This game is an absolute masterpiece on the Nintendo 64. The best part is that Nightdrive studios has officially announced that they are remastering it for Nintendo Switch, PC, XBOX and PlayStation for a 2021 release.
@@TheSupersmash97 No it's not, it's just people like u who are too spoiled and can't stand games with bad frames and graphics, but in reality there are more important things than those.
@@TheSupersmash97 Because i'm a fan of Shadow Man and not spoiled, and i like the atmosphere on PS1 version the most. Play the game on PS1 100% like me and u'll realize it's not bad at all.
Shadowman is probably the darkest game I've ever played. So dark I fear to play it again. The game has something unique, and that's the sounds design and the soundtrack. It can really make you feel desperate. And it gives the game a huge atmosphere. And in addition to that, you have one hell of a deep story, that has more meanings that people might realize. And the game is so beautiful. Shadowman 64 is to me, one of the greatest games of all time. At the same time, I want to thank you for your channel, cause you are the only one I know, that pays so much respect for the Nintendo 64, a consoles that has so many great games. Too many of them, underrated. I appreciate your work, more than I can say. Long live the Nintendo 64!
***** Amen to that brother. But I don't think there is a problem with the level design, cause getting lost is part of making the game more challenging. The worlds are so big, and there is so many paths that you have to DISCOVER, so I wouldn't complain on that. Now, sadly, like you said, the franchise is gone forever. And to make it worse, Acclaim is dead. I hope one day someone else get the rights and do something good. Cause what i saw on ps2 wasn't half as good.
I also agree ive actually beat this game about 7 times i usually reboot it every 3 years theres just something about this game...so perfect...soundtrack..dark atmosphere...and i friggin love legion ..and mike leroi is badass ..he goes through so much..you want him to win so bad
What I loved about this game was its utterly grim tone and that's what I found frightening. It didn't use cheap jump scares or over the top enemy designs, just a horrid tone, hellish sound effects, and a story of despair and redemption. This is an action horror game done right
I sold this off when I needed money to buy Gamecube games, thinking I was never going to pick up where I left off and complete the game. I later regretted it, and missed Shadowman's unique atmosphere, so a few years ago I rebought it for Dreamcast.
As much as I love this game, the PC/Dreamcast version was much better. No Nintendo censorship, better graphics, the entire soundtrack rather than like, 3/4 of it. Though I'm impressed they managed such a solid port on a cartridge.
Yeah, the N64 port was impressive and way better than the garbage PSX version, but the Dreamcast version was the definitive version. It's just too bad there wasn't a better reward for collecting all of the 120-ish dark souls (hm.... did a certain series take it's name from Shadow Man? lol), the Dreamcast exclusive developer scrapbook for collecting them all was really lame. This game is absolutely phenomenal though, one of the best games of the late 90's.
I like how this game was tuly scary without relying on cheap jump scares. I remember it beng referred to as "Zelda's evil twin". Stunning visuals, hauntig sound design, and masterful, dark and twisted game design made it one of the best games on the N64, in my opinion. Sadly though, I feel it never got the recognition it deserved. It deserves to stand alongside the many well-known gems made by Rare and Nintendo, but instead it seems to be considered more of an obscurity, cherished only by the most rabbid N64-fanboys like myself. :-) One of the moments that really stood out for me, was chasing a serial killer through an abandoned appartement building. Equipped with a flashlight you had to find your way through a dark, crumbling building. Really showed off the impressive lighting effects.
I see this game as a somber, sinister mix between Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time and Super Mario 64--it contains the dungeon schematics from Zelda with final boss included, item collection for progress and action-adventure elements. Combined with the dark-soul hunting quest for gateway opening (Seen in SM 64) and also, it strengthens your character making him more resilient to damage while also increasing your voodoo capacity. This is really an underrated game, and it was sadly overlooked. i noticed the N64 version had muzzled audio and lesser sound tracks, but that's understandable due to the lower capacity of the cartridge memory, otherwise, it would've been the best version. And in hi-res mode (Qith the expansion pack) it looks beautiful, rivaling Dreamcast version in graphical quality. I got this game also on steam as a remaster, and I play it wonderfully on my computer. I wish this game gets properly remade, because it is simply awesome, long and compelling. One of the fewer masterpieces of the past generations.
This should be considered one of the N64 best. Game is simply amazing. The story, levels and weapons is all great. The cast of characters are fantastic. Spooky game
played it during my childhood . the music and the game itself scared the hit outta me but i still played it :,) wow memories i mustve been 9/10 ... hmm
Philipp Rösler Hahahahahaha Dank dir werde ich jetzt nie das Bild aus dem Kopf bekommen wie der kleine Philipp Rösler Shadowman zockt und dannach nich einpennen kann xD
I dont think ive encountered environments in any other game as unsettling as those in Shadowman. Theres just something otherworldly about its atmosphere that makes your skin crawl. Just so dark
I don’t think my palms ever sweated as much they did when I had to go through those fire temples to acquire his tattoos. But good God it was so satisfying once you attained the immunities.
This game had so many things that shocked me when i was a kid.. And I loved every bit of it... Not many games can do this anymore. I would love a remaster of this game...One of my favorites of all times.
I could not, for the life of me, remember the name of this game. I never played it myself, but I vividly remember my father renting it from Hollywood Video when I was a child, and playing it. I couldn't remember anything about the story, the characters name, anything. I just remember my dad playing through the beginning of the game. I'm so glad that RUclips's buggy recommended system suggested this!
