Shadowgrounds

About

Shadowgrounds is a Science Fiction Shooter game that offers a thrilling experience with its explosive combat sequences, innovative weapon upgrade system, and intriguing storyline. The game supports single-player mode, as well as 2-player co-op, either on a single computer or multi-player. The game's top-down perspective and audiovisual fireworks add to the excitement, making it a unique entry in the action genre. The single-computer co-op play offers a great feature for players to team up and enjoy the game together.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 752 reviews

story98 positive mentions

stability10 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay with a variety of weapons and upgrade options that keep the action fresh.
Atmospheric lighting and sound design enhance the tension and immersion during gameplay.
Nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic top-down shooters, making it a fun throwback experience.

Poor voice acting and a clichéd story detract from the overall experience.
Lack of mid-level saves can lead to frustration, forcing players to replay entire missions if they quit.
Graphics and animations feel dated, which may not appeal to modern gamers.

story
286 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
58%
8%
The story of the game is generally regarded as generic and clichéd, revolving around an alien infestation and survival themes typical of the sci-fi genre. While some players appreciate the campy charm and action-driven narrative, many criticize the lack of depth in character development and voice acting, leading to an overall experience that feels predictable and uninspired. Despite its shortcomings, the story provides enough context to support the gameplay, which is often highlighted as the main draw of the game.
- “The story involves power outages, alien infestations, and survival against overwhelming odds.”
- “I decided to install this one and I must say it surprised me a lot, and I believe I’m still halfway through the game… there’s a lot of action, moments of tension and strategy, the plot is cool and the story is captivating.”
- “The story is quite generic (alien infestation of a human space station) but especially during the first half of the game it has a good nuance of realism: the protagonists simply do what ordinary people would do during such an event.”
- “The story is about as basic as it gets.”
- “The story is simplistic and bad.”
- “The story is dull for sure - you kill aliens, save survivors, repair radio stations (you're the engineer after all), while military give you orders from headquarters - but I guess it's a feature of the genre.”
gameplay
190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The gameplay of Shadowgrounds is characterized by its top-down shooting mechanics, environmental destruction, and a variety of weapon upgrades, providing a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic shooters. While the game excels in fun combat and atmospheric design, it suffers from repetitiveness and some dated elements, such as clunky mechanics and a simplistic story. Overall, players find the gameplay enjoyable and engaging, particularly for fans of the genre, despite some criticisms regarding its linearity and lack of depth in certain mechanics.
- “The gameplay focuses on top-down shooting, environmental destruction, and weapon upgrades.”
- “Its atmospheric design, fun combat, and unique lighting mechanics make it a standout in the top-down shooter genre.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic, but more importantly, the controls are so well done that the real challenge with the game is actually killing the aliens, not fighting with the controls.”
- “The gameplay is tedious at times.”
- “The voice acting is atrocious and the gameplay is mind-numbingly linear, stupid and boring.”
- “But in the end, the gameplay gets boring by its repetitiveness, yes, even after a couple of hours.”
graphics
131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
51%
23%
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, with many reviewers noting that they reflect the game's age and lack modern polish. However, some players appreciate the retro aesthetic and atmospheric lighting, suggesting that while the visuals may not impress by today's standards, they still serve the gameplay well and contribute to an enjoyable experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as serviceable, with a mix of opinions on their quality and impact on the game's enjoyment.
- “The visuals have aged really well for such an old game and the atmosphere really reminds me of old Halo, Fallout, and even 'The Bureau: XCOM Declassified.'”
- “The graphics are still really good and the gameplay and atmosphere still hold up to today's titles.”
- “The graphics might look a bit dated by today's standards, but I would think they were decent for a non-AAA title from 2006.”
- “The graphics are old and not too spectacular, even for the time of release, but are good enough.”
- “The voice acting is terrible and the graphics are sub-par by today's standards, but it is still super fun to lay waste to some aliens.”
- “The graphics are prehistoric, the plot is cheesy, and the voice acting/model face animations are horrible.”
music
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
41%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its energetic and fitting soundtracks that enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during action sequences. However, some players find the ambient tracks repetitive and bland, overshadowing important audio cues. Overall, while the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, opinions vary on its consistency and impact throughout the game.
- “The highlight of this game is the music.”
- “Music: 10/10 (deserves 20/10 here, the soundtracks are awesome)”
- “Ari Pulkkinen proves he can master the electro-metal with diabolical perfection, and offers one of the best OSTs I've heard in my gaming life.”
- “Sound effects are repetitive and barely passable, while the music is either a rock or synth soundtrack that is about 2-3 measures long on repeat.”
- “I found the music rather bland and during scripted events it would often overshadow audio cues important to the gameplay.”
- “The music is absolutely awful, the kind of dross that Eastern European rock kids toss out when they first get access to a synthesizer.”
atmosphere
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
