***CANNED GAME***

The Super Nintendo version of Shadow of the Beast was prefixed with the word “Super” to differentiate it from other ports, and… it was cancelled before release and never officially made it out. It was developed by IGS (Information Global Service) and an unfinished prototype of the game was leaked in 1993.

Some elements are different to the original, in terms of enemy positioning and behaviour, and also the layout of the levels. There are also a number of additions to the game that weren’t in the original. Overall this is MUCH more difficult than the Amiga original, but it’s likely that the game was not properly balanced by the developers before it was cancelled.

From the title screen you can choose to play the game at one of three different difficulty levels (novice, normal and “arcade”), and you can also choose how many continues you get (between five and none).

Super Shadow of the Beast still has the horrible ‘pan pipe’ music from the original, but overall the soundtrack is pretty good. Graphically, the game is also fairly decent. It’s a pity that the game is so ridiculously tough. There are numerous sections where it seems impossible to avoid damage, although there are some cheat codes floating around the internet that give you invulnerability. If you’re going to play this leaked prototype it’s probably best to use those to save yourself some frustration.

More: Shadow of the Beast on Wikipedia