I enjoy games that demand my undivided attention, that grip me with an intense story, and provide me with an emotional rollercoaster to ride as I attempt to quantify the reality of what’s happening on the screen. It’s one of the most incredible aspects of video games and offers a level of storytelling that you can’t find in other forms of entertainment. Sometimes, however, you need to let yourself fall into the realms of the nonsensical, where literally nothing is taken seriously as the protagonist utters more dad jokes than… well, your dad, and mindlessly destroys the funky-looking enemies blocking his path with a comedic brutality that can only be described as pun-ishing. That’s exactly what you’re getting with Shadow Warrior 3, and it’s a refreshingly simplistic escape from a world that only seems to be getting increasingly complicated.I’ve been in Lo Wang’s epically doomed world for around five hours now, and while I’ve got a general idea of what’s going on — a big dragon is destroying the world and Wang must stop the big dragon by reincarnating his dead friend that happens to be a god — the details are fairly foggy when I attempt to recall exactly what has been said and done. I do know that the game’s protagonist, Lo Wang, is taking the situation seriously, but his incessant use of one-liners and ability to get himself into the strangest of situations has completely marred the obviously desperate situation the world has found itself in… and I’m cool with that.Shadow Warrior 3, much like the previous games in the series, feels like the main story is only there as a way to give context to the craziness of the gameplay. That isn’t to say that it’s not been entertaining thus far, because it really has, but my attention has been completely absorbed in the gameplay and ridiculous comedy sketches. Of course, this is just my first impression of the game and is in no way reflective of the game as a whole, because I haven’t experienced it yet.Honestly, Shadow Warrior 3 absolutely shines like a beacon of light during the general gameplay and combat situations. As you make your way through the levels, you have short travel sequences that require you to wall run, slide, and use grappling hooks to slingshot yourself over steep drops and raging rivers. It’s pretty fast-paced and made even more satisfying when you mix it up with your ability to boost forward in true ninja style. These moments are short-lived and act as a brief reprieve before you’re thrust into the game’s most alluring feature: Combat.Shadow Warrior 3 is an absolute must-play for anyone that enjoys blowing the guts out of colourful enemies like giant chickens, slinky-esque things that giggle as they bounce all over the place, floating genie dudes, samurai warriors, and other wacky creatures from another world. Flying Wild Hog has once again given us the ultimate playground for pulling off over-the-top kill shots by using a range of weaponry from dual submachine guns to shuriken launchers. It’s an experience that will feel pretty familiar to anyone that has played the recent Doom games, and that means you’ll be aware of the satisfaction that comes with causing an incredible amount of chaos when outnumbered by enemies. Finishing moves play a role here as well, but as an added bonus you can rip a temporary weapon from your unwilling subject, such as punching a hole through the face of one particular stubby enemy and pulling out some kind of ice grenade. I’m not entirely sure of the practicality of such a move, but it’s badass, and the little bit of darkness inside of me screams in bloodlust-fuelled joy each and every time it happens.All-in-all I’m having a blast with the game so far, and even though I’ve only just started playing, I’m already blasting through the Shadow Warrior 3 achievements at a pretty good pace. In fact, I’ve already unlocked half of the achievements, so I can’t see it taking me very long to finish it. I don’t think it needs to be overly long, either… not really. Much like Wang’s quips, Shadow Warrior 3 feels like a game that will provide a ton of enjoyment in a very short burst before being put on the back burner, ready to be picked up again when you need a reprieve from the real-world and just want to riddle something with bullets.
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