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NEC TG-16/TE/TurboDuo => TG-16/TE/TurboDuo Discussion => Topic started by: NeoFreak on September 13, 2006, 04:37:30 AM

Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: NeoFreak on September 13, 2006, 04:37:30 AM
I was watching that VHS promo quicktime that was posted in another thread and was impressed with the look of shapeshifter...is it safe to say it plays along the lines of super metrioid but with an altered beast vibe? thanks.
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: runinruder on September 13, 2006, 04:59:07 AM
More like Legendary Axe meets Night Creatures.  There isn't as much exploring to do as there is in a game like Super Metroid.

Opinions on Shape Shifter are split.  Some people (like me) think it's fantastic, with gigantic bosses; cool music; beautiful graphics; challenging-but-fair gameplay; interesting plot progression, characters, enemies, and environments; and lots of creative ideas on display.  Other crybabies moan about it being too hard and having sloppy controls (they take some practice) and an unforgivable save system (this is admittedly bad; you can only save in one spot).  

You will have to replay some areas, and the controls will take some practice.  With those things in mind, if it still sounds appealing, then go for it.
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: GUTS on September 13, 2006, 07:50:57 AM
Shapeshifter rules, it was definitely hard as hell but completely worth it.  The graphics and levels were so creative and unique, it was awesome just getting to a new place and seeing what form you would take.
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: T2KFreeker on September 13, 2006, 11:01:25 AM
Nice game indeed. I have seen much worse, and better, although not much. Shape Shifter is a dificult game, but it is still an awesome experience for the Turbo. If you get it, it is worth it.
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: hoserman on September 13, 2006, 12:21:14 PM
Shapeshifter was and still is a very good game, I bought it new and tried and tried to beat it (it is very difficult). This gamewas pretty much the main reason I purchased the Magic Engine emulator  (save states) to finish the game. Get it....
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: Odonadon on September 13, 2006, 05:03:24 PM
I guess it all comes to personal opinion, and what type of gamer you are.  I found Shapeshifter to have good music and graphics, but horrible controls.  I gave up on it quickly and don't have a high opinion of it - poor controls in ANY video game is inexcusable.

OD
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: ParanoiaDragon on September 13, 2006, 07:59:59 PM
I've always had mixed emotions on it.  It has decen music, some great graphics, decent voice acting.  The controls are stinky in some ways, & it IS too hard for my liking.  It IS a Metroidvania however, so, it still appeals to me.  Even though it's not up to the Metroids or the Metroidesque Castlevania's.
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: Keranu on September 13, 2006, 09:59:36 PM
It's a stunning game. Definitely buy it if you are interested, it shouldn't cost you much at all.
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: Black Tiger on September 14, 2006, 03:19:41 PM
It a Super Metroid/Metroid type of game, kinda like how Battle Of Olympus, Faxanadu, Dragon's Curse/WBIII and Castlevania Symphony Of The Night are.

Like all of these kinds of games, it's a side scrolling adventure game where you're free to explore anywhere available at anytime, giving you a sense of freedom, although you're really stuck playing through in a fairly linear path, gathering power-ups along the way which grant you abilities to access new areas.

I made a Castlevania/Super Metroid style map for it to drive the point home:

http://superpcenginegrafx.com/img/shapeshiftermap.jpg
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: NeoFreak on September 14, 2006, 03:27:32 PM
cool, thanks for the comments guys. hope to get this game soon

Black Tiger, that map you made is awesome. I'll check it out if I get stuck...is there an in-game map also?
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: Black Tiger on September 14, 2006, 05:53:28 PM
Quote from: "NeoFreak"
cool, thanks for the comments guys. hope to get this game soon

Black Tiger, that map you made is awesome. I'll check it out if I get stuck...is there an in-game map also?


There isn't any kind of map in the game, but I made a decent walkthrough for it. The old version is up on GameFAQs. If you want I can e-mail you the newest revision if you need it.
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: T2KFreeker on September 14, 2006, 05:58:51 PM
Wow dude, that map is awesome. Someone needs to archive this stuff and make a book of it and sell it man. Hell, do it through cafe press if so. That would so rock. The map is cool indeed though.
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: ParanoiaDragon on September 15, 2006, 04:29:45 PM
That map is awesome.  Although, one thing, shouldn't the Clock Tower, or maybe it's the Outer Fortress, be more over to the right?  I think that tower that you see way early in the game, (when you are heading to the first boss) is the Clock Tower, I could be wrong :?
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: Black Tiger on September 19, 2006, 07:47:37 AM
Quote from: "ParanoiaDragon"
That map is awesome.  Although, one thing, shouldn't the Clock Tower, or maybe it's the Outer Fortress, be more over to the right?  I think that tower that you see way early in the game, (when you are heading to the first boss) is the Clock Tower, I could be wrong :?


They could be related, but I made everything proportionate by counting screens and kept the beginning of the "Night Sky" around where you actually enter it.

I could've put the Night Sky/Clock Tower area even further back, to line up the falling points with the Cliffs... but as-is, the Clock Tower would've been a lot closer to where you're talking about, if the 2nd boss's room didn't artificially force that whole side of the map over(it's one of the few overlapping areas).

But since all the floting map sections aren't really connected, I tried to place them in a way that would look best overall.
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: ParanoiaDragon on September 19, 2006, 02:16:11 PM
Ah, I see.  Yeah, I think I remember falling down the clock tower, & ending up in the first area, I could be wrong though.  Eitherway, you did a great job on that map!
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: Black Tiger on September 19, 2006, 03:34:12 PM
You do fall down across like, 50 screens of the game, but the Night Sky area that you fall from itself is only like 10 screens long.
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: AlexKidd on September 26, 2006, 10:25:14 PM
I started playing shape shifter again after browsing through this thread. I agree with everyone who thinks it's a great although having only one place to save makes it very difficult.

