It’s the weirdest feeling when you’re early to a Ragnar video and you peek at the comments and Ryan is suddenly there. It’s like finding out two of your friends from different schools know each other and are also friends
Loved every minute of this video! I had a wonderful time working on the remaster from the texture enhancements to making the new levels and other cut content. We really poured our hearts in this!
Hey I love Shadowman so much and I'm dying to play the remaster on console. But we havent heard nothing 😭 I keep hearing "soon" but that doesn't mean much.
Dude this is nuts. This is a game I put in the category of "Not sure if my adolescent brain made this up or if its real". Like I have ANCIENT memories of playing this shit. Good work as always!
yeah same here but its worse because i think my dad rented it for me for a weekend so i just remember that first swamp part and the bridge and voodoo type feelings running around it. such a cool game
I have vague, dream-like memories of playing this game as a child and being terrified and confused. All these years later I still find myself thinking about it. So stoked you made a video about it!
The 90's, when the biggest issue was not being able to decide between renting Shadow Man, Akuji the Heartless, Soul Reaver or Parasite Eve. I really miss these days.
So I know I was a younger generation, but because of the financial situation my family was dealing at the time, the only games I could play were n64 and ps2 games. Thanks to the local video rental store, I was able to play all of these great previous Gen games. Honestly it made appreciate some great game design that sadly didn’t exactly translate to future generations. You just don’t get games like this, Dino crisis, or syphon filter. Honestly, thank god for nightdive.
Thanks for this homage. I grow up playing the N64 version, too, and had a blast. Never finished it, though. But I purchased the Switch version a couple of months ago and I finished it 100% like three days ago. It was like I was possessed playing it. I couldn't stop. This remaster is a love letter from Nightdive to all of us who really appreciated this masterpiece back in the days were videogames were made with love. There is no game like Shadowman and there won't be. Rejoice those who have played and loved this game, cause you were blessed by the gods. *For we are many!*
I'm always so torn between immediately commenting to say how much I enjoy your content or waiting until after I've actually watched the video to respond to the video properly I think that's a sign of an excellent channel
I remember having this game in the early 2000's. I had Shadow Man for the Dreamcast, the data got corrupted on the memory card, and all kinds of freaky stuff started happening in the game. My friend and I thought the game was cursed or possessed. It was weird. We threw the game in the trash because we really thought the game was evil. We had no idea about data being able to become corrupt, causing voodoo symbols, and other strange artifacts to appear in random places in the game. It was very strange at the time.
You are absolutely one of my favorite channels on this site, without fail you always manage to introduce me to a game that I know little about but fall so deeply in love with and your analyzing of those games is always spot on. If not for your video on Vampire The masquerade: Bloodlines a while back I may not have discovered one of my all time favorite games and it's thanks to how convincing your presentation and analysis of that game was that led me to purchasing it. Here you've successfully done it once again and I cannot thank you enough! Please keep up the wonderful work Ragnar!
Tim Haywood is the man. I think he would jump at the chance of doing a soundtrack for another Shadowman game, if only the community would come together and ask for one.
I had no idea this was remastered. This was my dads favorite game on the ps1 and I used to watch him play it late at night when I couldn’t sleep. Since I was only about 4 years old at the time I wasn’t very good at it but I still loved the tone and story. Thanks for making this video, really brings me back to some of my most cherished memories. Definitely going to download this and finally finish it myself. Sadly I cannot relive those memories with him as he passed in 2017, but I know he’d want me to go back and play one of his favorite games.
This is an example of a remaster done right. When I tried playing the original Shadowman earlier this year I just couldn't get into it, but I enjoyed the remaster thoroughly. However to those who start , be warned that the beginning of this game is slow and boring, but when it hooks you in, you'll want to play till the end. Excellent music and dark atmosphere. Shame about the underwhelming ending tho :)
I've never been a gamer, and suspense/horror games especially freak me out, but I adore your videos! I love the stories the games tell, and I feel that you do an excellent job of explaining why they are true gems!
This game, just like Silent Hill, has the ability to send shivers up my spine when I play it and I have played it at least 5 or 6 times through. Once you get inside the Asylum/Cathedral of Pain and the prison, even with the low-res and basic graphics, it is just so haunting. The sounds and music are a perfect fit.
This game is one of my all-time favorites. I even went to a WCW wrestling match with a SM themed sign, I don't think I got on TV, though. This was my first experience with a 3D action exploration game on N64 because I didn't have the Zelda games... I also grabbed the Dreamcast version, which was a great port.
You---are---amazing for doing this. Shadowman is my ultimate favorite horror game. Everything about it clicks. Seeing you appraise it is the perfect icing on the morbid cake that is this forgotten gem 💎👌
Perfectly worded. Undeniably filled with love and admiration for the series. Im so glad alot of folks are excited for this. The wait for the console release is torture personified 😂
Man, oh man... You've just unlocked one of my very best and fond memories of an excellent game console, which had already big names in it like Goldeneye 007 and Zelda OOT just to name a couple, and then in 1999 came this gem. I was only 14 when I laid my hands on a copy of this game with N64's expansion pak (ty dad for that hehe) which added more detail to this dark, twisted, excellent written and developed piece of art and work. This game gave me the shivers back then, and still does to this day: The shrieks of Zombie-mothers and the mumbling two-headed torso Duppies, the annoying Deadwings of Wasteland, the mysterious Blood Sisters at the temples, the frightening and massive Trueforms... The DIALOGUES! OMG... Michael LeRoi/Shadowman's level intro monologues "...This is the place I have not wanted to dream of, and the dream is now the place I partly live through." Dude, what a game. Thank you so much for bringing back these frightening and wonderful memories to my mind. Gotta try Shadow Man Remastered as if my life depends on it, for sure!
This game and soul reaver the series as whole was so ahead of it's time. These are the types of games that deserve remakes and remasters not the crap we tend to get today.
Thanks for covering this game. I can't believe Night Dive actually did this. It is far beyond what they could have done. I was thrilled to play this again. I always thought the games slow start it was hurt it the most, but this game is amazing once you get deep into it. It will have you constantly having you thinking about Shadow Man the further you get into it.
