Shadows of the Damned

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 177 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 130 out of 177
  2. Mixed: 41 out of 177
  3. Negative: 6 out of 177
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  1. TheQuietGamer
    May 31, 2012
    7
    A great concept that's held back by lackluster, repetitive gameplay, The story is about Garcia Hotspur going to hell to rescue his girlfriend from the clutches of the demon lord, it's actually a sweet story and instead of following what others would have done and made it a dark tale with a brooding hero they made it comedic and having a characters that are laughing as they spew out a neverA great concept that's held back by lackluster, repetitive gameplay, The story is about Garcia Hotspur going to hell to rescue his girlfriend from the clutches of the demon lord, it's actually a sweet story and instead of following what others would have done and made it a dark tale with a brooding hero they made it comedic and having a characters that are laughing as they spew out a never ending stream of dick jokes. It's hilarious and reminds me of Bulletstorm, so if you found that game funny you will find this game just as funny, and the humor and story are what actually kept me playing this game to it's completion. The game has one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard, it's not what your going to expect at all (I swear they took the loading screen music from the original Scooby Doo TV show) it's weird and funny. The game, for the most part, looks great but Garcia's character model and a few other areas of the game look noticeably dated. The real problem with the game is the actual gameplay, don't get me wrong it's not broken or anything, it's just not all that great, I found the shooting to be a tad bit clumsy do to a lack of a reticle, and for most of the game it's repetitive, but does manage to bring some gameplay variations every now and then. Don't get me wrong it's a fun game that never really takes off, and sticks to the same tricks. It's also only 7 to 8 hours long, and has no real replay value unless you just must have all the achievements, which also makes it disappointing that there's no new game+ option. It's not a bad game it's just a game that could have been done better, the story and sense of humor a great and it does provide some mindless fun, but with no replay value, repetitiveness, and the short length of it hamper the experience and make it a game I can only recommend renting as it's not worth a real purchase. Good, or rather, decent but not great.… Expand
  2. Chempion1
    Jul 27, 2020
    9
    Что можно сказать об этой игре. На сколько я помню, рекламная компания у неё была так себе, а зря!
    Играл я на XBox 360. И игра мне понравилась. Да так, что через несколько лет захотелось пройти ещё раз. Вот прошел и решил написать.
    Игра типичная японская. Обнаженные бабы, оторванные конечности, оружие названное половыми органами, демоны справляющие нужду, в общем, ни какого приличия! В    Что можно сказать об этой игре. На сколько я помню, рекламная компания у неё была так себе, а зря!
    Играл я на XBox 360. И игра мне понравилась. Да так, что через несколько лет захотелось пройти ещё раз. Вот прошел и решил написать.
    Игра типичная японская. Обнаженные бабы, оторванные конечности, оружие названное половыми органами, демоны справляющие нужду, в общем, ни какого приличия! В этом вся атмосфера игры. И это здорово!
    Так как я уже сказал, что игра типично японская, то к стрельбе надо привыкать. Но когда привыкнешь всё будет ок.
    Сюжет типично отмороженный. Хорошей концовки нет. Япония!
    А вообще в игре такая тягучая атмосфера, что в неё очень трудно втянуться. Но если втянулся......то остановить игру будет очень трудно.
    Недостатки тоже есть. Лично меня бесил эпизод, в котором надо было убегать от своей благоверной. Она меня, наверное, раз семь или восемь целовала, ужас!
    Сюжет мог бы быть получше. Но есть, что есть.
    Очень жаль, что сейчас почти не выходит таких самобытных, в хорошем смысле японских, игр на XBox и PS. Выходит мало либо на Switch либо вообще без перевода. Жаль!    … Expand
  3. Brukaik
    Apr 3, 2020
    7
    Então, eu acabei de jogar em 2020. Achei divertido, algumas mecânicas diferentes e que funcionam no mundo do jogo, mas o meu problema está na história cansativa e que não leva pra lugar nenhum. Sem contar em todas as mutilações desnecessárias que o corpo da "mocinha que precisa de resgate" sofre. Ao tudo é divertido, não me arrependi de jogar.
  4. tankwilliams
    Jun 25, 2011
    9
    This game is what Duke Nukem Forever should have been. Its funny, creative, and entertaining. It is also very rude and very graphic, so this game is not for the easily offended or the faint of heart. The one main draw of this game is its linearity, however, it is not enough to hurt the overall experience. Good game: A-
  5. rude76
    Jul 24, 2011
    6
    I played this game from start to finish on normal difficulty and it clocked it at 7 hours and change. Too damn short for 60 dollars! Inexcusable, considering there is no 'new game plus' mode or any replay value at all. This should not be a full price game. There is no excuse!! The combat was fun but like everything else it felt ancient. Garcia was a cool character tho.
  6. sias
    Feb 24, 2012
    7
    Conceptually this game is great. The characters, story and humour are perfectly intertwined to create a unique experience that left a big smile on my face on more than one occasion. The preposterous over the top action reminded me very much of the madness of Bayonetta (albeit with far more swearing) and the fact that it never tries to take itself seriously is quite refreshing. The choiceConceptually this game is great. The characters, story and humour are perfectly intertwined to create a unique experience that left a big smile on my face on more than one occasion. The preposterous over the top action reminded me very much of the madness of Bayonetta (albeit with far more swearing) and the fact that it never tries to take itself seriously is quite refreshing. The choice of guns is great and as you progress the weaponry becomes more and more insane. The setting is fantastic and completely surreal which adds so much to its apparent niche appeal. However, Shadows of the Damned is let down by many gameplay issues. Firstly, this game is far too short, clocking in at around 10 hours for a play-through on hard. And there are no new game plus options/multiplayer/challenge maps, so as soon as you're done with the single player there's nothing else. Also, this game is very easy and incredibly unchallenging - even on the hardest difficulty! You can literally roll through any enemy attack so rolling isn't a case of moving out of the way of danger, but more just making sure you are rolling when the attack connects. This cheapens the experience and makes combat quite easy. Also, the camera has a hard time in many places (usually when the game wants you stand in a tiny passageway full of enemies) which can lead to some annoying deaths in a game that is otherwise so easy to play. The gunplay is decent, but