Fan Game Preview: Shadow Returns

Ever since the end of Sonic Adventure 2, fans across the globe have been speculating Shadow's Future. Is he still alive? Did he really die? Well, Team Infinity is the latest in a line of fan creatives that say that Shadow did survive, in the hopes of making a hugely inspired storyline from it. The result, is the first game in a new series of Mobius: The Next Revolution, called Shadow Returns.

We love the graphics in this game - particularly the sprites. The background textures can get a little bit lary at times, but it's generally all good. The current demo sees you playing as either Shadow or Sonic, in their first stages. The levels are very large and expansive (however they all feel extremely "empty"), which will make for an enjoyable romp throughout each level, despite the lack of any Restart Posts - which can get annoying should you die.

Dying doesn't happen often, but when it does, you'll be kicking yourself or be refusing to play the game any further. This is because your death usually associates to the lack of any short invincibility timing just after you get hit and lose rings - the times you die mean that the enemy rams right into you, not allowing you to escape as you immediately bite the dust.

It's also quite difficult to attack enemies, as sometimes you pass them when you can be sure you were close enough to blow it up. Other minor flaws in the game this far includes the 90 degree curved slopes - your character can't run up them like a normal slope, so you stop dead. Really the slopes shouldn't be there if the character does this all the time.

But, for what is there, you can find a cool game. You can pick up the pace easily, but not realise you've completed the level in about 45 seconds and think "is that it?"

Shadow Returns, in longevity terms, seems to be a game to bank on, but Team Infinity really need to do a lot of ironing before they can finish the pile.

Playtest Results

We Like:

• Cool graphics - love the sprites
• Nice, stages not too short - not too long either
• Great pace and speed

Worth Considering:

• Levels have no "soul" - get some more action in there!
• Deaths seem cheap and unfair
• Seems weird having slopes that characters can't run up...