Given how I never finished "Shadow Man" back then, I was planning to buy Nightdive's remaster and finally close that chapter for some time already, so thanks for that affiliation link mate. It's those similarities between SM and LoK:S that kept me from forgetting about it. Although if my memory serves me right, it was that very aspect of being lost you praise, which drove me away from the game in the past, so I'm bit concerned if I'll be able to finish it now, when it got even worse with age. My spatial awareness is unbelievably terrible - insert Forrest Gump's _"I'm not a smart man.gif"_ here :D Also, props for that "Early 3D Platforming" warning
it's not too bad. If you feel like your getting lost often just get out a paper and just doddle out a map. It doesn't have to be neat or anything just close. I've been doing these types of things since i played magic candle on my C 64 back in the day. It's an easy way of investing yourself into the game and keeping track of where you need to go. :)
@@davidmiller9485 so far so good - it seems less confusing than I remembered it to be. Although I'm just on 3rd dark souls power level and made only one tram stop inside the asylum, so it might get much harder further down the line. Also, I wonder how will the restored cut content influence the potential "burn out factor", given that I'm already annoyed by having to trudge through respawned low level enemies, each time I revisit an old location. I can't just run past them - I'm not powerful enough yet.
@@milczyciel yeah the respawning of enemies get old, but i just ran through like i was doing a speed run. Killing only the those who got in my way. I enjoyed the game (both years ago and my latest playthrough last month. Both on the gog edition of the original game). I haven't played the remaster yet, i guess that next after i give myself a break.
Every few months, I come back to this video. Man, I wish I could have a genuine discussion with Rag. He seems like the type of guy I could converse alot with about games long past.
When I first played the game back in ye olde days of the N64, I never finished it (due to not having a Controller Pak), but I consumed so much of what the magazines and the comics themselves had to offer that I feel in love with the universe. Years later, I bought the Steam version and, at last, I was able not only to finish it but also 100% complete it. It was an immense delight that I plan to re-experience again once the Remaster edition lands on the Switch. Until we meet again, ShadowMan.
Love your videos, Ragnar. Thank you for the quality content. You tried to Berenstain bears me; the N64 game cover has Shadowman holding a skull, not a gun. I remembered seeing that box on the video rental place so many times that the cover is burned into my brain!
Back in 1999 this game got me. Like literally. I can still quote from it, remember bits and pieces of level designs - the overall atmosphere did indeed engulfed me for months. It had that movie Se7en and Interview with the vampire vibe, amazing serial killer theme, outstanding voice acting and amazing levels. I couldn’t finish the game tho, but honestly I sometimes still dream of this game! Cool video bro, brought back some memories!!
First game I was ever too scared to finish, as a kid. But the memories never left me. It's so strange seeing it get recognition today, what a wonderful unexpected surprise!
One of the first games that made me go "wow, this is like really mature". As n64 kids we weren't use to such thought provoking games and this game really helped me broad up my taste. The voice acting was also impecable and the soundtrack so unforgettable. Just waiting for it to come out on ps4 to get my copy, but I hope the youngins also get introduce to this franchise so it gets revived. I have faith. As always, your videos are above the usual youtube content quality. Thanks for your hard work and professionalism. Cheers from México.
Thank you so much for The Trigger warning. I have a quite severe reaction to: "Early 3D Platforming" ;-P (In all honesty thanks for the warnings, helps a lot to judge if I should watch a video late at night^^)
Adding the soul reaver theme in any video always makes it ten times more badass. I really wish more games took the time to make such rememberable themes.
memory unlocked: my dad played this game, alongside what I think was Jedi Outcast, while procrastinating his dissertation. I remember standing next to his computer desk and watching him play. Thanks for the review.
I remember playing and 100% completing Shadow Man on my N64. Good times. Though for some frustrating reason I couldn’t find that goddamn last cheat unlock to play as a deadite. Still waiting for that remaster if Nightdive studios is ever going to finish and release it that is.
Your videos are pure euphoria. Even though I've never heard of many of these games and I might play even less of them hasn't changed the fact that your videos are perfect. They are so serene and really help to calm my anxiety and become a better writer in the process.
Thank you for paying tribute to this gem. Nightdive did an incredible job with the remaster. The inclusion of new content was *almost* seamless. Deacon’s file still cites Cruz and Pike as inmates at Gardelle County despite them having their own locations now.
I've been waiting for this day!!!! I've always told myself since I was little that if I ever won the lottery I'd do whatever it takes to give this the most faithful live action adaptation possible. There's just infinite stories to explore in this world. My brother produced an EP entirely based around this game. Like remixed the main themes, made individual tribute tracks for The Five, the Sisters, etc. Tim Haywood ended up finding it organically and reached out and said how much he enjoyed it, and honestly it's probably one of the top memories of my life just being present for that. (Tim if you see this you're a legend!) This time of year always has me missing this world. So random but I was getting some Halloween decorations at Dollar Tree a few weeks back, and they have tons of different wall signs and welcome signs, well so there is this set of vintage carnival-esque looking ones and there's this one that's like a skeleton with a top hat with no body and just a yard stake....who has red hair for eyebrows.....implying he may be of Irish ancestry...LOL I'm sure you can tell where I'm going with this, but I'm gonna make him into an actual somewhat life size Jaunty figure complete with snake body ✌😂💓 I bought two so I'm gonna make a test version for myself and then the other will be the real thing I'm gonna give my brother Matt. Which at this rate I may not finish til Christmas but who cares~~ Jaunty's antics can be enjoyed all year round! 😂😂😂 This game and the original Team Silent produced Silent Hill games will always be my top tier in horror. Thank you so much for putting this together. Your presentation style and dedication to accurate research to support true genuine desire for understanding the subjects you choose is something I have dear respect for. I can't wait to watch this in full, like I'm sending this to my brother immediately!! Lol!! I've rarely come across people who have heard of this game before never mind the comic, or even Acclaim for that matter, so forgive my giant comment. I just feel so seen right now I just love Shadow Man so much. Thank you for using your platform and storytelling to shine a light on one of the most underrated horror titles of all time. Those who know, know. *_"I AM LEGION. FOR WE ARE MANY."_* 💓
Interesting that Valiant Comics are trying to adapt their comic book properties into a cinematic universe like Marvel & DC right now. They started out really bad with Bloodshot, but I still think they have a chance by adapting Shadowman (and Turok) into the big screen. It’s so easy just take this game and make it a movie!
I'm just getting to play this game now but I can't believe more people don't talk about it. Tight controls (at least by early 3D standards), a cool world to explore, and a banging soundtrack. I'm enjoying the hell out of this game. Thanks for the recommendation, Ragnar. You're the man.
