Shadowgate

 PC
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 49 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 49
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 49
  3. Negative: 9 out of 49

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  1. DarkShaman
    Sep 17, 2014
    6
    Decent remake of an excellent game back in it's time. Too bad the puzzles are sometimes way too hard. Don't spend your money on this one, but if you played the original one, just watch some walkthrough or let's plays on youtube...
  2. bassgirl90
    Dec 31, 2014
    8
    I picked up this game and have played normal and apprentice levels through and plan to play journeyman and master as well. I was really looking for something that had the feel of phantasmagoria and Gabriel Knight series in terms of gameplay, and this hit the nail on the head.

    Pros: Puzzles generally are logical Interesting story sequences Large variety of difficulty levels with the    I picked up this game and have played normal and apprentice levels through and plan to play journeyman and master as well. I was really looking for something that had the feel of phantasmagoria and Gabriel Knight series in terms of gameplay, and this hit the nail on the head.

    Pros:
    Puzzles generally are logical
    Interesting story sequences
    Large variety of difficulty levels with the option to disallow saving
    Option to use legacy controls or use an updated option selection wheel
    Pretty artwork
    Option to highlight clickable items

    Cons:
    Dated graphics (I assume this was meant to give it a throwback feel)
    Can be annoying to run back and forth through the rooms
    Sometimes puzzle clues are in video sequences that cannot be replayed (Pay Attention!)

    Generally a great game if you want an old school point and click with updated features.    … Expand
  3. dprkforum
    Aug 21, 2014
    8
    Shadowgate had remakes over the years, and each had its own quirks and qualities. This remake is no exception. When I first saw this version on Greenlight, I could not hit the "yes" button enough. The screenshots and teaser videos was more than enough for me to get very excited. When release day finally came, I was not disappointed. Lots of familiar moments with lots of changes. The art isShadowgate had remakes over the years, and each had its own quirks and qualities. This remake is no exception. When I first saw this version on Greenlight, I could not hit the "yes" button enough. The screenshots and teaser videos was more than enough for me to get very excited. When release day finally came, I was not disappointed. Lots of familiar moments with lots of changes. The art is beautiful, the music repetitious but very nice. Strangely enough, the classic NES soundtrack is available as an option as well (I personally loved it). For an old man like me, this game is heaven-sent and sends me back to my childhood. Question is, will this game hold up to a very fickle, modern gaming audience? I want to say "yes", but chances are, it will probably fly under the radar. It's a point and click puzzle solver, yet it is not anything like Myst. This is something to experience if one has not already. I would personally recommend it, but I have to remember that's my own strong bias talking, and I have to remember this game will not be for everybody. Therefore, if you want an FPS dungeon crawler with fluid action, this game is not for you. If you do not like puzzle games such as Myst, this game is not for you. Otherwise, give this game a go. It's a nice experience. Really. === tl;dr === Pros: Stunning artwork, easy to use interface, lots of help, good music, responsive controls. Lots of puzzles to solve! Cons: Point and click adventure. May be too short for the experienced puzzle solver. Some may be turned off by the fanboys.… Expand
  4. VvNeo2000vV
    Sep 13, 2014
    10
    Not sure what the critics problems are with this game. What did they expect? It's a recreation of a 30 year old point and click adventure game and Zojoi did a great job! This is a game for people that like to be challenged and use their brains to solve puzzles. Why do remakes of old games have to be innovative? Should they have turned it into a hack and slash game? A first personNot sure what the critics problems are with this game. What did they expect? It's a recreation of a 30 year old point and click adventure game and Zojoi did a great job! This is a game for people that like to be challenged and use their brains to solve puzzles. Why do remakes of old games have to be innovative? Should they have turned it into a hack and slash game? A first person adventure/action game ala skyrim? I don't understand people's thinking. If you don't know what Shadowgate is go back to your call of doody!

