Shadowgrounds Survivor

If you have the hankering to play a action top down shooter that looks good and has addictive gameplay, look no further than Shadowgrounds: Survivor.

Like the scrappy movie crew that feels so much passion for a project that the team manages to create true art regardless of finances, FrozenByte similarly has risen up from near obscurity to release two of the most engaging action games I've ever had the pleasure of playing. Survivor, the extended remix of Shadowgrounds, is a must-have for any fans of action-horror.

All in all, Survivor is not big step forward, actually it’s hardly even a step, but it’s more Shadowgrounds, which is enough of a reason to go and get it. I don’t know of any other top-down shooters for the PC which are done as well, or look as good or cost $20.

A spin off for the action-packed sci-fi shooter Shadowgrounds. Like its predecessor Survivor is intensive and fast-paced action from square one until the end. Frozenbyte has added a little bit of RPG elements into the game, which is a nice touch. The game is pretty short and a little bit too easy, but it’s not sold at full price and the modding tools are good, so it’s well worth the money. [Jan 2008]

While Shadowgrounds: Survivor arguably does nothing we have not seen before, its clean, solid presentation and hectic, engrossing gameplay make it worthy of praise. You get a lot of game for pocket change, and that it’s a great shooter makes it worth every penny.

It's an instant classic and the perfect slice of fast twitch, shallow fun to give your gray matter a break from all that civilization building and warmongering.

It's an old school run-n-gun shooter that perfectly captures the flavor of the best "bad sci-fi" movies out there.

An indie developer takes the spotlight thanks to a game that is accomplished, engaging and plays like a dream.

Shadowgrounds Survivor is one of those rare budget titles that actually is worth the money.

Mindless violence in all the right ways. [Feb 2008, p.82]

All in all, Shadowgrounds: Survivor is a game for fans, casual gamers, and for gamers who miss the old ‘simple’ style of the arcade era. Newcomers may be a little put off with the ‘enter-in-the-middle-of-a-story’ feeling, but if you just ignore the story completely, then what you are left with is a perfectly enjoyable third-person shooter.

Next to the Orange Box, this is actually a sweet value title. You must like killing aliens, lots of action and the kind of game where it pays to go looking down deserted dark corridors.

Truly a visceral, retro experience that takes us to a warmer, happier time. [Feb 2008, p.90]

It's simple, enjoyable, pretty, and perhaps best of all, it's cheap.

Shadowgrounds Survivor is about delivering an overdose of frenetic arcade action, and in that vein, it’s just what the doctor ordered.

I think that the co-op play option really adds a level of replay value if you have a friend willing to blow up some alien scum. All in all, the game delivers an old-school feel in a new school package and it works very well together.

It’s good, simple fun. It’s just that it’s tough to be too upbeat about a game that you might finish in a single sitting.

Still, Survivor's variety of characters, aliens, and weapons deliver enough diversity to keep you entertained, especially for a game that will set you back a mere $20. [Apr 2008, p.70]

A solid shooter, with firm old-school roots. [Issue#10, p.64]