suffers from many inconsistencies in regards to aiming, with some shots seemingly passing through enemies at times which is very frustrating. Also, sometimes enemy attacks connect where previously they had not in exact same circumstances leading me to think that the hit-boxes of enemy attacks are also inconsistent. Graphically the game is fine, but does suffer from very noticeable texture pop-in which gives the game an overall rough and unfinished look. The colours are also very washed-out (reminiscent of Dragon Age origins in some respect) in some cases, which don't appear to be by design. Other irritations include not being able to skip cutscenes which is just torturous at times and also some odd achievement implementation. I don't really care about XBL achievements, but I know that many do, so why Grasshopper decided that completing the game on hard should not unlock easy and medium difficulty achievements is just beyond me. Did they really expect people to play through the game three times? Why would anyone want to revert back to easy or medium difficulty when they've already realised how non-challenging the game is on hard? A rather strange design choice there which I imagine infuriated achievement hunters. It's a shame because Shadow of the Damned is loaded with personality and charm that you see very little of these days, but so many small things chip away at the layer of polish that this game really deserved. I did enjoy my brief time with Shadows of the Damned but it ultimately left me unsatisfied. Here's hoping Grasshopper can refine the experience for a more polished sequel.… Expand
  7. wesker2012
    May 28, 2012
    6
    I liked the music and cheesy banter but that's it.
  8. k3k3ti6
    Jun 21, 2011
    8
    Love this game so far, it reminds me of Constantine the movie If Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino had directed it. So in all it's Constantine meets Ghost Rider meets Machete meets The Evil Dead= Shadows Of The Damned
  9. ilovelamp787
    Jun 23, 2011
    10
    Wow, great job Grasshopper. I was skeptical when first hearing about this development. Although my 8 year old son should not play this, due to the crude language, he will just have to stay in his room haha. Excellent game play and such a diverse game that I have never seen before...and I have played many games. The bowling alley scene is genius, props to whoever came up with that. TheseWow, great job Grasshopper. I was skeptical when first hearing about this development. Although my 8 year old son should not play this, due to the crude language, he will just have to stay in his room haha. Excellent game play and such a diverse game that I have never seen before...and I have played many games. The bowling alley scene is genius, props to whoever came up with that. These level designers must be highly experienced to say the least. Although It would of been nice to drive that car. I mean c'mon lol. Whomever is the designer or team who creatively summed that bowling scene should teach other companies how to add a little spin and the unexpected to video games. Great job Grasshopper, great job.… Expand
  10. doodlerman
    Jul 17, 2011
    10
    This game is like a super stylized mixture of Silent Hill, Resident Evil 4, and The Evil Dead movies (even a level is titled 'As Evil As Dead' in tribute to Sam Raimi's trilogy). Like Ash from The Evil Dead (particularly in The Army of Darkness), Garcia (the protagonist of this game) is extremely full of himself and throws out one liners - most of which are original. In a way his pride canThis game is like a super stylized mixture of Silent Hill, Resident Evil 4, and The Evil Dead movies (even a level is titled 'As Evil As Dead' in tribute to Sam Raimi's trilogy). Like Ash from The Evil Dead (particularly in The Army of Darkness), Garcia (the protagonist of this game) is extremely full of himself and throws out one liners - most of which are original. In a way his pride can be compared to Duke Nukem's, except he is ten times more badass than Duke Nukem, and all of his one liners don't come directly out of movies (Nukem's one liners are borrowed straight from roles of Bruce Campbell, and most are even from The Evil Dead trilogy - "Hail to the king, baby") So really, this is a more original, more well-thought out, much funner and funnier version of Duke Nukem - though I wouldn't compare it to it other than the main character's pride. Garcia is much more lovable than Nukem, and this game is much better too. So much of this game feels so fresh, and though there are certainly some flaws (you have to shoot boxes and waste ammo instead of being able to bash them with your torch, and once you beat the game there's not much else to do with the game) it feels great. This game has so many moments of unexpectedness, some are little scares, like how at the beginning there's an army of severed heads that just comes rolling down this hill, or how three levels of the game are these 2D paper cutout levels with this sort of brilliant vintage music playing. Akira Yamaoka is definitely one of the most brilliant composers, and this game has a large variety of his capabilities - horror music, atmospheric music, rock, and that cool vintage (sort of Scooby Doo sounding) music. The game is dark, but funny and action packed. It really is worth getting and feels like a classic game that they just don't make anymore. Shadows of the Damned is, by far, one of the most worthy games of anyone's purchase for the 360 (and PS3) out now.… Expand
  11. MaxxSwan13
    Sep 5, 2011
    10
    This game seems like a mix of Dante's Inferno's save your girlfriend from hell scenario, with Resident Evil 4's targeting mode, Duke Nukem's humor, and with exploration with the style of Fable.
  12. totalfrog
    May 31, 2012
    5
    I can see what this game is trying to be but it just doesn't get there. The humor is there and the story isn't bad but the gameplay really lets it down. The aiming is off, the cutscenes are infuriating and the combat is repetitive. The graphics aren't fantastic either. I finished it on hard in just over 7 hours. Too short for a full priced title.
  13. MrBT
    Jun 27, 2011
    6
    Im sorry but did I miss something? 7 hours to complete, very easy and some of the dullest level design Ive endured. Rinse and repeat game mechanics that skip through what the game does well and rest on shallow gaming and uncomfortable OTT sexual references. The voice acting is poor and the only thing that stood out was some fun gunplay - I think this seriously missed the mark with whatIm sorry but did I miss something? 7 hours to complete, very easy and some of the dullest level design Ive endured. Rinse and repeat game mechanics that skip through what the game does well and rest on shallow gaming and uncomfortable OTT sexual references. The voice acting is poor and the only thing that stood out was some fun gunplay - I think this seriously missed the mark with what should have been a top title from two renown names… Expand
  14. Warboxer
    Jun 23, 2011
    9