I played this on the N64 . What a collosal adventure this was . I remember it very well and it was seriously ahead of its time imo . Thanks for making this video 👍
Thank you for this beautiful video. I bought the older port on a discount and never got past the first level. It seemed like one of those old games only praised because a bunch of people played it as kids. But you brilliantly showed and explained why I should give it another chance and get the remaster. Turns out this grimdark horror action is right up my alley.
I've always seen this cover art on the GOG page and it always catches a glance out of me but that was it. I rely a lot on great game curators like you to be entirely sure I want to play a video game or not. I play excessive ammounts of video games and have a lot still yet to play, so having video essayists explain why something is so great is just a God sent for me. Keep doing what you're doing, you're one content creator I have on highest regards. PS: I would love your take on Cruelty Squad, I know it is right up your alley.
Best review of Shadow Man by far! I just replayed it for the first time since the 2000s when I played it as a kid/adolescent. It was a fantastic experience, of course I was aware of much more things, messages and metaphors than before. The game if you cope with the frustrating aspect is quite rewarding and I 100% with that excitement about getting back somewhere now that you can access it (like walking on lava that was like a huge moment). Thanks!
3 года назад+4
Hey, juste pour dire que ton travail est reconnu du côté de la France au moins par une personne, ahah. Félicitations pour tout le boulot que tu fournis, il est incroyablement qualitatif. Je regarde régulièrement toutes tes vidéos, et c'est un plaisir à chaque fois. Thank you for everything !
Brilliant presentation of a wonderful gem , this virtual addictive drug tapping it's claws into your cerebral cortex lingering long after you've turned off the platform to resume a normal daily routine. Tim Haywood deserved a big round of applause for his eerie music score. Oh and Guy Miller from Teesside studios.
I can’t get this game out of my head. It’s so amazing, awe inspiring, horrifying, and depressing. The music in the engine block area is so sad and devastating with how much Legion is messing with Mike using Luke. My favorite game then and now and forever.
Hell yeh man! Well surprised and happy to see shadow man on Ragnarox channel!!! I loved this game, the first time I got to the asylum I was shitting bricks for ages. I had it on the dreamcast and till this day, I've never forgotten shadownan.
I experienced this game vicariously through watching my dad play it when I was a kid. I'm definitely going to grab the remaster and finally play it for myself.
I played this game when it first released on PS1, but never got far. I remember getting very confused by the level design before giving up. But you’ve convinced me to give it another go. I didn’t even realise there were Metroidvania elements in it.
I’ve just completed Shadowman remastered, physical version of which i got from Limited Run few years ago, but didn’t have time to try. It stole me from liveside for a week, my wife got a bit worried lol. It was ADDICTING, probably one of the best games i’ve played in YEARS. I’ve never been so hooked, probably since the days of metroid fusion. A wonderful video, but i wish you’ve talked about the music, because it is just insane how masterfully it is crafted for 1999. Everybody talks about how Akira Yamaoka is a genius and crafted one of the best soundtracks for the first and second Silent Hill. Well it pales in comparison to shadowman for me, thats for sure. I’m into electronic music, so hearing how Tim Haywood synthesizes sounds, samples voices and combines styles in a cacophony of industrial horror electronica with psychedelica, that sometimes, if you play it at night, makes the experience so trasformative with music literally conveing some sort of psychological pressure. The fact that the music dynamically changes from room to room is also too ambitious for 1999, but it works insanely well. This game is like a godlike combination of Metroid, Half Life, The Suffering and Silent Hill, and i love it.
First and last time I played this I went through waves of playing then stopping cause I would approach then get stuck, discover, get rewarded, get stuck, etc. And it was not too long after it's release on ps1. Most memorable part was the audio track replaying of a surgical drill then a baby crying, disturbs me to this day.
A great video as always! I remember seen shadow man in the nintendo magazines, but never had the occasion to play it. Now with the code I can help you a little and get a high quality game 🤩, I am really looking forward to play it and make my own video for it.
A highly overlooked game. Amazing gameplay. Oh my god dude, you are an original shadowman gamer. You described the frustration and the reward of sticking it out perfectly. I was so angry and frustrated to the point I hated it at first. But as I accepted the premise and explored more and more and upgraded my powers I started to really see the value in it and enjoyment. It turned out to be one of my top 3 for the n64. If not for Ocarina of time, I would put it number 1. And it really had a spooky vibe. The prison was awesome
What a fantastic video for a fantastic game, Shadow man is my favourite game EVER and I am holding out for the Switch Release but I have played the original on PS1 / N64 and Dreamcast and I loved each version. I really enjoyed watching this, as your video certainly does the game justice. Thank you for your excellent content.
One thing I loved as a teen was how the game never held your hand. You literally find an item, Michael just says, "This should be useful," and it's shown in your inventory. What does it do? I don't know yet, check the cards. And I loved that feeling of discovery.
I was like 8 or 9 when I played this, well "tried" playing this (it was hard asf at that age ha). I remember the game play however what still pops into my head is when your walking in a valley (maybe) and someone is reciting "behold the pale horse". I remember how creepy it was and it is a huge memory of my childhood. Like a staple of it, is that weird? Meh what the hell, nostalgia is good no matter how weird and creepy it is. Great video, I had no idea a remaster existed.
Fantastic video on an absolute gem of a game. I've been working in the games industry for about 18 years now and Shadow Man was the first game I ever made some money with. I found a secret in I think it was a little chapel or maybe a barn while jumping from beam to beam. I don't quite remember what I got but some item appeared after I had jumped to each beam once. I wrote it down and sent it by mail to several gaming magazines and two of them actually printed it and sent me 30-40 bucks each. I did that with some other secrets I found and bugs that you could exploit and every once in a while they would actually get printed and I would make some money. A couple years later I ended up in QA at a game dev studio and realized this was my calling all along^^ Shadow Man was a fantastiv game for exploration and secret-finding and I spent countless hours exploring every part of it :) I also fell in love with the world and got into the comics after playing the game. They opened my eyes to a lot of other dark american comics and made me a regular at my local comic book store. I absolutely love that game.
Boy oh boy, I miss blockbuster video and just walking there to see all the new games that they would get on Fridays. Back in 1999, this was one of their brand new N64 games and it was for PS1 too, but I experienced it on N64 and I will never ever forget it. Back as a teenager, this was one game that I surely never got bored of and was very intrigued with. This was an unforgettable experience for me way back in 1999, from the story, lore, characters, locations and my god the music. Acclaim surely was an underrated powerhouse of a gaming publisher that game is so many memorable video games with unforgettable characters, stories and worlds such as Turok, Shadowman, and many many more.
