#SHADOW OF THE BEAST

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Japanese Advertisement 'Shadow Of The Beast' SEGA Mega Drive Support us on Patreon

[retrocgads]

USA 1993

[segadriven]

New video! We take a look at 5 more Mega Drive ports of games that started life on the Amiga!

[devileaterjaek]

[z2z-gaming-and-random-art-ai]

Back Cover to AI Art S3E17 - Shadow of the Beast

Older video games were notorious for back cover descriptions that have nothing to do with the game so let's see what a text-to-image generator makes of these descriptions. each episode of Back Cover to AI Art Season 3 will feature 4 ai art creations for each game.

1. Intro - 00:00 2. Back Cover and Text Description - 00:10 3. Creation 1 - 00:30 4. Creation 2 - 01:00 5. Creation 3 - 01:30 6. Creation 4 - 02:00 7. Outro – 02:30

Shadow of the Beast (PS4) Explore a world filled with beauty, brutality and mystery, to overthrow the malevolent tyrant Maletoth. Survive epic boss battle and tackle hordes of enemies.

🎮👹🧩🔫🎮👹🧩🔫🎮👹🧩🔫🎮👹🧩🔫🎮👹🧩🔫🎮👹🧩🔫

Shadow of the Beast is a remake of the Reflections Interactive developed 1989 title of the same name. This remake was developed by Heavy Spectrum Limited and published by Sony exclusively for the PS4.

The original Shadow of the Beast was an action puzzle platformer, this remake of the game adds in beat 'em up, quick time and shooter elements while keeping the originals 2d scrolling perspective.

🎮👹🧩🔫🎮👹🧩🔫🎮👹🧩🔫🎮👹🧩🔫🎮👹🧩🔫🎮👹🧩🔫

For more Back Cover to AI Art videos check out these playlists

Season 1 of Back Cover to AI Art https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJOZYl1h1CGhd82prEQGWAVxY3wuQlx3

Season 2 of Back Cover to AI Art https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJOZYl1h1CEdLNgql_n-7b20wZwo_yAD

Season 3 of Back Cover to AI Art https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJOZYl1h1CHAkMAVlNiJUFVkQMeFUeTX

[bangjiazheng]

Shadow of the Beast | Versions Comparison

[preciouspeppermintts]

I had a funny thought

[zer0sh00]

Did I do it right....Master...?

[cuppajj]

why is the clown demigod advertising. why is he using posters

(from the official teaser)

[boredtechnologist]

Psygnosis's 'Shadow of the Beast,' a side-scrolling action game, invites players into a dark and treacherous world, following the journey of Aarbron, a man transformed into a monstrous creature by the evil Maletoth. The game’s narrative and gameplay structure echo the archetypal 'Hero's Journey,' a theme extensively analyzed by Joseph Campbell and other historians of mythology. This analysis delves into the game's portrayal of this journey, exploring the dark and complex stages of Aarbron's quest for redemption and revenge, while incorporating historical insights on mythological narratives and their cultural significance.

The journey begins with the 'Call to Adventure,' a stage articulated by Joseph Campbell in his analysis of mythological narratives. In 'Shadow of the Beast,' Aarbron's journey commences with the discovery of his true identity and the knowledge of his parents' murder by Maletoth. This revelation serves as the catalyst for Aarbron's quest, propelling him into a dark and perilous journey to confront his past and seek revenge against the malevolent forces that have shaped his existence. Campbell's framework provides context for this initial stage, highlighting the universal nature of the hero’s call and its role in setting the stage for an epic, transformative journey.

The game's challenging gameplay reflects the trials Aarbron must endure, a core element of the Hero's Journey. The hostile environment and relentless enemies Aarbron encounters symbolize the hurdles faced by heroes in mythological narratives. Historians of mythology, such as Mircea Eliade, emphasize the significance of these trials as a means of testing and refining the hero, leading to personal transformation and enlightenment. In 'Shadow of the Beast,' these trials not only serve as gameplay mechanics but also deepen Aarbron's journey, emphasizing his progression from a creature of darkness to a figure capable of confronting and overcoming the evils that shaped him.

