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Shadow Warrior takes a swipe at PS4, Xbox One on October 21
Following a short delay, publisher Devolver Digital has revealed that the gory ninja combat of Shadow Warrior will reach the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 21. For those unaware, Shadow Warrior was originally created as an offshoot of the crass humor of the Duke Nukem franchise. The original game, released in 1997, was essentially Duke Nukem 3D in a world of kung fu movie cliches and Asian stereotypes, and was largely overshadowed by other, more notable first-person shooters. More recently, while Duke Nukem was resurrected to resounding anger from fans and critics alike, Shadow Warrior was rebooted as a competent hybrid of first-person shooting and swordplay that maintained the low-brow humor of the original, while ditching its most egregiously dumb aspects and replacing them with copious arterial spray. Not just a remake of the 2013 PC release, this console iteration of Shadow Warrior also introduces a new Arena mode not unlike the fan-favorite Horde mode found in Gears of War, as well as a host of new unlockable content. [Image: Devolver Digital]
Wang tough, 'small delay' to Shadow Warrior console ports
Shadow Warrior isn't slicing and dicing into consoles until October 24 in the UK, Bandai Namco revealed in a release schedule sent to Joystiq this morning. As VideoGamer reports, a statement from developer Flying Wild Hog suggests the delay to the PS4 and Xbox One ports is likely to be reflected stateside, while both Amazon and GameStop are now listing the US release for October 21. "Bringing Shadow Warrior to PS4 and XB1 has proven to be a challenge for us as we want to make sure the player experience is perfect," reads the statement to VideoGamer. "In play testing we have been focusing in on the controller inputs and response. We recognized that we needed more time to improve this as Shadow Warrior is an old school FPS and this demands perfection. Sadly this means a small delay in the release date, but Lo Wang needs to be at his best on these shiny new consoles."
Just you and your Shadow Warrior on consoles this September
Bandai Namco confirmed it's bringing Shadow Warrior to PS4 and Xbox One in Europe on September 26. Majesco's not yet announced a US date beyond "late September," but GameStop's listing of September 23 tallies with the typical three-day gap between regions. Described as a "bold re-imagining" of 3D Realms' 1997 shooter, the new Shadow Warrior hit PC around the same time last year. It retained a few Lo Wang jokes but toned down the stereotyping, delivering a more modern mix of first-person shooting and swordfighting.
Shadow Warrior slices, dices on Xbox One, PS4 this Fall
Lo Wang's politically incorrect quest to murder a ton of goons using only the power of Asian stereotypes continues in late September as Devolver Digital has announced an agreement with Majesco to re-release the 2013 first-person action spectacle Shadow Warrior for the latest generation of game consoles. Described as a "bold new vision of the 1997 cult classic," this new Shadow Warrior is an entertaining, happily low brow first-person shooter that combines the typical juvenilia you'd expect from a Duke Nukem 3D offshoot with surprisingly competent first-person swordfights that prove functional and exceedingly bloody. It's unknown what upgrades the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Shadow Warrior might feature, but Devolver has announced a $40 price tag for both versions. "Our fans have been very vocal about bringing Shadow Warrior to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One so we're absolutely thrilled to be working with our friends at Majesco to put Wang in a box later this year," said Devolver CFO and perennial quote goldmine Fork Parker. [Image: Majesco]
Gone Home, Europa Universalis 4, more discounted in Humble Store Winter Sale
The Humble Store has kicked off its Winter Sale with a number of big discounts, most notably indie hit Gone Home, which will be reduced to a mere $5. Other notable sales include Europa Universalis 4 for $20, Shadow Warrior for $10 and Legend of Grimrock for $3.75. A full list of the current deals can be found on the Winter Sale website. So what's the catch? These deals are only available for a limited time. These discounts in particular are only valid for the next eight hours, after which time they'll be replaced by new, different discounts. There's no telling what might pop up next - an earlier version of the sale only reduced Gone Home's price to $10, instead of its current $5. As with all Humble Store sales, 10 percent of all proceeds go toward charity. It's up to you which charity you'd like your money to benefit, though between the American Red Cross, Child's Play, the Electronic Freedom Frontier, the World Land Trust and Charity: Water, wherever your cash goes it will be put to good use helping the less fortunate.