Oh and when you realise what's fully going on with the story, you also realise just how much you are actually being told and shown. Everything is so cleverly done. Using the shadowgun as a light source so you can still climb. Use more powerful weapons, but with limited ammo and no health back on kill, unless you mix and match with shadowgun. the multiple hanging from ledge positions, the side hops. The more resourceful mindset you have, the more you see how deep the efforts and expertise of the creators goes. The best thing I ever did was not look up anything about this game before playing it to the near end, and still not looking at anything beyond mid game, just in case lol. Nice video, not too many out there for shadowman. I can tell you appreciate the game
So glad you made this review! I remember being very excited to play this game on the N64 but never managed to get my hands on it. Years later when emulation in that space started to take off I finally gave it a go and was very disappointed. Not so much by the game itself but by the controls. Playing games designed for the N64 via emulation with mouse and keyboard just never felt very good. Now at last I can finally give it a proper go, and with improved controls and framerate!
I tried playing the game again a couple of years ago, but just couldn't get past the clunkyness and slow pacing. Thank you for making the video, it let's me remember what I loved about the game. :)
I just replayed this game about 6 months ago on PC with the high res. patch. With the high resolution on PC, it is much easier to see the terrain and it doesn't blend in like on the PS version. So you are able to see where you have and have not explored in the game.
@@karozans hey thanks for the reply, it from the video and your comment it really sounds like they took the time to address and improve the limitations of the time. Most likely gonna try again, it and Turok 2 were a big part of my childhood.
@@josephmartinez8805 Oh yeah. Turok 2 was so cool. At first I was like, "this is a goofy game fighting dinosaurs", but then I saw the awesome weapons and the bigger enemies and fell in love with it. Shooting the Nuke and the skull boring explosives was so freaking cool.
I remember having shadow man on sega dreamcast and i play it so much but i never got the chance to finish it due too my dreamcast console dying out. Now i heard about the remastered version by night dive studio and it looks amazing i just hope it comes out soon for the xbox and other consoles. I would definitely buy a digital and disc copy also i hope they'll add custom button mapping controls which would be amazing. Thank you for sharing and covering this topic.
Ragnar, from the bottom of my blackened heart, thank you for introducing me to this game. Getting lost in a lovingly crafted game like this is exactly what I need.
Great video! I played this game for hours on the Sega Dreamcast and finished it more than once. The atmosphere drew me in. Both creepy and beautiful all at once.
O M G!!! I was dreaming about this but only because of your video I know that there is a remastered version now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even bought the game for PS2 as an adult again after I played it on N64 before I had to sell the whole thing when I was a teenager. Awesome stuff.
Omg you Used the Term "Schnick Schnack" - I love you. Great Video, in my past I was never allowed to play this game.. as I now know that it was an Adult rated game, well it makes sense. But man ... that game has an really really great atmosphere, now I want to play it... darn. Thank You. :)
Loved this game as a kid, definitely checking out the remaster now. When you were talking about making your own maps I did that for several games as a kid as well. Which reminded me of that one DS RPG where you had to make your own map on the touch screen and it was so fun to have to draw it in game and hope your memory or drawing skills were good enough
Aw hell yeah, lets do this!
It’s the weirdest feeling when you’re early to a Ragnar video and you peek at the comments and Ryan is suddenly there. It’s like finding out two of your friends from different schools know each other and are also friends
Parasocial relationships ftw!
I clicked on a RagnarRox video, hoyever...
@@danielclark-hughes692 *cleycked
Ragnar and Ryan I do not miss.
Loved every minute of this video! I had a wonderful time working on the remaster from the texture enhancements to making the new levels and other cut content. We really poured our hearts in this!
It shows! I was really impressed from what I saw in the video. Good work :)
Hey I love Shadowman so much and I'm dying to play the remaster on console. But we havent heard nothing 😭 I keep hearing "soon" but that doesn't mean much.
thank you so much for your work! So glad to hear this one got a remaster and I'm super excited to see the cut content.
any idea when the switch version is coming out??
It really shines through. This set a strong benchmark for future remasters. Thanks for that monumental effort.
Dude this is nuts. This is a game I put in the category of "Not sure if my adolescent brain made this up or if its real". Like I have ANCIENT memories of playing this shit. Good work as always!
Shadow Man really does come off as a fever dream.
I love that feeling.
oh yea, i often get this feeling.
guess i simply had less security around weird stuff than other kids. not sure if it worked out for the best tho ...
yeah same here but its worse because i think my dad rented it for me for a weekend so i just remember that first swamp part and the bridge and voodoo type feelings running around it. such a cool game
I still have my copy of the game I just haven't played it in so long because I need a new 64
I have vague, dream-like memories of playing this game as a child and being terrified and confused. All these years later I still find myself thinking about it. So stoked you made a video about it!
Play it
I could say the same man!! Haha very same thing 💯 now i can relive this and understand it abit better lol
The 90's, when the biggest issue was not being able to decide between renting Shadow Man, Akuji the Heartless, Soul Reaver or Parasite Eve.
I really miss these days.
So I know I was a younger generation, but because of the financial situation my family was dealing at the time, the only games I could play were n64 and ps2 games. Thanks to the local video rental store, I was able to play all of these great previous Gen games. Honestly it made appreciate some great game design that sadly didn’t exactly translate to future generations. You just don’t get games like this, Dino crisis, or syphon filter. Honestly, thank god for nightdive.
@@abysswalker2115 man i can remember when the only thing i had to game on was my phone and a ds. It was amazing
Well if you rented Shadow Man for PS1 then you dun goofed. That port is awful.
don't forget Symphony of the night, and nightmare creatures!
@@carloszagal1934 I own them both
I need Nightdive to be the ones at the helm of eventual Soulreaver remaster.
No one else dares to touch it, or I'll cry in the shower!
Ill cry with you in the shower.
Soul Reaver remaster would be one of the most beautiful things ever. So glad others think the same!
You're not alone. No one daring to touch it is the #1 reason for crying in the shower.
Soul Reaver was one of my favorite games on PS1.....the good old days!
It will never happen because Crystal Dynamics and Silicon Knights will never stop fighting over it.
