The game's storyline is based off of the rebooted Shadowman comic books that were published after Acclaim acquired Valiant in the mid-'90s. The game's Shadow Man isn't the familiar superhero costume-wearing Jack Boniface, but is instead a man named Michael LeRoi. The current in a long line of Shadow Men, LeRoi is bonded with the Mask of Shadows. His mentor Mama Nettie warns him of her prophetic dreams, which foretell of a dark future brought about by the demonic legion. The resulting adventure sees Shadow Man face the forces of the Deadside, fighting against demons and even Jack the Ripper.
The game's gameplay is a typical late-'90s action-adventure 3D title, featuring exploration and puzzle elements. The remaster boasts improved graphical and audio fidelity, including 4K widescreen display, dynamic shadow mapping and pixelation. Also present will be content cut from the original version of the game, making Shadow Man Remastered the true and ultimate version of the experience. The original version of the game's success led to a sequel, which was somewhat infamous for its morbid marketing campaign.
The game was originally re-released back in 2013 through GOG.com for PC, subsequently becoming available through Steam. This was developed by Nightdive Studios, who is also behind the upcoming remaster. Said remaster is not merely a graphical upgrade, however, as it revamps the game from the ground up with modern gaming sensibilities in mind.
In a statement, Nightdive Studios CEO Stephen Kick said, "Our goal with the remaster is to give today's generation of gamers all the features that they expect from a modern title while preserving the qualities that made Valiant's iconic character and the original Shadow Man game such memorable classics to begin with." This will allow those who grew up with the game to have a similar experience, while also letting newcomers enjoy it as well.
The remastered game's planned release had been up in the air following its March 2020 announcement, but a firm release date has finally been given. Shadow Man Remastered will be available on Microsoft Windows on April 15. Versions for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are in the works, but no specific release date has been announced for those. They are expected to launch later this year.
The re-release of the game coincides with the release of a new Shadowman comic book from Valiant featuring the classic Jack Boniface version of the character. It's a better time than ever to be a fan of Shadowman and the Valiant Universe, as gamers can make their journey to the Deadside starting this week.
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