Aarbron's journey culminates in a climactic confrontation with Maletoth, echoing the Hero’s Journey's stage of atonement or 'Abyss.' This stage represents the hero's ultimate challenge, often involving a confrontation with the narrative's primary antagonist or a metaphorical representation of the hero's inner demons. Historians of mythology, such as Carl Jung, emphasize this stage's symbolic significance, viewing it as a moment of reconciliation or integration of the hero's darker aspects. In 'Shadow of the Beast,' Aarbron's battle with Maletoth serves as both a literal and symbolic confrontation, representing his struggle to reclaim his humanity and achieve closure.

Following the atonement, the Hero's Journey concludes with the stage of 'Return,' where the hero brings back knowledge or transformation to their community. In 'Shadow of the Beast,' this stage is less explicit but can be inferred through Aarbron's completion of his journey and the resolution of his story arc. The integration of his experiences mirrors the narrative structures of mythological heroes, reflecting a return to a new state of being. This stage emphasizes the cyclical nature of the Hero’s Journey, demonstrating how Aarbron's dark and treacherous quest contributes to his ultimate transformation and reintegration.

To conclude, 'Shadow of the Beast' is not merely a game about navigating a dark and treacherous world; it is a profound narrative that parallels the archetypal Hero's Journey. By exploring the perspectives of Campbell, Eliade, and Jung, the game's narrative and gameplay mechanics reveal a complex, transformative journey that delves into themes of identity, confrontation, and redemption. This analysis not only deepens our understanding of the game's story arc but also invites reflection on the broader cultural significance of the Hero's Journey, highlighting the enduring relevance of mythological narratives in modern media.

[sugaryinjection]

something for Christmas with the beasts before the corruption

[sallufix]

FAMILIARITY

Oughh parallels... I'm ill.....

[retrocgads]

UK 1998

[thegreatlock]

Dance , Dance , Dance , Da ... Ow ?

[moxferrer]

waiting for the moment when devs will show how his own epic cookie follower looks like... if he has any, of course

upd: candy apple cookie is here!!!

[brittle-doughie]

Since we had that story of Y/N Cookie wanting to keep the Ancients from going out and getting themselves killed up against Dark Enchantress Cookie, how about something similar with the Beasts?

>The Beasts get corrupted

>Y/N Cookie, not corrupted, tries to fight them, and fails

>cue them starting to die

>Beasts start panicking, completely overestimating how much Y/N Cookie could take

>Y/N Cookie, in their last moments, wishes they could’ve done more to help the Beasts not get corrupted before finally going

>Witch(es) stumble upon this scene, seeing their greatest cookie having been crumbled, along with whatever other carnage is around

>cue literally everything else

Being sealed away with the guilt of spilling jam from the cookie you all loved the most fresh on your mind? They are NOT gonna be doing so hot in there.

The Tale of the Forced Hand (The Five Beasts)

Witch’s Castle witches are pretty neat.

“The story begins when this very Silver Tree was only a small sapling…When the World of Desserts was at its infancy.”

“The Witches baked six Cookies to help them in their creation of the world.”

“..harness the radiance bestowed upon you for the betterment of this world…”

“And the six Cookies imbued with absolute powers walked Earthbread as almighty envoys of the Great Creators.”

“Knowledge, Volition, Compassion, Happiness, Change, and Solidarity.”

“The Dessert World bound by these Five Virtues was nothing short of paradise.”

Gingerbrave and Wizard Cookie chimed in with their responses.

“So those six Cookies were the original owners of the Soul Jam?”

“Huh…Those “Six Virtues” are different from those of the Soul Jams. There’s six of them, yet only five today…”

“The Virtue of Compassion is what held the other Virtues so closely together, cherishing each of them equally as much.”

“Alas, for they and the perfect age were short-lived. Absolute power begets nothing but arrogance. It inevitably corrupts its wielder, bringing them to the most tragic of ends…A fate even the Witches were unable to foresee.”

“One by one, the Five, once regarded as saviors of the Cookie World, gradually turned to Darkness. And thus, the Five Virtues, too, became distorted, twisted…reduced to Deceit, Apathy, Sloth, Destruction, and Silence….”

Strawberry Cookie shuddered in worry at the mere mention of the fallen virtues.

“Deceit, Apathy, Sloth, Destruction, and Silence..that sounds really scary…

“Wait, what about the Virtue of Compassion? They weren’t evil too, were they?”

“The Virtue of Compassion was able to prevail against their descent into Darkness with their Soul Jam, whereas now the Five Beasts, the apostles of evil, began their dark crusade…”

“The Witches asked of Compassion to protect the Cookie World from the Beast Cookies, lending them what strength they could give.”