I’m glad too! Check out my other video about the shadowman serial killers in the game which goes into a little more depth on the specific lore of the games world too
KelvinMMoore69 I purchased a remaster from GOG.com. And it works and plays nice. It has a few changes for the good, the addition of female deadsiders, new soundtracks and sound effects, and better textures. Everything is on its right place (well, almost everything), and then some more. I play it on my computer with an USB controller, and it moves and plays nice. You should try it out, it's a great game. I also still have the N64 version, but with no controller pak, it is impossible to save your progress. It's a shame.
I loved this game. It was so good. The atmosphere and dark and bleak setting was not something I had experienced in a video game before. The ability to explore deadside, unlocking new areas as you went, and it was mostly a huge contiguous area really drove the immersion. Or at least it felt like it! Being able to see the Asylum in the distance from the opening areas, really gave a sense of foreboding. What would it be like to get into that hellish place? It definitely did not disappoint.
Quick update. Nightdive Studio, the company that did the steam release, mentioned they are considering releasing this on the switch. I'm excited for Shadowman on-the-go!
@@n64glennplant Hope you're doing well. Thought I'd mention that the remaster is out now. Levels that were cut out have been introduced for the serial killers. Might want to relive this experience just one more time.
Brilliant review . Took me back many years when I would spend hours playing this game . As you rightly say , the end payoff is worth the long , hard , creepy journey . it's a very haunting game with its atmospheric sounds , especially the creepy but spectacular child sounds in one of the creepiest levels ever . The sounds alone give you goosebumps. I played through it twice back in the day and achieved the 120 souls . I'm not sure about the remastered version ?. The original graphics worked so well for this game . Nostalgia is a wonderful thing and I personally loved the original .
Weapon in my hand, my hand the arcing death blow. The horror, the horror, I embrace it. I still remember that awesome line, great story to a brutal game. Those voodoo mothers freaked the shit out of me too!
Probably in my top 10 games ever and hugely underrated. Epic game from start to finish. Gave my 13 y/o self the creeps back in '99, and later again as a 22 y/o on Dreamcast. Just awesome!
I found it used at a rental store. I had no idea what it was, and i was very surprised it was allowed on the N64. But i loved it. The environment, the atmosphere, the powers, the creepiness, the serial killers.... just an amazing game.
@Rountree1985 How ironic you leave this comment just after spending an hour playing the game for the first time after 20 years, haha. On a whim! I didn't want an n64 until nearly the release of the gamecube. And so i was used to the censored Mortal Kombat era of Nintendo. Not long after that i picked up Conker's Bad Fur Day!
The amount of speech on this game was incredible. They packed so much information into one N64 cartridge it's crazy. This and Zelda Ocarina of Time are my two MUST HAVE games on the N64.
News just broke of a remaster and I was always confused by this game as a kid, I hope it does well and is as compelling as you make it sound because I’d love to revisit this macabre game and understand what I couldn’t back then
The full page adverts for this in N64 magazines used to make me want this game but never got around to it, I had no idea this was on steam though! Might pick it up, you really sold me on it.
"The ninth of November, 1888. By my deeds I am known. For I am known as Jack. Springheel Jack. Jack The Ripper. By my deeds am I known. For they are truly bloody..." This has one of the greatest intros in gaming history. If anybody reading this hasn't seen it, have a search on RUclips. It'll definitely get you pumped to play it. Those opening words, with the camera tracking through a sewer, accompanied by Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, all combine to make something very very special. Guaranteed to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up! The game is a masterclass in atmosphere.
Textured Hi -rez Architecture and Vista -engine drawing distances were phenomeonal at the time. I still can`t belive N64 is running constantly miles of detailed hi -resolution enviroments, like on Asylum Gateway with all those searchlights so smoothly. Great use with sounds with music, also.
I remember hiring this out from the video store when I was 11, still have nightmares. Shadow man was absolutely amazing at the time, like you said, there was just so much to do, it was such a massive world and it felt like it kept going and going, defiantly got lost more than a few times that's for sure, still need to finish it :P never forget the intro! :D
I just bought this today for £6! I was obsessed with this game when it come out but was too young to appreciate everything fully. Your review was fantastic, I will be watching more from yoy fo sho.
Love this game. It's dark, gritty, compelling, disturbing, gory and beautiful in plot, sound and visuals. I cannot recall how many times I replayed it to 100% complete in my younger days. Strafing around the enemies, properly timing jumps and rolls, searching endlessly for the portals leading to that dark soul up in the seemingly unreachable distance and being totally creeped out by the soundtrack. I still replay many games on my N64 from time to time and this is one at the top of the list. It's a shame the sequel on the PS2 fell so far from the mark.
***** I don't remember the last Acclaim game I've played but after hearing about Acclaim's..track record, I'm surprised to hear that this game was made by them. lol I read cussing first in Contra Hard Corps. The first game I HEARD cussing in was probably Duke Nukem 3D or A Time To Kill.
This game reminds me of The Suffering series it would be cool to see them come back or even cross paths in a story seeing how The Suffering character was also a man deemed by a demon
Great review, while I have the game on the Dreamcast and the remastered release on Switch. It was your video that made become a fan of the series. Thank you for introducing me to a awesome series.
I liked this. Played it as a kid. Completed it too. I remember being proud of myself for finishing it, as it was quite hard and scary. Graphics look proper ropey now tho.
One of the most darkest action/adventure/platfomers with thaf thick horror vibe that'll make your skin crawl. But it is one that must be experienced! Forever Shadowman one of the greats for sure. Thank you for your coverage!
this game is a cult classic but some of the only memories i have of it as a child are how frustrated my stepfather and me were because of how scarce the goddamn checkpoints are... like seriously if you die you’d go SO far back in the level
Have you played the remaster yet? It looks and plays great so far. I did hear it had some issues at launch. I only started playing it a week ago after it had been patched.
