As a game collector, a boxed copy of Shadow Man (PC version) had been on my shelf many a time. It looked great, Im sure at the time I would enjoy it, but somehow it never materialised. Sold it to make space or when I was skint. Then bought it again, sold it again and so on. All the time I kept an poster or review I could find though.

Recently I have been working more on the Gamecare Project and wanted to explore the possibilities of an active gaming community, taking care of a single game, preferably managed by the developer. Somehow I landed on the Shadow Man Video Game Fan Club Page, which is manged by Tim Haywood, who (among other things) did the music for the game. I introduced myself and within a few hours I received about twenty reactions.

I knew the game was based on a comic book, so had to do some homework first. Managed to find some beautifully scanned copies of the first series here but learned the game was actually based on the second series, as Valiant (who produced the comics) was taken over by Acclaim (who produced the game). The 1997 comics were much darker and quite different in 'attitude', but I liked them. When I felt I was enough up to date (read half of both series), I started to prepare the inevitable.

After having so long given the game the boot, it was now time to boot the game I was given (PS version). Although I am a fan of HD remakes (Beyond Good & Evil anyone?), I wanted to start with the original, having a look at the Playstation version first.
It was hard and reminded me again of why I am a PC gamer, with so many more technical advancements to enjoy (sound, graphics, customised controls etc.).
So after completing the first level, I installed my Steam copy and...

...was impressed with how sharp (1080p HD) the company logos looked.

Although they can't be skipped.

I mean it looks like they were made yesterday. (So what does Teeside mean?)

Even the game logo looks great!

But hey, wait, what's with these lines? (enlarge image to see clearer)

Are they meant to be there? Is this the final design? Strange... comparing the right side with the left.. the left looks chopped.

The brief introduction story is clear and I very much like the voice actor.

The Main menu looks crisp, music (during level panning scene) is great, sound effects while navigating are perfect. But then again that Game logo, blurred and the strange cut.

And while the text in the menu looks super HD, the text in the sub menu is of a much lower resolution. Would there be any way to change that (with some modding)?

You can see from my amateurish efforts this is not the most difficult task in the world.

Because as much as I like the inventory screen (where the blurred letters work very well),

you cannot expect me to read this on 1080p, can you? I'm not an old man, my eyes are fine (and would like to keep them like that)

Love the loading screen, a bit small, when you compare it to the PS version for example.

but that could be a resolution thing of course.

yes, I am coming to that. You're right, it was a bit too elaborate.
Loved the opening sequence. But ..erm..what is that sound?

I think I can be critical. Because it is not only the bad things I point out you see.
Not being over critical. Or over scrutinous.

If I was, I would have said something like. You noticed the health bar in the bottom right corner? I think it is too big. It should be smaller. In fact, I think it is so big, you can even see the cracks starting to appear.

Anyway, I will stop here. Because I'm not a

Although there is definitely something wrong with it.

++ Creepy factor ++  All the dogs staring at the church. Not attacking you. Amazing.