Shadow Complex cover art

Game entry

Shadow Complex

2009 · Metroidvania, Platformer, Shoot 'em up, Action-adventure, Puzzle · PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One · Microsoft Game Studios

After 96 duels settled by the community, Shadow Complex stands no. 1,656 among the best video games of all time on GameForever, with 1,526 ELO points and 40% of wins. Against Super Metroid, the opponent it meets most often, the tally stands at 0 wins to 4 losses in 4 duels. Its best standing outside the world ranking: no. 34 out of 95 (Metroidvania).

World rank

no. 1,656

ELO score

1,526

Wins

40%

Duels played

96

About Shadow Complex

Shadow Complex is presented in 2.5D format; the game world is fully three-dimensional, but the player can only move in two dimensions, simulating the environment of a classic side-scrolling video game. Enemies can, however, move in any direction, and auto-aim is utilized to allow the player to fire at nearby enemies or objects both inside and outside of the 2D plane. The player can use the right control stick to aim with a laser sight. Gameplay in Shadow Complex was inspired by Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The gameplay takes many cues from Metroid: the player can move freely throughout the expansive game world, defeating enemies with a variety of weapons, and as they overcome challenges, they gain new abilities and weapons which allow them to reach new areas.
The game rewards the player with experience points as they complete objectives and defeat enemies. The player can gain experience levels, each level boosting basic attributes of the character. These experience levels grant the player skills such as improved gunfire precision or damage resistance. Special rewards such as revealing the full map and unlimited special ammo are granted at specific levels. When the player starts a new game, they will lose all the weapons and items that they have acquired, but will keep the character's experience level and any benefits they have already received from that experience.
In addition to the main campaign, a number of challenge levels, called "Proving Grounds", are available, generally requiring the player to make it to the exit of a room using a limited set of items and health. Players are ranked based on time of completion and any scoring objectives when they complete the level. Scores and other statistics from the main campaign and the training group are tracked via online leaderboards.
A remastered version and port was announced during the 215 Game Awards, to be released for PS4, Xbox One, PC.

ELO progression

Score moved from 1,500 to 1,526 ELO points over the last 170 days.

Head-to-head

Direct record on the most played match-ups.

In the same genre

All Metroidvania games →
  1. 1 Hollow Knight: Silksong2025 · Metroidvania 1,963
  2. 12 Ori and the Will of the Wisps2020 · Metroidvania 1,926
  3. 31 Super Metroid1994 · Metroidvania 1,880
  4. 35 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night1997 · Metroidvania 1,878
  5. 51 Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow2003 · Metroidvania 1,865

Keep exploring

The standing

Where Shadow Complex ranks

The world rank mixes every family of games. Here is where Shadow Complex stands in each of the ones it belongs to. Its best standing, all families considered: 34 out of 95 (Metroidvania).

Where Shadow Complex ranks
Ranking Position Games competing
World ranking 1,656 5,035
Metroidvania 34 95
2000s 476 1,308
2009 59 160

The community

The debate

0 comments

Posting requires an account: log in or sign up.

The debate is yours to open.

Nobody has spoken up about this game yet. Say what it's worth, and the thread starts here.

See the whole Shadow Complex debate →

Vote on a duel