Topic: Shadowgrounds Survivor

[Quemaqua]

Yes, please.

[idolminds]

Man, if it was zombies instead of aliens I'd be all over that.

[Pugnate]

:O

[Ghandi]

*drools*

Link?

[TheOtherBelmont]

That looks pretty cool, I'll have to keep my eye on it.  On the official site it says its a spin off from Shadowgrounds, how was that game?

[Quemaqua]

It was pretty good, actually.  Basically a throwback to older games of this style (Alien Syndrome, etc.) but trying to use a nicer graphics engine and such.  It was reasonably successful, though it depends entirely on how much you like this kind of old-school gameplay.  Reviewers who were into that stuff rated it very, very highly, whereas those who weren't as much, rated it in the 70s or so.  But if you dig old-school run-and-gun shooters that basically just satisfy your need to fill with bullets every fucking thing on the screen, it's a safe bet.

I'm very much looking forward to this next one.  It looks awfully nice in the screens, so I think they're trying the same principle - old-school gameplay, but make it pretty.  I think they're trying to deepen it a bit by adding more basic RPG elements as well.

Links, for those who asked:

Shadowgrounds Survivor
The original Shadowgrounds (now on Steam for twenty bucks, though you can still get it separate from Steam via download or shipped box for the same price)

EDIT - It's also worth noting that the original game is one of the few PC games with cooperative multiplayer for up to four players on the same PC (if you have three gamepads and a keyboard or four gamepads).  We were discussing this the other day somewhere, so some of you might dig on that.  I never got to try it.  Anyway, it's sort of a bonus the devs threw in at the end (there's no net or LAN play) just to be nice to fans.  I think that's pretty great.

[scottws]

I played a demo of the first game and really liked it, but never ended up buying it.  I might actually get this.

[Quemaqua]

Here's a review for Survivor.  I got to thinking about this again because I actually found a copy of Shadowgrounds, the first game, retail for like $10.  It was an amazingly old find with a crushed box and stuff, but I'd never actually purchased it before, just played it for a little while.

Anyway, the game is quite fun.  If anybody's interested in some nice mindless shooter action, it's worth looking at.  It's funny, I never noticed how close it resembles Doom 3.  A lot of stuff seems all but lifted from it, including some general art and some sounds.  Still, I think it works more in the game's favor.  Got to the first boss and beat him, and I'm having a great time.  I just needed something mindless, and this fills the bill nicely.

Survivor seems to be a lot prettier, but while the first game has some definite weak points, it actually holds up surprisingly well.  It's a very nice looking game with some good level geometry and texturing, and some really excellent and dramatic lighting.  Fun stuff.

[MysterD]

Whoa -- how the hell did I miss this thing?

Ummm...is this going to be available in a retail box?
If so, will it require Steam even then?

[Ghandi]

Ummm...is this going to be available in a retail box?

Dude, did you even read Que's post above yours? He mentions it in the third sentence.

[MysterD]

Original Post:
Duh on me; so nevermind.
Thanks!

Amazon's got the original Shadowgrounds (Retail box) listed for $9.99.
Available for free shipping, if you can spend over $24.99 on an order.

Edit, 7/1/08:
Shadowgrounds: Survivor Review
7.8 from StrategyInformer.com

[MysterD]

Stardock's Impulse actually has these two games for sale, now.
Shadowgrounds Pack (Shadowgrounds + Shadowgrounds: Survivor) is $24.99 over Impulse.
(Of course, it'll be even cheaper with the Impulse survey 20% off code).

Impulse Version vs. Steam version....hmmmm....that's a VERY easy decision...hehe.

I been wanting to try this -- so, I'mma test the SG Demo out.

EDIT:
Okay, after playing the SG: Original DEMO, now I know where Space Siege got its inspiration from...

[Xessive]

Okay, after playing the SG: Original DEMO, now I know where Space Siege got its inspiration from...

Except GPG got it wrong. The controls just weren't right for Space Siege; they needed to be just like Shadowgrounds.

[MysterD]

Opinions taken from demos of Space Siege and Shadowgrounds; not full versions.

This "upgrade by picking up parts system" Space Siege got going on is a direct-rip from Shadowgrounds. Whoever thought dubbing Space Siege as a action-RPG was pretty foolish; it's more of an action game than anything else. The inventory system; upgrade system SS got happening -- it even looks too similar to Shadowgrounds.

About SS, it has an alien invasion plot. Hmmmm...also looks like Shadowgrounds. Isometric camera? Again, like Shadowgrounds. SS is trying to be a prettier Shadowgrounds, basically.

Shadowgrounds does the action a hell of a lot better and camera controls, actually -- namely b/c of the controls; they frickin' rock. Agreed with you on that Xessive.

The body upgrades in SS Demo were cool with the Humanity factor it got going on, but Space Siege should've kept the loot insanity of say DS series. That would've helped it stand a little bit apart from Shadowgrounds, in some sort of fashion.