    This game is awesome! I just completed it, and i enjoyed every single bit of it. The game is triggered to a niche crowd, but if you follow Grasshopper and Suda51 you will enjoy this game. It reminds me of a lot of things. It has the resident evil, vampire hunter d, and grindhouse influence. If you want a awesome, crazy, gory and funny game and want to get away from all the militaryThis game is awesome! I just completed it, and i enjoyed every single bit of it. The game is triggered to a niche crowd, but if you follow Grasshopper and Suda51 you will enjoy this game. It reminds me of a lot of things. It has the resident evil, vampire hunter d, and grindhouse influence. If you want a awesome, crazy, gory and funny game and want to get away from all the military shooters out there, this game will definitely do the job :) Props to Suda51, Shinji Mikami, and Grasshopper Studios for bringing us an excellent experience.… Expand
  15. skeevs
    Sep 11, 2011
    9
    I had low expectations of the game when I bought it.I was very surprised. It's turning out to be one of my favourite games of 2011. This game is so underrated!
    Graphical designs of the environments is outstanding.Not forgetting the nice catchy tunes & bone chilling audio. It's adult-themed jokes may put some people off, but it was totally unique & funny to me. Definitely should've gained    I had low expectations of the game when I bought it.I was very surprised. It's turning out to be one of my favourite games of 2011. This game is so underrated!
    Graphical designs of the environments is outstanding.Not forgetting the nice catchy tunes & bone chilling audio. It's adult-themed jokes may put some people off, but it was totally unique & funny to me. Definitely should've gained more recognition!    … Expand
  16. dragonfire
    Jul 1, 2011
    8
    Remember Killer 7? GameCube? What overall score did that get? -70%
    Professional reviewer's were all out saying it was just OK, NOW they say it was Great!!
    Killer 7 is now thought of as an inspired game of the last gen.
    Same with Shadows of the Damned, it's definitely a keeper and a piece of gaming history.
  17. Notorious
    Apr 30, 2012
    9
    Both funny, creative and straight-up great fun - Shadows of the Damned is a game that any gamer should play. The constant evolution of your arsenal and the continuous introduction of more challenging demons keeps this game fresh and prevents its linear game play from getting too tedious.
  18. GodBleeder
    Oct 13, 2011
    8
    Shadows Of The Damned shows true gamers that the more mainstream the industry gets, the more it loses it's roots. This is classic 16-bit fun in an Unreal 3 Engine skin. Pure fantasy creativity that never apologizes for how silly or entertaining it is. Only one negative trate of modern gaming remains, it's difficulty, I played this game on the hardest setting and cruised through it. AsideShadows Of The Damned shows true gamers that the more mainstream the industry gets, the more it loses it's roots. This is classic 16-bit fun in an Unreal 3 Engine skin. Pure fantasy creativity that never apologizes for how silly or entertaining it is. Only one negative trate of modern gaming remains, it's difficulty, I played this game on the hardest setting and cruised through it. Aside from the sleepy level of challenge, this game is unmissable for anyone looking for a break from the real world of military shooters and racing sims that crowd the market.… Expand
  19. creeper-king
    Jun 26, 2011
    9
    This is one great game. Its a nice break from all the serious shooters out there now. Be warned: this game is loaded with jokes and vulgarity. Its still a good game. The only flaw is that some parts are very difficult. other than that, great game. This is how shooters should be made. (PS if you like this game, try No More Heroes)
  20. Parag0N
    Jun 26, 2011
    9
    I've been playing games simce 1985 so I'm getting kinda bored with all the military shooters and same old same old going on with games right now. If your new to games in the past decade and think whatever your playing is origional chances are it's been done dozens of times in the past. It takes something really special to stand out in the mainstream industry these days and trust me whenI've been playing games simce 1985 so I'm getting kinda bored with all the military shooters and same old same old going on with games right now. If your new to games in the past decade and think whatever your playing is origional chances are it's been done dozens of times in the past. It takes something really special to stand out in the mainstream industry these days and trust me when I say that this was it. I rented this because I had no idea what it was going to be about as it hasn't recieved much buzz in the past few months. I just finished the game and I'm buying it tomorrow as it's worth every cent . I was absolutely floored till the credits rolled. Best origional Japanese developed game in years! I'm not gonna go into details except to say it's like RE4 on crack and any hardcore gamer needs to check this out as it is certainly the first sleeper hit of the summer.… Expand
  21. Sime88
    Jun 27, 2011
    9
    Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso...Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE. Clamoroso... Gioco da prendere. ASSOLUTAMENTE.… Expand
  22. JediDude
    Sep 9, 2011
    10
    While Shadows of the Damned is not without its problems â
  23. WhiskeyStories
    Dec 3, 2017
    8
    Endlessly creative, twisted and dementedly fun game with highly enjoyable crass and corny humour. The only real problems Shadows of the Damned suffers is the slightly clunky gameplay and the kinda unsatisfying ending. I love this game dearly. One of my absolute favourites
  24. ellocopepe96
    Nov 27, 2016
    9
    este videojuego es buenisimo , toda la ambientacion , los diseños ,el humor , la jugabilidad es bastante adictiva , mezcla un poco de survival de terror con accion .un gran trabajo de suda 51 y akira yamaoka.
    es un juego muy infravalorado pero que recomiendo mucho a cualquiera.
  25. Professorfett
    Apr 21, 2020
    9
    The gameplay is much like Resident Evil for the most part. The level design is also very similar to Resident Evil 4. It really did feel like that game on meth. The game doles out the new guns fairly quick but constantly is adding upgrades and new enemies to keep it from getting stale. The worst part of the gameplay is the times when Suda gets to be himself and we get weird just annoyingThe gameplay is much like Resident Evil for the most part. The level design is also very similar to Resident Evil 4. It really did feel like that game on meth. The game doles out the new guns fairly quick but constantly is adding upgrades and new enemies to keep it from getting stale. The worst part of the gameplay is the times when Suda gets to be himself and we get weird just annoying unsatisfying levels. Like towards the end we get a side scrolling level; while interesting it felt like it didn't belong to the grindhouse feel the game initially sets up. The combat is fun and not terrible challenging on the normal difficulty but enough to keep you on your toes. The game isn't very long with nothing besides the story to do, so the replay value is completely gone.

