Shadow Complex

1001 Video Games

Shadow Complex appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Controversy

The game's story runs parallel to the events in SF writer Orson Scott Card's novel Empire. It serves as a companion to the sequel to the novel, Hidden Empire.

This spawned the question on a number of forums and opinion websites whether the game should be boycotted, because Card is known as a fierce political campaigner against gay rights. Some wondered if certain gamers would find it morally right to pay for game where a part of the profits is likely to go to someone defending such a stance they may not agree with. A detailed analysis of the situation can be found through Opinion: The Complex Question in the related links section.

Development

The first month of the game's development was spent having all nine core team members at developer Chair Entertainment play the classics it takes inspiration from -- Metroid and Castlevania, specifically -- extensively, in order to build the best possible understanding of the kind of game they were trying to make before they began development.

Sales

The game was downloaded 200,000 times during its debut seven days on sale, making it the XBLA's most downloaded single player title at that time.

Trial Version

The trial version of the game originally contained a bug that allowed players to continue after defeating the end boss of the demo, providing access to the full game without paying. It was however impossible to save the game while continuing or to get any achievements. Postings about the exploit and videos detailing how to perform it were quickly pulled through an intervention of Epic Games.

Awards

• 1UP
  • 2009 - Best Downloadable Game
• 4Players
  • 2009 – Best Xbox Live Arcade Game of the Year
  • 2009 – #2 Best Action-Adventure of the Year
• Cheat Code Central
  • 2009 - Best Downloadable Game
• G4
  • 2009 - Best Downloadable Game
• Game Informer
  • 2009 - Best Downloadable Game
• GamePro
  • 2009 - Best Downloadable Game
• GameSpy
  • 2009 - Downloadable Game of the Year
• IGN
  • 2009 - Overall Best Downloadable Console Game
  • 2009 - Overall Best Downloadable Console Game (Readers' Choice)
  • 2009 - Best Xbox Live Arcade Game
  • 2009 - Best Xbox Live Arcade Game (Readers' Choice)
• Spike TV
  • 2009 - Best Downloadable Game

Information also contributed by 雷堂嬢太朗 -raido.jotaro-and Big John WV