Clean up after Lo Wang in Shadow Warrior 'Viscera Cleanup Detail' mini-game
Indie developers RuneStorm and Flying Wild Hog have come together in a mashup of blood, guts, and pine-scented floor cleaner for a free standalone mini-game that tasks players with scrubbing a gruesome crime scene. Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior brings players back to the scene where Shadow Warrior hero Lo Wang has his first katana battle in Flying Wild Hog's recent series reboot. As master of the custodial arts, it's our job to clean up the mess left behind. The mini-game follows the same premise of RuneStorm's own indie title, Viscera Cleanup Detail, dubbed a space-station janitor simulator. In the game, which has already been approved via Steam's Greenlight process, players tidy up a space station after a massive battle. Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior is available now for owners of Shadow Warrior on Steam, Good Old Games and other online distributors.
GameFly spotlights Hotline Miami, Shadow Warrior in Devolver Digital sale
GameFly has launched a catalog-spanning sale for indie publisher Devolver Digital, offering up to a 75 percent discount on downloadable versions of Hotline Miami, Shadow Warrior, and several entries in the Serious Sam series. Other featured games include Exato Game Studio's voxel shooter GunCraft, Mediatonic's Foul Play, the rhythm-driven adventure game Beatbuddy, and Cube Roots' RPG-puzzler Dungeon Hearts. CheapAssGamer notes that buyers can use the coupon code "GFDOCT20" at checkout for an additional 20 percent discount. The sale ends tomorrow, October 11, at 10 AM PDT.
Wang slices, dices and blows stuff up in Shadow Warrior trailer
For Wang, the only way to deal with his problems in Shadow Warrior is to either blow everything up or slice 'em up. Somebody really should tell this guy psychiatrists exist.
Shadow Warrior Video Preview
Brandishing a sword and a smarmy attitude, 1990s hero Lo Wang has returned in the re-imagined Shadow Warrior from developer Flying Wild Hog. Other than the main character's name and some innuendo-laden humor, the upcoming Shadow Warrior is a different game. Gone is the (mostly) insensitive humor, replaced with over-the-top gore and a sword that's a treat to use. The modern Shadow Warrior harkens back to the good ol' PC days, where enemies were plentiful and heath pick-ups were your only means of survival. Shadow Warrior launches for the PC on September 26. Next-gen is planned; however, platforms have not been announced.
Gamescom trailers and screenshots giga-post
Psst, hey kid. You want some ... trailers? How about some Gamescom trailers? C'mere for a second. Yeah that's right, we got all kinds of trailers. Murasaki Baby, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Resogun, Infamous: Second Son, Watch Dogs, pretty much any kind of trailer you wanna put in your eyeballs, we can hook it up. Hey, and you know what? Since you seem like a nice kid, we're gonna throw in some screenshots too. Oh no, put your wallet away – the first one's free.
Shadow Warrior Classic Redux launches on Steam with a discount
Shadow Warrior is getting a full-on facelift this fall with a revamp from Flying Wild Hog, but now there's an option for those who just can't wait to for the Wang. Shadow Warrior Classic Redux features remastered visuals, a remixed soundtrack, the original game and two expansion packs, Wanton Destruction and Twin Dragon. It's available now on Steam for PC and Mac, for 15 percent off ($8.50). The 1997 version of Shadow Warrior is on Steam as a free-to-play game, for those who want to give the game a go for no dough. When the new Shadow Warrior launches in the fall, it will feature a more mature Lo Wang and the ability to use magic. %Gallery-193386%
Shadow Warrior's new magic system twists a straight shooter
Shadow Warrior from Hard Reset developer Flying Wild Hog isn't a remake – it's a new game, with a new Lo Wang. For starters, Wang is able to use magic after he befriends a masked spirit. With magic, Wang can heal himself and attack his enemies from afar, throwing out blasts from his hands or his katana. His magic doesn't run out; there's no cool-down and it's not a mana system, Flying Wild Hog writer Pawel Kowalewski explained during a demo at E3. All magic comes with a price, and when Wang uses it the surrounding demon enemies become enraged, faster and stronger. Shadow Warrior includes a few throwbacks to the original game, including secret caves in the old graphical style and bunny rabbits that hop around the forest and have their own AI to perform bunny-related acts. Wang's primary weapon is a katana, and the entire game can be won with just that weapon, Kowalewski said. It's also possible to dual-wield sub-machine guns, as in the first game. The team was quick to reassure that Wang himself is still "a douchebag," but not an outright Asian stereotype anymore. "We understand why Lo Wang was awesome and you can still see him and go, 'Look at that douchebag,' without participating in putting a culture in a box. That was a huge priority when we were first thinking about how to frame the game and how to frame that character," writer Scott Alexander said. "You can play around with stuff; you can be funny, you can be crass, you can make him a jerk. He's got a real arc though." To those who may be disappointed: take solace in the fact that the violence in Shadow Warrior is absolutely ridiculous. By the end of one battle in the demo, a beautiful Japanese garden lay covered in severed limbs and pools of blood. "Maybe it's not funny, but it's not serious," is how Flying Wild Hog described Shadow Warrior's violence. Shadow Warrior is due out in fall on PC, and Flying Wild Hog will wait for the dust to settle to decide on next-gen console releases.%Gallery-191402%
Shadow Warrior Classic free-to-play on Steam 'forever'
Ahead of the Shadow Warrior reinvention, publisher Devolver Digital is giving away the original 1997 shooter for free on Steam. The controversial 3D Realms game, which used the same engine as Duke Nukem 3D, was originally going for free for a "limited time." However, according to the official Shadow Warrior Twitter account it's staying free-to-play "forever." Devolver Digital and Flying Wild Hog's Shadow Warrior comeback is due on PC this fall, and on next-gen consoles (as yet unspecified) next year. We recently caught up with lead writer Jan Bartkowicz to see how the modern Shadow Warrior will compare to the original.
