The reboot of Shadow Warrior, made in 2013, is so much better than the original.
I know some people might call that sacrilege, but it’s true. The original Shadow Warrior is indeed a 90s classic, but it’s flawed. In the original Lo Wang was a one dimensional character often made the butt of the joke, many of those jokes relying on Chinese stereotypes.
This version of Shadow Warrior has much more of a story. And though Lo Wang can be a bit of a buffoon at times, I feel he’s a much more interesting character with a lot more going on. At times he’s obstinate and crass, but I also feel he’s doing the best he can in a situation where he’s way over his head.
And in this situation, he’s caught up with the Zilla corporation, a special sword, and a spirit who’s giving him a few extra powers to even his odds.
Like the original, the humour is still there but it’s more clever. The one liners, a staple of the original, are even better here. This version of Shadow Warrior is hilarious.
No question, the graphics are no longer so cutting edge. But I feel they’ve held up with great art. The aesthetic is beautiful. It’s really wonderful to see all that colour while fighting amongst pagodas and cherry blossoms.
The action is fast and frenetic. Yes, there’s lots of guns, and they can get creative at times. But there’s nothing like wielding the sword and cutting enemies down. Or reaching into a demon’s chest, grabbing its heart, and squeezing it to do damage to other enemies.
Many people don’t even know this reboot came out. But let me tell you, this is quality. This is published by Devolver Digital. And if you don’t know who they are, they’re the same folks who brought us Serious Sam, Hard Reset, Hotline Miami, Downwell, Enter the Gungeon – and so many great classics.
I think Devolver has a much better resume than 3D Realms, especially over the past 10 years.
This game has been released on PC, Mac, and Linux. It requires a 2.4Ghz process, 2GB RAM, 512MB VRAM, and 15GB hard drive space. It’s also “verified” for Steam Deck and plays well. If you’re a console gamer, it also came out on Playstation 4 and Xbox One.
Two more sequels released, Shadow Warrior 2 and Shadow Warrior 3 respectively. The second sequel is excellent, and the third had mixed reviews.
This is an example where the reboot is so much better than the original. Sure, the original is historically significant. But the reboot is where Lo Wang truly shines.
