Shadows of the Damned...pretty damn awesome! Big time sleeper hit.

[TelekineticFrog]

So Shadows of the Damned came out today on PS3 and 360...it is pretty damn awesome!

I've played about 2 hours or so in so far and the game definitely doesn't disappoint. It is not super cutting edge art or anything but it gets the job done and looks pretty great. It is using Unreal for its' engine and is developed by Grasshopper Manufacture. The same people responsible for Killer 7, No More Heroes, and Samurai Champloo Sidetracked...all very stylish games. Shadows of the Damned is full of style too and fun. The combat is pretty robust with melee and shooting and there is an upgrading system for the different parts of combat that you can tailor to your style of play. It has influences from grind house films, culture of death from Mexico (sugar skulls, iconography and symbolism), an amazing soundtrack, lots and lots of gore, pretty macabre and unsettling environments, the bosses are huge and crazy in design and are challenging to figure out, the side kick is a demon who "gave up the demon game" and is now bound to you and morphs into all kinds of things including that he is your weapon for fighting the demons of hell...oh and he speaks with an English accent. Definitely doesn't disappoint and I figured I'd mention the game as it is a sleeper and I figure it will slip past most peoples' radar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEoJsJGU3jM

[Marshal Banana]

How 'bout that Big Boner?

[Mike Yevin]

being played by my roommate as we speak, im really liking the look and feel of it; definitely oozes grindhouse

[HonkyPunch]

Definitely interested.
Suda has yet to dissapoint,i'm a huge fan of Akira Yamaoka's music, and Shinji Mikami is pretty good too.

[skylebones]

A co-worker picked it up during lunch yesterday and we checked it out. Not everyone dug it, but I thought it was pretty cool. Kind of like the Duke Nukem of this decade (Feels odd saying that considering Duke just came out, but Duke was very intentionally 90's). It's pretty damn funny and I enjoyed it. Haven't picked it up for myself but it's on my to get list.

[TrevorJ]

Hey look, its Morte!

[Habboi]

Loved No More Heroes, love Akira Yamaoka, love Samurai Champloo, love Capcom and unlike Ricky Gervais in Portal 2, the english talking gun / light thing made me laugh.

So I just bought the game. Can't wait.

P.S. I also crave a decent Devil May Cry like game and this feels like it could be it.

P.S.S "The Underworld has a pub?" Hah!

[dustinbrown]

I wonder why Japanese studios don't put Japanese people in their video games. They always use white people. That strikes me as odd. Must be a marketing thing.

[Two Listen]

I wonder why Japanese studios don't put Japanese people in their video games. They always use white people. That strikes me as odd. Must be a marketing thing.

The truth of the matter is actually that, for a long long time now, Japanese people just like the look of westerners. It's not a marketing thing, even a lot of things like Japanese fashion magazines use American or European models.

[rawkstar]

lol reminded me of Morte the talking skull from Planescape Torment.

[onionhead_o]

im still waiting for my copy to be delivered. can't wait to play it. im a big fan of Akira Yamaoka.

[glottis8]

Definitely interested.
Suda has yet to dissapoint,i'm a huge fan of Akira Yamaoka's music, and Shinji Mikami is pretty good too.

YES! Akira Yamaoka's music rocks. I listen to all of the silen hill OST most of the time at work. Is there a OST for this game?

I enjoyed Killer 7. I am not a little more interested in this game hearing it's fun. I might have to pick this up. But not until october or something, i still have to play the new batman and deus ex. :)

[Alberto Rdrgz]

I personally can only take like 2 dick jokes per game.... looks cool tho.

[TelekineticFrog]

It does have a soundtrack, but was available via a code you got for preordering the game at a few retailers. I'm sure it could be found somewhere. It has 12 tracks from the game...great stuff too. I'm hoping they release a retail soundtrack with the full collection of songs.

[d1ver]

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-shadows-of/716691

Just seen a review on game trailers. They gave it around 6 and a half or something but discarded what the dude said and judging from what I've seen it can come as high as a 9 for me. Gotta give it a shot

The "designers joke" was very kojima-style funny and

"Just warn me if I have to fuck a horse to open the next door" was priceless.:D

[glottis8]

I saw that review last night. Pretty low score as well. They did mention the soundtrack was one of the highlights. I need the OST now haha

[Lamont]

Not available here yet. Gonna have to get someone to ship me a copy.

[onionhead_o]

i got the game now, only things i have to complain is the collision detection, and the linearity of the levels. other than that its a great action title

[HonkyPunch]

It's okay so far. Was hoping it'd be more like killer 7 in tone rather than No More Heroes.
I'm sure it'll pick up.

[Andreas]

I think it looks weird :/ Japanese developers have really lost their way IMO. They are emulating the worst parts of western games :(

[MattQ86]

Giant Bomb's quicklook (http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-shadows-of-the-damned/17-4428/)is up.