![]() ![]() When one charge of the meter is full, the player can perform a Finisher move on a Shogai or Kugutsu demon. Killing enemies drops Finisher Orbs, which fill up the player's Finisher meter. The key to beating Hardcore Hero mode is a thorough understanding of the Mortal Kombat-inspired Finisher mechanic. Guardian of the Heart has one attack which requires standing still to avoid, which can throw players off at first, but once memorized, it's a piece of cake. Attacks are well telegraphed, and it is usually obvious which way the player must dodge. Both bosses have attacks which must be dodged either by dashing to the side or jumped over. Fortunately, these boss fights are not difficult at all once the player has learned all of their moves and how to dodge them. On top of these 10 regular enemies, Shadow Warrior 3 features two boss fights: the Ancient Cock at the end of the fifth level and the Guardian of the Heart at the end of the final level. Some enemies specialize in multiple areas, such as the Gassy Obariyon, which attacks with miniguns at range and a ground pound up close. Shogai and Kugutsu are the basic fodder, while the other more powerful demons specialize in close range melee combat, long range attacks, or leaving traps and area-of-effect damage pools around the arena. Each one performs its own role in the battlefield and requires different strategies to defeat. Movement, weapons and well-designed arenas are the centre marks for this experience, an experience that would be enjoyed best over a day or a weekend.The other side of the coin to mastering the arsenal is learning about the 10 unique enemy types featured throughout the game. ![]() Other than that, there is nothing I disliked about my time with Shadow Warrior 3. Lo Wang's return is a joy to play, with all the systems combining seamlessly. The frantic pace the game keeps up is because there is no fat to trim, with you swinging from set piece to set piece, arena to arena in ways that make it hard to put down. Of course, the game's length is not entirely a negative point. I finished my playthrough at just under 6 hours, and I wanted more opportunities to play around in the arenas and the world that Flying Wild Hog has created. The only real complaint I have to level at Shadow Warrior 3 was its length. ![]() The overall story is as crazy as ever but largely acts as a set dressing for the vibrant locales to be visited. Lo Wang is written with the same irreverence and sarcasm, mouthing off and making jokes about the demons he has just sliced through, and the new voice actor for Lo Wang might speak with a different cadence to what we are used to, but I think he does a great job embodying Wang. There are more cutscenes to delve into than in previous entries, and Lo Wang is out of mojo after essentially causing the apocalypse and must regain it while saving the world. The story in Shadow Warrior 3 retakes centre stage due to the linearity of the game's structure. It is equal parts chaotic, fast, meaty whilst also offering plenty of versatility in approaching an arena. And that is the magic of Shadow Warrior 3. I merrily grappled around, raining hell from above and activating the trap door when enough enemies had unsuspectingly stepped on it. One of my favourite arenas was a trap door (leading to deadly blades) with two platforms on either side with a grapple point in the centre. More elaborate traps involve you activating whirling blades to carve anyone caught in their wake. Some surprises are as simple as spikes on a wall, which you can Chi Blast a smaller enemy into for an instant kill. I have already touched on how the arenas are crafted for you to speed around gracefully, but they are also designed for you to be paying attention to barrels and other traps around, offering further flexibility in how you deal with the demons. They are part of another of the big changes in Shadow Warrior 3 from previous entries, the focus on using the environment. These are mostly barrels scattered around the arenas to be shot strategically or flung at enemies with the Chi Blast. They do offer some smart combos, whether you need a little explosion or a way to slow down the enemies bearing down on you through an electric stun or freezing them completely. Something that has made the leap from SW2 to Shadow Warrior 3 is elemental effects. ![]()
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