Shadowgrounds

System Shock Meets Alien

Just a few years ago, you would not have been surprised to see a game like this getting cover treatment from the major PC game magazines. It's a nicely polished oblique-overhead third-person shooter set in a mining colony on Ganymede (one of Jupiter's moons) that is under attack by alien critters. The story line is nicely done too, with good voice acting and a real sense of tension and a colony under siege; naturally, weapons get more powerful over time, and NPCs work with you in later levels.

Warren Spector says one of the problems with the industry is that we have the equivalent of Hollywood blockbusters and the equivalent of student films, with nothing in between; while that may be largely true, Shadowgrounds is an exception. Given the quality of the graphics and the level of polish here, this is no low-budget indie title, but something that could probably be released at retail--except of course that there's little appetite at retail any more for PC-only games. Which is a pity, because this is an excellent title; we hope Meridian can succeed in getting some review attention for it, because it deserves the exposure.

The Developer Says
OLD SCHOOL ACTION STRIKES BACK!

Shadowgrounds is an epic sci-fi game that blends addictive old school gameplay and modern technology into one big, nasty alien-battling carnage festival. The game is played from a top-down perspective that gives gamers a better view of the battlefield and allows tactical use of weapons - new tactics become useful as their arsenal is upgraded to even more destructive weapons.

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 EVIRONMENT!
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!

Features

• 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
  
• Powered by Frozenbyte's incredible 3D engine!

SPECIAL FEATURE:
2-4 PLAYER CO-OP MULTIPLAYER! 2-4 players can play the co-operative mode on the same computer to maximize the destruction.