Anyway i'm already stuck and I need help. I'm in the cat temple trying to kill the seeker. The faq on gamefaqs(written by black tiger?) says to stay on one platform and repeatedly shoot at the eye. Well, this is what i've been doing and i'm getting my ass handed to me before I can do much damage to the eye(maybe 4 hits). Anyone have any further suggestions?
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: runinruder on September 27, 2006, 02:19:04 AM
Quote
Anyway i'm already stuck and I need help. I'm in the cat temple trying to kill the seeker. The faq on gamefaqs(written by black tiger?) says to stay on one platform and repeatedly shoot at the eye. Well, this is what i've been doing and i'm getting my ass handed to me before I can do much damage to the eye(maybe 4 hits). Anyone have any further suggestions?


Here's what I wrote in my old FAQ.  I don't know how accurate it is as I haven't played Shape Shifter in a while, but I hope it's helpful.

Quote
Lykos will automatically run to the center of the screen when the Seeker awakens.  Don't change back into human form just yet.  Leap on to the ledge to the left, then jump up on to the large platform right above you.  Leap on to one of the ledges on the left of the screen and jump all the way up to the top ledge.  After doing this as quickly as you possibly can (the Seeker will be shooting at you all the while), transform back into human form, and begin pelting the Eye with your arrows.  You should have a clear shot at it if you are standing on the top ledge.  You'll need to duck down each time you hit it, because the Eye will shoot out at you before returning to its place in the Seeker's head.  Don't wait for the Eye to take its place again after it shoots out; as soon as it shoots back over Lykos' head, stand up and fire an arrow. Duck back down again and repeat the process.  Eight shots with a fully powered bow will destroy the Seeker and release the second member of the Ring of Five, who will grant you the power to turn into the Psionic Shark.
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: Jammaniaclord on September 27, 2006, 09:40:04 AM
Quote from: "Odonadon"
I guess it all comes to personal opinion, and what type of gamer you are.  I found Shapeshifter to have good music and graphics, but horrible controls.  I gave up on it quickly and don't have a high opinion of it - poor controls in ANY video game is inexcusable.

OD



Agreed....controls were stiff and dumb as f*ck,a nd the last 3 bosses were near impossible to beat............but the graphics and cinema's were awesome as hell.
Title: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: Odonadon on September 27, 2006, 04:55:15 PM
Quote from: "Jammaniaclord"

Agreed....controls were stiff and dumb as f*ck,a nd the last 3 bosses were near impossible to beat............but the graphics and cinema's were awesome as hell.


Of course - wouldn't have bought it otherwise :)

OD
Title: Re: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: kid_rondeau on February 04, 2007, 06:46:28 AM
Shape Shifter's OK, especially if you know how to have fun with a not-so-fun game. But hey, it's Turbo, so love it or hate it, you should become familiar with it.

Just curious though: has anyone else discovered the phenomenon which allows you to jump in the air? It works like this:

1. Get a lot of crystals and the form of the Panther.
2. Jump up in the air.
3. At the height of your jump, press SEL to access the transformation screen.
4. Change into a different form, but:
5. WHILE MORPHING, hold button I to jump.
6. When the morph is complete, you will jump again from the apex of your previous jump.
7. Repeat until you reach your destination or you run out of crystals.

Using this method I often get level three panther, and I can free the last wizard in the Ring of Five and get to the last stage much quicker...once you get the gold dragon, you will be given the shark and rock troll automatically.

Try it!
Title: Re: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: Black Tiger on February 04, 2007, 01:51:38 PM
Shape Shifter's OK, especially if you know how to have fun with a not-so-fun game. But hey, it's Turbo, so love it or hate it, you should become familiar with it.

Just curious though: has anyone else discovered the phenomenon which allows you to jump in the air? It works like this:

1. Get a lot of crystals and the form of the Panther.
2. Jump up in the air.
3. At the height of your jump, press SEL to access the transformation screen.
4. Change into a different form, but:
5. WHILE MORPHING, hold button I to jump.
6. When the morph is complete, you will jump again from the apex of your previous jump.
7. Repeat until you reach your destination or you run out of crystals.

Using this method I often get level three panther, and I can free the last wizard in the Ring of Five and get to the last stage much quicker...once you get the gold dragon, you will be given the shark and rock troll automatically.

Try it!

I figured that trick out back in the day. It should be listed in my old walkthrough on GameFAQs.

I also managed to sneak into Tiger-Man's stage with Mouse-Man in Dragon's Curse and beat the boss. It does the same thing, you get the earlier morphs and skip most of the game.
Title: Re: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: Mr Bonk on February 12, 2007, 11:22:15 PM
I checked your faq, it was really helpful.  The other thing about the game was the killer music, I loved it.  Hopefully someone can put the OST for that soon. Does anyone have it?
Title: Re: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: Black Tiger on February 13, 2007, 03:31:16 AM
I checked your faq, it was really helpful.  The other thing about the game was the killer music, I loved it.  Hopefully someone can put the OST for that soon. Does anyone have it?

You can play the game disc in a CD player or rip the tracks to a computer.
Title: Re: shapeshifter opinions?
Post by: Mr Bonk on February 13, 2007, 04:01:07 PM
I am having such a hard time trying to do the rip from the CD, but somehow I'm unable to do it.  My computer is not letting me, I've tried Realplayer which sometimes works but not now. 

If you could do me the honors of ripping to mp3, I would really appreciate it.