Ol' Michael LeRoi does not get nearly enough love. So excited to see you tackling this one!
ngl, I saw Shadow Man and thought "oh hey, a new Matty video."
Michael is the greatest Shadow Man to ever take on the mantle.
You're boring, please leave
For sure! One of the coolest and darkest games of the time! :)
Love your channel Matt
This made me remember how much I miss kain & raziel adventures :(...
Vae victus!
“This *ugly* company is fucking super hot *franchises* and basically, you are fucking stupid"
Thanks for this homage. I grow up playing the N64 version, too, and had a blast. Never finished it, though. But I purchased the Switch version a couple of months ago and I finished it 100% like three days ago. It was like I was possessed playing it. I couldn't stop. This remaster is a love letter from Nightdive to all of us who really appreciated this masterpiece back in the days were videogames were made with love. There is no game like Shadowman and there won't be. Rejoice those who have played and loved this game, cause you were blessed by the gods.
*For we are many!*
I'm always so torn between immediately commenting to say how much I enjoy your content or waiting until after I've actually watched the video to respond to the video properly
I think that's a sign of an excellent channel
@Melina Krysta I most likely will!
Same
i didnt read all ur comment but i love ur comments i aint even read all ur comments
First horror game I ever played. Ridicoulsly underrated
I remember having this game in the early 2000's. I had Shadow Man for the Dreamcast, the data got corrupted on the memory card, and all kinds of freaky stuff started happening in the game. My friend and I thought the game was cursed or possessed. It was weird. We threw the game in the trash because we really thought the game was evil. We had no idea about data being able to become corrupt, causing voodoo symbols, and other strange artifacts to appear in random places in the game. It was very strange at the time.
sounds like a dope canonical story run to me!
It was nice of you not trying to sell the game to some other kid lol
Real life creepypasta
You are absolutely one of my favorite channels on this site, without fail you always manage to introduce me to a game that I know little about but fall so deeply in love with and your analyzing of those games is always spot on. If not for your video on Vampire The masquerade: Bloodlines a while back I may not have discovered one of my all time favorite games and it's thanks to how convincing your presentation and analysis of that game was that led me to purchasing it. Here you've successfully done it once again and I cannot thank you enough! Please keep up the wonderful work Ragnar!
This game has an amazing soundtrack. Really impressive for the time it came out too
Tim Haywood is the man. I think he would jump at the chance of doing a soundtrack for another Shadowman game, if only the community would come together and ask for one.
I had no idea this was remastered. This was my dads favorite game on the ps1 and I used to watch him play it late at night when I couldn’t sleep. Since I was only about 4 years old at the time I wasn’t very good at it but I still loved the tone and story. Thanks for making this video, really brings me back to some of my most cherished memories. Definitely going to download this and finally finish it myself. Sadly I cannot relive those memories with him as he passed in 2017, but I know he’d want me to go back and play one of his favorite games.
This is an example of a remaster done right. When I tried playing the original Shadowman earlier this year I just couldn't get into it, but I enjoyed the remaster thoroughly. However to those who start , be warned that the beginning of this game is slow and boring, but when it hooks you in, you'll want to play till the end. Excellent music and dark atmosphere. Shame about the underwhelming ending tho :)
I have such great memories of playing the N64 version back in the day - the characters, story, and Tim Haywood’s soundtrack is just perfect.
I've never been a gamer, and suspense/horror games especially freak me out, but I adore your videos! I love the stories the games tell, and I feel that you do an excellent job of explaining why they are true gems!
This game, just like Silent Hill, has the ability to send shivers up my spine when I play it and I have played it at least 5 or 6 times through. Once you get inside the Asylum/Cathedral of Pain and the prison, even with the low-res and basic graphics, it is just so haunting. The sounds and music are a perfect fit.
Shadowman, Gothic 1 and Disciples 1 were my childhood. Watching this video makes me wanna play all 3 of them again.
I remember I rented this on N64 and although I couldn’t figure out how to progress, it’s atmosphere filled me with such a real sense of dread
I always felt like I was the only person who loved this game. It takes a special kind of player I guess. The soundtrack was pretty chilling too.
This game is one of my all-time favorites. I even went to a WCW wrestling match with a SM themed sign, I don't think I got on TV, though. This was my first experience with a 3D action exploration game on N64 because I didn't have the Zelda games... I also grabbed the Dreamcast version, which was a great port.
This is so 90s and I love it. WCW kicked WWF/E’s ass imo.
@@HiGlowie I agree 1000%
You---are---amazing for doing this. Shadowman is my ultimate favorite horror game. Everything about it clicks. Seeing you appraise it is the perfect icing on the morbid cake that is this forgotten gem 💎👌
Perfectly worded. Undeniably filled with love and admiration for the series. Im so glad alot of folks are excited for this. The wait for the console release is torture personified 😂
@@zelestial1681 It definitely is lol. I can't wait to explore the restored Asylum areas!
Man, oh man... You've just unlocked one of my very best and fond memories of an excellent game console, which had already big names in it like Goldeneye 007 and Zelda OOT just to name a couple, and then in 1999 came this gem. I was only 14 when I laid my hands on a copy of this game with N64's expansion pak (ty dad for that hehe) which added more detail to this dark, twisted, excellent written and developed piece of art and work. This game gave me the shivers back then, and still does to this day: The shrieks of Zombie-mothers and the mumbling two-headed torso Duppies, the annoying Deadwings of Wasteland, the mysterious Blood Sisters at the temples, the frightening and massive Trueforms... The DIALOGUES! OMG... Michael LeRoi/Shadowman's level intro monologues "...This is the place I have not wanted to dream of, and the dream is now the place I partly live through." Dude, what a game. Thank you so much for bringing back these frightening and wonderful memories to my mind. Gotta try Shadow Man Remastered as if my life depends on it, for sure!
This game and soul reaver the series as whole was so ahead of it's time. These are the types of games that deserve remakes and remasters not the crap we tend to get today.
*Me before watching:* Huh. This sure looks like Soul Reaver.
*Me 11 minutes in:* I'm Nostradamus.
Thanks for covering this game.
I can't believe Night Dive actually did this. It is far beyond what they could have done. I was thrilled to play this again.
I always thought the games slow start it was hurt it the most, but this game is amazing once you get deep into it. It will have you constantly having you thinking about Shadow Man the further you get into it.
It made me think of Spawn first tbh, but Soul Reaver is a good fit also!
Soul Reaver gets compared to Spawn quite a lot, fittingly enough
@@IdiotinGlans When did they do that?
