GameSpot
action
adventure
driving
puzzle
role-playing
simulation
sports
strategy
hardware
news
reviews
previews
hints
downloads
forums
contests
check e-mail
New!
Demo Disc
events calendar
See Also
videogames.com
gameguides.com
User Services
join
help
feedback
contact us
ad index
awards
international
shop amazon.com
play on HEAT.NET
Sponsored Sites
HEAT.NET
|
|
Developer:
Red Storm Entertainment
Publisher:
Red Storm Entertainment
Target Release Date:
Spring 2000
|
By Elliott Chin
1/12/00
Page 1 of 6
Today's games are pushing the envelope of sound, graphics, and technology, delivering ever-expanding views of digital worlds. We have 3D characters made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of polygons, with fluid, motion-captured animation. We visit vast worlds with far-reaching horizons populated with enough special effects and characters to completely shut down computers of a few years ago. 
Click to enlarge |
So what do we make of a game that completely reverses this trend toward higher-powered graphics and gives us simple 2D visuals with solid colors and hand-drawn characters? To be fair, Red Storm's newest game, Shadow Watch, is deliberately going against the grain. In a market that today is crowded with so many like-minded games that all scream for attention by virtue of their latest new graphic features, advocating simpler graphics might just succeed in getting gamers to notice this overachieving strategy game.
Click to enlarge |
Turn-based squad-level strategy gameplay has gone by the wayside as much as 2D graphics have recently. Granted, Jagged Alliance 2 was released several short months ago, but it wasn't a big hit by today's standards, although it was one of the best sellers TalonSoft has ever had. However, these games are very fun and are a breath of fresh air amidst the real-time games of today. Shadow Watch attempts to take us back to those days when we had to mull over our moves and wait our turn for the gun shooting to begin.
We've been playing a beta version of Shadow Watch for several days now and have found the game compelling, if a little quaint.
Next: Here are our thoughts
|