“Compassion fought bravely against the Beasts, blocking each of their blows and resisting their sickly whispers…But it was only a matter of time before Compassion slowly began to whittle…”

———————————————————————

“Come on, snap out of you all! This isn’t what you guys once were!”

“What’s the big deal, silly willy~ There isn’t anything wrong with dabbling yourself in a little bit of Darkness, you should try it with us!”

“No! This isn’t you! You were all my best friends! Come to your senses! Now!”

“It pains me to see you still cling onto false hope that you’re different than the rest of us, darling~ Can you just let go and become who you really are? For me~?”

“I can’t…I cannot forsake my oath to protect the Cookie World. You all know that! Cookies that want happy lives, don’t you want that?”

“They will all meet the same fate in the end, reduced to nothing…the futility of all this should be clear to you…”

“As if! It isn’t pointless to live life the way you want it to! It’s how you spend it and make the most of it!”

“They will all crumble in the end, so why not give them a little push! You’re starting to really aggravate me now, Y/N Cookie!”

“I won’t let you hurt them and I don’t want to hurt you all any more then I have to! Please, don’t do this…”

“……”

“Your silence says everything I need to hear from you. I tried…but I will put a stop you no matter if I’m reduced to bits!”

———————————————————————

“Woah….What happened to them?”

“The Virtue of Compassion fought for as long as they were able, their dough slowly whittling away with every blow that dealt to them. The Beasts have overestimated just how durable their former friend was…and they perished right in the middle of the circle….”

———————————————————————

“Ok, ya silly goose! You can stand right back up now! You put on a great show, let us give you a round of applause!”

“Darling, we know we haven’t hit you too hard. You can join us and we can all be together once more as Beasts…”

“Hmm…they don’t seem to be responding to us…”

“Hey, Y/N Cookie. Quit being soft and get up already, you’re..starting to worry me a bit here, you know.”

Silent Salt Cookie knelt down and placed their thumb on your wrist…jumping back when they feel nothing…

“Ahaha! Okay! This isn’t funny anymore, you softie! You win! Stand up on your two feet now! I’ll make you if you don’t!”

“D-Darling? P-Please get up. Look, I’m sorry for what I said earlier, I-WE just really wanted you to join us…”

“Burning Spice Cookie, just how hard were your strikes to their dough?

“D-Don’t put any type of blame on me! All of you were just as rough with them as I was!”

“….!”

The Beast Cookies rushed to their fallen friend in the center, clearly distraught on their faces…

“Y/N Cookie, if you don’t stop playing jokes with me right now, I’ll never forgive you!”

“Darling! Wake up! I-I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have hit you so hard! Please wake up! You have to! Don’t leave me alone!”

“It was pointless to try and stop us, Y/N Cookie. Yet…my heart cries and aches, why did you have to resist….please, wake up…”

“God DAMN IT. I-I went too far, I shouldn’t have been so brutal with my swings and now look at you, your dough..damaged and ruined….because of me….”

“….Hmph….”

Silent Salt just lowered their head to look at the ground, feeling nothing but shame and remorse for what they had done…for what they all had done….

“I wish…I could’ve done more for you all…I wished…that I had loved all of you more…to not…end up like this...”

“…..I’m sorry…..”

———————————————————————

“The Witches couldn’t bear to see what fate had befallen their creations, made even more distraught at the loss of their greatest creation among them all…they punished the Beasts by sealing them away deep within this land…”

“And planted the seed of the Silver Tree to ensure their evil power never sees the light of day again. Right where the Virtue of Compassion was laid to rest, so that at least a part of them can live on….From then on, this land where the Beasts were put to sleep, was called Beast Yeast.”

“The Witches then gathered the last vestiges of power bestowed upon the Beasts, untouched by their corruption. They further cleansed, purified it, and in the end…Soul Jam was created. The purest Soul Jam was meant to be earned by Cookies who had proven themselves worthy.”

“All, but Compassion. For their purity simply could not be remade again. The Witch who personally baked Compassion had locked herself away in grief after the loss of her cookie and took the knowledge of the recipe and baking of Compassion with her…”

“So, there can never be another cookie like Compassion?”

“It’s what they say, but all life powder returns to the earth. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility that the Virtue of Compassion may return in some form, someday…”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Y/N Cookie, who was casually eating some food offered to them by the Faeries.

“…..What?”