Hoji Shadow Warrior

Hoji Shadow Warrior. This skin is meant to be hoji from shadow warrior. Uploaded by: author profile; 6 years ago; Player Techne Online page; Login to favorite; 0. Shadow Warrior – All Hoji Cutscenes - Duration: 31:20. Controller Kopf 26,187 views. Shadow warrior chapter 17 in full final boss (katana only) including cutscenes - Duration: 26:24. One cookie isn't even a saying, it's just the name of the company that made it. After the first few levels, Wang and Hoji's banter is worth the price of admission by itself. Lo Wang: Zilla wants this thing, Enra wants this thing. This sword is, apparently, the hotness. Hoji: I was into this sword. Hoji is a bit better companion probably because you might want to have a drink with him. The story tho was a little less interesting imo in Sw1 vs sw2 and part of that is due to the girl on sw2. Sw2 is something closer to a borderlands clone, and I still think the melee weapon. This is how Shadow Warrior signals its knowingly humourous brand of ultraviolence; in terms of tone it's just as crude and shallow as its predecessor, but thanks to Hoji it can at least be self-consciously crude and shallow and take the piss out of itself.

• Is Hoji In Shadow Warrior 2
• Shadow Warrior 2 Hoji

Shadow Warrior is a series of first-person shootervideo games that focuses on the exploits of Lo Wang, a modern ninja warrior who fights through hordes of demons. The original series is made up of one game, Shadow Warrior (1997), and two expansions Twin Dragon (1998), and Wanton Destruction (2005), and a reboot with two entries so far, Shadow Warrior (2013) and Shadow Warrior 2 (2016), and third, Shadow Warrior 3 announced. The series was originally developed by 3D Realms and published by GT Interactive; later, Flying Wild Hog and Devolver Digital took over development and publication, respectively.

Games[edit]

Shadow Warrior (1997)[edit]

Development of Shadow Warrior began in early 1994 as Shadow Warrior 3D by 3D Realms.^[1] Jim Norwood came up with the game idea, George Broussard designed the protagonist Lo Wang and Michael Wallin did some concept sketches.^[2] Two downloadable content packs, Twin Dragon and Wanton Destruction, were released in 1998 and 2005 respectively.^[3]

Shadow Warrior (2013)[edit]

In 2013, publisher Devolver Digital and Polish developer Flying Wild Hog announced that they were collaborating with each other to produce a follow-up to the first game. Shadow Warrior has a larger emphasis on the story. In the game, Lo Wang goes on a quest to locate the legendary Nobitsura Kage blade with a banished demon named Hoji.^[4] The game received genreally mixed reviews when it was released in September 2013 for Windows. The console versions for the game were released in October 2014.^[5]

Shadow Warrior 2 (2016)[edit]

Flying Wild Hog returned to develop a sequel to the 2013 video game. The game features a cooperative multiplayer mode, procedural generation, large and open levels and systems similar to that of a looter shooter. In the game, Lo Wang goes on a journey to save Kamiko, the daughter of a Yakaza leader, from ZillaCorps. The game received generally positive reviews when it was released in October 2016 for Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.^[6]

Shadow Warrior 3 (2021)[edit]

Shadow Warrior 3 is set to be released in 2021 for Windows. In the game, Lo Wang must work with his sidekick to defeat an ancient dragon that they have accidentally unleashed.^[7]

References[edit]

1. ^Cochrane, Nathan. 'SHADOW WARRIOR by Apogee'. ibiblio. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
2. ^Guy Smiley (April 6, 1997). 'Exclusive Interview With SW creator, George Broussard'. The Shuriken Times. Archived from the original on June 1, 1997. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
3. ^Matulef, Jeffery (July 5, 2017). 'The original Shadow Warrior is now free on GOG'. Eurogamer. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
4. ^Suszek, Mike (May 20, 2013). 'Reinventing Shadow Warrior for the modern era'. Engadget. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
5. ^'Shadow Warrior Reviews'. Metacritic. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
6. ^'Shadow Warrior 2 Critic Reviews for PC'. Metacritic. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
7. ^Chalk, Andy (July 11, 2020). 'Shadow Warrior 3 gameplay trailer reveals Lo Wang's new tricks and sidekick'. PC Gamer. Retrieved August 27, 2020.

