The game looks great. Fighting characters are realistically modeled in 3D yet are rendered as silhouettes against a variety of moody backgrounds. I’m still not certain whether the choice for the pitch black foreground characters is laziness on the texture artist’s part or an artistic choice, I have my suspicions.
The animation and maneuvers are realistically depicted based from real to life combat forms and martial techniques. In addition to fists and feet, weapons animations are fluid and deadly. Impacts smack hard, and opponents who are struck by an attack flop around realistically taking advantage of a robust rag doll physics engine. It all looks very well animated and very shady.
The sound effects are a mixture of stock *thwacks*, *biffs*, and blade *shrings* that one would expect from such a title. Voices are limited to a series of incoherent grunts and “oofs”. Seeing how the story isn’t the selling point, there’s really no requirement for voice acting. Although there is a nice animated intro piece with high production values at the beginning of the game. The soundtrack is a forgettable fusion of traditional oriental instruments and driving electric guitar riffs attempting to build tension during battle. The OST is for sale and tries quite hard to sound badass. Although I found it un-annoying, it’s pretty forgettable and full of fried cheese wonton.
SHADOW FIGHT 4 GAMEPLAY
The gameplay is where a seasoned sensei might begin to see a dull edge upon Shadow Fight 4‘s flashy prop sword. The combat isn’t bad, it could use some serious refinement however. I like the pacing of the fights. They have a slow, methodical stand off or show down feel toward them. The combat relies more on timing and critical strikes as opposed to button mashing x77 hit combos and juggling opponents indefinitely into the stratosphere. In fact that strategy will get you quickly killed, patients wins the bouts. However, in close quarter situations, the pacing can become drastically frantic. I found it best to flip away from close proximity situations, although each weapon has different reach advantages, and are ideal to particular distances. You’re more or less forced to trade in your weapon after each level, so knowing each weapon’s strengths and weaknesses is paramount.
As the game starts you are presumptuously insulted by your new/old master as you return from whatever happened in the first Shadow Fight 4 Apk. You are given a quick tutorial of the basics, which are fairly bare-boned as far as having any resemblance to an RPG. There are a few modes: A Story, which pits you against a series of increasingly difficult guards in the hopes of defeating a demon boss. There is an uninspired sudden death style arena with waves of enemies, with minimal payout. There are also timed duels, meaning that upon completion of said duel, you have to wait for a timer to count down until engaging in the next duel. Lastly there is a tournament, where you more or less have to defeat a succession of increasingly difficult “characters” or more shadow fight 4 Mod Apk opponents. Kill one move on to the next, but level up first. It is all a very tedious grind unless you’re willing to more or less pay your whole way through with IAPs. Which brings us to the implemented currency system.
As expected, there are two currencies of course in this freemium title, and another even more despicable element, that I’ll get to. All work in coherence to ensure even the deftest of ninja will struggle to grapple hook his way over the eventual pay-wall/difficulty spike/death grind. Even the most dishonorable and wily ninja is going to have to line up at the gates and pay the toll like everybody else. I mean seriously, what Ninja pays to do anything? Aren’t they just supposed to just flip out, throw a smoke bomb, revealing a pile of corpses strewn about, or something? Anyway, we’ve got your standard coins along with the dreadfully shiny gems, both of which are always in short supply. As if that wasn’t enough, Shadow Fight 4 Android Game has decided to incorporate an energy bar that drains after each fight. After 4 fights, many of which you will often lose in later levels, you must pay to replenish your energy to continue losing. There is however another option, if you want to call it an “option”…
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