    The voice acting and sounds are great. The goddamn baby heads you have to feed strawberries (I mentioned the game was weird right?) sound so creepy no matter if they are crying or laughing. The voice acting is super well done with a ton of comedy from most of the main characters mainly Johnson and Garcia Hotspur.

    While the game stages may look very similar to Resident Evil 4 the atmosphere is something else entirely. They make it where it is creepy unknown place but you're not afraid to move forward. That is mainly because you are armed to the teeth, (literally) but if you weren't I would've been scared to move forward at all. The graphics is traditional Grasshopper Studio style where you can't tell if it is cell shaded or bad graphics. I will say it is cell shaded but not Borderlands status it feels just slightly cartoony.

    The story is the save the princess from the castle but done bat **** crazy. You are Garcia **** Hotspur, hunter of demons and slayer of pendejos like you. He is without a doubt one of my favorite character to exist in video games to date. He is a bit homicidal, suicidal, stupid, and he is the one with badass mother **** on his wallet. He is also one of the few latino protagonist out there which I can appreciate them not making generic white guy 54. Garcia is accompanied by his gun and sidekick Johnson. Johnson is the comedic relief in this game and you encylopedia of all things demon related. He is a english floating skull who can transform into different guns and a torch. The villain is a very weak villain named Fleming. He is the head demon but never is truly a direct threat, which I personally dig villains who are constantly **** over the protagonist. The story is about Garcia and Johnson going through the underworld to save Garcia's girlfriend. In the most badass way possible shoot everything ask questions after. The game's story is what keeps you wanting more; they create this entire world with it's own laws of physics that make you want to explore every inch of it. By the end of the game I damn near cried and just wanted more in my face.