External links[edit]

• Shadow Warrior series at MobyGames

Shadow Warrior is a first-person shooter video game developed by Polish independent development studio Flying Wild Hog and published by Devolver Digital for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It is a reboot of the 1997 game of the same name, developed by 3D Realms and published by GT Interactive, now licensed out by Devolver Digital, featuring the same character Lo Wang and a modern era setting with Asian mythology elements, all of which were redesigned with modern, full 3D graphics and new gameplay features, while also being a throwback to classic first-person shooters. The game was released on 26 September 2013 through digital distribution via Steam and GOG.com with a later retail release. On March 31, 2015 the game was released for both, OS X and Linux. Upon its release, the game was met with generally positive reviews from reviewers and critics. A sequel, Shadow Warrior 2, was released in 2016.

Gameplay[edit | edit source]

Shadow Warrior is a single-player first-person shooter where players take control of the modern ninja mercenary Lo Wang from a first-person perspective as he fights through levels of demonic hordes. Levels themselves are divided into chapters, each with Wang progressing through smaller stages to large open battle arenas that have side and hidden areas, occasionally allowing another route.

Wang is equipped with various firearms that require ammunition that can be found throughout stages. Firearms range from fictional versions of pistols, sub-machine guns, shotguns and rocket launchers, some of which can be dual-wielded. These also include secondary firing modes that allow players to alternate between different modes or rates of fire. Non-firearm weapons include crossbows that can fire both ordinary bolts or sticky grenades that can be remotely detonated at will. In addition to firearms, Wang's signature weapon is the katana, which is limited to close quarters combat unlike ranged firearms, but is also very effective against enemies. Different swings and strikes can be utilized depending on different computer key and mouse movement combinations, creating unique moves of varying effectiveness depending on the enemy type, with the ability slice up enemies into multiple pieces. For example, a well-timed and properly placed strike can decapitate and instantly take down a foe, or a large swing can strike multiple opponents at once. When using the katana, throwing shurikens can also be used as a secondary backup weapon. The katana can also be drawn to perform a quick strike when using firearms in closer quarters.

Enemies themselves vary in strength, size and attack pattern. Some enemies will aggressively attack head on while others use projectiles or other abilities to hinder Wang's effectiveness in combat. Certain enemies can also be hindered or only killed through the removal of certain limbs, as opposed to others than can be taken down with simpler direct measures. Certain enemies also occasionally drop items Wang can use including a demon heart that can kill or stun nearby enemies with one use and a demon head that can be used as to fire damaging flames at enemies. The game also features boss fights that are unique, only appearing at certain points in the game and much more formidable in combat, usually requiring key points of attack and minor puzzle elements within the stage.

Wang can upgrade his abilities and weapons with multiple forms of in-game currency for different aspects. 'Money' is gained by locating it throughout levels and is used to upgrade weaponry such as recoil laser sights, extra barrels and new fire modes. 'Karma' points are gained through how well the player performs in combat, like well-aimed gunshots and katana moves such as head-shots and limb removals (indicated briefly in-game) or large deposits hidden within stages. These points can be spent on new skills such as increasing healing and damage output, while also allowing new katana moves and luck bonuses. Finally there are 'Ki Crystals' that can also be found hidden in levels that allow Wang to learn new powers that can be used in combat, including shockwave attacks, health and damage properties and stunning or manipulating enemies. These new abilities are represented through tattoos on Wang's body. Wang's health is indicated through the in-game head-up display. After taking damage, health can be regained through finding health packs found throughout levels. However Wang can also use a power that heals him up.

Plot[edit | edit source]

Lo Wang (voiced by Jason Liebrecht) is an assassin who works for the powerful Japanese industrial magnate, Orochi Zilla. He is sent to purchase an ancient katana from a collector named Mizayaki for 2 million dollars. Mizayaki refuses the offer and Wang tries to take the sword by force, killing his men in the process. Wang is captured when Mizayaki reveals his bond with a demon named Hoji, and is caged, but escapes when demons attack the compound. Mizayaki is killed in the attack and Wang allies himself with Hoji in hopes of retrieving the sword. Hoji explains that the Nobitsura Kage, as the sword is called, is capable of slaying immortals and is anathema to demons. He also mentions that the Nobitsura Kage is actually three swords, and so Wang seeks them out to merge them into one.

