Shadow Warrior

Infobox VG
title = Shadow Warrior


caption=
developer = 3D Realms
publisher = GT Interactive
designer = Frank Maddin
Jim Norwood
engine = Build
released = May 13, 1997 (DOS) October 1, 1997 (Mac) April 1, 2005 (Source)
genre = First-person shooter
modes = Single player, Multiplayer
ratings = RSAC: V4: Wanton and Gratuitous Violence
ESRB: Mature (17+)
platforms = DOS, Mac
media = CD (1)
requirements = Intel Pentium CPU, 16MB RAM, 60MB Hard disk space, 256-color VGA, DOS 5.0, (Recommended) Sound Blaster or Compatible with MIDI support.
input = Keyboard, Joystick, and/or Mouse

Shadow Warrior, often known by its initials SW, is a first-person shooter computer game featuring Lo Wang, a master ninja assassin or "Shadow Warrior", developed by 3D Realms and released on May 13, 1997 by GT Interactive. "Shadow Warrior" was developed using Ken Silverman's Build engine and improved on 3D Realms' previous Build engine game, "Duke Nukem 3D". The game's improvements included introduction of true room-over-room situations, the use of voxels instead of sprites for weapons and usable inventory items, transparent water, climbable ladders, and assorted vehicles to drive (some armed with weapons). Although ultra-violent, the game emphasized tongue-in-cheek humor.

Two original novels featuring Lo Wang, "For Dead Eyes Only" and "You Only Die Twice", were published in the wake of the game's release.

On April 1 2005 3D Realms released the source code for "Shadow Warrior" under the GPL, which resulted in the first source port a day later on April 2 2005.

Gameplay

"Shadow Warrior" is a first-person shooter similar to Duke Nukem 3D; both use the Build engine. Players navigate the protagonist, Lo Wang, through three-dimensional environments called "levels". Throughout levels are enemies that attack Lo Wang, these are killed by the player using weapons such as a Katana. Powerful enemies called "bosses" are usually present at the end of a level. "Shadow Warrior" also features puzzles that must be solved to progress in a level.

Lo Wang's arsenal of weaponry includes Japanese-themed weapons such as Shurikens—which were "likely [to] be dropped in favor of [a] high tech fun weapon" in development [http://web.archive.org/web/19961023024832/3drealms.com/catalog/sw/ Shadow Warrior - Coming from 3D Realms ] ] —and a Katana. It also includes guns such as Uzis and the Eraser-inspired railgun. In addition, the head and heart of certain enemies can be used.

One of the outstanding features of the game are many taunts which Lo Wang yells at his defeated enemies. There are some loud spoken thoughts in certain situations too. Duke Nukem started this first with comments like: "Burn baby burn" or "Piece o cake". Lo Wang vocalizes himself a more sophisticated manner; he speaks in whole sentences, telling jokes and making context sensitive remarksFact|date=July 2008.

tory

The preface of "Shadow Warrior" is that the protagonist, Lo Wang, worked as a bodyguard for Zilla Enterprises, a conglomerate that had power over every major industry in Japan. However, this led to corruption, and Master Zilla - the president - planned to conquer Japan using creatures from the "dark side". In discovery of this, Lo Wang quit his job as a bodyguard. Master Zilla realized that not having a warrior as powerful as Lo Wang would be dangerous, and sent his creatures to battle Lo Wang.

Development

Development of "Shadow Warrior" began in early 1994 as "Shadow Warrior 3D", [ [http://www.ibiblio.org/GameBytes/issue21/flooks/shadow.html SHADOW WARRIOR by Apogee ] ] and preliminary screenshots were released with Hocus Pocus in May, 1994. George Broussard in 1996 stated: "We want Shadow Warrior to surpass Duke Nukem 3D in features and gameplay and that's a TALL order." [ [http://web.archive.org/web/19970402105727/www.gamecenter.com/Features/Peeks/Shadow/qanda3.html GAMECENTER.COM - features - Shadow Warrior - Q&A ] ] "Shadow Warrior" was published in North America by GT Interactive on May 13, 1997. [ [http://www.3drealms.com/sw/ 3D Realms Site: Shadow Warrior ] ] At E3 1997, an area in the GT Interactive booth was dedicated to "Shadow Warrior". [ [http://www.3drealms.com/gallery/e397/1.jpg.html The Shadow Warriors ] ] [ [http://www.3drealms.com/gallery/e397/14.jpg.html Playing Shadow Warrior ] ] [ [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GT+Interactive+to+unveil+strongest+lineup+in+company+history+at+E3-a019495773 GT Interactive to unveil strongest lineup in company history at E3. - Free Online Library ] ]

Add-ons

Three expansion packs to "Shadow Warrior" were started before its release, but disappointing sales compared to "Duke Nukem 3D" led the publishers to drop the projects.Fact|date=July 2007 "Twin Dragon" was released as a free download on July 4, 1998. It was created by Wylde Productions and Level Infinity, and features music by Castles Music Productions. "Deadly Kiss" from SillySoft remains unreleased, but screenshots were released in January, 1998. [ [http://www.3drealms.com/news/1998/01/shadow_warrior_8.html 3D Realms News: Shadow Warrior: Deadly Kiss ] ]

"Wanton Destruction" was created by Sunstorm Interactive and tested by 3D Realms, but was not released by the distributor. Charlie Wiederhold presented the four maps he created to 3D Realms, and was consequently hired as a level designer for "Duke Nukem Forever". With permission, he released the maps on March 22, 2004. On September 5, 2005, Anthony Campiti - former president of Sunstorm Interactive - notified 3D Realms by e-mail that he found the "Wanton Destruction" add-on, [http://www.3drealms.com/news/2005/09/wanton_destruction_for_shadow.htm] and it was released for free on September 9, 2005.

ource code

3D Realms released the source code of "Shadow Warrior" on April 1, 2005 under the GNU General Public License. Due to the timing of the source code release, some users initially believed that it was an April Fools joke. The first source port was released a day later on April 2, 2005. Some source ports bring "Shadow Warrior" to new Operating Systems like Linux.

Mac OS port

Mark Adams, formerly of Lion Entertainment, ported "Shadow Warrior" to Mac OS. This was announced in August 1997. Adams had previously worked on Duke Nukem 3D, also by 3D Realms. [ [http://www.gamespot.com/news/2467294.html?tag=result;title;6 More Mac Games - News at GameSpot ] ]

Merchandise

Two original novels featuring Lo Wang were published. "For Dead Eyes Only" was written by Dean Wesley Smith and "You Only Die Twice" by Ryan Hughes. A combination of "Duke Nukem 3D" and "Shadow Warrior" was published by GT Interactive in March 1998, titled "East Meets West". [ [http://www.gamespot.com/news/2462223.html?tag=result;title;4 Duke Teams With the Shadow - News at GameSpot ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.3drealms.com/sw/ Official "Shadow Warrior" website] at [http://www.3drealms.com 3DRealms.com]
* [http://icculus.org/shadowwarrior/ Icculus.org Linux Port]
* [http://jonof.edgenetwork.org/index.php?p=jfsw JonoF's Shadow Warrior Windows/Linux Port (JFSW)]
* [http://www.proasm.com/sw/swp.html Windows port by ProAsm based on JonoF's JFSW]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0234704/quotes Lo Wang quotes]
* [http://www.tbns.net/sw-central/index2.html Shadow Warrior Central]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/shadow-warrior Shadow Warrior at MobyGames]