This was the first of only two N64 games that were released in Portuguese here in Brazil - and even with the language access, it was still a very difficult game to beat. The other game was the first "South Park".
Finally someone who agrees this is a great game, I can't believe the hate it gets sometimes, even on ps1 my dad used to play this and I love it, very fond memories and still have the ps1 and dream cast versions to this day
Loved this game as a kid. It was so dark and atmospheric. A really strange experience compared to what was "popular" at the time. Definitely a memorable game - I had to look for a review video to relive a bit of it. Thanks for putting this together.
i remember when i was a kid my uncle passed away and my grandma gave me his N64 along with his games... among them was what i thought was madden (98 or 99 maybe earlier)... i put it in and shadowman comes on.. turns out he switched the stickers and returned the madden to the store... ironically my uncles name was legion.. rip unk
Thanks for the review Glenn - I started watching your vids last week and actually searched for this game, as I had the opportunity to get it for $10. I ended up getting it anyway, and now your review has appeared two days later - haha. Love your channel dude.
Ants Bull ah thanks man! glad you are enjoying what youve seen so far! i don't just cover the bigger named titles so theres always some hidden gems to find!
***** I've just gotten the N64 out of storage and am playing through all the games I didn't get through previously, and also picking up the ones I missed out on, so your channel is an awesome resource for me - I love how in depth your reviews are, which makes them way more useful than other channels. Have you got reviews of Mario Golf or Mission Impossible in the pipeline? I just got the former, and am still trying to work out if I should get the latter.
*I LOVED Shadow Man. I agree with everything said in this review. Just wished they’d remake it. Can u imagine the Cathedral Of Pain in Unreal Engine 4?*
Great review as always Glenn. I recently picked up a NTSC RGB modded N64 as well as a Everdrive 64 so really am enjoying the console at the moment being played through my crt it looks amazing! Always good watching your reviews to give me some info on good games to check out. All the best mate and keep up the great work!
I missed this back in it's day cause of my age and the fact that it was kinda a sleeper hit that nobody really had, but this actually looks super cool. AND it's less than 2 bucks on steam this week! I think I'm gonna give it a try, better late than never eh?
I really liked this game when I was a kid on PC. I saw a short movie of the making, I remember seeing Michael's half model then mirrored and that was enough for me. My brother came home one day and he had a surprise for me. He brought home a copy of Shadowman on the PC. I wasn't as excited but he remembered that we saw the making of movie clip on TV. I started to play and I was swallowed by the world of the game. The music and the atmosphere were all so great. This made me pick up a PS1 copy several years later when I switched to console gaming, and the Dreamcast version another couple of years later. This game is epic. Many see the backtracking a chore in games but in Shadowman it was a sense of progression even though I was walking the same areas but I could enter different parts because of the weapons or abilities I gained since the last time I was there. At first it seemed that lava is a natural hazard to keep you on the platforms but later it's a lot different feeling to look at the same level now walking on or swimming in lava. And the best part is the audio. This game has terrific atmosphere thanks to the haunting music and the sound effects. I just love this game.
Great to hear something actually concrete about this game. I never get specifics when this game is brought up, so it's great to hear a fully fleshed-out view on it. Not so sure about the control though, despite what you said. Thankfully, I all ready have it on PC, so that's likely the version I'll be playing. Thanks Glenn!
I thought the game was epic. The completely non-linear game play and well hidden goals to advance your character i.e. switching between liveside and deadside to progress kept me glued to the game every free minute I had. I finally got lost and downloaded the 64 page walkthrough. This game has 81hrs of game play . It was my favorite n64 title.
Great review.i played shadow man on Sega Dreamcast years ago and spent months on it before fully completing it the game I thought then and still do now the game was amazing and same time dam hard great visuals and awesome sounds and affects especially in surround sound.I think the only down side was the shadowgun was too loud.for we are many
I actually prefer the N64 version to the Dreamcast one, the Dreamcast ran smoother and arguably, it looked better. but the main reason I go for the N64 version is because the Dreamcast version suffered with some horrendous sound bugs with its music and sound effects. Today though the remaster is the way to play it now from nightdive studios
I picked up the ps1 version of this game and found that version do be extremely slow with shadowman feeling like he is skating. I promptly took it back to the shop where I bought the N64 version. It is such an awesome game on N64 and one I have such fond memories of. I really enjoyed your review and it has inspired me to go and pick this game up again!
Awesome video, I remember going to Game Trader at the mall when I was 5 and I seen this game and I wanted this game, but got Daikatana instead. Im glad I grew up with the n64. 1995 was was a good year for me because I was born that year and it came out in 96 so I grew up with the n64 and proud of it. :)
shadow man by a country mile, Daikatana was a mess. So much so that it'll be a long episode when i get around to it explaining all the problems they had in development with it
First Turok and now Shadow Man. I never played this game but I did read the first issue of the Acclaim comics version of Shadow Man. What got you into Turok and Shadow Man? The comics or the games themselves?
