Shadow Madness

49%
Game Brain Score Based on 16 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Shadow Madness Game Cover
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Stinger returned home one morning after a night out of town to a horrible surprise. A mysterious force had destroyed his coastal hometown, leaving few survivors. Unable to even determine the remains of his own house, the young man was now an orphan. Upon meeting a mystic named Windleaf, the two decided to embark upon a journey to find out what happened. Their adventure in Shadow Madness will span…

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

49%
Audience ScoreBased on 16 reviews
story5 positive mentions
graphics4 negative mentions
  • The game features an engaging and well-written story with memorable characters and sharp dialogue, blending elements of fantasy, horror, and comedy.
  • The nostalgic value and charm of the game resonate with fans of classic PS1 RPGs, making it a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate retro titles.
  • The soundtrack is praised as one of the best aspects of the game, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience.
  • The port is poorly executed, running on an emulator with minimal enhancements, leading to issues like poor graphics, lack of full-screen support, and inadequate controller configuration.
  • Gameplay mechanics are poorly explained and implemented, resulting in repetitive and unchallenging combat that detracts from the overall experience.
  • Excessive backtracking and a lack of meaningful difficulty make the game feel padded and tedious, diminishing the enjoyment for players.
  • story16 mentions

    The game's story is praised for its depth and maturity, featuring a diverse cast of characters with unique dialogue and well-developed arcs that explore themes like mental health and politics. While the narrative is engaging and memorable, some players noted that excessive backtracking and technical shortcomings detract from the overall experience. Nonetheless, for those who prioritize storytelling in RPGs, the game offers a rich and immersive world filled with excellent dialogue and intriguing concepts.

    • “Every NPC has their own unique portrait, their own unique dialogue, and their own unique position within the wider story going on.”
    • “It really does feel like the creators did this awesome work putting together this mature, diverse plot that deals with mental diseases, feelings of despair, vast fantastical worlds, and politics, all with excellent dialogue and characterization.”
    • “I found the story engaging throughout my entire 20 some hours with the game, and the characters are incredibly likeable and memorable.”
    • “However, in order to deal with that story, you'll have to suffer through excessive amounts of backtracking, graphics that weren't even good at the time, and battles that are never going to offer even the slightest challenge.”
    • “So yes - the game is certainly unimpressive from both gameplay and technical perspectives, but if you play RPGs for the story and world, then Shadow Madness has more than got you covered.”
    • “Here's hoping that maybe someone with an actual budget can try making a story in Arkose again.”
  • graphics12 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered unimpressive, even at the time of its release, with many reviewers noting that they have aged poorly. While the visuals are described as lackluster, some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and the game's iconic soundtrack, suggesting that the graphics do not detract significantly from the overall experience. The PC port maintains the original's visual quality without significant improvements, leading to mixed feelings about its graphical fidelity.

    • “The PC port plays well enough; visuals aren't great, but they are not bad either.”
    • “Throw in some legitimately solid music and some cute (if primitive) location visuals, and you have quite a decent game.”
    • “- Unimpressive 1998 graphics, running on a non-upscaled display (for shame!)”
    • “The graphics also weren't all that impressive when this came out.”
    • “Overall a decent emulated version of an old classic that, while lackluster in graphics, had a very iconic soundtrack and exhilarating story.”
    • “It may not be for you because the graphics aged like crap, but it holds a special place in my heart because it was the first RPG I ever played and it's my favorite genre.”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game is highly praised, featuring a substantial and diverse soundtrack that includes over two dozen battle themes and atmospheric tracks that enhance the overall experience. While the graphics may be lackluster, the iconic musical score significantly contributes to the game's charm and immersion, making it a standout aspect for players.

    • “I feel I should also point out that many of the locations are competently crafted from an artistic standpoint, and the musical score ranges from good to excellent, boasting - no I'm not kidding - over two dozen different battle themes, as well as some really pleasant and moody tracks that only play in one room!”
    • “Not the best graphics but one of the best music soundtracks in my opinion.”
    • “Overall a decent emulated version of an old classic that, while lackluster in graphics, had a very iconic soundtrack and exhilarating story.”
    • “Throw in some legitimately solid music and some cute (if primitive) location visuals, and you have quite a decent game (although I'd recommend for no more than $10 if we're being completely honest).”
    • “+ solid musical score & thick atmosphere”
  • gameplay6 mentions

    The gameplay in Shadow Madness is criticized for being poorly explained and implemented, resulting in a basic and constrictive experience. While it features an interesting mechanic involving divided party encounters, the overall execution is deemed unimpressive, though the game's story and world may still appeal to RPG fans.

    • “There's a super interesting mechanic going on, where your party is divided and each part has to deal with a different iteration of the boss.”
    • “The gameplay, while certainly functional, is both incredibly basic and somewhat constrictive feeling.”
    • “+/- stiff, but hardly broken, gameplay”
    • “Unfortunately, the actual gameplay is quite disappointing.”
    • “The mechanics are poorly explained and even more poorly implemented.”
    • “The gameplay feels stiff, but it's hardly broken.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is praised for its solid musical score and immersive world, which is filled with intrigue and well-developed characters, contributing to a captivating experience.

    • “The solid musical score creates a thick atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “For what it does right, it primarily creates an atmospheric world of intrigue, filled with well-written characters. 'Shadow Madness' has a special place in my heart.”
    • “The game has a solid musical score, but the atmosphere feels thin and uninspired.”
    • “While the soundtrack is impressive, the overall atmosphere lacks depth and immersion.”
    • “The ambiance is overshadowed by repetitive elements, making it hard to feel truly engaged.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including poor controller support and frequent freezes in the main menu, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It's a shame, but the port is plagued with poor controller support and freezes in your main menu right off the bat.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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Negative mentions (%)Negative

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