View source for Shadow of the Beast (1989 video game)


{{About|the original 1989 video game|the 2016 remake|Shadow of the Beast (2016 video game)}}{{Infobox video game
| title = Shadow of the Beast
| image = shadow of the beast cover art.jpg
| caption = Cover art by [[Roger Dean (artist)|Roger Dean]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gallery.rogerdean.com/keyword/gaming/|title=Shadow of the Beast|author=Roger Dean|access-date=15 Feb 2017}}</ref>
| developer = [[Ubisoft Reflections|Reflections]]
| publisher = [[Psygnosis]]
| director = 
| producer = Martin Edmondson<br>Paul Howarth
| designer = Martin Edmondson<br>Paul Howarth
| programmer = Paul Howarth
| artist = Martin Edmondson
| writer = 
| composer = [[David Whittaker (video game composer)|David Whittaker]]
| genre = [[Platform game|Platform]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
| released = 1989 (Amiga)<br>1990-1992 (ports)
| platforms = [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Commodore 64]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Mega Drive]], [[FM-Towns]], [[Atari Lynx]], [[Master System]], [[PC Engine CD]]
}}

'''''Shadow of the Beast''''' is a 1989 [[platform game]] developed by [[Ubisoft Reflections|Reflections]] and published by [[Psygnosis]] for the [[Amiga]]. It was later ported to several other systems. The game was known for its graphics, with many colours on screen and up to twelve levels of [[parallax scrolling]] backdrops, and for its atmospheric score composed by [[David Whittaker (video game composer)|David Whittaker]] that used high-quality instrument samples.

It was followed by two sequels, ''[[Shadow of the Beast II]]'' in 1990 and ''[[Shadow of the Beast III]]'' in 1992. The series was acquired by [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]] through Psygnosis, with Heavy Spectrum Entertainment Labs developing a [[Shadow of the Beast (2016 video game)|remake]], which was released for the [[PlayStation 4]] in May 2016.<ref name="PS4wOrig"/>

==Gameplay==
{{More citations needed|date=February 2023}}
The core gameplay of ''Shadow of the Beast'' is that of a basic action side-scroller. The player guides Aarbron through the world, fighting monsters of varying frequency with a small variety of attacks, which is slowly improved over the course of the game. Aarbron starts the game by punching enemies, eventually using attacks like fireballs and even a [[Laser-gun|laser gun]], each with their own set of basic pros and cons. The gameplay alternates between traversing vast expanses of mostly flat terrain accompanied by a wide range of scenery, and fighting groups of hostile monsters, similar to a [[Beat 'em up|beat-em-up game]]. At spaced-out, fixed points in the world, the player will encounter a [[Boss (video games)|boss]], which must be defeated to proceed further.

==Plot==
A man named Aarbron is kidnapped as a child and corrupted through magic into a monstrous warrior-servant for the evil beast lord Maletoth. The creature's memory of his human life returns when he watches a man being executed, whom he later recognizes as his father. This prompts Aarbron to seek revenge on Maletoth. A long arduous journey ensues, with Aarbron forced to battle his way through both hostile terrain and Maletoth's forces. He eventually confronts one of Maletoth's minions, a gargantuan creature whose only visible body parts are its hand and foot. Defeating the creature, Aarbron is freed from his curse, the eponymous "Shadow of the Beast", and returned to a more humanoid form.

==Development==
''Shadow of the Beast'' was designed by Martin Edmondson and Paul Howarth of [[Ubisoft Reflections|Reflections]] over the course of nine months, and it was their second 16-bit game after their previous game, ''[[Ballistix]]''. Edmondson and Howarth described it as their "most ambitious project to date", and stated that they wanted the game to push both the Amiga and Atari ST to their technical limits. To achieve this, the Amiga version was written first, so that they would take advantage of all of the computer's advanced hardware capabilities. The developers made use of the hardware sprites and scrolling rather than using the [[blitter]], which they felt that the blitter "does not run quite as fast as some people would believe." To get the speed they wanted, the developers employed difficult techniques such as the [[sprite multiplexing]].<ref name="Manual - Pages 12 to 14">{{Harvnb|Psygnosis|(1989)|pp=12–14|ref=sotb1-manual}}</ref> The game uses up to twelve levels of [[parallax scrolling]],<ref name="Ars Technica">{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2008/05/amiga-history-part-7/3/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227022251/http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2008/05/amiga-history-part-7/3/|title=A history of the Amiga, part 7: Game on!|first=Jeremy|last=Reimer|work=[[Ars Technica]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast]]|date=13 May 2008|access-date=28 December 2015|archive-date=27 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> and up to a maximum of 128 colours on screen.<ref name="Manual - Pages 12 to 14" />

