Players assume the role of Shadow Man, an immortal voodoo warrior who wanders the Deadside, a mix of grand gothic architecture melded into a fleshy landscape. Seems that some of the otherworldly forces are determined to bring about Armageddon up on Earth and, naturally, it's up to Shadow Man to hunt down the undead culprits. The majority of the game focuses on negotiating physical challenges, such as jumping over ravines and swimming through caverns, defeating a variety of enemies, activating buttons and levers that allow access to new areas, and then repeating the process in a new level. Redundant? Not at all. Well-designed levels encourage players to keep driving through the game, and enemies inherently surprise the player when least expected. This is a long game, requiring up to 70 hours to complete, but those prepared for an intense gaming experience will enjoy the journey. --Eric Twelker

Pros:

• A truly massive game requiring 70 hours to complete
• Engrossing mystery storyline
• Well-designed, nonlinear levels

• Player occasionally gets stuck behind objects or in walls
• Enemy artificial intelligence sometimes glitchy