[MysterD]

I scraped up some room on my HD (for my first HD), bought the Shadowgrounds Pack (Shadowgrounds + SG: Survivor) from Impulse to download today (which goes for $24.99) -- and used that Survey-2008 code. It was like $18.71, after the code was used.

Took me about an hour to download each of them a piece. Looks like Steam's got a major competitor here -- no DRM at all, no forced DL's on you for updates, no forced program to boot the game up, etc etc. Very happy w/ Impulse client here. Easy as pie. I'm sure in the future, I'll be buying some stuff from Impulse.

Though, there's no real installer file to DL. Basically, you are told to just back-up your folder where the game's at -- which is fine and all.

Been playing some Shadowgrounds (Original). Goddamn, now I know why I liked the demo quite a bit ago, when I tested the demo. Awesome action and controls. And, I like that I can upgrade my weapons and all.

I'm on the 2nd level, playing on Medium. Almost had that boss, but it got me.

[Xessive]

I was just looking at Que's screenshots again and I am convinced that Space Siege is a failed rip-off of Shadowgrounds!

Que, if you get a chance this pack is definitely worth it!

[MysterD]

I was just looking at Que's screenshots again and I am convinced that Space Siege is a failed rip-off of Shadowgrounds!

The more I think of the Space Siege demo and the more I play Shadowgrounds, this just is so true, it ain't even funny.

Though, you'd think since Space Siege is a dubbed as an action-RPG, there would be more of those RPG elements that made Dungeon Siege so good that GPG is known for -- with craploads of unique loot; good amount of missions; side quests; etc etc.

I did like the upgrade your body parts and that whole Humanity meter, though. That was a cool spin in the Space Siege DEMO.

It probably would've been cool to have a party with you in space, too -- since the having a nice-sized party elements were such a big importance to the GPG (Dungeon) Siege games.

[scottws]

I concur with D in that Impulse will be a fierce Steam competitor.  Plus it's from Stardock, so you know that things are kosher.

[MysterD]

I concur with D in that Impulse will be a fierce Steam competitor. 

Especially since Impulse is actually easier to use than Steam.
Impulse also has less annoyances and less unnecessary things forced upon you.

Plus it's from Stardock, so you know that things are kosher.

As long as EA or some EA-like company doesn't buy them...

[Quemaqua]

I wish I could outright say that Impulse will be major competition, but I'm not sure it will.  Steam has too much going for it now.  I think Impulse is from a better company and will eventually be a better system, but Steam also has more community shit going for it, and people love that crap.

[scottws]

Yeah, I know what you're saying but I jumped on Impulse when it came out, which was a huge upgrade over Stardock Central (what a POS that was), and already Impulse has really grown its catalog a ton.

I didn't realize the Steam community thing was so popular.  I know it's there.  idol and I are friends, but the only time I used it was accepting his friend request.

[Quemaqua]

Well yeah, I don't use it at all, but most people obsess over that sort of thing.  But yeah, Impulse is definitely a huge upgrade over Stardock Central.  Though thinking about it, I didn't really mind SDC that much.  It was sort of wimpy looking, the design wasn't very robust, but it was really easy, streamlined, and I still liked it better than Steam.

[MysterD]

I didn't really use SDC much, but I find Impulse to more of what I wish Steam was really like in most regards -- no DRM; very easy to use; and not really forcing stuff upon you.

Only thing Steam got over Impulse is the Community Tools. Impulse could thrive more so, with such tools -- since people do want those. It's not like I use Steam's Community Tools much, but it's probably great to talk to friends, easily get people to join your online games, and that kind of stuff.

I don't know if anybody saw, but GOG is planning to also be adding a Stardock-like Impulse tool for DL'ing and managing your GOG games and stuff. It's not forced, as you will still be able to just use your web browser to download your games and extras and whatnot. The GOG community on their forums is fine, so all they'd really need is...Instant Message tools like Steam has.

[Quemaqua]

Neat.  Actually, Impulse has more community stuff than it did last I checked.  I added Xessive to a friends list just the other night... I didn't even know they had one.

[MysterD]

Neat.  Actually, Impulse has more community stuff than it did last I checked.  I added Xessive to a friends list just the other night... I didn't even know they had one.

I hopped on Impulse -- yuh, it's right at the very bottom; all these community features. Very nice.

[MysterD]

Steam's weekend deal = Shadowgrounds Games.

Shadowgrounds - Steam Double Pack (includes SG + SG: Survivor) = $4.99
Shadowgrounds = $2.49
Shadowgrounds: Survivor = $3.74

[PyroMenace]

Either you read it wrong or they had it up wrong because its $20 for both.

[MysterD]

Either you read it wrong or they had it up wrong because its $20 for both.

It was their MidWeek Madness Sale.
It is NOT their weekend deal.
I screwed that up.

Their Weekend Deal is Shattered Horizon is 50% off.

[gpw11]

Damn, I'm sorry I missed that.