Given how I never finished "Shadow Man" back then, I was planning to buy Nightdive's remaster and finally close that chapter for some time already, so thanks for that affiliation link mate.
It's those similarities between SM and LoK:S that kept me from forgetting about it. Although if my memory serves me right, it was that very aspect of being lost you praise, which drove me away from the game in the past, so I'm bit concerned if I'll be able to finish it now, when it got even worse with age. My spatial awareness is unbelievably terrible - insert Forrest Gump's _"I'm not a smart man.gif"_ here :D
Also, props for that "Early 3D Platforming" warning
it's not too bad. If you feel like your getting lost often just get out a paper and just doddle out a map. It doesn't have to be neat or anything just close. I've been doing these types of things since i played magic candle on my C 64 back in the day. It's an easy way of investing yourself into the game and keeping track of where you need to go. :)
@@davidmiller9485 so far so good - it seems less confusing than I remembered it to be. Although I'm just on 3rd dark souls power level and made only one tram stop inside the asylum, so it might get much harder further down the line. Also, I wonder how will the restored cut content influence the potential "burn out factor", given that I'm already annoyed by having to trudge through respawned low level enemies, each time I revisit an old location. I can't just run past them - I'm not powerful enough yet.
@@milczyciel yeah the respawning of enemies get old, but i just ran through like i was doing a speed run. Killing only the those who got in my way. I enjoyed the game (both years ago and my latest playthrough last month. Both on the gog edition of the original game). I haven't played the remaster yet, i guess that next after i give myself a break.
Nightdive.
@@azforu29 Ty, fixed
Every few months, I come back to this video. Man, I wish I could have a genuine discussion with Rag. He seems like the type of guy I could converse alot with about games long past.
I think I never finished it but words: "The sister awakes" are forever lodged in my brain.
When I first played the game back in ye olde days of the N64, I never finished it (due to not having a Controller Pak), but I consumed so much of what the magazines and the comics themselves had to offer that I feel in love with the universe. Years later, I bought the Steam version and, at last, I was able not only to finish it but also 100% complete it. It was an immense delight that I plan to re-experience again once the Remaster edition lands on the Switch. Until we meet again, ShadowMan.
Thank you for making this. It’s hard to find quality content made with a genuine love for this series, and that’s what you provided.
Love your videos, Ragnar. Thank you for the quality content. You tried to Berenstain bears me; the N64 game cover has Shadowman holding a skull, not a gun. I remembered seeing that box on the video rental place so many times that the cover is burned into my brain!
Region differences
Back in 1999 this game got me. Like literally. I can still quote from it, remember bits and pieces of level designs - the overall atmosphere did indeed engulfed me for months. It had that movie Se7en and Interview with the vampire vibe, amazing serial killer theme, outstanding voice acting and amazing levels. I couldn’t finish the game tho, but honestly I sometimes still dream of this game! Cool video bro, brought back some memories!!
First game I was ever too scared to finish, as a kid. But the memories never left me. It's so strange seeing it get recognition today, what a wonderful unexpected surprise!
One of the first games that made me go "wow, this is like really mature". As n64 kids we weren't use to such thought provoking games and this game really helped me broad up my taste.
The voice acting was also impecable and the soundtrack so unforgettable.
Just waiting for it to come out on ps4 to get my copy, but I hope the youngins also get introduce to this franchise so it gets revived. I have faith.
As always, your videos are above the usual youtube content quality. Thanks for your hard work and professionalism. Cheers from México.
Thank you so much for The Trigger warning.
I have a quite severe reaction to:
"Early 3D Platforming" ;-P
(In all honesty thanks for the warnings, helps a lot to judge if I should watch a video late at night^^)
I'm really glad they help. Also yeah, Early 3D Platforming is definitely not something to take lightly.
Adding the soul reaver theme in any video always makes it ten times more badass. I really wish more games took the time to make such rememberable themes.
One of these rare channels where i feel like home.
Im gratefull for your Videos Ragnar.
Thank you for being you^^!
Muchas gracias. Your videos always nails that retro horror experiencia and nostalgia. Bring more form the underground :0.
I played the remaster again, and its just as good as back then when i was a kid and played it on my n64. One of the best games ever made.
memory unlocked: my dad played this game, alongside what I think was Jedi Outcast, while procrastinating his dissertation. I remember standing next to his computer desk and watching him play. Thanks for the review.
I remember playing and 100% completing Shadow Man on my N64. Good times. Though for some frustrating reason I couldn’t find that goddamn last cheat unlock to play as a deadite. Still waiting for that remaster if Nightdive studios is ever going to finish and release it that is.
Your videos are pure euphoria. Even though I've never heard of many of these games and I might play even less of them hasn't changed the fact that your videos are perfect. They are so serene and really help to calm my anxiety and become a better writer in the process.
Thank you for paying tribute to this gem. Nightdive did an incredible job with the remaster.
The inclusion of new content was *almost* seamless. Deacon’s file still cites Cruz and Pike as inmates at Gardelle County despite them having their own locations now.
I've been waiting for this day!!!! I've always told myself since I was little that if I ever won the lottery I'd do whatever it takes to give this the most faithful live action adaptation possible. There's just infinite stories to explore in this world. My brother produced an EP entirely based around this game. Like remixed the main themes, made individual tribute tracks for The Five, the Sisters, etc. Tim Haywood ended up finding it organically and reached out and said how much he enjoyed it, and honestly it's probably one of the top memories of my life just being present for that. (Tim if you see this you're a legend!) This time of year always has me missing this world. So random but I was getting some Halloween decorations at Dollar Tree a few weeks back, and they have tons of different wall signs and welcome signs, well so there is this set of vintage carnival-esque looking ones and there's this one that's like a skeleton with a top hat with no body and just a yard stake....who has red hair for eyebrows.....implying he may be of Irish ancestry...LOL I'm sure you can tell where I'm going with this, but I'm gonna make him into an actual somewhat life size Jaunty figure complete with snake body ✌😂💓 I bought two so I'm gonna make a test version for myself and then the other will be the real thing I'm gonna give my brother Matt. Which at this rate I may not finish til Christmas but who cares~~ Jaunty's antics can be enjoyed all year round! 😂😂😂 This game and the original Team Silent produced Silent Hill games will always be my top tier in horror. Thank you so much for putting this together. Your presentation style and dedication to accurate research to support true genuine desire for understanding the subjects you choose is something I have dear respect for. I can't wait to watch this in full, like I'm sending this to my brother immediately!! Lol!! I've rarely come across people who have heard of this game before never mind the comic, or even Acclaim for that matter, so forgive my giant comment. I just feel so seen right now I just love Shadow Man so much. Thank you for using your platform and storytelling to shine a light on one of the most underrated horror titles of all time. Those who know, know. *_"I AM LEGION. FOR WE ARE MANY."_* 💓
Interesting that Valiant Comics are trying to adapt their comic book properties into a cinematic universe like Marvel & DC right now. They started out really bad with Bloodshot, but I still think they have a chance by adapting Shadowman (and Turok) into the big screen. It’s so easy just take this game and make it a movie!
