Shadow Warrior 2

Shadow Warrior 2
Developer(s) Flying Wild Hog
Publisher(s) Devolver Digital
Director(s) Michał Szustak
Designer(s)
  • Paweł Kowalewski
  • Michał Mazur
Programmer(s)
  • Krzysztof Narkowicz
  • Kuba Opoń
Artist(s)
  • Paweł Libiszewski
  • Łukasz Zdunowski
Writer(s) Scott Alexander
Composer(s)
  • Michał Cielecki
  • Krzysztof Wierzynkiewicz
Series Shadow Warrior
Engine Road Hog Engine
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release

Windows

  • WW: 13 October 2016

PlayStation 4, Xbox One

  • WW: 19 May 2017
Genre(s) First-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Shadow Warrior 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by indie studio Flying Wild Hog and published by Devolver Digital. It is the sequel to the 2013 Shadow Warrior, the reboot of the 1997 original. The game was released for Microsoft Windows in October 2016, and for PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in May 2017.

Plot

The game is set five years after the events of Shadow Warrior.[1] Once again, players assume the role of modern ninja warrior Lo Wang and must battle armies of demons that have invaded the world sent by another dimension under Zilla command.[1][2]

Gameplay

Shadow Warrior 2 can be played in single-player mode or in a new 4-player co-op mode.[1][1][2][3] In co-op mode, each player experiences the narrative as Lo Wang but sees other players as different anonymous ninjas.[2][4]

The level environments are more open and non-linear than in the previous title. New traversal mechanics have been added such as climbing walls and double jumping to allow for more exploration.[2][4] Mission structure in Shadow Warrior 2 is less restricted than its predecessor, players can now revisit earlier missions to re-engage past enemies in order to upgrade Wang's skills. The game features a hub area where the player can acquire quests and upgrade their abilities before beginning a mission. Every mission, except for story-specific events, will feature randomly generated level design and content, including randomized map layouts, enemy positions, terrain, buildings, and weather conditions.[2][5] The game utilises a procedural damage system that allows players to cut and blow off enemy limbs and body parts.[3]

The game features over 70 different weapons, varying between firearms and blades.[3] Killing enemies will level up weapons and reward the player with gems to augment their equipment with element properties and buffs.[2]

Development

Shadow Warrior 2 was developed by Flying Wild Hog, the studio that previously developed the 2013 reboot of the 1997 original, using their in-house Road Hog Engine.[3] On 11 June 2015, publisher Devolver Digital officially announced the title.[6] The game was released for Microsoft Windows on 13 October 2016, and for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in May 2017.[7]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(PC) 78/100[8]
(PS4) 71/100[9]
(XONE) 78/100[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid7/10[11]
Game Informer6.75/10[12]
Game Revolution[13]
GameSpot8/10[14]
IGN8.6/10[15]
PC Gamer (US)78/100[16]
Polygon5/10[17]

Shadow Warrior 2 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[8][9][10]

Zack Furniss's score of 7/10 on Destructoid said that "Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun."[11]

Jonathan Leack of Game Revolution awarded it 4 out of 5 stars saying that "Shadow Warrior 2 is in position to become Fall 2016's premier sleeper hit as not many gamers are talking about it, and there certainly isn't much in the way of a marketing campaign. Even then, its gameplay dynamics are so well executed that it could walk among this year's biggest games. If you're looking for a fun online co-op game to play with friends, this might just be the game for you. Just don't go in expecting a satisfying story."[13]

IGN's Leif Johnson gave the game a score of 8.6/10 with the consensus "Wang's stupid wisecracks kept me smiling from start to finish, and the variety of melee and ranged combat and the loot that dropped from it was satisfying enough that I came back with friends for more. It's great fun in solo or in co-op, and its small degree of randomization is enough to keep the action fresh for at least a few runs."[15]

78/100 was James Davenport's score on PC Gamer and said "Shadow Warrior 2’s combat is gleefully expressive and varied, but undermined by tired, dated humor."[16]

Carli Velocci's 5/10 score on Polygon stated that "Shadow Warrior 2 is a game about slicing and shooting through hordes of monsters and soldiers. It’s about as classic a setup as the shooter genre has in that regard. A player itching to hack up some demons could do a lot worse. But everything else about Shadow Warrior 2 feels hollow. The characters are lifeless, the jokes aren’t funny, the story is worthless, and the levels are repetitive. There might be a place for a 1997-style game in 2016 — something simple with a narrow focus that plays on many of the boring, sexist, and lazy traditions that gaming has left behind — but Shadow Warrior 2 isn’t nearly enough.[17]

Sales

Flying Wild Hog announced that Shadow Warrior 2 quadrupled its sales compared to the 2013's Shadow Warrior reboot, saying "We could not be happier with the reception of Shadow Warrior 2. [...] Our fans and critics have largely applauded our efforts means the absolute world to us".[18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Parker, Fork (11 June 2015). "Shadow Warrior 2 Coming to PS4 Next Year". PlayStation Blog. Sony Computer Entertainment America. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fillari, Alessandro (17 June 2015). "Shadow Warrior 2 goes even more over the top with co-op action". Destructoid. ModernMethod. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Mejia, Ozzie (19 June 2015). "E3 2015: How Shadow Warrior 2 provides enough Wang for everyone". Shacknews. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  4. 1 2 Day 0 Live From Studio Day 1 #1. Twitch.tv. Twitch Interactive. 15 June 2015. Event occurs at 3:35:03. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  5. ↑ Lemon, Marshall (4 May 2016). "Kill demons like it’s 1997 all over again in Shadow Warrior 2". GamesRadar. Future plc. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  6. ↑ Matulef, Jeffrey (11 June 2015). "Shadow Warrior 2 announced for PS4, Xbox One and PC". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  7. ↑ Orry, James (2 September 2016). "Shadow Warrior 2 launches for PC on October 13, but PS4 and Xbox One early in 2017". VideoGamer.com. Candy Banana. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Shadow Warrior 2 Critic Reviews for PC". Metacritic. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  9. 1 2 "Shadow Warrior 2 Critic Reviews for PlayStation 4". Metacritic. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Shadow Warrior 2 Critic Reviews for Xbox One". Metacritic. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  11. 1 2 Furniss, Zack (14 October 2016). "Review: Shadow Warrior 2". Destructoid. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  12. ↑ Gwaltney, Javy (4 November 2016). "Stabbing, Shooting, Stumbling - Shadow Warrior 2 - PC". Game Informer. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  13. 1 2 Leack, Jonathan (13 October 2016). "Shadow Warrior 2 Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  14. ↑ Paget, Mat (13 October 2016). "Shadow Warrior 2 Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  15. 1 2 Johnson, Leif (13 October 2016). "Shadow Warrior 2 Review". IGN. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  16. 1 2 Davenport, James (14 October 2016). "Shadow Warrior 2 review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  17. 1 2 Velocci, Carli (19 October 2016). "Shadow Warrior 2 review". Polygon. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "Shadow Warrior 2 is 4X times more successful than its 2013 reboot". dsogaming.com. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
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