Through the course of the game, Wang comes across 'Whisperers': magical golems which contain a memory (in place of a heart) that one of the Ancients, the immortals that rule the demons, chose to sequester away. The Ancients cannot touch the Nobitsura Kage as just touching the weapon can kill them, but since Whisperers aren't truly alive, they can touch the blade therefore acting as couriers. By slaying these golems, Wang absorbs their memories and learns of the game's back-story. In the Shadow Realm, the home realm of the demons, the rain is fueled by the weeping of Ameonna, the sister of Hoji and the other Ancients. Hoji and Ameonna had an incestuous affair, which made her happy and stopped the rain. This caused a disastrous drought, and when the affair was discovered by Enra, the ruler of the Shadow Realm, Hoji's other brothers, Gozu, Mezu, and Xing, separated the pair and skinned Hoji's face as punishment, forcing him to wear a mask. Ameonna accepted her responsibility to the Shadow Realm, which embittered Hoji against both her for her abandonment and Enra for his tyranny over the Ancients. He conspired to poison his sister and take revenge upon Enra, tricking Xing into delivering a tainted potion that put her into an eternal slumber and causing another drought, using this to draw Enra to the temple so that Xing could overthrow him and rule the Shadow Realm in his stead. But the plot was stopped by Mezu, the most loyal of the brothers to Enra. Xing was beheaded by Gozu on Enra's orders for his role in the plot, which did not kill him, and Hoji was banished to the mortal realm for his treachery. Enra later saw that only the sacrifice of an Ancient could revive Ameonna and save the Shadow Realm, and thus sought the Nobitsura Kage, the only thing in existence which can kill an Ancient. Enra brokered a deal with the mortal Zilla to find and assemble the sword, promising a cure for his paraplegia and the assistance of demons to conquer the Earth.

Is Hoji In Shadow Warrior 2

On his quest for the third piece of the sword, Wang, who originally sought the Nobitsura Kage to deliver to Zilla, turns against his boss, betraying the Kyokagami twins, fellow assassins who also work for Zilla, in order to help Hoji retrieve the final piece of the weapon. It's discovered that Zilla was holding a Whisperer hostage the whole time, and is in possession of the third piece of the sword. When Enra teleports Hoji back to the shadow realm, Wang uses the last Whisperer on earth to travel to the Shadow Realm and learns that Hoji, who originally created the Whisperers, regrets his role in plunging the Shadow Realm into misery and seeks to undo his wrong by creating another Whisperer, taking away his memory of Wang. Wang convinces him that Enra needs to be stopped, and so the two join forces once more, with Hoji seeking to redeem himself by killing Enra and using his blood to revive Ameonna. Upon their return to earth, Wang confronts Zilla, and cuts off his sword arm. As Wang reassembles the Nobitsura Kage to its full Ancient-killing power, Zilla escapes with the help of the Kyokagami twins.

With the full Nobitsura Kage in his hands, Wang returns to the Shadow Realm with Hoji to confront Enra. Wang is captured by Enra and stripped of the sword. Enra tries to sacrifice Hoji to revive Ameonna by means of using the original Whisperer that Hoji made, which like the others before, can handle the Nobitsura Kage without harm, but Hoji disarms the Whisperer and hands the sword back to Wang, forcing Enra to retreat. But by touching the Nobitsura Kage, Hoji dooms himself. Wang corners Enra after a tense battle with Xing's headless body, Enra allows Wang to slay him, since he is the only sacrificial candidate left. Ameonna awakens, and upon seeing the dead body of Hoji, she weeps, bringing rain back to the Shadow Realm.

Development[edit | edit source]

Devolver Digital planned to reboot the game with Flying Wild Hog as the developer in mind from the start, first approaching Scott Miller of 3D Realms about new developments. As with the developer's last game Hard Reset, according to studio writer Jan Bartkowicz the game was designed to reflect the 'old school design' with emphasis on fast-paced shooting against masses of enemies and no use of cover mechanics. Bartkowicz however also stated that they wanted the gameplay to also be new in other aspects, particularly the katana, not wanting it to be 'only used when you ran out of ammo' but rather make it an integral part of the gameplay. In regards to the new writing style and character redesign, Bartkowicz explained it as 'a much more clever sense of humor and wit, rather than relying on the old Duke Nukem or Shadow Warrior tropes, falling back on jokes about women and racial stereotyping,' instead being drawn to what they considered to be the 'rich setting' of the original game.

