Description

"Shadow of the Beast" is a side-scrolling platformer originally developed by Reflections Interactive and first published by Psygnosis for the Amiga in 1989. The Atari Lynx version, adapted by Digital Developments and released by Atari Corporation in 1992, strived to maintain the essence and challenge of the original within the limitations of the handheld platform. In the game, players control Aarbron, a warrior cursed to serve as a beast, who embarks on a quest to overthrow the malevolent lord Maletoth. The game is renowned for its compelling otherworldly visuals and a haunting soundtrack, creating a unique atmospheric experience. It combines exploration with action, featuring combat against diverse creatures and solving puzzles to progress through the game's expansive and intricately designed levels.

Significantly, "Shadow of the Beast" on the Atari Lynx was one of the few titles that attempted to replicate an advanced home computer game on a less powerful handheld system at the time, highlighting Atari’s ambition to bring robust and complex gaming experiences to portable devices. The game showcased multi-layered parallax scrolling and a detailed color palette, which were technically impressive feats on the Lynx, pushing the console's graphical capabilities to its limits. Although the game faced some challenges in terms of control responsiveness and difficulty level compared to its home computer counterpart, it remained a memorable and ambitious title in the Lynx’s library, celebrated for its audacious art style and engrossing atmosphere.

Gameplay

Shadow of the Beast - Gameplay

Close

Title

Shadow of the Beast - Title

Close