Recapping and upgrading the rather mundane Amiga series from which its based, Shadow of the Beast blossoms with an Eastern kung-fu combat aptitude and hard adult fantasy steering the narrative. The exotic world mixes natural and mechanical with foreboding locations.

Untranslated dialog leaves vague qualities, relying on animalistic and surreal characters to produce their story through body language. It works. Shadow of the Beast breaks a slave of his bond, creating an urgency as the slave rushes after his former owner. Through combat, alliances form via mutual respect and Shadow of the Beast brings respectable peace to the otherwise ferocious, bloody exterior.

4/5