Reinventing Shadow Warrior for the modern era
Just over 16 years ago, Shadow Warrior launched on PC. As the follow-up to 3D Realms' popular shooter Duke Nukem 3D, the two bore similarities; both donned an iconic first-person shooter style, substituting substance for violence at every turn. While Duke Nukem was a macho, chauvinist with all the ammo he could ever need, Shadow Warrior's main character was crass in a slightly different, albeit still offensive way. The ninja assassin protagonist, Lo Wang, intended as a spoof on East Asian action heroes, was a walking racial stereotype. Lo Wang shouted "you want-a some wang?" with a mocking Asian accent, used chopsticks to catch flies, picked up fortune cookies in secret areas and fought sumo wrestlers. For many, Shadow Warrior was offensive and the game was criticized heavily for it. Sixteen years later, Devolver Digital and developer Flying Wild Hog have announced a collaboration to reinvent Shadow Warrior; the spoils of the partnership due this fall on PC and in 2014 for unspecified next-gen consoles. While a modern Shadow Warrior will bare an updated skin, the "reinvention" isn't expected to be a departure from the original game's roots.%Gallery-188724%
Shadow Warrior resurrected by Hard Reset developer
Flying Wild Hog, the developer behind sci-fi shooter Hard Reset, is resurrecting Shadow Warrior, with Devolver Digital set to publish. In a reveal on Flying Wild Hog's Facebook page, the developer calls Shadow Warrior a "total reimagining." A teaser site featuring the first look at the new title has also appeared online; however, no other details have been revealed. Shadow Warrior originally launched in 1997, created by 3D Realms and published by GT Interactive. Upon its release, the shooter/slasher was heavily criticized for perceived Asian stereotypes and racial profiling. An iOS re-release was issued late last year.
Waging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, supplemental
During the last three weeks, Waging WAR took a look at the shadow warrior career in Warhammer Online, in an attempt to gain personal experience and insight into the complaints that most players have with the class. Due to popular demand, this week we return (albeit briefly) to the shadow warrior class to touch up a few frayed ends. We also set our sights forward and look ahead to future issues of Waging WAR. I felt that my review of the career was based on solid ground, given the scope, and taking the setting and focus into consideration, and considering the fact that I had to grind the levels relatively quickly in order to stay on-time and deliver the column promptly. Despite my original intention to simply gain personal insight and experience with the class in an effort to have greater understanding of its hot-button issues, many of the Waging WAR readers who left comments were disappointed with my experiment, as I didn't have time or space to have a serious look at the skirmish and assault trees. So, throughout the last week, I felt obliged to play my shadow warrior, focusing all of my mastery points in either skirmish or assault (starting at rank 30, there are more than enough points available to explore an entire tree, and even a few inter-tree synergies). Follow along after the break to find out how things went for me.