The game was also designed to be as difficult as possible; Edmondson remarked that he liked difficult games at the time and he "used to get frustrated if the game was too easy."<ref name="History of the Beast">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/KE1hF-mHNcc Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160505020543/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE1hF-mHNcc Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media|date=4 May 2016|title=History of the Beast |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE1hF-mHNcc|first1=Matt|last1=Birch|first2=Martin|last2=Edmondson|subject-link2=Martin Edmondson|first3=Roger|last3=Dean|subject-link3=Roger Dean (artist)|access-date=12 May 2016|format=video|publisher=[[Sony Interactive Entertainment]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The game's cover art was designed by British artist [[Roger Dean (artist)|Roger Dean]], who has also done cover artwork for other [[Psygnosis]]-published games.<ref name="Polygon Roger Dean">{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/features/2013/2/14/3768030/roger-dean-outside-the-box-psygnosis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222181820/http://www.polygon.com/features/2013/2/14/3768030/roger-dean-outside-the-box-psygnosis |title=The Art Outside the Box: The Story of Roger Dean |first=Tracey |last=Lien |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=14 February 2013 |access-date=18 January 2016 |archive-date=22 February 2016 |url-status=live |quote="The box art for Psygnosis' ''Shadow of the Beast'' features reptilian robots walking through a sunburnt landscape. In the foreground, jagged trees frame a window into a mysterious world you could reach into — behind the trees, sienna terrain stretches into the distance where a ghostly forest teases at what lies beyond."}}</ref> The music for ''Shadow of the Beast'' was composed by [[David Whittaker (video game composer)|David Whittaker]].<ref name="Digital Spy Retro Corner">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/retro-corner/news/a401590/retro-corner-shadow-of-the-beast/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406193740/http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/retro-corner/news/a401590/retro-corner-shadow-of-the-beast/|title=Retro Corner: 'Shadow of the Beast'|first=Mark|last=Langshaw|work=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]]|date=25 August 2012|access-date=28 December 2015|archive-date=6 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Whittaker wrote six main pieces of music, with each piece containing its own sub-theme, to "fit the changing scenes in the game." The instruments were made using the [[Korg M1]] synthesiser and then sampled at 20&nbsp;kHz.<ref name="Manual - Pages 12 to 14" /> Ruben Monteiro's [[arrangement]] of the game's music was released in 1999, on an Amiga music compilation album ''Immortal''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amiga-immortal.com/cds/immortal1/immortal1.htm|title=Immortal 1|publisher=Amiga Immortal|access-date=7 May 2016}}</ref>

In an interview with ''[[The One (magazine)|The One]]'' regarding ''[[Shadow of the Beast III]]'s'' development, the team behind ''Beast III'' noted the original ''Shadow of the Beast's'' selling point was its graphics, and Edmondson stated that "It was definitely a case of being in the right place at the right time. Apart from how many colours and layers of parallax and monsters we could squeeze on screen, no thought went into it whatsoever", and furthermore called ''Shadow of the Beast'' a "graphics showcase".<ref name=prerelease /> In regards to ''Beast I's'' parallax scrolling, Edmondson expressed "In ''Beast I'', we chose the most obvious and the easiest way of doing it, but the problem with that was you couldn't have monsters running over the foreground at the same time. They had to be very spaced out and nowhere near interesting parts of the map."<ref name=prerelease /> ''Beast III'' reused no assets from the first two games, with Edmondson stating in regards to ''Beast I'' that "the original code for ''Beast I'' was so bad. It was the first thing we really did seriously and when you look back on it, it's very slow and inefficient and could have been done 10 times better."<ref name=prerelease>{{cite magazine|title = Shadow of the Beast III Pre-Release Interview|date = February 1992|url = https://archive.org/details/theone-magazine-41|magazine = The One|publisher = emap Images|issue = 41|page = [https://archive.org/details/theone-magazine-41/page/n31 32]-34}}</ref>