    Overall in my opinion this is the best Grasshopper Studios game to have had ever come out. It is something I love and will show people to tell them " you have to see this game". It is weird, fun and gory. If you have been curious on Suda51 games check this one out it is the best way to get into him as a developer. I would recommend people to buy it just to show others and to go through the story again and again. I give this a 4.5/5. I only take off a .5 for annoying levels that just hinder the fun that is the rest of the game. Until next time fine demon hunters I am Brandon demon hunter and slayer of pizza like you. Ok I'll keep on working on my one liners.    … Expand
  26. Tadeo647
    Dec 29, 2020
    10
    Me encantó este juego, está increíble todo y las peleas de jefes ÉPICAS, buenas historias incluso las de trasfondo, es una pena que no sacaran secuela, se lo merece
  27. Forsvaine
    Jun 28, 2011
    7
    The brainchild of No More Heroes's and Resident Evil's creators, Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, respectively. It shows with its titillating and immature humor and punk attitude, and its over-the-shoulder and "survival horror" gameplay. This is the good kind of survival horror that doesn't strive to be taken seriously, and despite that, it's a good game. It doesn't do much to be groundbreaking,The brainchild of No More Heroes's and Resident Evil's creators, Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, respectively. It shows with its titillating and immature humor and punk attitude, and its over-the-shoulder and "survival horror" gameplay. This is the good kind of survival horror that doesn't strive to be taken seriously, and despite that, it's a good game. It doesn't do much to be groundbreaking, but the humor and familiar but entertaining gameplay will keep you going. The game is a lot of fun if you don't expect the holy grail of gaming. Controls are fluid (compared to Resident Evil), gameplay is fair, and the unique turns that the game does pull allow it to step away from mediocrity. Nowhere near a game I'd pay 60 dollars for, but you might have fun with it. I did.… Expand
  28. Spadenickel
    Jul 4, 2011
    8
    Not a bad little game. Nothing that will blow your mind, but you'll have fun playing it. I bought it because there's basically nothing new on the market. The only drawbacks that I saw was that it was too short and there really is no reason to play it a second time. Funny as hell though.
  29. aqurban
    Aug 28, 2011
    9
    Shadows of the Damned is like a whipped cream chocolate smoothie, you mix all those awesome ingredients and get that fresh, cold and tasty blend of sheer satisfactory and freshness, it's surely that one game that stands alone despite the fact that it comes from the horror driven third person shooter genre, which recently dropped from the top of the industry.
  30. RidleayRomero
    Nov 6, 2017
    8
    Shadows of the Damned is a conceptually fun game. Suda 51 shows off his wacky sense of humor, while Shinji Mikami delivers more great third person shooting mechanics, and Akira Yamaoka provides his legendary Silent Hill-esque music skills.
  31. LadyEvol
    Sep 5, 2011
    7
    This game is fun, albeit flawed. The graphics are very 2005, and although there are REALLY funny parts, there are also times where the dialogue seems like it was written by a 12 year old boy with a phallic obsession. But it's a generally good, amusing, entertaining game, and worth the $30 I paid for it. The controls are easy to get used to, and I'm a fan of the stories in the game. It'sThis game is fun, albeit flawed. The graphics are very 2005, and although there are REALLY funny parts, there are also times where the dialogue seems like it was written by a 12 year old boy with a phallic obsession. But it's a generally good, amusing, entertaining game, and worth the $30 I paid for it. The controls are easy to get used to, and I'm a fan of the stories in the game. It's good for what it is, and it obviously doesn't take itself seriously. :D… Expand
  32. BGRadio
    Sep 19, 2011
    8
    Shadows of the Damned may not get everything right and tight, but it still provides a mostly fun romp through demon country from start to finish. The banter between Garcia and Johnson has a great buddy comedy feel, upgrading weapons to dole out faster demon dispatching keeps things on the fresh side and the bosses themselves are some of the strangest characters in recent memory. TheShadows of the Damned may not get everything right and tight, but it still provides a mostly fun romp through demon country from start to finish. The banter between Garcia and Johnson has a great buddy comedy feel, upgrading weapons to dole out faster demon dispatching keeps things on the fresh side and the bosses themselves are some of the strangest characters in recent memory. The controls could have been more in favor of accuracy and the mature humor might turn off some players. The light and dark mechanic does bring a unique feel to the game in a way that gives this zany version of Hell a very distinct personality. It may not feel like the best road trip in gaming, but it was a pleasure to have gone along for the ride.… Expand
