Shadowgrounds
Frozenbyte · 2006 · Top-Down Shooter, Sci-fi, Aliens, Action, Shooter
PC
Very Positive83% · 1,22974Metacritic
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About Shadowgrounds
✦ AI summary
Shadowgrounds is a top-down action shooter where you blast through alien hordes with a devastating arsenal of upgradeable weapons across destructible environments lit by dynamic shadows and realistic lighting effects. What sets it apart is the innovative weapon modification system, atmospheric lighting that actually affects enemy behavior, and local co-op chaos that lets you tear through the battlefield with a friend.
Shadowgrounds breathes fresh air into the action genre with explosive combat sequences, an innovative weapon upgrade system, and an intriguing storyline. The adrenaline-pumping, top-down gameplay and audiovisual fireworks set the scene for this new action experience which also includes single computer (split keyboard or joystick) co-op play.
UPGRADE THOSE WEAPONS! Use a devastating arsenal of high-tech weaponry to dispose of the alien threat. Each weapon has multiple upgrades that maximize the carnage. Unleash the flames of the Flamethrower's Fuel Trap, cause mayhem with the Grenade Launcher's Poison Grenades, slash and dice the monsters with the Laser Rifle's Pinpoint Laser - and many more!
WHAT LURKS IN THE SHADOWS? Shadowgrounds uses cutting-edge realistic lighting and glow technology to light up the battlefield and create detailed shadows producing an atmosphere of fear. But the lighting and the flashlight also affect some aliens' behavior - take advantage of that and you can turn the tide in the game of fear by using your flashlight effectively.
DESTRUCTIBLE ENVIRONMENT! What good are weapons and special effects if you can't wreak havoc on the environment? Shadowgrounds lets you go all-out - glass shatters, ground shakes, trees fall, barrels explode and furniture blows to smithereens. You can use the environment to your advantage.
THEY'RE BIG AND NASTY! Big, brutal monsters await you. Prepare to face many different bosses who will do anything to stop your journey. They're nasty, blood-thirsty beasts, but don't give in to fear - remember to use the environment and the lighting to your advantage!
UPGRADE THOSE WEAPONS! Use a devastating arsenal of high-tech weaponry to dispose of the alien threat. Each weapon has multiple upgrades that maximize the carnage. Unleash the flames of the Flamethrower's Fuel Trap, cause mayhem with the Grenade Launcher's Poison Grenades, slash and dice the monsters with the Laser Rifle's Pinpoint Laser - and many more!
WHAT LURKS IN THE SHADOWS? Shadowgrounds uses cutting-edge realistic lighting and glow technology to light up the battlefield and create detailed shadows producing an atmosphere of fear. But the lighting and the flashlight also affect some aliens' behavior - take advantage of that and you can turn the tide in the game of fear by using your flashlight effectively.
DESTRUCTIBLE ENVIRONMENT! What good are weapons and special effects if you can't wreak havoc on the environment? Shadowgrounds lets you go all-out - glass shatters, ground shakes, trees fall, barrels explode and furniture blows to smithereens. You can use the environment to your advantage.
THEY'RE BIG AND NASTY! Big, brutal monsters await you. Prepare to face many different bosses who will do anything to stop your journey. They're nasty, blood-thirsty beasts, but don't give in to fear - remember to use the environment and the lighting to your advantage!
- Upgrade weaponry with powerful modifications.
- Face enormous monsters in boss battles.
- Destructible environment allows you to wreak havoc with your arsenal.
- Visit many exciting locations, including a secret military base and the alien-infested colony New Atlantis.
- Fight side-by-side with NPC allies against the massive alien hordes.
- Check security cameras and computer logs to investigate alien origins.
- Realistic lighting with gameplay effects bring the aliens out of the shadows.
- Enjoy horrifying sound effects and a thrilling music soundtrack made exclusively for Shadowgrounds.
What Steam players say
Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.
I liked Shadowgrounds but I must admit that can be my nostalgia making it more enjoyable then it probably is. To start with the positives, the gameplay is good enough for what its worth. Weapon variety may be basic, but it works well, plus you have additional ways to enhance them further. Weapons also have their own different weaknesses, on top of their own strenghts, so they all feel like they have their own role. For example, flamethrower is good vs groups of enemies(mostly wrenchers, 2nd enemy type you witness) but has very short range, plus without one of the upgrades, its ammo clip drains pretty fast. Or shotgun which has slow reload(reloads one bullet at a time, or minigun with slow rev up time plus no way to roll away from enemies(flamethrower and last gun also have this weakness). Second good thing about the combat is dodging, enemies even on medium difficulty take decent chunk of your health, forcing you to constantly either side step, circle strafe them or use your roll ability. Your other method of avoiding dmg is by shooting the enemy, and then immediately hiding behind cover(for ranged enemies ofc) but one cool thing Shadowgrounds does is that, certain boxes use…1 found this helpful
Cool game for its time, but dated. A fine time waster when bored.
apparently its a good game...i think. ive got 106 hours on it and i dont remember ever playing this game. lol
Very good action packed shoot 'em up that keeps you glued on your seat just to get a little bit further. Sometimes its just good to just hop in into brainless action shooter that doesn't require much thinking or ultra refined reflexes. Learning curve is minimal, difficulty is just right and its easy just play a chapter and leave it for the next time. Game reminds me of Alien Breed from Amiga days that is modernized and much more forgiving. Graphics are good and especially shadow effects with flashlight are nice. Games of this era like Alan Wake and Doom 3 played with shadows quite similarly. In-game music fits perfectly to the game, and although its not that memorable, lives according to action. 9/10 from me.
This is a fun top-down shooter. The great music tracks & visuals all help to build the tension, atmosphere & excitement as you delve into the alien horde. You are rewarded if you explore off the path a bit as there are weapons & other items off the main path. The story is fairly good & you can read the pdas & computer screens for extra backstory. The gameplay is great, with a weapon upgrade system & a good mix of enemies which you can approach via stealth or all guns blazing, exploding certain parts of the environment as you go. I played on hard mode & only just realised just before the end that there is a very hard mode, so am due another playthrough again soon. I'd rate this game 8/10.
Look man, i just really like shooting aliens and i really like top down shooters. Does it show its age? Yes. There's also a cool mini game where you try not to get unintentionally stuck on objects while being swarmed by enemies but ah its fine. I rate 7 sneaky spider aliens out of 10
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