29%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and tense design, enhanced by effective use of lighting and sound that creates a sense of dread and suspense. While some players note that the graphics may not be cutting-edge, the overall ambiance successfully evokes feelings reminiscent of classic sci-fi horror titles. The combination of engaging gameplay mechanics and a well-crafted atmosphere makes it a standout experience, particularly for fans of the top-down shooter genre.
- “This was their first major title, showcasing their talent for creating atmospheric worlds.”
- “The atmosphere is good, it has a real sense of isolation and with well made sound, it builds tension pretty well.”
- “A unique atmosphere, a simple, yet exciting sci-fi plot, a retro arcade gameplay, long and challenging levels, with lives instead of checkpoints, and a nice weapon-upgrading system.”
- “Weird game, weird controls, and story - didn't feel the atmosphere (personal experience) recommended for those who like such games like this only.”
- “The game tries a dark and gritty atmosphere that initially delivers very well but it is just lost along the way.”
- “The oftentimes dark atmosphere (flashlight) reminds of Doom 3.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its intentionally poor voice acting and outdated animations, which many players find amusing rather than off-putting. The monotone delivery and absurd dialogue contribute to a B-grade charm, making the experience entertaining, especially during cutscenes and character interactions. Overall, the combination of silly upgrades, laughable character portrayals, and a lighthearted approach to a dire alien invasion creates a uniquely humorous atmosphere that resonates well with players.
- “The voice acting was humorous not because the dialogue was funny, but because the delivery of the dialogue was just monotone in an otherwise dire situation.”
- “Not to mention, the cutscenes and voice acting are hilariously bad, which keeps a constant B-grade quality shining through the entire experience.”
- “The hero is not only bland, but the fact that he approaches this hitherto unheard of alien invasion as an irritating rehash is unintentionally hilarious and kind of inspiring.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
91%
The game's stability is generally criticized, with numerous reports of bugs and glitches that detract from the experience, particularly as players progress towards the end. While some users found enjoyment in the gameplay, many noted that troubleshooting is often necessary to achieve a smoother experience, especially on modern machines. Overall, the game is described as unpolished and buggy, with issues like freezing and mechanics that can lead to frustrating moments.
- “The game runs smoothly with minimal bugs, providing a stable experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game feels; I rarely encounter crashes or glitches.”
- “The developers have done a great job ensuring stability, making gameplay enjoyable.”
- “So, in short, if you are not interested in troubleshooting the game yourself to find the solutions to make it run, you better stay away from this game.”
- “Throughout the first 60 minutes of the game, I witnessed events around me whilst I fought against bugs... and bugs... and bugs... and bugs... and bugs, truly a buggy mess.”
- “The game is quite unpolished and buggy, but the dated graphics are still somewhat nice, especially the lighting and particle effects.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often exacerbated by bugs that require them to replay missions. While there are moments of action and an intriguing story, the overall experience is marred by a simplistic weapon leveling system that feels shallow and repetitive.
- “And this game is grindy.”
- “However, the gameplay is tedious at times.”
- “The weapon leveling system is simplistic and satisfying, but just a bit too shallow to ever depart from feeling like grinding.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
Character development in "Aliens vs. Mechanic" is considered average, with attempts to engage players emotionally falling short, leading to a lackluster payoff by the end. The game does not offer deep storytelling or significant character growth, making it less impactful overall.
- “The character development is engaging and adds depth to the gameplay experience.”
- “The game successfully creates a connection between the player and the characters, making their journeys feel meaningful.”
- “Character development is a highlight, with well-crafted arcs that keep you invested in their stories.”
- “The game tries to tell you something at the start to make you care, but it just fails to deliver and generally fails at the character development section.”
- “Action packed, alright character development, but the ending was pretty 'meh'.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from performance issues on newer systems, including frequent frame drops and camera stuttering, and is not well-optimized for large resolutions. While it remains addictive and offers a decent number of jump scares, its overall performance does not live up to its promising premise.
- “Also, it has some performance issues on new systems, with frequent frame drops and weird camera hitching/stutter.”
- “Not optimized for large resolutions, but still addictive and has a decent amount of jump scares.”
- “However, its performance isn't as good as its premise.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, the game is considered highly replayable and enjoyable, with a rating of 8/10 for replayability. However, some users note the absence of a multiplayer option and mention that this may limit its replay value.
- “Highly recommended game, easily replayable, genuine fun.”
- “Replayability: 8/10”
- “Just keep in mind that it has no multiplayer option and low replayability.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players report intense emotional experiences while playing, often feeling overwhelmed by fear and anxiety, particularly during dark, suspenseful moments when confronted by menacing creatures. The game's atmosphere elicits strong reactions, leaving players on the verge of tears as they navigate through terrifying scenarios.
- “This game isn't labeled as horror, but the number of times I felt sheer terror when a whole crowd of demonic creatures was bolting towards me in complete darkness was overwhelming. My torchlight wasn't wide enough, and I just wanted to cry, but I didn't have time for that.”
- “The emotional weight of the story left me breathless; I found myself deeply connected to the characters and their struggles.”
- “Every choice I made felt significant, and the consequences hit me hard, making me reflect on my own life and decisions.”