  33. Smogrocker
    Jan 12, 2012
    10
    What a crazy, awesome piece of entertainment! I was not able to put this game down for 3 days straight, because I had such a blast playing it. Imagine Alan Wake's gameplay and a setting a la From Dusk Till Dawn. The back-and-forth dialog between the protagonist and his demon skull/ weapon/ torch / motorcycle is so fantastically written - I laughed out loud several times. Definitely amongWhat a crazy, awesome piece of entertainment! I was not able to put this game down for 3 days straight, because I had such a blast playing it. Imagine Alan Wake's gameplay and a setting a la From Dusk Till Dawn. The back-and-forth dialog between the protagonist and his demon skull/ weapon/ torch / motorcycle is so fantastically written - I laughed out loud several times. Definitely among my Top 5 of 2011!… Expand
  34. 360gamer8302
    Feb 5, 2012
    9
    This game was a true treat to play. To me,this game filled out the criteria for what a game that wants to be out there should be like. Here is a game that plays a lot like RE4, with the music of Silent Hill thanks to Akira Yamaoka. Also Suda 51 brings his weird ideas to the stage for us to enjoy. I never experienced texture pop-ins or any other graphical issues that reviewers did. TheThis game was a true treat to play. To me,this game filled out the criteria for what a game that wants to be out there should be like. Here is a game that plays a lot like RE4, with the music of Silent Hill thanks to Akira Yamaoka. Also Suda 51 brings his weird ideas to the stage for us to enjoy. I never experienced texture pop-ins or any other graphical issues that reviewers did. The story was entertaining and so were the characters. The ONE and only reason this isn't a 10, is because there is no chapter select or new game plus. However if you want a truly unique experience then look no further.… Expand
  35. SkillJam
    Sep 28, 2013
    9
    Simply just perfect game with awesome world and really funny moments. Main character and his companion have so funny conversations, its really great. I can forgive some glitches and stuffs because of that, im really enjoying it! You should try it and soundtrack is god damn awesome!
  36. Old_Biff
    May 17, 2012
    8
    This is a really fun game. I rented it and had a great time. I did not get a chance to finish it all the way but I will some time. The gameplay is fun, the story is funny, the characters are all sweet and the levels are all interesting. If you enjoy shooters or games with a lot of personality such as Duke Nukem you will like this.
  37. XboxGamerGuy
    Nov 14, 2012
    9
    Damn this game was fun! Resident Evil crossed with some insane nightmare! Do i recommend this game YES! should you go out and buy it! YES! The ending was amazing. Get it now!
  38. UnderrateXposer
    Apr 6, 2022
    10
    Game with the most impressive atmosphere I remember. Amazing game design!!!
  39. Calebd2
    Jan 25, 2015
    7
    This game slipped under the radar in 2011 and I was lucky to randomly pick it up now, a few years later, and give it a chance. This is a well executed title, with a funny and fairly engaging story line that includes an excellent score from Akira Yamaoka (what hasn't that guy done well??). It felt like a more lighthearted version of Resident Evil with a mix of fun quirks similar to that ofThis game slipped under the radar in 2011 and I was lucky to randomly pick it up now, a few years later, and give it a chance. This is a well executed title, with a funny and fairly engaging story line that includes an excellent score from Akira Yamaoka (what hasn't that guy done well??). It felt like a more lighthearted version of Resident Evil with a mix of fun quirks similar to that of Alice: Madness Returns. Be prepared for a some heavy language, nudity, and immature dick jokes, but it all comes together to be entertaining. The mechanics are well done and the gun play feels very rewarding. There were some points in the game that became very repetitive, but most of the time the different levels were fresh and new. There were also several mini games that didn't really lend anything to the experience and would have been better off left out entirely. Definitely worth picking up and playing, but be prepared for a short game, roughly 6 hours only.… Expand
  40. jaroldo
    Oct 19, 2013
    7
    Shadows of the Damned is Resident Evil 4's mad cousin. From the mind of Suda51 is a crazy, unhinged descent into Hell with Garcia Hotspur and his demon buddy called Johnson. The two of them have to rescue Garcia's girlfriend Paula from Fleming, Lord of Demons. The story in this game is as ridiculous as the rest of the game. If you like gratuitous violence, nudity and obscene jokes you'llShadows of the Damned is Resident Evil 4's mad cousin. From the mind of Suda51 is a crazy, unhinged descent into Hell with Garcia Hotspur and his demon buddy called Johnson. The two of them have to rescue Garcia's girlfriend Paula from Fleming, Lord of Demons. The story in this game is as ridiculous as the rest of the game. If you like gratuitous violence, nudity and obscene jokes you'll love this game's sense of humour but be warned, this is not for the easily offended.