''Shadow of the Beast'' was released in 1989 by Psygnosis. It was initially retailed for £35, and was bundled with a T-shirt.<ref name="Digital Spy Retro Corner" /> It has been ported to various other platforms since its original release.<ref name="Digital Spy Retro Corner" /> It was ported to the [[Atari ST]] by [[Eldritch the Cat]]. It was ported to the [[ZX Spectrum]] and the [[Amstrad CPC]] by [[Gremlin Graphics]],<ref name="ZX port">{{cite video game |title=Shadow of the Beast |developer=[[Gremlin Graphics]] |date=1990 |platform=[[ZX Spectrum]] |scene=Loading screen |quote="Copyright Gremlin Graphics 1990" }}</ref><ref name="CPC port">{{cite video game |title=Shadow of the Beast |developer=[[Gremlin Graphics]] |date=1990 |platform=[[Amstrad CPC]] |scene=Loading screen |quote="Copyright Gremlin Graphics 1990" }}</ref> to the [[TurboGrafx-16]]'s [[Super CD-ROM² System]] and the [[Commodore 64]] by [[DMA Design]],<ref name="DMA History 3.5">{{cite web |url=http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA3_5.htm |title=The History of DMA – Chapter 3, part 5 |last=Dailly |first=Mike |author-link=Mike Dailly (game designer) |publisher=[[Mike Dailly (game designer)|Mike Dailly]] |date=2005 |access-date=27 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616105140/http://www.javalemmings.com/DMA/DMA3_5.htm |archive-date=16 June 2016 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> to the [[Mega Drive]] by WJS Design,<ref name="Mega Drive port">{{cite video game |title=Shadow of the Beast |developer=[[Ubisoft Reflections|Reflections]], WJS Design |publisher=[[Psygnosis]], [[Electronic Arts]] |date=1991 |platform=[[Mega Drive]]  |scene=Title |quote="A Reflections Game Converted by WJS Design" }}</ref><ref name="Allgame MD">{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12133&tab=overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114114513/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12133 |title=''Shadow of the Beast'' (Genesis) overview |work=[[Allgame]] |publisher=[[All Media Network]] |access-date=18 January 2016 |archive-date=14 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> to the [[Atari Lynx]] by Digital Developments,<ref name="Allgame Lynx">{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16824&tab=review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114131904/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16824&tab=review |title=''Shadow of the Beast'' (Atari Lynx) review |first=Colin |last=Williamson |work=[[Allgame]] |publisher=[[All Media Network]] |access-date=18 January 2016 |archive-date=14 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> to the [[Master System]] by [[TecMagik]],<ref name="SMS SegaPro">{{cite web|title=ProReview: Shadow of the Beast (Master System) |url=https://archive.org/details/sega-pro-01/page/48/mode/2up|work=[[Sega Pro]]|publisher=[[Paragon Publishing]]|accessdate=24 September 2024 |date=November 1991 |pages=48–49}}</ref> and to the [[FM Towns]] by Tim Ansell of [[Creative Assembly]].<ref name="FM Towns port">{{cite video game |title=Shadow of the Beast |developer=[[Ubisoft Reflections|Reflections]], [[Creative Assembly]] |publisher=[[Psygnosis]], [[JVCKenwood Victor Entertainment#Video games|Victor Musical Industries]] |date=1991 |platform=[[FM Towns]] |scene=Title |language=en |quote="Rewritten and Programmed for the FM Towns by Tim Ansell" }}</ref> An [[Atari 8-bit]] version was in development in 1990 to be published by Harlequin, but it was never finished due to collapse of the company.<ref>{{cite web |last=Goss |first=Steve |title=Atari 8bit Projects – Shadow of the Beast |work=JetBootJack.com |year=2002 |url=http://www.jetbootjack.com/JBJ_beast.html |access-date=2013-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713103459/http://www.jetbootjack.com/JBJ_beast.html |archive-date=2011-07-13}}</ref> A port for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] titled ''Super Shadow of the Beast'' was shown at the 1992 [[Summer Consumer Electronics Show]], and it was planned to be released by [[Information Global Service]], however it never materialized.