Shadows: Awakening

{{Infobox video game | title = Shadows: Awakening | image = Shadows, Awakening.jpeg | collapsible = no | developer = Games Farm | publisher = Kalypso Media | series = ''Heretic Kingdoms'' | platforms = Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 | genre = Action role-playing | engine = Unity | director = Peter Nagy | writer = Peter Hornák | composer = Benny Oschmann | released = 17 August 2018 }}

'''''Shadows: Awakening''''' is an action role-playing game developed by Slovak studio Games Farm and published by Kalypso Media for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in August 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shadows: Awakening|url=https://www.kalypsomedia.com/us/shadows-awakening|access-date=30 January 2022|website=Kalypso US|language=en-GB|archive-date=31 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131010859/https://www.kalypsomedia.com/us/shadows-awakening|url-status=live}}</ref> It is both a remake and sequel to the 2014 game Shadows: Heretic Kingdoms and is the third installment of the Heretic Kingdoms series.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hunter|first=Miche|date=17 August 2018|title=Shadows: Awakening Announced, Isometric RPG For Consoles And PC|url=https://segmentnext.com/shadows-awakening-pc-consoles/|url-status=live|access-date=31 January 2022|archive-date=31 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131010857/https://segmentnext.com/shadows-awakening-pc-consoles/}}</ref>

== Gameplay == {{Sidebar}} ''Shadows: Awakening'' is played from an isometric perspective with a top-down camera angle. The game focuses on hack-and-slash combat and loot collection, encouraging the player to utilise its core mechanic of switching between the Devourer, a demon summoned from the Shadow Realm, and up to three playable characters.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Save 67% on Shadows: Awakening on Steam|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/585450/Shadows_Awakening/|access-date=30 January 2022|website=store.steampowered.com|language=en|archive-date=31 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131010901/https://store.steampowered.com/app/585450/Shadows_Awakening/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The game also contains puzzles and quests that players must complete in order to progress the story.<ref name="PSreview">{{Cite web|last=Adcock|first=Matt|date=3 September 2018|title=Review: Shadows: Awakening (PS4)|url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/shadows_awakening|access-date=30 January 2022|website=Push Square|language=en-GB|archive-date=31 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131010902/https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/shadows_awakening|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Plot == Like its predecessor, ''Shadows: Awakening'' takes place in the fantasy world of the Heretic Kingdoms. The game begins with the player being summoned from the Shadow Realm in the form of a demon named the Devourer by a mysterious hooded man, voiced by Tom Baker. The player is then given three characters to choose from; long-deceased heroes each with their own abilities and storyline, which the Devourer possesses.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Smoljic|first=Hrvoje|date=18 September 2018|title=Shadows: Awakening Review|url=https://www.keengamer.com/articles/reviews/shadows-awakening-review/|access-date=31 January 2022|website=KeenGamer|language=en-US|archive-date=31 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131010906/https://www.keengamer.com/articles/reviews/shadows-awakening-review/|url-status=live}}</ref> The hero, now brought back to life, is called upon to stop other demonic forces from taking over the Heretic Kingdoms in the form of the recently assassinated secret council Penta Nera.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Buy Shadows: Awakening {{!}} Xbox|url=https://www.xbox.com/en-CA/games/store/shadows-awakening/C1LMJJ64FV3J|access-date=31 January 2022|website=www.xbox.com|archive-date=31 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131010857/https://www.xbox.com/en-CA/games/store/shadows-awakening/C1LMJJ64FV3J|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Reception == The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic, with a critic score of 77/100.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shadows: Awakening |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/shadows-awakening/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |website=Metacritic |access-date=1 January 2023 |archive-date=23 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023090823/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/shadows-awakening |url-status=live }}</ref> Push Square also gave the game a rating of 7/10, stating "''Shadows: Awakening'' is a deep action RPG which brings a literal new dimension to the tried and tested ''Diablo'' format. It's a great choice for those looking for a meaty fantasy time-sink, and while it does stumble occasionally, it delivers many hours of engaging hack-'n'-slash gaming."<ref name="PSreview"/>

The game was ranked 94th in Metacritic's Best PC Video Games for 2018 list.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Best PC Video Games for 2018|url=https://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/score/metascore/year/pc/filtered?year_selected=2018|access-date=31 January 2022|website=Metacritic|archive-date=31 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131010859/https://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/score/metascore/year/pc/filtered?year_selected=2018|url-status=live}}</ref> It was nominated in the Technology category in the 2019 Central and Eastern European Game Awards (CEEGA), but lost to ''Space Engineers''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CEEGA – Central & Eastern European Game Awards|url=https://ceega.eu/#2019-nominees|access-date=31 January 2022|website=ceega.eu|archive-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304090026/https://ceega.eu/#2019-nominees|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Expansions == The game's first expansion, ''The Chromaton Chronicles'', was released on 26 October 2018 on Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. This expansion added new areas for the player to explore, as well as a new puppet for the player to summon.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vasile|first=Cosmin|date=24 November 2018|title=Shadows: Awakening – The Chromaton Chronicles DLC – Yay or Nay|url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/shadows-awakening-the-chromaton-chronicles-dlc-yay-or-nay-523963.shtml|access-date=31 January 2022|website=softpedia|language=english|archive-date=31 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131010857/https://news.softpedia.com/news/shadows-awakening-the-chromaton-chronicles-dlc-yay-or-nay-523963.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

The second expansion, entitled ''Necrophage's Curse'', was released on 13 December 2018 for the same platforms, and added new puzzles, quests, enemies and another new puppet.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vasile|first=Cosmin|date=24 December 2018|title=Shadows: Awakening – Necrophage's Curse DLC – Yay or Nay|url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/shadows-awakening-necrophage-s-curse-dlc-yay-or-nay-524379.shtml|access-date=31 January 2022|website=softpedia|archive-date=31 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131010859/https://news.softpedia.com/news/shadows-awakening-necrophage-s-curse-dlc-yay-or-nay-524379.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:2018 video games Category:Action role-playing video games Category:Fantasy video games Category:Games Farm games Category:Kalypso Media games Category:PlayStation 4 games Category:Video games about demons Category:Video games developed in Slovakia Category:Video games with isometric graphics Category:Windows games Category:Xbox One games