    This game is exactly what it is supposed to be if you liked or loved Shadowgate on the NES you will love this one.    … Expand
  5. AnthemofGrimm
    Aug 22, 2014
    10
    As we venture into the new age of gaming, some aspects are lost to us. It might take a long time for the mainstream to pick them back up again. Thankfully there are ways to keep the old flame burning. Shadowgate is one of these old flames. Not many games can match the atmosphere and ambiance of this gem. Puzzles that vex the mind or art and illustrations that bring you wonder. Many choicesAs we venture into the new age of gaming, some aspects are lost to us. It might take a long time for the mainstream to pick them back up again. Thankfully there are ways to keep the old flame burning. Shadowgate is one of these old flames. Not many games can match the atmosphere and ambiance of this gem. Puzzles that vex the mind or art and illustrations that bring you wonder. Many choices you can make against the harshness of the very game itself. This game will be a challenge to you and if you play long enough you will find yourself hooked. The achievements are a breath of fresh air as well, bringing re playability to it's very maximum.… Expand
  6. 911nsidejob
    Oct 11, 2014
    10
    Another masterpiece and it gives me pure joy to see it here finally, the style, puzzles and music work really well.
    I hope we can get new versions of Deja vu and Uninvited as well, keep up the good work Zojoi
  7. Voyou
    May 26, 2021
    2
    Dusting out an antique abandonware to refresh its art is only a good idea if you don't bring back the old flaws with it. Here, every action takes 10 clicks too many before it is achieved. Thirty years of interface progress down the drain. You'll dread having to use anything from your inventory.

    Worse yet, the gameplay brings back one of the worst design flaws we had to commonly endure    Dusting out an antique abandonware to refresh its art is only a good idea if you don't bring back the old flaws with it. Here, every action takes 10 clicks too many before it is achieved. Thirty years of interface progress down the drain. You'll dread having to use anything from your inventory.

    Worse yet, the gameplay brings back one of the worst design flaws we had to commonly endure back then: the arbitrary instant deaths. They constantly punish you for exploring. They force you to find out and remember, by trial and dumb luck, which random click kills you and which one advances you. Of course, the obsolete interface doesn't reload automatically upon death. In fact, it doesn't even auto-save.

    And that's not all: you have to micro-manage your torches. They have a life span. They die out. You can't play in a dark room. Really, you will fall and die walking in the dark. I don't remember that the original game was that bad.    … Expand
  8. CoreGamer1408
    Dec 17, 2018
    7
    Reboot of some fine old school adventuring for sure. Ha ha those old school puzzles are a nightmare compared to today's easy noob like standards. Some nice artwork and VA for sure.
  9. bancandrei
    May 20, 2020
    4
    Graphics are worse than most hidden object games and gameplay is seriously out of date
  10. BenzoSt
    Jul 12, 2022
    7
    This game is a remake of the old Shadowgate game that I played on my old 8-bit Nintendo when I was in elementary school. It’s a point-and-click adventure game in a spooky castle, notorious for its dozens of ways to get yourself killed. The artwork and music are exceptionally well done and faithful to the original. Unfortunately, solving a few of the many puzzles seems to require tediousThis game is a remake of the old Shadowgate game that I played on my old 8-bit Nintendo when I was in elementary school. It’s a point-and-click adventure game in a spooky castle, notorious for its dozens of ways to get yourself killed. The artwork and music are exceptionally well done and faithful to the original. Unfortunately, solving a few of the many puzzles seems to require tedious trial and error, and when I eventually stumbled upon the solution, I found myself asking, "How on Earf was I supposed to figure that out (without trial-and-error)?!"… Expand
  11. HydrophobikFish
    Jun 9, 2023
    6
    Simple point and click adventure. Nothing too challenging, nothing too exciting. Not a bad game, but not much going on to make it memorable. I didn't play the original so I have no nostalgic attachment.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. Riot Pixels
    Jan 25, 2015
    45
    This updated version of Shadowgate is astonishingly close to the original game, but it is not a merit. The developers were high on nostalgia, and they ended up reanimating a decomposed corpse.
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  2. Games.cz
    Oct 14, 2014
    80
    An excellent revival of a classic that has not gotten a chance to grow old, and thanks to many improvements and extensions it charms not only the people who do not know it but also those who are its old time fans. It delivers a solid challenge and long hours of puzzle solving in an excellently elaborated game with a great atmosphere. If you are into first person adventure games that are focused on secrets and their discovering, you should not miss modern Shadowgate.
    Read full review
  3. Adventure Gamers
    Oct 13, 2014
    80
    Zojoi’s Shadowgate remake is everything you loved – and maybe everything you hated – about old-school adventuring. It offers a captivating journey into a fantasy dungeon, but it’s inhabited by puzzles so artificially challenging that this quest is one not everyone will want to undertake.
    Read full review
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