Shadow Madness
Encyclopedia
Shadow Madness is a turn-based RPG and the first video game released by Crave Entertainment
. The game achieved mixed reviews. Shadow Madness was packaged with a separate demo disc for Jade Cocoon
.
s.
Battles in Shadow Madness are random, but one unique aspect of this system lets players avoid some battles. When exploring, the growl of a monster is heard. Pressing L2 and R2 simultaneously will make Stinger "hide" on the ground and doing this allows the player to possibly avoid a battle altogether. Shadow Madness uses some elements of Square's Active-Time Battle system. In particular, enemies will not wait to attack you. The maximum level of experience a character can reach is 15. Characters also can unleash powerful "summons" during battle.
Shadow Madness features 3D polygonal models on 2D pre-rendered backgrounds, with the battle scenes taking place in a fully 3D environment. The game includes CG cutscenes to further the storyline.
' development team Big Rain included some notable figures. Ted Woolsey
, who helped script the story, formerly worked at Square
in Washington as a translator. His past credits include Secret of Mana
, Final Fantasy VI
, and Chrono Trigger
. Paul Reed, who also wrote game's story, previously worked on the Super Nintendo Action-RPG Secret of Evermore
before making Shadow Madness. His most famous game since Shadow Madness is the internationally acclaimed Metroid Prime
for the Nintendo GameCube. Most of Shadow Madness' development staff were new to the industry, learning as they went along while designing the game.
Prior to its release, publisher ASCII Entertainment
dropped the game, possibly due to the company's lack of funds. Shadow Madness was later picked up by Crave Entertainment.
. It also received positive remarks from PSM: "Epic... Unravels like a good mystery", and OPM: "World of prerendered backgrounds, sharp dialogue and moody music". The game also was greeted with acclaim for introducing a younger audience to the RPG genre.
However, OPM also gave the game the award for worst character design in its 1999 Editors' Awards. GameSpot
summed it up by saying "Whoever said 'Graphics don't matter' never played Shadow Madness". The game also gained negative reviews from experienced RPG gamers and RPG only websites, deeming its character development too short: the level cap is a low 15, which is quite uncommon for RPGs.
Crave Entertainment
Crave Entertainment is an American video game company. It was founded in 1997 by Nima Taghavi. Its headquarters is in Newport Beach, California...
. The game achieved mixed reviews. Shadow Madness was packaged with a separate demo disc for Jade Cocoon
Jade Cocoon
is a video game for the Sony PlayStation, released by Crave in 1998. The game combines elements of role-playing video games and virtual pet management...
.
Gameplay
In Shadow Madness, your party consists of three members, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. In battle, the player has a choice of using physical attacks, magic, items and escape. It also plays the same on the field in terms of using your inventory, moving about and talking to non-player characterNon-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
s.
Battles in Shadow Madness are random, but one unique aspect of this system lets players avoid some battles. When exploring, the growl of a monster is heard. Pressing L2 and R2 simultaneously will make Stinger "hide" on the ground and doing this allows the player to possibly avoid a battle altogether. Shadow Madness uses some elements of Square's Active-Time Battle system. In particular, enemies will not wait to attack you. The maximum level of experience a character can reach is 15. Characters also can unleash powerful "summons" during battle.
Shadow Madness features 3D polygonal models on 2D pre-rendered backgrounds, with the battle scenes taking place in a fully 3D environment. The game includes CG cutscenes to further the storyline.
Story
The storyline is centered around saving the world from a mysterious plague that is spreading quickly. The player takes the role as Stinger, whose town has just been destroyed. The player meets many friends and foes on their way to finding out how the chaos started and how it can be stopped.Characters
- Stinger (hero) — When the chaos wipes out his hometown, he vows to end the chaos.
- Windleaf — Joins Stinger after her secluded sylvan village gets attacked.
- Harv-5 — Robot originally created for harvesting crops, but when the demons destroy his fields and home he sets out to find out his purpose. His catchphrase of sorts is "There will be death."
- Xero Von Moon — Mage Warrior who has been resurrected from his deep sleep, he has no body so floats around with just his head.
- Clemett — He is a native Gadgeteer, but he didn't agree with how they lived so went to live with humans, and when the chaos started he vowed to protect his 'Friends'.
- Jirina — She is a proud Org-Ta and a native of the underground world known as Wyldern. Her people have been enslaved by the Darg who turned a once peaceful land into a twisted hell. She vows to get revenge.
Development
Shadow MadnessTed Woolsey
Ted Woolsey is an American video game translator and producer. He had the primary role in the North American production and localization of Square's role-playing games during the SNES era between 1991 and 1996.-Square:...
, who helped script the story, formerly worked at Square
Square (company)
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
in Washington as a translator. His past credits include Secret of Mana
Secret of Mana
Secret of Mana is an action role-playing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System developed and published by Square in 1993. The game was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console in 2008, and was ported to Japanese mobile phones in 2009...
, Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VI
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square , released in 1994 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System as a part of the Final Fantasy series. Set in a fantasy world with a technology level equivalent to that of the Second Industrial Revolution, the game's story focuses on a...
, and Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Chrono Triggers development team included three designers that Square dubbed the "Dream Team": Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Square's Final Fantasy series; Yuji Horii, a...
. Paul Reed, who also wrote game's story, previously worked on the Super Nintendo Action-RPG Secret of Evermore
Secret of Evermore
Secret of Evermore is a role-playing video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released by Square Soft in North America on October 1, 1995. In February 1996, it saw release in the PAL territories of Europe and Australia...
before making Shadow Madness. His most famous game since Shadow Madness is the internationally acclaimed Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime is a video game developed by Retro Studios and Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube, released in North America on November 17, 2002...
for the Nintendo GameCube. Most of Shadow Madness' development staff were new to the industry, learning as they went along while designing the game.
Prior to its release, publisher ASCII Entertainment
ASCII (company)
was a publishing company based in Tokyo, Japan. It became a subsidiary of Kadokawa Group Holdings in 2004, and merged with another Kadokawa subsidiary MediaWorks on April 1, 2008, and became ASCII Media Works. The company published Monthly ASCII as the main publication...
dropped the game, possibly due to the company's lack of funds. Shadow Madness was later picked up by Crave Entertainment.
Music
Much of the music throughout the game is deliberately dark, ambient and mood-setting. Unlike most other turn-based RPGs, Shadow Madness has multiple battle themes, most of which are orchestral in nature.Reception
The game, an American attempt at the Final Fantasy series, gained quite positive reviews. Notable ones include "Deep, involving storyline and beautiful graphics" by GameProGamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
. It also received positive remarks from PSM: "Epic... Unravels like a good mystery", and OPM: "World of prerendered backgrounds, sharp dialogue and moody music". The game also was greeted with acclaim for introducing a younger audience to the RPG genre.
However, OPM also gave the game the award for worst character design in its 1999 Editors' Awards. GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
summed it up by saying "Whoever said 'Graphics don't matter' never played Shadow Madness". The game also gained negative reviews from experienced RPG gamers and RPG only websites, deeming its character development too short: the level cap is a low 15, which is quite uncommon for RPGs.
- http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/shadowmadness/review.html GameSpot Review 4.3/10
- http://psx.ign.com/articles/152/152296p1.html IGN Review 7/10