GearsX the games personally, comics have never really been a big thing here in the uk so you'd never see them in stores unless you went to a specialist place
As a child, this game always gave me a weird feeling. Like the mask shown at the loading screen. Almost like I knew what that mask represented without even knowing anything about it. Other worldly entities existing, immense power, pain, suffering is what held that mask together. I am now going through the game as an adult. This game is very odd, but very fun. Pretty interesting too. After a night of playing for 3 hours straight, I had a dream about a dead relative. Not a bad dream. It felt as though we were just checking in each other, learning new things about each other that we didn’t have the time to, when they were alive. I know deep down it’s just a dream. And obviously heavily influenced by the game. But I found it so interesting that in the game, Michal can visit the world of the dead. And after really giving the game a chance, having that dream about my dead relative. This game has now created an emotional bond with me. Again, I know it’s just a game and that sounds crazy, but I just thought I’d share. I’m sure that to some degree, we’re all Michal in a way.
I have the game, but it's in French. Because I'm from Belgium (the Dutch part), i can understand a little French, but I'm afraid I would miss out on a lot of story. Is there a way to change language, or is it playable in French? (In means of story and clues for missions?)
Nice review - I worked on this game as a level / front end artist.
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found you on the credits bro! great job!
trevor storey Cool!
Awesome!
Am late to this, but wanted to say that I loved this game. So good job : p
This game is an absolute masterpiece on the Nintendo 64. The best part is that Nightdrive studios has officially announced that they are remastering it for Nintendo Switch, PC, XBOX and PlayStation for a 2021 release.
N64 is the worst version because of controll.
@@Someone_KhabibbeatsJonesEASILY actually no the ps1 is due to frame rate
@@TheSupersmash97 No it's not, it's just people like u who are too spoiled and can't stand games with bad frames and graphics, but in reality there are more important things than those.
@@Someone_KhabibbeatsJonesEASILY um....plenty of people don’t like the ps1 version for a reason. Why defend a bad port?
@@TheSupersmash97 Because i'm a fan of Shadow Man and not spoiled, and i like the atmosphere on PS1 version the most. Play the game on PS1 100% like me and u'll realize it's not bad at all.
Shadowman is probably the darkest game I've ever played. So dark I fear to play it again. The game has something unique, and that's the sounds design and the soundtrack. It can really make you feel desperate. And it gives the game a huge atmosphere. And in addition to that, you have one hell of a deep story, that has more meanings that people might realize. And the game is so beautiful. Shadowman 64 is to me, one of the greatest games of all time. At the same time, I want to thank you for your channel, cause you are the only one I know, that pays so much respect for the Nintendo 64, a consoles that has so many great games. Too many of them, underrated. I appreciate your work, more than I can say. Long live the Nintendo 64!
***** Amen to that brother. But I don't think there is a problem with the level design, cause getting lost is part of making the game more challenging. The worlds are so big, and there is so many paths that you have to DISCOVER, so I wouldn't complain on that. Now, sadly, like you said, the franchise is gone forever. And to make it worse, Acclaim is dead. I hope one day someone else get the rights and do something good. Cause what i saw on ps2 wasn't half as good.
masterpiece no doubt dude this game is so fucking classic
Yes, brother, yes. Thumbs up to you.
HongwareeChannel I think The Legacy of Kain series is way more darker.
I also agree ive actually beat this game about 7 times i usually reboot it every 3 years theres just something about this game...so perfect...soundtrack..dark atmosphere...and i friggin love legion ..and mike leroi is badass ..he goes through so much..you want him to win so bad
this game is so damn amazing. I didn't know this many people still cared about this game. I thought I was alone...
+Richard Price needs a reboot 😍
you're not alone. Best game next to Oot and Majoras on N64
Richard Price i still do ! 2019
HD Port incoming to PC and consoles!
You are not alone, im just playing it again in my 64
Shadowman will always have a special place in my heart.
and the PS1 port is garbage.
@@DerpDerp3001 No it's not stfu, PS1 version is my favorite one, believe or not u spoiled toddler.
I just showed my stepson this game lol This one is legendary
@@DerpDerp3001 i actually have it on ps1 too 😆 and n64. And a c
Physical copy of the remaster.
I do miss Acclaim.. theyhad some of the best games on N64!!!
Cristian Spiridon I AM TUROK!!!
Acclaim was seriously on fire when it came to the N64 that generation. So many great titles!
Sadly most people look down on Acclaim, completely unaware of how amazing they were on the n64. Is a bummer.
Acclaim staff formed later Retro Studios ....it was for the best, so we got Metroid Prime.
What I loved about this game was its utterly grim tone and that's what I found frightening.
It didn't use cheap jump scares or over the top enemy designs, just a horrid tone, hellish sound effects, and a story of despair and redemption.
This is an action horror game done right
ALIEN-SKULL yeah there are only one to two jump scares but the rest is done with sound, lighting and the overall themes - made it much better IMO
Ohya, this really surprised back in the day. I think it was the first time I heard the word 'shit' in a video game.
Ryan AirZonkWorldChamp haha i love facts like that!
My friend and I were shocked by the line "This place is the asshole of the universe." This stuff was crazy as a kid!
This game is a masterpiece, and it is a dark and unforgettable game that grabs the player and never let's goes.
I sold this off when I needed money to buy Gamecube games, thinking I was never going to pick up where I left off and complete the game. I later regretted it, and missed Shadowman's unique atmosphere, so a few years ago I rebought it for Dreamcast.
Glad you got it back, it's cheap on steam now too
As much as I love this game, the PC/Dreamcast version was much better. No Nintendo censorship, better graphics, the entire soundtrack rather than like, 3/4 of it. Though I'm impressed they managed such a solid port on a cartridge.
Yeah, the N64 port was impressive and way better than the garbage PSX version, but the Dreamcast version was the definitive version. It's just too bad there wasn't a better reward for collecting all of the 120-ish dark souls (hm.... did a certain series take it's name from Shadow Man? lol), the Dreamcast exclusive developer scrapbook for collecting them all was really lame. This game is absolutely phenomenal though, one of the best games of the late 90's.