The game was first announced in May 2013 with a teaser trailer that showed the new graphics engine with the in-game cinematic following a trail of bodies left by Lo Wang before revealing the character of Hoji. The game was further shown off at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2013 in June, conveying the trademark humor and over the top violence, with designer Paweł Kowalewski comparing it to grindhouse film, calling it 'so violent it's funny'. Kowalewski stated that they wanted to keep the violence of the original that 'when we started doing our version, we knew that we had to still maintain that violence' while story writer Slawomir Uliasz said the redesigns were to create a newer experience such as Lo Wang who is depicted younger while the original was an old veteran, retaining the humor like oneliners 'to keep true to the original' while also not wanting it to be 'too serious' either. Both Kowalewski and Uliasz called themselves fans of the original, seeing it as 'an opportunity to create an oldschool game', before concluding that while new 'it's still Shadow Warrior'. A follow up trailer titled 'You've Got Wang' featured gameplay footage and emphasized the humor not in the teaser trailer, at the same time announcing the release date for 26 September 2013 along with pre-orders being made available on the applicable digital stores. 30 minutes of gameplay of the beta version was commentated by John Bain 15 August 2013, positively explaining the gameplay mechanics and differences and similarities with the original game.

On March 31, 2015, the final version of Shadow Warrior, 1.5.0, was ported to macOS and Linux by Knockout Games.

Release and downloadable content[edit | edit source]

The game was released on Steam as Shadow Warrior and on GOG.com as Shadow Warrior (2013), with pre-orders on both services. Steam sold two editions: a standard edition and a 'Special Edition' that included a digital art book, official soundtrack, and two in-game weapons based on other Devolver Digital published titles; a sledgehammer from Serious Sam 3 and a katana from Hotline Miami Me3 multiplayer console commands for weapons. in the same retro-pixelated graphics style of that game. Pre-ordering from Steam also gave players the 'Zilla Enterprises Z45 katana' in-game weapon and a 75% discount off Hard Reset or another Devolver Digital published game. If players already own a copy of Saints Row IV on Steam, an in-game weapon known as the 'Penetrator' from the series will also be made available. GOG.com also released the standard version yet with the pre-order bonus of a 'classic Shadow Warrior katana' in-game weapon and a digital copy of the site's Shadow Warrior Classic Complete release of the original game for free.

On 11 October 2013, a stand-alone mini-game known as Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior was released for free for owners of Shadow Warrior. It is a cross over with Viscera Cleanup Detail, a Steam Greenlight game developed by RuneStorm where players must clean up blood and body parts left after a violent slaughter aboard a space station. Like that game, the mini-game instead has the player cleaning up the mess in the aftermath of the early battle between Lo Wang and the Yakuza.

Shadow Warrior 2 Hoji

Shadow Warrior (1997)[edit]

Development of Shadow Warrior began in early 1994 as Shadow Warrior 3D by 3D Realms.^[1] Jim Norwood came up with the game idea, George Broussard designed the protagonist Lo Wang and Michael Wallin did some concept sketches.^[2] Two downloadable content packs, Twin Dragon and Wanton Destruction, were released in 1998 and 2005 respectively.^[3]

Shadow Warrior (2013)[edit]

In 2013, publisher Devolver Digital and Polish developer Flying Wild Hog announced that they were collaborating with each other to produce a follow-up to the first game. Shadow Warrior has a larger emphasis on the story. In the game, Lo Wang goes on a quest to locate the legendary Nobitsura Kage blade with a banished demon named Hoji.^[4] The game received genreally mixed reviews when it was released in September 2013 for Windows. The console versions for the game were released in October 2014.^[5]

Shadow Warrior 2 (2016)[edit]

Flying Wild Hog returned to develop a sequel to the 2013 video game. The game features a cooperative multiplayer mode, procedural generation, large and open levels and systems similar to that of a looter shooter. In the game, Lo Wang goes on a journey to save Kamiko, the daughter of a Yakaza leader, from ZillaCorps. The game received generally positive reviews when it was released in October 2016 for Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.^[6]