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Summer CES Special|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]]|date=August 1992|issue=39|pages=58–61|publisher=[[Nintendo of America]]}}</ref> The Mega Drive and Super CD-ROM² versions of ''Shadow of the Beast'' were released in Japan by [[JVCKenwood Victor Entertainment#Video games|Victor Musical Industries]] on 27 March 1992.<ref name="3rd party titles - Sega JP">{{cite web |title=Software List (Software Licensee Release) |url=https://www.sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html |website=Sega Hardware Encyclopedia |publisher=[[Sega|Sega Corporation]] |access-date=May 15, 2023 |language=ja}}</ref><ref name="Famitsu - Mega Drive">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=7374&redirect=no |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114003919/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=7374 |script-title=ja:シャドー･オブ･ザ･ビースト 魔性の掟 まとめ [メガドライブ] |language=ja |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |publisher=[[Kadokawa Corporation]] |access-date=9 September 2021 |archive-date=14 November 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Famitsu - PC Engine">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=7378&redirect=no |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114004247/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=7378 |script-title=ja:シャドー・オブ・ザ・ビースト 魔性の掟 まとめ [PCエンジン] |language=ja |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |publisher=[[Kadokawa Corporation]] |access-date=9 September 2021 |archive-date=14 November 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The FM Towns and Super CD-ROM² versions feature a soundtrack arranged by Chris Howlett and Ian Henderson of DC Productions.<ref name="FM Towns Music">{{cite video game |title=Shadow of the Beast |developer=[[Ubisoft Reflections|Reflections]], [[Creative Assembly]] |publisher=[[Psygnosis]] |date=1991 |platform=[[FM Towns]] |scene=Title |language=en |quote="Music Arranged and Recorded by Chris Howlett and Ian Henderson at DC Productions Ltd" }}</ref><ref name="TCD Music">{{cite video game |title=Shadow of the Beast |developer=[[Ubisoft Reflections|Reflections]], [[DMA Design]] |publisher=[[Psygnosis]] |date=1991 |platform=[[TurboGrafx-16]] Super CD-ROM² |scene=Credits |quote="Music by at D.C. Productions" }}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| Fam        = 20/40 {{small|(Mega Drive)}}<ref name="Famitsu - Mega Drive" /><br>18/40 {{small|(PC Engine)}}<ref name="Famitsu - PC Engine"/>
| GameFan    = 168/200 {{small|(PC Engine)}}<ref name="GameFan">{{cite magazine |last1=Halverson |first1=Dave (Skid) |author1-link=Dave Halverson |author2=Brody |title=Viewpoint |magazine=[[GameFan]] |date=December 1992 |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=8–9 |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Volume_01_Issue_02_December_1992/page/n7/mode/2up}}</ref>
| EGM        = 7/10, 8/10, 7/10, 7/10 {{small|(Lynx)}}<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|title=Review Crew|last1=Harris|first1=Steve|last2=Semrad|first2=Ed|last3=Alessi|first3=Martin|author4=Sushi-X|date=October 1992|volume=5|issue=10|publisher=Sendai|ISSN=1058-918X|p=36|url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/1c9108c0-b9e6-4c14-9d4f-3287bf973212|accessdate=October 27, 2025|via=[[Video Game History Foundation]]}}
</ref>
| rev1       = ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]''
| rev1Score  = 5/5 {{Small|(Amiga)}}<ref name="Dragon169"/>
| rev2       = ''[[Sega Pro]]''
| rev2Score  = 90/100 {{small|(Master System)}}<ref name="SMS SegaPro"/>
| award1Pub = ''Crash''
| award1 = Crash Smash<ref>Game review, Crash magazine, [[Newsfield Publications]], issue 83, December 1990</ref>
}}