MichaelLeroi g 64 game was better
Victor Bogen Explain how
Victor Bogen
Better than which version? The PSX version yes, the PC and Dreamcast versions no.
Did the dreamcast and pc version have the secreat cheats?
I like how this game was tuly scary without relying on cheap jump scares. I remember it beng referred to as "Zelda's evil twin". Stunning visuals, hauntig sound design, and masterful, dark and twisted game design made it one of the best games on the N64, in my opinion. Sadly though, I feel it never got the recognition it deserved. It deserves to stand alongside the many well-known gems made by Rare and Nintendo, but instead it seems to be considered more of an obscurity, cherished only by the most rabbid N64-fanboys like myself. :-)
One of the moments that really stood out for me, was chasing a serial killer through an abandoned appartement building. Equipped with a flashlight you had to find your way through a dark, crumbling building. Really showed off the impressive lighting effects.
Bjørn Eirik Torset ah man yeah that was a stellar moment! i really think this series is primed for a reboot - it would be off the hook
***** true ^_^
couldn't get past the first level as a little kid
me neither
carlos juncal we are 3 hehe
carlos juncal me nether bruh shit was scary AF and Ain know wat to do
I remember being sold by the headless prisoners on the back cover. The dogs got the best of me tho
I'm not the only one lol
I see this game as a somber, sinister mix between Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time and Super Mario 64--it contains the dungeon schematics from Zelda with final boss included, item collection for progress and action-adventure elements. Combined with the dark-soul hunting quest for gateway opening (Seen in SM 64) and also, it strengthens your character making him more resilient to damage while also increasing your voodoo capacity. This is really an underrated game, and it was sadly overlooked. i noticed the N64 version had muzzled audio and lesser sound tracks, but that's understandable due to the lower capacity of the cartridge memory, otherwise, it would've been the best version. And in hi-res mode (Qith the expansion pack) it looks beautiful, rivaling Dreamcast version in graphical quality.
I got this game also on steam as a remaster, and I play it wonderfully on my computer. I wish this game gets properly remade, because it is simply awesome, long and compelling. One of the fewer masterpieces of the past generations.
You have the greatest speaking voice known to mankind (or at least N64 reviewers)!
This should be considered one of the N64 best. Game is simply amazing. The story, levels and weapons is all great. The cast of characters are fantastic. Spooky game
Shadowman remastered has been confirmed for current major consoles!!!
played it during my childhood . the music and the game itself scared the hit outta me but i still played it :,) wow memories i mustve been 9/10 ... hmm
Philipp Rösler it did get some great reviews of the time, its weird though because i still think and consider this to be a very under rated title
The children laughts in some parts are scary
Philipp Rösler Hahahahahaha
Dank dir werde ich jetzt nie das Bild aus dem Kopf bekommen wie der kleine Philipp Rösler Shadowman zockt und dannach nich einpennen kann xD
Philipp Rösler You were already 9/10 when you were a kid? That's cool, must have reached 10/10 by now ... ;)
It's out on the PC as well, the N64 version was somewhat "censored" compared to the PC one and the one on PC has better graphics.
I dont think ive encountered environments in any other game as unsettling as those in Shadowman. Theres just something otherworldly about its atmosphere that makes your skin crawl. Just so dark
R E B O O T the Michael LeRoi series SHADOWMAN !!!!! WE ARE THE FANS... FOR WE ARE MANY!
I don’t think my palms ever sweated as much they did when I had to go through those fire temples to acquire his tattoos. But good God it was so satisfying once you attained the immunities.
This is my favorite. What it lacked in graphics it made up for with audio. The playrooms in the asylum has the scariest sound track
The graphics are great.
The graphics very pretty good for its time especially the art style
This game had so many things that shocked me when i was a kid.. And I loved every bit of it... Not many games can do this anymore. I would love a remaster of this game...One of my favorites of all times.
+YungPika you and me too my friend!
Heh, this game was my first introduction to the Moonlight Sonata's second movement. I never got far but the design has always intrigued me.
That’s a great composition 👍
I could not, for the life of me, remember the name of this game. I never played it myself, but I vividly remember my father renting it from Hollywood Video when I was a child, and playing it. I couldn't remember anything about the story, the characters name, anything. I just remember my dad playing through the beginning of the game. I'm so glad that RUclips's buggy recommended system suggested this!
I’m glad too! Check out my other video about the shadowman serial killers in the game which goes into a little more depth on the specific lore of the games world too
Imagine an HD Remaster, Remake, or Sequel to THIS Game!!!!!!!!
So SAD that this may never happen.... :-(
KelvinMMoore69 we can only hope :( id love a new entry
There was a sequel for ps2
stephen the dude Yeah, I actually played that one. Unfortunately, I didn't think it was quite as good, though.... :-/
KelvinMMoore69 I purchased a remaster from GOG.com. And it works and plays nice. It has a few changes for the good, the addition of female deadsiders, new soundtracks and sound effects, and better textures. Everything is on its right place (well, almost everything), and then some more.
I play it on my computer with an USB controller, and it moves and plays nice. You should try it out, it's a great game.
I also still have the N64 version, but with no controller pak, it is impossible to save your progress. It's a shame.
Antonio Briceño GOG.com, huh? Thank YOU, for the heads-up! :-D
One of the best games of my childhood, and yet still the scariest of its time.
shadowman is my favorite game of all time since it first came out i beatin dat game more times then i can count
one of the first games I ever play and my favorite game of all time
Wow this one really takes me back! Awesome videos mate, getting through them all one by one and reliving my childhood.
spankyspangler mcgee thank you man! glad i can help bring back some amazing memories for you!