Shadow Warrior 3 (2021)[edit]

Shadow Warrior 3 is set to be released in 2021 for Windows. In the game, Lo Wang must work with his sidekick to defeat an ancient dragon that they have accidentally unleashed.^[7]

References[edit]

1. ^Cochrane, Nathan. 'SHADOW WARRIOR by Apogee'. ibiblio. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
2. ^Guy Smiley (April 6, 1997). 'Exclusive Interview With SW creator, George Broussard'. The Shuriken Times. Archived from the original on June 1, 1997. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
3. ^Matulef, Jeffery (July 5, 2017). 'The original Shadow Warrior is now free on GOG'. Eurogamer. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
4. ^Suszek, Mike (May 20, 2013). 'Reinventing Shadow Warrior for the modern era'. Engadget. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
5. ^'Shadow Warrior Reviews'. Metacritic. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
6. ^'Shadow Warrior 2 Critic Reviews for PC'. Metacritic. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
7. ^Chalk, Andy (July 11, 2020). 'Shadow Warrior 3 gameplay trailer reveals Lo Wang's new tricks and sidekick'. PC Gamer. Retrieved August 27, 2020.

External links[edit]

• Shadow Warrior series at MobyGames

Shadow Warrior is a first-person shooter video game developed by Polish independent development studio Flying Wild Hog and published by Devolver Digital for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It is a reboot of the 1997 game of the same name, developed by 3D Realms and published by GT Interactive, now licensed out by Devolver Digital, featuring the same character Lo Wang and a modern era setting with Asian mythology elements, all of which were redesigned with modern, full 3D graphics and new gameplay features, while also being a throwback to classic first-person shooters. The game was released on 26 September 2013 through digital distribution via Steam and GOG.com with a later retail release. On March 31, 2015 the game was released for both, OS X and Linux. Upon its release, the game was met with generally positive reviews from reviewers and critics. A sequel, Shadow Warrior 2, was released in 2016.

Gameplay[edit | edit source]

Shadow Warrior is a single-player first-person shooter where players take control of the modern ninja mercenary Lo Wang from a first-person perspective as he fights through levels of demonic hordes. Levels themselves are divided into chapters, each with Wang progressing through smaller stages to large open battle arenas that have side and hidden areas, occasionally allowing another route.

Wang is equipped with various firearms that require ammunition that can be found throughout stages. Firearms range from fictional versions of pistols, sub-machine guns, shotguns and rocket launchers, some of which can be dual-wielded. These also include secondary firing modes that allow players to alternate between different modes or rates of fire. Non-firearm weapons include crossbows that can fire both ordinary bolts or sticky grenades that can be remotely detonated at will. In addition to firearms, Wang's signature weapon is the katana, which is limited to close quarters combat unlike ranged firearms, but is also very effective against enemies. Different swings and strikes can be utilized depending on different computer key and mouse movement combinations, creating unique moves of varying effectiveness depending on the enemy type, with the ability slice up enemies into multiple pieces. For example, a well-timed and properly placed strike can decapitate and instantly take down a foe, or a large swing can strike multiple opponents at once. When using the katana, throwing shurikens can also be used as a secondary backup weapon. The katana can also be drawn to perform a quick strike when using firearms in closer quarters.

Enemies themselves vary in strength, size and attack pattern. Some enemies will aggressively attack head on while others use projectiles or other abilities to hinder Wang's effectiveness in combat. Certain enemies can also be hindered or only killed through the removal of certain limbs, as opposed to others than can be taken down with simpler direct measures. Certain enemies also occasionally drop items Wang can use including a demon heart that can kill or stun nearby enemies with one use and a demon head that can be used as to fire damaging flames at enemies. The game also features boss fights that are unique, only appearing at certain points in the game and much more formidable in combat, usually requiring key points of attack and minor puzzle elements within the stage.