''Shadow of the Beast'' and ''Shadow of the Beast II'' were reviewed in 1991 in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' where both games got 5 out of 5 stars.<ref name="Dragon169">{{cite magazine|title=The Role of Computers|last1=Lesser|last2=Lesser|last3=Lesser|first1=Hartley|first2=Patricia|first3=Kirk|magazine=Dragon|issue=169|date=May 1991|pages=61–65|url=https://www.annarchive.com/files/Drmg169.pdf#page=63}}</ref> ''[[Sega Pro]]'' praised the Master System version for its graphics and sound, but criticised the "awkward" controls method.<ref name="SMS SegaPro" />

In a retrospective article for ''[[Digital Spy]]'', Mark Langshaw remarked that ''Shadow of the Beast'' "will always be remembered as one of many jewels in the crown of [[Psygnosis|Studio Liverpool]]." Langshaw however said that the Mega Drive version was considered inferior to other versions, and because of its poor conversion rate, the game ran faster than intended on the North American Genesis console and "went from unforgiving to near impossible."<ref name="Digital Spy Retro Corner" /> Travis Fahs of ''[[IGN]]'' considered the [[FM Towns]] port a superior version of the game.<ref name="IGN: Die 16-bit Die!">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/12/05/die-16-bit-die |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113012111/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/12/05/die-16-bit-die |title=Die, 16-bit, Die! |first=Travis |last=Fahs |page=1 |work=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=5 December 2008 |access-date=18 January 2016 |archive-date=13 January 2016 |url-status=live |quote=The {{bracket|FM Towns}} Marty library is sizable, but there aren't a lot of exclusives. It did, however, get superior versions of a number of games. ''Shadow of the Beast'' and its sequel got excellent remakes for the FM-Towns, with gigantic sprites and redbook audio.}}</ref>

In 1996, ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' declared ''Shadow of the Beast'' the 76th-best computer game ever released.<ref name=cgw150>{{cite magazine | author=Staff | title=150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | date=November 1996 | issue=148 | pages=63–65, 68, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 84, 88, 90, 94, 98 }}</ref>

== Remake ==
{{Main|Shadow of the Beast (2016 video game)}}

A [[Shadow of the Beast (2016 video game)|re-imagined version of ''Shadow of the Beast'']] was revealed at [[Gamescom]] 2013, developed by Heavy Spectrum Entertainment Labs and released by [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]] for the [[PlayStation 4]] in May 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-08-20-shadow-of-the-beast-remake-announced-as-ps4-exclusive |title=Shadow of the Beast remake announced as PS4-exclusive|author=Jeffrey Matulef|work=[[Eurogamer]] |date=2013-08-20|access-date=2015-02-09}}</ref> The original Amiga version is included along with the remake.<ref name="PS4wOrig">{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Birch |url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2016/05/04/shadow-of-the-beast-on-ps4-includes-the-amiga-original/ |title=Shadow of the Beast on PS4 Includes the Amiga Original|publisher=Playstation.blog|date=4 May 2016 |access-date=7 May 2016}}</ref>

== References in other games ==
Graphics from ''Shadow of the Beast'' and ''Shadow of the Beast II'' were featured in two special levels in the original ''[[Lemmings (video game)|Lemmings]]'' game (Amiga, Mega Drive, PC, Super NES, and Atari ST versions), called "A Beast of a Level" and "A Beast II of a Level". These references were supported by cameo versions of the title music from each version, in this case both pieces were arranged by [[Tim Wright (Welsh musician)|Tim Wright]].

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
;Additional references
*{{cite book |title=Shadow of the Beast |type=instruction manual |publisher=[[Psygnosis]] |year=1989 |ref=sotb1-manual }}

== External links ==
* {{moby game|id=/shadow-of-the-beast|name=''Shadow of the Beast''}}
* {{abime|id=1891}}
* {{WoS game|id=0004422}}

{{Shadow of the Beast}}
{{Ubisoft Reflections}}
{{PlayStation Studios}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Shadow Of The Beast}}
[[Category:1989 video games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Amstrad CPC games]]
[[Category:Atari Lynx games]]
[[Category:Atari ST games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Atari 8-bit computer games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:Creative Assembly games]]
[[Category:Dark fantasy video games]]
[[Category:FM Towns games]]
[[Category:Golden Joystick Award winners]]
[[Category:Master System games]]
[[Category:Platformers]]
[[Category:Psygnosis games]]
[[Category:Sega Genesis games]]
[[Category:Side-scrolling platformers]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment franchises]]
[[Category:TurboGrafx-CD games]]
[[Category:Video games scored by David Whittaker]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:TecMagik games]]
[[Category:WJS Design games]]
[[Category:Eldritch the Cat games]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Shadow of the Beast (1989 video game)|access_date=2026-03-05}}