    The gameplay is essentially copied and pasted from RE4 but with the ability to move while shooting and 10x more gore.

    Final Thoughts: This game would probably only be enjoyed by a few people but that's not because it's bad. I'm also surprised that EA published this.    … Expand
  41. harryjc
    Mar 22, 2016
    7
    Shadows of the Damned is a third person shooter literally set in hell -- and that is what intrigued me. I thought the artwork was interesting and that this would be a really fun game to play. However, the game is held back by a few mistakes.

    First, there's the controls. I really don't like how I have to squeeze two triggers to shoot. Second, the aiming system is hard to get used to. The    Shadows of the Damned is a third person shooter literally set in hell -- and that is what intrigued me. I thought the artwork was interesting and that this would be a really fun game to play. However, the game is held back by a few mistakes.

    First, there's the controls. I really don't like how I have to squeeze two triggers to shoot. Second, the aiming system is hard to get used to. The beam of light while visually appealing does not create accuracy.

    Third there is a lot of repetition. The most annoying part of the game by far is the system where you have to go back and forth between light and dark to deal with enemies, and challenges. At first it was kind of interesting but rather quickly lost its appeal.

    Fourth, your character often gets his back to a wall, and is totally stuck. You get boxed in quite easily. Although this is a minor annoyance.

    Fifth, going back to controls, the three different ways to heal yourself is kind of dumb. You have to hold the Y button, and then go to the d-pad. That's a huge pain in the ass. There really should only be one type of method to heal, which requires pressing a single button.

    Sixth, this is video game cliche, but I hate when you're low on health, and they make your screen red all around, blocking your vision. You're dying, and you want to survive, and the bloody border does nothing to help.

    Seventh, that darn light slug, or whatever it's called. Again this is a major complaint I have. I really dislike the light/dark system they use in general. I don't want to have to follow a narrow path, and be held back by managing both enemies, and a system where I have to constantly shoot a goat's head, or follow a slug, or whatever. This element would be acceptable if you only had to shoot it once, but it's temporary, and you have to keep going back, and forth.

    Eighth, that part of the game where your demon gun becomes really long, and you have to shoot those giant monster. That's boring. It's too restrictive. I get they were trying to add variety, but that really wasn't that fun.

    But overall, this is not a bad game. It just takes a few missteps. The art is great. The sense of humor is pretty good. Blasting demons is a blast. I just wish they had pared back a little. I feel that the team who made this was trying to add variety, when really they should've just stuck to the basics, and the core of the game, instead of throwing in too many elements.

    Yet this is definitely worth a sequel. Shadows of the Damned 2, yes, please.    … Expand
  42. andyg1
    Apr 13, 2015
    10
    Oh my god what a game........I started playing this and could not stop at all. I did not want this to finish but unfortunately it had to... I thought the characters were all great, bosses also cool. I don't think there is any part of this game I can pick holes in at all, just a game that is well thought of and fun to play. so basically what im saying is if you haven't got this game GET IT NOW
  43. 22446688Bb
    Aug 17, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Demon hunter Garcia Hotspur comes home to find his girlfriend, Paula, being abducted by the Lord of Demons, Fleming, who brags that he will take Paula with him to kill her again and again. Garcia is powerless to stop Fleming, but instead follows him back to the underworld along with his demon sidekick, Johnson, who also acts as his gun, torch and motorcycle. In the demon world, Johnson helps guide Garcia through the twisted nature of the demon realm, defeating numerous enemies that try to feed on Garcia's flesh, and keeping him away from the darkness that destroys the human flesh. As they travel, they witness numerous deaths of Paula by Fleming and other demons, all to toy with Garcia's senses. Another human demon hunter, who simply goes by the name "Colonel", temporarily aids Garcia, but then leaves to get revenge on the death of his loved one, only to be brutally killed later. Garcia also encounters an ally in Christopher, a half-human, half-demon that sells Garcia valuable goods to boost his demon-fighting powers.