Waging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, part three
This week bears with it the final installment to Waging WAR's Nagaryth Chronicles, which took a long-term, in-depth look at the Path of the Scout mastery tree available to Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning's shadow warrior. Admittedly, Greg didn't have time to take his character all the way through to rank 40/40, but this past July 4th weekend's double XP and renown bonuses allowed him to level through Tier 3 relatively quickly. He's also promised us that he'll continue to play her casually as a break from his Archmage main, from time to time. Again, I would like to take a moment to respond to some feedback left as reader comments to last week's column: @Taawa -- According to my experience, festerbombs are absolutely deadly (think: "BOOM Headshot!"), possibly even moreso than any sort of infiltration attack by stealth-class melee-damage-per-second (MDPS) careers. If you're the type who enjoys sneaking around terrain and quietly selecting a target while taking time to prepare a guaranteed kill, you'll enjoy this build. I'll explain more after the break. @Kyelthis -- Again with excellent feedback: the Steady Aim (SA) - Replenishing Strikes (RS) - Rapid Fire (RF) combination (a combination that had never occured to me until you pointed it out) is almost always as effective as Lileath's Forgiveness (LF). However, I feel that my use of SA is slightly more productive. I'll explain why after the break. @Hal900x -- I'm pretty sure you're mistaking Unshakeable Focus with SA. Also, Shadow Sting (SS) is extremely short-range (45'). My ideal build (complete by rank 35) was focusing on extremely long-range, high-burst, sniping -- which is why I opted for Fell the Weak (FTW, 100') instead, since it has the same effect except instead of requiring an ailment, the "mortal strike" component requires Vengeance of Nagarythe (VoN, and is one second longer in duration to boot!). Finally, SA applies a 50% increased critical chance to damaging attacks, not to the overall critical chance of the character; thus, any attack during those six seconds has its critical chance treated like a coin flip: heads for a critical, tails for a normal hit. So, why do I think that shadow warriors are fine and don't need the attention that everyone seems to claim they need? I'll discuss my side of the issue after the break.
Waging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, part two
Waging WAR continues this week with the second installment of the Nagaryth Chronicles -- an in-depth look at the Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning's shadow warrior. We'll talk about how the career performs through tier two, identify key abilities, and open the floor to discussion about how we might begin to remedy some of the most basic issues with the career. So nock another arrow and let's get started. First things first. I want to quickly respond to a few of the reader comments left on last week's column. @MiloMenderBender: After you pointed out my target selection could be wrong, I started paying attention to my damage vs. the varying enemy careers. Your suggestion to pay closer attention to damage-per-kill rather than overall made perfect sense, and I'm now making more careful and efficient targeting decisions -- with satisfying results. @Kyelthis: Your keybinding suggestions were excellent and definitely worth trying out. @ShadowWAR: After reading your comment, it took only a moment to pay closer attention and confirm that the stances are not on the global cooldown (GCD) and skirmish stance does indeed return 1:1 ballistics to strength from items only. @ the rest: Thank you for your contributions, and, although I'm hesitant to have this series turn into a conversation about mirrors, issues with the game in general or concerns with other careers, I want you to know that I read all of your comments and appreciate your feedback. Moving on, let's continue with my impressions and issues with the shadow warrior through tier two after the break.
Waging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, part one
This week, Waging WAR starts the first in-depth career review with a three to four column exposè on Warhammer Online's shadow warrior. We'll take a look at the career as it progresses through each of the tiers, as well as consider key tactics, abilities and masteries that are learned along the way. As we go, we'll try to understand and break down what makes the shadow warrior tick, why so many players claim the career is broken, and whether or not Waging WAR agrees. So, let's get our tabi boots on, pull our face masks up, and get started. For a long time now, I've stood on the sidelines and listened to horror stories regarding the shadow warrior. It has been clear that many players are (or have been) dissatisfied with the career, but I've never fully understood why. It isn't so difficult for me to peruse the SW forums or read one of the many blogs out there that explain things quite clearly, and understand the theory of it, but as far as first-hand experience goes, I've been lacking a direct understanding of the career and how it works. With that in mind, I've decided to educate myself; over the next few weeks, I'll be leveling a shadow warrior so I can analyze the career from the inside.
Warhammer Online 1.0.6 patch adds new classes, tidal wave of updates
All those Warhammer Online players who where playing along with the Heavy Metal event in November will be happy to know that today the fruits of their labor has arrived. That's right: Today, Mythic brings us Black Guards and Knights of the Blazing Sun! For those who didn't finish the full Heavy Metal event, don't worry, the classes will become available to everyone next week. Servers are going down at 3:30AM PST / 6:30AM EST for North American players with Oceanic servers following at 9:00AM EST. No specific time-frame was given for the updating process, so we'll just have to sit tight and wait it out.New classes aren't the only thing found in this patch, however. There's a ton of general game updates, performance updates, bug fixes and class tweaks coming with the 1.0.6 patch, too. In fact, there are so many class tweaks that Bright Wizards, Chosen, Engineers, Ironbreakers, Maguses (Magi?), Shadow Warriors, Sorcerers, Squig Herders and Swordmasters are all getting their mastery points refunded. Combat also seems to be a big focus, with a ton of improvements to auto-attack animations, ability responsiveness, morale responsiveness and root responsiveness.All in all, we're pretty impressed with Mythic on this patch, as it delivers some substantial changes that many players have been waiting to see. Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!