Wang can upgrade his abilities and weapons with multiple forms of in-game currency for different aspects. 'Money' is gained by locating it throughout levels and is used to upgrade weaponry such as recoil laser sights, extra barrels and new fire modes. 'Karma' points are gained through how well the player performs in combat, like well-aimed gunshots and katana moves such as head-shots and limb removals (indicated briefly in-game) or large deposits hidden within stages. These points can be spent on new skills such as increasing healing and damage output, while also allowing new katana moves and luck bonuses. Finally there are 'Ki Crystals' that can also be found hidden in levels that allow Wang to learn new powers that can be used in combat, including shockwave attacks, health and damage properties and stunning or manipulating enemies. These new abilities are represented through tattoos on Wang's body. Wang's health is indicated through the in-game head-up display. After taking damage, health can be regained through finding health packs found throughout levels. However Wang can also use a power that heals him up.

Plot[edit | edit source]

Lo Wang (voiced by Jason Liebrecht) is an assassin who works for the powerful Japanese industrial magnate, Orochi Zilla. He is sent to purchase an ancient katana from a collector named Mizayaki for 2 million dollars. Mizayaki refuses the offer and Wang tries to take the sword by force, killing his men in the process. Wang is captured when Mizayaki reveals his bond with a demon named Hoji, and is caged, but escapes when demons attack the compound. Mizayaki is killed in the attack and Wang allies himself with Hoji in hopes of retrieving the sword. Hoji explains that the Nobitsura Kage, as the sword is called, is capable of slaying immortals and is anathema to demons. He also mentions that the Nobitsura Kage is actually three swords, and so Wang seeks them out to merge them into one.

Through the course of the game, Wang comes across 'Whisperers': magical golems which contain a memory (in place of a heart) that one of the Ancients, the immortals that rule the demons, chose to sequester away. The Ancients cannot touch the Nobitsura Kage as just touching the weapon can kill them, but since Whisperers aren't truly alive, they can touch the blade therefore acting as couriers. By slaying these golems, Wang absorbs their memories and learns of the game's back-story. In the Shadow Realm, the home realm of the demons, the rain is fueled by the weeping of Ameonna, the sister of Hoji and the other Ancients. Hoji and Ameonna had an incestuous affair, which made her happy and stopped the rain. This caused a disastrous drought, and when the affair was discovered by Enra, the ruler of the Shadow Realm, Hoji's other brothers, Gozu, Mezu, and Xing, separated the pair and skinned Hoji's face as punishment, forcing him to wear a mask. Ameonna accepted her responsibility to the Shadow Realm, which embittered Hoji against both her for her abandonment and Enra for his tyranny over the Ancients. He conspired to poison his sister and take revenge upon Enra, tricking Xing into delivering a tainted potion that put her into an eternal slumber and causing another drought, using this to draw Enra to the temple so that Xing could overthrow him and rule the Shadow Realm in his stead. But the plot was stopped by Mezu, the most loyal of the brothers to Enra. Xing was beheaded by Gozu on Enra's orders for his role in the plot, which did not kill him, and Hoji was banished to the mortal realm for his treachery. Enra later saw that only the sacrifice of an Ancient could revive Ameonna and save the Shadow Realm, and thus sought the Nobitsura Kage, the only thing in existence which can kill an Ancient. Enra brokered a deal with the mortal Zilla to find and assemble the sword, promising a cure for his paraplegia and the assistance of demons to conquer the Earth.

Is Hoji In Shadow Warrior 2

On his quest for the third piece of the sword, Wang, who originally sought the Nobitsura Kage to deliver to Zilla, turns against his boss, betraying the Kyokagami twins, fellow assassins who also work for Zilla, in order to help Hoji retrieve the final piece of the weapon. It's discovered that Zilla was holding a Whisperer hostage the whole time, and is in possession of the third piece of the sword. When Enra teleports Hoji back to the shadow realm, Wang uses the last Whisperer on earth to travel to the Shadow Realm and learns that Hoji, who originally created the Whisperers, regrets his role in plunging the Shadow Realm into misery and seeks to undo his wrong by creating another Whisperer, taking away his memory of Wang. Wang convinces him that Enra needs to be stopped, and so the two join forces once more, with Hoji seeking to redeem himself by killing Enra and using his blood to revive Ameonna. Upon their return to earth, Wang confronts Zilla, and cuts off his sword arm. As Wang reassembles the Nobitsura Kage to its full Ancient-killing power, Zilla escapes with the help of the Kyokagami twins.

