With the same high-octane action as last year’s title with its frenetic battles against hordes of demons, the definitive edition of Shadow Warrior 3 improves its graphics and its lifespan by adding new game modes.
Although this is the third official part of the series, it is not necessary to have played the previous titles to appreciate Shadow Warrior 3 since the synopsis presented at the very beginning of the game sums up the story quite well. We once again embody Lo Wang, a dangerous assassin who is not experiencing his first adventure. The hero is convinced that by the end of the second opus he has saved the world, but in fact he has opened a hellish portal and released a gigantic flying dragon determined to devour the earth. As thousands of demons descend on the planet, it’s up to the player to prevent the end of the world.
Shadow Warrior 3 is an ultra-violent and humorous first-person shooter with hilarious action reminiscent of the Serious Sam franchise. Headfirst is the only viable option for traversing the landscape. There is no cover system to take cover and you have to constantly move to avoid enemy attacks. In addition, among the novelties, the title includes parkour elements, and you can now run along walls or perform a double jump. We also have a grappling hook to step across the void or instantly project onto an opponent, making the experience even more immersive.
picture from the game
The hero Lo Wang is armed with a katana and an array of firearms (pistol, rifle, submachine gun, grenade launcher, etc.) to help him face the dozens of enemies attacking him from all sides. These are varied and unusual: flying creatures carried by balloons, monsters with drill heads that can bring lava flows to the surface, or demons with accordion-shaped bodies. Executions are brutal, and decapitating an opponent provides benefits. For example, ripping the head off an Ice Demon will give you a skull to throw at enemies to freeze them in place, and dismembering a Shogai will regenerate your life points. The game is therefore graphically very intense and the fights visceral.
Upgrade points are distributed across the levels. We can invest them in Lo Wang’s skills (chi energy recharge faster, maximum health bonus, etc.) or in our various weapons (increasing the capacity of the ammo box, adding elements of damage such as fire, ice and electricity, etc. ). The title also includes around twenty challenges, such as recovering 100 ammo packs, killing 5 Kugutsu demons before they land, or eliminating 25 enemies while our health is critical. Completing a challenge grants various rewards such as: B. Upgrade points or skins that change the look of our weapons.
picture from the game
More linear than the previous part, Shadow Warrior 3’s main flaw is that it’s quite short, containing only nine different tables. Luckily, the Definitive Edition extends the lifespan of the experience, firstly by adding a “Game +” mode that allows you to replay the campaign at a higher difficulty while keeping the upgrades you’ve acquired, but also by adding a Survival mode where you facing ever more numerous and deadly hordes of demons, and finally the addition of a “hero” mode where you only have a single life. Optimized for consoles of this generation, the 4K renderings are great, and the update is free for those who already own the standard edition of the game.
Lovers of thrills, high-octane action and games that don’t take themselves too seriously will be seduced by this definitive edition of Shadow Warrior 3, which improves the graphics of the version released last year, as well as its durability.
7.5/10
Shadow Warrior 3: Definitive Edition
developer: Flying boar
editor: Devolver Digital
platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S (tested on Xbox Series X)
Game available in French
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