Honestly hope if they do it, they take their time and spread the story as needed through a series. Doing the whole story in 2 hours would be rough.
Turok is Valiant too?? Never know that :0
I'm just getting to play this game now but I can't believe more people don't talk about it. Tight controls (at least by early 3D standards), a cool world to explore, and a banging soundtrack. I'm enjoying the hell out of this game. Thanks for the recommendation, Ragnar. You're the man.
I played this on the N64 . What a collosal adventure this was . I remember it very well and it was seriously ahead of its time imo . Thanks for making this video 👍
Thank you for this beautiful video. I bought the older port on a discount and never got past the first level. It seemed like one of those old games only praised because a bunch of people played it as kids. But you brilliantly showed and explained why I should give it another chance and get the remaster. Turns out this grimdark horror action is right up my alley.
I've always seen this cover art on the GOG page and it always catches a glance out of me but that was it. I rely a lot on great game curators like you to be entirely sure I want to play a video game or not. I play excessive ammounts of video games and have a lot still yet to play, so having video essayists explain why something is so great is just a God sent for me. Keep doing what you're doing, you're one content creator I have on highest regards.
PS: I would love your take on Cruelty Squad, I know it is right up your alley.
I love Cruelty Squad, it's brilliant!
I appreciate how in the credits you hesitate for a second with chris chan :D
I thought I imagined that 🤣
your channel is one of the best things that i've discovered in this platform
Lava diving has me fondly remembering how you get water immunity in Soul Reaver.
One of the most underrated games of all time IMO.
Best review of Shadow Man by far! I just replayed it for the first time since the 2000s when I played it as a kid/adolescent.
It was a fantastic experience, of course I was aware of much more things, messages and metaphors than before.
The game if you cope with the frustrating aspect is quite rewarding and I 100% with that excitement about getting back somewhere now that you can access it (like walking on lava that was like a huge moment).
Thanks!
Hey, juste pour dire que ton travail est reconnu du côté de la France au moins par une personne, ahah.
Félicitations pour tout le boulot que tu fournis, il est incroyablement qualitatif. Je regarde régulièrement toutes tes vidéos, et c'est un plaisir à chaque fois.
Thank you for everything !
Once again, thx for the great work! I remember playing Shadow Man at the gaming area of a local department store back in the days. :)
Brilliant presentation of a wonderful gem , this virtual addictive drug tapping it's claws into your cerebral cortex lingering long after you've turned off the platform to resume a normal daily routine. Tim Haywood deserved a big round of applause for his eerie music score. Oh and Guy Miller from Teesside studios.
I can’t get this game out of my head. It’s so amazing, awe inspiring, horrifying, and depressing. The music in the engine block area is so sad and devastating with how much Legion is messing with Mike using Luke. My favorite game then and now and forever.
Hell yeh man! Well surprised and happy to see shadow man on Ragnarox channel!!! I loved this game, the first time I got to the asylum I was shitting bricks for ages. I had it on the dreamcast and till this day, I've never forgotten shadownan.
I experienced this game vicariously through watching my dad play it when I was a kid. I'm definitely going to grab the remaster and finally play it for myself.
I played this game when it first released on PS1, but never got far. I remember getting very confused by the level design before giving up. But you’ve convinced me to give it another go. I didn’t even realise there were Metroidvania elements in it.
The early 3D platforming on the trigger warning made me chuckle.
doesn't matter if i know the game or not, i'm still watching all of your videos. thank you so much for all thr work!
I’ve just completed Shadowman remastered, physical version of which i got from Limited Run few years ago, but didn’t have time to try. It stole me from liveside for a week, my wife got a bit worried lol. It was ADDICTING, probably one of the best games i’ve played in YEARS. I’ve never been so hooked, probably since the days of metroid fusion. A wonderful video, but i wish you’ve talked about the music, because it is just insane how masterfully it is crafted for 1999. Everybody talks about how Akira Yamaoka is a genius and crafted one of the best soundtracks for the first and second Silent Hill. Well it pales in comparison to shadowman for me, thats for sure. I’m into electronic music, so hearing how Tim Haywood synthesizes sounds, samples voices and combines styles in a cacophony of industrial horror electronica with psychedelica, that sometimes, if you play it at night, makes the experience so trasformative with music literally conveing some sort of psychological pressure. The fact that the music dynamically changes from room to room is also too ambitious for 1999, but it works insanely well. This game is like a godlike combination of Metroid, Half Life, The Suffering and Silent Hill, and i love it.
Amazing video man! The original Shadow Man is one of my favorite games of all time. This is the video I needed.
I see a lot of spawn similarities, black guy, anti hero, undead, green essence coming from his eyes, 90s, graphic violence and gore
First and last time I played this I went through waves of playing then stopping cause I would approach then get stuck, discover, get rewarded, get stuck, etc. And it was not too long after it's release on ps1. Most memorable part was the audio track replaying of a surgical drill then a baby crying, disturbs me to this day.
Played this as a teenager when it came out. Atmosphere was amazing
A great video as always! I remember seen shadow man in the nintendo magazines, but never had the occasion to play it. Now with the code I can help you a little and get a high quality game 🤩, I am really looking forward to play it and make my own video for it.
A highly overlooked game. Amazing gameplay. Oh my god dude, you are an original shadowman gamer. You described the frustration and the reward of sticking it out perfectly. I was so angry and frustrated to the point I hated it at first. But as I accepted the premise and explored more and more and upgraded my powers I started to really see the value in it and enjoyment. It turned out to be one of my top 3 for the n64. If not for Ocarina of time, I would put it number 1. And it really had a spooky vibe. The prison was awesome
Super grateful for your skillful avoidance of spoilers, I've been inspired to make my way through this game now. Wish me luck!