With the full Nobitsura Kage in his hands, Wang returns to the Shadow Realm with Hoji to confront Enra. Wang is captured by Enra and stripped of the sword. Enra tries to sacrifice Hoji to revive Ameonna by means of using the original Whisperer that Hoji made, which like the others before, can handle the Nobitsura Kage without harm, but Hoji disarms the Whisperer and hands the sword back to Wang, forcing Enra to retreat. But by touching the Nobitsura Kage, Hoji dooms himself. Wang corners Enra after a tense battle with Xing's headless body, Enra allows Wang to slay him, since he is the only sacrificial candidate left. Ameonna awakens, and upon seeing the dead body of Hoji, she weeps, bringing rain back to the Shadow Realm.

Development[edit | edit source]

Devolver Digital planned to reboot the game with Flying Wild Hog as the developer in mind from the start, first approaching Scott Miller of 3D Realms about new developments. As with the developer's last game Hard Reset, according to studio writer Jan Bartkowicz the game was designed to reflect the 'old school design' with emphasis on fast-paced shooting against masses of enemies and no use of cover mechanics. Bartkowicz however also stated that they wanted the gameplay to also be new in other aspects, particularly the katana, not wanting it to be 'only used when you ran out of ammo' but rather make it an integral part of the gameplay. In regards to the new writing style and character redesign, Bartkowicz explained it as 'a much more clever sense of humor and wit, rather than relying on the old Duke Nukem or Shadow Warrior tropes, falling back on jokes about women and racial stereotyping,' instead being drawn to what they considered to be the 'rich setting' of the original game.

The game was first announced in May 2013 with a teaser trailer that showed the new graphics engine with the in-game cinematic following a trail of bodies left by Lo Wang before revealing the character of Hoji. The game was further shown off at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2013 in June, conveying the trademark humor and over the top violence, with designer Paweł Kowalewski comparing it to grindhouse film, calling it 'so violent it's funny'. Kowalewski stated that they wanted to keep the violence of the original that 'when we started doing our version, we knew that we had to still maintain that violence' while story writer Slawomir Uliasz said the redesigns were to create a newer experience such as Lo Wang who is depicted younger while the original was an old veteran, retaining the humor like oneliners 'to keep true to the original' while also not wanting it to be 'too serious' either. Both Kowalewski and Uliasz called themselves fans of the original, seeing it as 'an opportunity to create an oldschool game', before concluding that while new 'it's still Shadow Warrior'. A follow up trailer titled 'You've Got Wang' featured gameplay footage and emphasized the humor not in the teaser trailer, at the same time announcing the release date for 26 September 2013 along with pre-orders being made available on the applicable digital stores. 30 minutes of gameplay of the beta version was commentated by John Bain 15 August 2013, positively explaining the gameplay mechanics and differences and similarities with the original game.

On March 31, 2015, the final version of Shadow Warrior, 1.5.0, was ported to macOS and Linux by Knockout Games.

Release and downloadable content[edit | edit source]

The game was released on Steam as Shadow Warrior and on GOG.com as Shadow Warrior (2013), with pre-orders on both services. Steam sold two editions: a standard edition and a 'Special Edition' that included a digital art book, official soundtrack, and two in-game weapons based on other Devolver Digital published titles; a sledgehammer from Serious Sam 3 and a katana from Hotline Miami Me3 multiplayer console commands for weapons. in the same retro-pixelated graphics style of that game. Pre-ordering from Steam also gave players the 'Zilla Enterprises Z45 katana' in-game weapon and a 75% discount off Hard Reset or another Devolver Digital published game. If players already own a copy of Saints Row IV on Steam, an in-game weapon known as the 'Penetrator' from the series will also be made available. GOG.com also released the standard version yet with the pre-order bonus of a 'classic Shadow Warrior katana' in-game weapon and a digital copy of the site's Shadow Warrior Classic Complete release of the original game for free.

On 11 October 2013, a stand-alone mini-game known as Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior was released for free for owners of Shadow Warrior. It is a cross over with Viscera Cleanup Detail, a Steam Greenlight game developed by RuneStorm where players must clean up blood and body parts left after a violent slaughter aboard a space station. Like that game, the mini-game instead has the player cleaning up the mess in the aftermath of the early battle between Lo Wang and the Yakuza.

Shadow Warrior 2 Hoji