I loved this game. It was so good. The atmosphere and dark and bleak setting was not something I had experienced in a video game before. The ability to explore deadside, unlocking new areas as you went, and it was mostly a huge contiguous area really drove the immersion. Or at least it felt like it! Being able to see the Asylum in the distance from the opening areas, really gave a sense of foreboding. What would it be like to get into that hellish place? It definitely did not disappoint.
Quick update. Nightdive Studio, the company that did the steam release, mentioned they are considering releasing this on the switch.
I'm excited for Shadowman on-the-go!
Make it happen!
@@n64glennplant Hope you're doing well. Thought I'd mention that the remaster is out now. Levels that were cut out have been introduced for the serial killers. Might want to relive this experience just one more time.
Greatest game of all time
+TheFUSEspecialized - Agreed! This should be in the TOP 50 N64 games ever.
Brilliant review . Took me back many years when I would spend hours playing this game . As you rightly say , the end payoff is worth the long , hard , creepy journey . it's a very haunting game with its atmospheric sounds , especially the creepy but spectacular child sounds in one of the creepiest levels ever . The sounds alone give you goosebumps. I played through it twice back in the day and achieved the 120 souls . I'm not sure about the remastered version ?. The original graphics worked so well for this game . Nostalgia is a wonderful thing and I personally loved the original .
One of my favourites, had it on N64 first then on Dreamcast and still got it on pc, a true classic....
Hope you have the pc HD pack installed!
Always loved this game. Definitely surprised by it back in the day.
Weapon in my hand, my hand the arcing death blow. The horror, the horror, I embrace it.
I still remember that awesome line, great story to a brutal game. Those voodoo mothers freaked the shit out of me too!
Rama Shotton i loved that line too, the delivery of it was awesome
Probably in my top 10 games ever and hugely underrated. Epic game from start to finish. Gave my 13 y/o self the creeps back in '99, and later again as a 22 y/o on Dreamcast. Just awesome!
I found it used at a rental store. I had no idea what it was, and i was very surprised it was allowed on the N64. But i loved it. The environment, the atmosphere, the powers, the creepiness, the serial killers.... just an amazing game.
There were plenty of gory and violent games on n64. Why were you surprised?
@Rountree1985 How ironic you leave this comment just after spending an hour playing the game for the first time after 20 years, haha. On a whim!
I didn't want an n64 until nearly the release of the gamecube. And so i was used to the censored Mortal Kombat era of Nintendo.
Not long after that i picked up Conker's Bad Fur Day!
The amount of speech on this game was incredible. They packed so much information into one N64 cartridge it's crazy. This and Zelda Ocarina of Time are my two MUST HAVE games on the N64.
It sounds like you’ll be looking forward to the remaster of this coming soon!
@@n64glennplant man i got the N64 and Dreamcast versions, will i really need another lol
News just broke of a remaster and I was always confused by this game as a kid, I hope it does well and is as compelling as you make it sound because I’d love to revisit this macabre game and understand what I couldn’t back then
The full page adverts for this in N64 magazines used to make me want this game but never got around to it, I had no idea this was on steam though! Might pick it up, you really sold me on it.
"The ninth of November, 1888. By my deeds I am known. For I am known as Jack. Springheel Jack. Jack The Ripper. By my deeds am I known. For they are truly bloody..." This has one of the greatest intros in gaming history. If anybody reading this hasn't seen it, have a search on RUclips. It'll definitely get you pumped to play it. Those opening words, with the camera tracking through a sewer, accompanied by Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, all combine to make something very very special. Guaranteed to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up! The game is a masterclass in atmosphere.
***** i personally agree matt, one of the best intro from any game ever
I used to say "for we are many" to people lol, what a dick.
I absolutely loved this game... I remember it giving me the chills when Shadow Man would encounter a situation.
Textured Hi -rez Architecture and Vista -engine drawing distances were phenomeonal at the time. I still can`t belive N64 is running constantly miles of detailed hi -resolution enviroments, like on Asylum Gateway with all those searchlights so smoothly. Great use with sounds with music, also.
Excellent thorough review. I used to play the hell out of this game on the N64, and yes, there was plenty of hell to be had. I never forgot it.
Black Death 1347 i love this too, i was playing the steam version just recently too
***** What's a steam version?
on pc steam is a marketplace for pc games
I remember hiring this out from the video store when I was 11, still have nightmares. Shadow man was absolutely amazing at the time, like you said, there was just so much to do, it was such a massive world and it felt like it kept going and going, defiantly got lost more than a few times that's for sure, still need to finish it :P never forget the intro! :D
DardeeChar that intro is perhaps the best on the console, i don't think theres any other game which sets the scene so well :)
I remember when my stepsister had this game for her N64 when I was 6 at my nan and pops. Man, those were good times....
Space Void Studios haha i cant imagine a girl playing this back in the day but I'm sure they did!
I also have a stepbrother older than my stepsister, so I'm thinking he got the game when was old enough. But I am not completely sure at the moment.
I loved this game back in '99 - always thought it was way underrated... it rally was tough as hell to play
i picked it up for around 15 dollars from my local Game City store for my N64. Really worth the purchase
I just bought this today for £6! I was obsessed with this game when it come out but was too young to appreciate everything fully. Your review was fantastic, I will be watching more from yoy fo sho.
