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Why did it suck? Monthly review: Shadow fight 4: Arena!
360 View2024-03-30
Oh boy, what an experience THIS game was. (Just some backstop here, ignore this paragraph if you want to read the review) I was really hopeful for it, I've been a fan of Shadow fight since 2's original launch. Shadow fight 2 was and still is the best Shadow fight game in the series, and probably the only one I suggest playing. When I heard, "Shadow fight 4 will be a pvp based game" I was STOKED, I was a decently good player and it was interesting to hear that I could 1v1 my friend!
Then the game launched, and it kind of sucked. I reached about top 10% (average team total 10%, getting top 8% with Ironclad and Lang)
Music Is great, still made by Lind Erebos. Not my favorite in the series but still decent. Lost its heavy guitar/rock aesthetic in favor for more ambiance/traditional music.
Art's great, looks visually stunning!
Gameplay is a huge flop however. If you like fighters, you'll HATE this game. This will probably be a lot of jargon for people that aren't into fighters heavily, sorry.
First, there's no counterplay for downed players. You have a regular getup, a roll in either direction, and a kick towards the player. No quick getup means you basically get a second free attack on a downed person, since the kick is SO SLOW it never comes out in time to protect you. So getting downed at low health is just a guaranteed suck.
Second, blocking is automatic. This means players automatically block ALL hits. This will make sense later.
Third, there's no counter throw. A throw happens, and you as the receiver can do nothing but get thrown then hit again because going down guarantees a free hit for the enemy.
These 3 points combine to create a game that actively works AGAINST aggressive playstyles, encouraging what's basically guile hurtling the game. 90% of mid-high ladder is players poking each other and getting chip damage until one side overextends, gets punished, and repeat this until one dies. In fact, it's so bad, corner camping is quite literally the best strategy in the game!
So what does Nekki do? Change fundamentals? Make the game better? No. Nekki adds new PREMIUM characters that have to be unlocked via basically a gacha system. Characters with block breaks, or more aggressive playstyles to counter defensive players. For the f2p players, this will likely never be achieved, and you're stuck playing at a disadvantage!
Oh, and don't forget they need to make a profit with you playing this. So they added cosmetics and skins that increase stats (the best skins just being a flat 5-10% stat buff) and add character levels that increase stats by ~20-50% per level. Traits, the things that enhance the special qualities of each character, are also locked behind a currency nearly impossible to find. Originally, they scaled with level, but Nekki realized they'd be able to milk more out of their playerbase making it separate.
Then, Nekki has the audacity to call it a "skill based arena fighter", like they don't blatantly make it P2W.
The PvE missions are also nearly impossible, dictated entirely by RNG Modifiers you can choose from between rounds. Can only play 5 until you need to refill, conveniently using their premium currency to do so. Because you can't wait a few HOURS, can you? Can Also watch ads to revive characters in the inevitable chance you get slain from fighting 10 enemies back to back with virtually no healing, and a boss at the end.
God I have so much rage for what could have been an amazing game, gone bad by terrible game design & corporate greed.
TL;DR: Graphics and music great, god awful gameplay, balance, and f2p experience.
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Comments
Shadow review by Ginisis
My first encounter with Shadow fight was when the first shadow fight was released, as a huge fighting game fan myself I spend many years loving the fighting game and play many tournaments with The king of fighters classic,
So seeing a fighting game that has been talked about everywhere shadow fight 1 got my attention I have to say it was a mediocre game with extreme balance issues, but now it's been years the shadow fight become a franchise with multiple entries but with that, the game is still a horrible fighting game,
Ginisis2K2023-02-03
Shadow fight is awesome it is unique even the gameplay isn't just a normal fighting game but it has a lot of ads (compared to non ad games) something that to me is ignorable but at the same time the game would be *so better* withouth it, another thing is that it's so slow to complete the chapters, playing championiships and this little "side quests" make the game a little repetitive. Basically, the game looks enjoyable and for some hours it is, but i can't play this game for more than one week withouth getting so tired of it.
Mathewss1K2022-12-29
The classic that stood up with time, And this reminds us of some good games we forgot existed
The only correct way to play Shadow Fight 2 is by playing Special Edition one. No grind, no ads, no micro transactions, and very normal difficulty you can enjoy, as how every game supposed to be.
Visually the game is so distinct there is no way you mistook this game for something else. No need amazing graphics to make a game that really timeless. Plus, this runs on anything as far as it has a display.
DZXTRICKS5402024-05-11
View desktop siteTapTap looks better
on the app 
i just have the same feeling as you bro, this game is just trash
2024-04-07