What a fantastic video for a fantastic game, Shadow man is my favourite game EVER and I am holding out for the Switch Release but I have played the original on PS1 / N64 and Dreamcast and I loved each version. I really enjoyed watching this, as your video certainly does the game justice. Thank you for your excellent content.
One of the most epic games ever made the twists and turns the way it so easy to get lost and turned around the serial killers God I loved this game😂
One thing I loved as a teen was how the game never held your hand. You literally find an item, Michael just says, "This should be useful," and it's shown in your inventory. What does it do? I don't know yet, check the cards. And I loved that feeling of discovery.
Flashbacks!! Wow this game was intense and thrilling until the very end. Loved it!
This is how every Ps1 era game should be remastered.
Compared to that disaster they call the GTA definitive edition, this is a diamond among rocks.
I was like 8 or 9 when I played this, well "tried" playing this (it was hard asf at that age ha). I remember the game play however what still pops into my head is when your walking in a valley (maybe) and someone is reciting "behold the pale horse". I remember how creepy it was and it is a huge memory of my childhood. Like a staple of it, is that weird? Meh what the hell, nostalgia is good no matter how weird and creepy it is. Great video, I had no idea a remaster existed.
Fantastic video on an absolute gem of a game.
I've been working in the games industry for about 18 years now and Shadow Man was the first game I ever made some money with. I found a secret in I think it was a little chapel or maybe a barn while jumping from beam to beam. I don't quite remember what I got but some item appeared after I had jumped to each beam once. I wrote it down and sent it by mail to several gaming magazines and two of them actually printed it and sent me 30-40 bucks each.
I did that with some other secrets I found and bugs that you could exploit and every once in a while they would actually get printed and I would make some money. A couple years later I ended up in QA at a game dev studio and realized this was my calling all along^^
Shadow Man was a fantastiv game for exploration and secret-finding and I spent countless hours exploring every part of it :) I also fell in love with the world and got into the comics after playing the game. They opened my eyes to a lot of other dark american comics and made me a regular at my local comic book store. I absolutely love that game.
I was addicted to this game , playing it everyday for years
Two of my favorite youtubers uploaded in the same evening, it's gonna be a good night
Love your content!
Just finished work and wondered what I could relax on tonight, and Raggu-sensei comes out with a bang. Thanks for the video
You are one of the few creators who can instantly interest me in a game or piece of media in general
Boy oh boy, I miss blockbuster video and just walking there to see all the new games that they would get on Fridays.
Back in 1999, this was one of their brand new N64 games and it was for PS1 too, but I experienced it on N64 and I will never ever forget it.
Back as a teenager, this was one game that I surely never got bored of and was very intrigued with.
This was an unforgettable experience for me way back in 1999, from the story, lore, characters, locations and my god the music.
Acclaim surely was an underrated powerhouse of a gaming publisher that game is so many memorable video games with unforgettable characters, stories and worlds such as Turok, Shadowman, and many many more.
The gameplay and animations are just so damn smooth, I'm impressed!
Oh and when you realise what's fully going on with the story, you also realise just how much you are actually being told and shown. Everything is so cleverly done. Using the shadowgun as a light source so you can still climb. Use more powerful weapons, but with limited ammo and no health back on kill, unless you mix and match with shadowgun. the multiple hanging from ledge positions, the side hops. The more resourceful mindset you have, the more you see how deep the efforts and expertise of the creators goes. The best thing I ever did was not look up anything about this game before playing it to the near end, and still not looking at anything beyond mid game, just in case lol. Nice video, not too many out there for shadowman. I can tell you appreciate the game
So glad you made this review! I remember being very excited to play this game on the N64 but never managed to get my hands on it. Years later when emulation in that space started to take off I finally gave it a go and was very disappointed. Not so much by the game itself but by the controls. Playing games designed for the N64 via emulation with mouse and keyboard just never felt very good. Now at last I can finally give it a proper go, and with improved controls and framerate!
Awe man! I just re-played this game about 6 months ago. The serial killers and the sounds in the black Asylum still give me shivers up my spine.
I tried playing the game again a couple of years ago, but just couldn't get past the clunkyness and slow pacing. Thank you for making the video, it let's me remember what I loved about the game. :)
I just replayed this game about 6 months ago on PC with the high res. patch. With the high resolution on PC, it is much easier to see the terrain and it doesn't blend in like on the PS version. So you are able to see where you have and have not explored in the game.
@@karozans hey thanks for the reply, it from the video and your comment it really sounds like they took the time to address and improve the limitations of the time. Most likely gonna try again, it and Turok 2 were a big part of my childhood.
@@josephmartinez8805 Oh yeah. Turok 2 was so cool. At first I was like, "this is a goofy game fighting dinosaurs", but then I saw the awesome weapons and the bigger enemies and fell in love with it. Shooting the Nuke and the skull boring explosives was so freaking cool.
And Redd Pepper as the voice of Shadow Man was perfect
Can hardly wait for a console release
I remember having shadow man on sega dreamcast and i play it so much but i never got the chance to finish it due too my dreamcast console dying out. Now i heard about the remastered version by night dive studio and it looks amazing i just hope it comes out soon for the xbox and other consoles. I would definitely buy a digital and disc copy also i hope they'll add custom button mapping controls which would be amazing. Thank you for sharing and covering this topic.
Ragnar, from the bottom of my blackened heart, thank you for introducing me to this game. Getting lost in a lovingly crafted game like this is exactly what I need.
Great video! I played this game for hours on the Sega Dreamcast and finished it more than once. The atmosphere drew me in. Both creepy and beautiful all at once.
O M G!!! I was dreaming about this but only because of your video I know that there is a remastered version now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even bought the game for PS2 as an adult again after I played it on N64 before I had to sell the whole thing when I was a teenager. Awesome stuff.
Amazing video!
Omg you Used the Term "Schnick Schnack" - I love you.
Great Video, in my past I was never allowed to play this game.. as I now know that it was an Adult rated game, well it makes sense.
But man ... that game has an really really great atmosphere, now I want to play it... darn.
Thank You. :)
I was just mentioning your channel yesterday to someone. What a treat for me now.
Loved this game as a kid, definitely checking out the remaster now. When you were talking about making your own maps I did that for several games as a kid as well. Which reminded me of that one DS RPG where you had to make your own map on the touch screen and it was so fun to have to draw it in game and hope your memory or drawing skills were good enough