Check out my documentary about the serial killers in the game 👍
Love this game. It's dark, gritty, compelling, disturbing, gory and beautiful in plot, sound and visuals. I cannot recall how many times I replayed it to 100% complete in my younger days. Strafing around the enemies, properly timing jumps and rolls, searching endlessly for the portals leading to that dark soul up in the seemingly unreachable distance and being totally creeped out by the soundtrack. I still replay many games on my N64 from time to time and this is one at the top of the list.
It's a shame the sequel on the PS2 fell so far from the mark.
This is one of the very few Acclaim games that was actually VERY GOOD. I think this was the 1st time a heard a game cuss also.
***** I don't remember the last Acclaim game I've played but after hearing about Acclaim's..track record, I'm surprised to hear that this game was made by them. lol
I read cussing first in Contra Hard Corps. The first game I HEARD cussing in was probably Duke Nukem 3D or A Time To Kill.
This game reminds me of The Suffering series it would be cool to see them come back or even cross paths in a story seeing how The Suffering character was also a man deemed by a demon
Great review, while I have the game on the Dreamcast and the remastered release on Switch. It was your video that made become a fan of the series. Thank you for introducing me to a awesome series.
I liked this. Played it as a kid. Completed it too. I remember being proud of myself for finishing it, as it was quite hard and scary. Graphics look proper ropey now tho.
yeah its scary as heck!
What a cracking game. Everything was tuned to perfection.
Loved the principal song of this game. It takes me to the past ❤️
Beethoven - moonlight sonata
My absolute favorite game of all time. The soundtrack is incredible, the concept, the darkness. Truly a work of art.
glad you loved this game too, check out my serial killer documentary which you'll no doubt enjoy about this
yes 100%
beautiful Title! I still enjoy playing it
One of the most darkest action/adventure/platfomers with thaf thick horror vibe that'll make your skin crawl. But it is one that must be experienced! Forever Shadowman one of the greats for sure. Thank you for your coverage!
check out my video about the shadow man serial killers if you really dig the atmosphere and story of this one!
This game means business ! I loved it !!!
Just To Hear The Theme Song Bring's Back Such Good Memories
GameMaster19967 me too my friend, me too
***** i think am going to cry...
its hard to forget this one super creepy one of my favs
this game is a cult classic but some of the only memories i have of it as a child are how frustrated my stepfather and me were because of how scarce the goddamn checkpoints are... like seriously if you die you’d go SO far back in the level
Yeah this is one tough game for sure!
I like your reviews. Very calm, professional voice!
Thank you 👍
One of the first games I've ever played. Absolutely loved it. Great game, I miss it.
Arthur Geissler i too wish we would get a proper reboot of this, such an awesome concept and story
What was the engine used to create the level design/entire game?
VISTA
@@n64glennplant thank you. i couldn't figure it out, so i've asked.
Have you played the remaster yet? It looks and plays great so far.
I did hear it had some issues at launch. I only started playing it a week ago after it had been patched.
I’m waiting for the series x version but watched streams when pc version launched and yeah there were some minor bugs but nothing to worry about
This was the first of only two N64 games that were released in Portuguese here in Brazil - and even with the language access, it was still a very difficult game to beat. The other game was the first "South Park".
Finally someone who agrees this is a great game, I can't believe the hate it gets sometimes, even on ps1 my dad used to play this and I love it, very fond memories and still have the ps1 and dream cast versions to this day
Remastered playthrough Glenn?
When the series x version comes out later this year I will for sure
@@n64glennplant
Top man.
Loved this game as a kid. It was so dark and atmospheric. A really strange experience compared to what was "popular" at the time. Definitely a memorable game - I had to look for a review video to relive a bit of it. Thanks for putting this together.
great music great setting great character, definitely one of the most memorable games from my youth the sequel is pants however!
***** hehe so ive heard!
i remember when i was a kid my uncle passed away and my grandma gave me his N64 along with his games... among them was what i thought was madden (98 or 99 maybe earlier)... i put it in and shadowman comes on.. turns out he switched the stickers and returned the madden to the store... ironically my uncles name was legion.. rip unk
Thanks for the review Glenn - I started watching your vids last week and actually searched for this game, as I had the opportunity to get it for $10. I ended up getting it anyway, and now your review has appeared two days later - haha. Love your channel dude.
Ants Bull ah thanks man! glad you are enjoying what youve seen so far! i don't just cover the bigger named titles so theres always some hidden gems to find!
***** I've just gotten the N64 out of storage and am playing through all the games I didn't get through previously, and also picking up the ones I missed out on, so your channel is an awesome resource for me - I love how in depth your reviews are, which makes them way more useful than other channels.
Have you got reviews of Mario Golf or Mission Impossible in the pipeline? I just got the former, and am still trying to work out if I should get the latter.
mario golf will likely be next year, mission impossible is possible...for this year :)
*I LOVED Shadow Man. I agree with everything said in this review. Just wished they’d remake it. Can u imagine the Cathedral Of Pain in Unreal Engine 4?*
There is a hd texture pack 👍 for the pc that is
Just imagine a remastered version of this game...damn... playing this game is allways fascinating.
Great review as always Glenn. I recently picked up a NTSC RGB modded N64 as well as a Everdrive 64 so really am enjoying the console at the moment being played through my crt it looks amazing! Always good watching your reviews to give me some info on good games to check out. All the best mate and keep up the great work!
I never realized I was a dark kid until now lmao I used to play this and manhunt all day
manhunt was banned here in the Uk for a while if I remember correctly
I missed this back in it's day cause of my age and the fact that it was kinda a sleeper hit that nobody really had, but this actually looks super cool.