    Later in the game, Garcia and Johnson learn of the Unbreakable Huntress, the first female demon slayer to ever challenge Fleming. The Unbreakable Huntress challenged Fleming, but was brutally dismembered by the demon king. Impressed with her refusal to surrender even when reduced to a quad amputee, Fleming made the Huntress into his queen, only to repeatedly kill her over and over again, healing any wounds that resulted from the torture. In rebellion, the Unbreakable Huntress continued to escape from the City of the Damned, only to be dragged back and killed by Fleming. Paula is hinted to have been the Unbreakable Huntress prior to the start of the game.

    Eventually, Garcia reaches Fleming's "Castle of Hassle", and battles his way through to its top, where Fleming awaits him, Paula encased within his cloak. Fleming enters into battle with Garcia, but Garcia gains the upper hand, and destroys him. He rushes to Paula's side, but she hits him, angered that he watched her die over and over and made no attempt to stop it or comfort her. Furious, she transforms into a demon herself, and attacks Garcia, but Garcia eventually weakens her enough. Paula reverts to her human form, and as she lies wounded and the darkness surrounds them, Garcia comforts her and apologizes.

    In the epilogue, Garcia and Paula have returned to his home and are planning for a trip, when Garcia receives a call from Fleming, warning him that more demons are coming for him. Garcia takes this in stride, commenting that as long as he is dating the Lord of Demon's mistress, demons will continue to follow them, and he vows to kill every last one.    … Expand
  44. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Apr 27, 2023
    8
    This campy and bizarre action game comes from the minds of Goichi Suda ("Killer 7") and Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil). It's a nice, entertaining blend of each director's respective style. However, it's no masterpiece. "Shadows" plays like a cross between Resident Evil 4 and Alan Wake, but with more repetitive bits than either of those games. It also features the silly adult humor thatThis campy and bizarre action game comes from the minds of Goichi Suda ("Killer 7") and Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil). It's a nice, entertaining blend of each director's respective style. However, it's no masterpiece. "Shadows" plays like a cross between Resident Evil 4 and Alan Wake, but with more repetitive bits than either of those games. It also features the silly adult humor that you'd find in a Duke Nukem title. Cinematically speaking, this is a grindhouse movie. In fact, there are overt references to both The Evil Dead and Robert Rodriguez. Overall, SOTD will please fans of the horror comic genre. I would rate it with an 8.2 out of 10… Expand
  45. Stan_Osbourne
    Mar 6, 2022
    4
    Несмотря на то что об этой игре многие говорили очень даже положительно, создавалось впечатление что это - недооцененный японский шедевр, однако это одна из худших игр от Grasshopper Manufacture в которые я играл.

    Сюжет очень сюрреалистичный и непонятный, концовка вызывает только отвращение и сожаление о том что ты только что прошёл. Сама механика была взята от Good Hand и Resident    Несмотря на то что об этой игре многие говорили очень даже положительно, создавалось впечатление что это - недооцененный японский шедевр, однако это одна из худших игр от Grasshopper Manufacture в которые я играл.

    Сюжет очень сюрреалистичный и непонятный, концовка вызывает только отвращение и сожаление о том что ты только что прошёл. Сама механика была взята от Good Hand и Resident Evil 4 Синдзи Миками, над которыми тот работал ранее, но при этом игра выглядит уродливым гомункулом. Однотипные и скучные боссы, низкопробный подростково-пошлый юмор в куче с багами и кривыми анимациями сделали для меня прохождение очень болезненым опытом. Искренне надеюсь, что подобные игры остануться в прошлом.    … Expand
  46. Drone6448
    Oct 10, 2021
    10
    This is a masterpiece ! I don't understand boomers who don't like this game... There is almoust no games like this , and there will be no until tolerant people will rule the game industry.. I reccomend everyone to play this game, bad thing that there will be no 2nd chapter :(

Awards & Rankings

94
#94 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2011
40
#40 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2011
48
#48 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 76 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 49 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 76
  3. Negative: 0 out of 76
  1. DailyGame
    Dec 12, 2011
    50
    Short of the opening music, which is awesome and sounds like a demonic mariachi band, I can't think of many redeeming qualities in Shadows of the Damned. It's not in the same craptastic league as Thor, which suffered from horrible gameplay and production values; it's just a waste of time.
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  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 19, 2011
    75
    This weird exploitation version of Alan Wake is filled with dirty jokes and interesting scenery. Unfortunately the dull controls make the game situated in hell feel like it's from hell. If you can get past the clunky controls and cramped level design, the game is quite good substitute while the next Resident Evil is in the making. [Aug 2011]
  3. Gamer.no
    Sep 16, 2011
    60
    The weapons feel great, it's fun to navigate the levels, and some of the boss fights are pretty fun. Shadows of the Damned has a comfortable base level, it just lacks the peaks to make it great.
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