AND it's less than 2 bucks on steam this week! I think I'm gonna give it a try, better late than never eh?
It’s great and you can download the hd texture pack and install it on the steam version too
I really liked this game when I was a kid on PC. I saw a short movie of the making, I remember seeing Michael's half model then mirrored and that was enough for me. My brother came home one day and he had a surprise for me. He brought home a copy of Shadowman on the PC. I wasn't as excited but he remembered that we saw the making of movie clip on TV. I started to play and I was swallowed by the world of the game. The music and the atmosphere were all so great. This made me pick up a PS1 copy several years later when I switched to console gaming, and the Dreamcast version another couple of years later. This game is epic.
Many see the backtracking a chore in games but in Shadowman it was a sense of progression even though I was walking the same areas but I could enter different parts because of the weapons or abilities I gained since the last time I was there. At first it seemed that lava is a natural hazard to keep you on the platforms but later it's a lot different feeling to look at the same level now walking on or swimming in lava. And the best part is the audio. This game has terrific atmosphere thanks to the haunting music and the sound effects. I just love this game.
Great to hear something actually concrete about this game. I never get specifics when this game is brought up, so it's great to hear a fully fleshed-out view on it.
Not so sure about the control though, despite what you said. Thankfully, I all ready have it on PC, so that's likely the version I'll be playing. Thanks Glenn!
AguyinaRPG yeah the pc version is awesome on a pad with 2 triggers for each weapon :)
I thought the game was epic. The completely non-linear game play and well hidden goals to advance your character i.e. switching between liveside and deadside to progress kept me glued to the game every free minute I had. I finally got lost and downloaded the 64 page walkthrough. This game has 81hrs of game play . It was my favorite n64 title.
still getting goosebumps on the soundtrack; way too epic music.
Great review.i played shadow man on Sega Dreamcast years ago and spent months on it before fully completing it the game I thought then and still do now the game was amazing and same time dam hard great visuals and awesome sounds and affects especially in surround sound.I think the only down side was the shadowgun was too loud.for we are many
mark woodward the gun was killer loud! if you play it now its even louder than you'd probably have remembered too !
mark woodward Legion's in this game?
I actually prefer the N64 version to the Dreamcast one, the Dreamcast ran smoother and arguably, it looked better. but the main reason I go for the N64 version is because the Dreamcast version suffered with some horrendous sound bugs with its music and sound effects. Today though the remaster is the way to play it now from nightdive studios
amen to that - im waiting for the series x version to play it
I shall definitely pick up the Xbox version and I may even get it for switch be nice to play it on the go
I loved this game when I was a teen. I'm glad you've validated my memories and it was actually good and not just nostalgia!
Amen to that and remember there’s a remaster out now!
I picked up the ps1 version of this game and found that version do be extremely slow with shadowman feeling like he is skating. I promptly took it back to
the shop where I bought the N64 version. It is such an awesome game on N64 and one I have such fond memories of. I really enjoyed your review and it has inspired me to go and pick this game up again!
Awesome video, I remember going to Game Trader at the mall when I was 5 and I seen this game and I wanted this game, but got Daikatana instead. Im glad I grew up with the n64. 1995 was was a good year for me because I was born that year and it came out in 96 so I grew up with the n64 and proud of it. :)
***** i bet as soon as you left that game store the clerk was like cha ching we sold a copy of daikatana finally :)
Yep probably so lol.
Which game do you personally perfer more, Daikatana or ShadowMan?
shadow man by a country mile, Daikatana was a mess. So much so that it'll be a long episode when i get around to it explaining all the problems they had in development with it
Yep.
I could not pass the first level. I was just like the cover looks cool but I have no idea what to do.
Man you do the impressive job of explain this game has me utterly intrigued I don't know how I missed this
thanks kid, its definitely worth checking out but id suggest the steam PC version so you can play in max settings - its something to behold
So this was like the original version of The Darkness? Awesome
got it for my birthday one year from a good friend, best gift i have ever received
First Turok and now Shadow Man. I never played this game but I did read the first issue of the Acclaim comics version of Shadow Man. What got you into Turok and Shadow Man? The comics or the games themselves?
GearsX the games personally, comics have never really been a big thing here in the uk so you'd never see them in stores unless you went to a specialist place
As a child, this game always gave me a weird feeling. Like the mask shown at the loading screen. Almost like I knew what that mask represented without even knowing anything about it. Other worldly entities existing, immense power, pain, suffering is what held that mask together. I am now going through the game as an adult. This game is very odd, but very fun. Pretty interesting too.
After a night of playing for 3 hours straight, I had a dream about a dead relative. Not a bad dream. It felt as though we were just checking in each other, learning new things about each other that we didn’t have the time to, when they were alive. I know deep down it’s just a dream. And obviously heavily influenced by the game. But I found it so interesting that in the game, Michal can visit the world of the dead. And after really giving the game a chance, having that dream about my dead relative. This game has now created an emotional bond with me. Again, I know it’s just a game and that sounds crazy, but I just thought I’d share. I’m sure that to some degree, we’re all Michal in a way.
I have the game, but it's in French. Because I'm from Belgium (the Dutch part), i can understand a little French, but I'm afraid I would miss out on a lot of story. Is there a way to change language, or is it playable in French? (In means of story and clues for missions?)
Robin DC ohh i have no idea sorry....maybe someone on n64 forever forum could answer you though
I'll do, and gratz on the video, is high quality like always ;)
Try finding a Dutch version.
Do you have a top ten n64 games video?? I would really love to know you're favorites.
That playroom theme...i'm getting chills just thinking about it
This game was pretty fun back in the day.