Shadow of the Beast II

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • Mega Drive
  • Mega-CD

ShadowOfTheBeastII MDTitleScreen.png

BeastII MCD US Title.png

Shadow of the Beast II
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Electronic Arts
Sega Mega-CD
Psygnosis
Sega Mega-CD
Victor Musical Industries (JP)
Developer:
Licensor: Psygnosis
Original system(s): Amiga
Developer(s) of original games: Reflections Interactive
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
Sound Images v1.2
Sega Mega-CD
RSS
Genre: Action[1][2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
$49.9549.95[4] 716401
Sega Mega Drive
EU
E107SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£39.9939.99[7][6] E107SMXI
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
BR
044330
Sega Mega-CD
JP
¥8,800 (9,064)8,800e[8] T-60034
Sega Mega-CD
US
T-113045
Videogame Rating Council: MA-13
Sega Mega-CD
EU
T-113045-50
ELSPA: 11+ OK
Sega Mega-CD
UK
£34.9934.99[10] T-113045-50
ELSPA: 11+ OK
Non-Sega versions

Shadow of the Beast II, subtitled Shadow of the Beast II: Jyushin no Jubaku (シャドー・オブ・ザ・ビーストII 獣神の呪縛) in Japan, is a 1992 action game by Psygnosis, originally released for the Amiga before being ported to the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Mega-CD, and also the Atari ST and FM-Towns computers. It is the sequel to the original Shadow of the Beast and the second game in the Shadow of the Beast trilogy (the third game was an Amiga exclusive, though it was also going to be released for the Mega Drive).

Story

At the end of the first game, you manage to free yourself from a life of serving the Beast Lord, only to find your baby sister has been kidnapped by Zelek to take your place as a Beast Messenger. Infuriated, you set out to find your sister and destroy Zelek.

Gameplay

The controls are simple: A jumps, B fires, C selects a weapon to fire. A flail replaces the punches from the first game. Items can be offered to certain characters by pausing the game, Gimmick sections from the first game have been removed. The game is now even more open-worlded and non-linear. Due to this openness, limited hints and the failed puzzles not killing the player, it's possible to get stuck easily.

TODO

Versions

  • Around a quarter of the screen of the Sega Mega Drive is covered by a black bar that serves no purpose. Reasons for this are unknow, although it can be assumed this is due to the Sega Mega Drive version running at a higher resolution than the Amiga original and the developers not compensation this.
  • The Sega Mega-CD and Sega Mega Drive version are largely different, with the Sega Mega-CD having more content, additional weapons, optimized graphics, slightly altered gameplay, cutscenes, extra dialogue options, more characters to interact with etc. It's generally considered to be the definite version of the game.
  • Compared to the Amiga original, both versions feature a different player sprite, with the Sega Mega-CD's hero being slightly armored, and the Sega Mega Drive's hero only wearing pants.
  • For the Sega Mega Drive version, cutscenes and background graphics were removed.

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Shadow of the Beast II Shadow of the Beast II
Japanese シャドー・オブ・ザ・ビーストII 獣神の呪縛 Shadow of the Beast II: Jyushin no Jubaku

Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Original Game: Reflections
  • MegaDrive Conversion: WJS Design
  • Programming: Rob Povey
  • Music and Sound Effects: Tony Williams
  • Graphics: Lee Carus Westcott, Nicky Carus Westcott
  • Bits N Pieces: Noel Hines
  • Others Involved: Wayne Smithson, John White, Mike Simpson
  • Thanks To: Leo Skirenko, Philip Watts

Mega-CD version

  • Amiga Original: Reflections
  • Sega Conversion By: Digital Developments
  • Written By: Tim Swan, Andrew Bond
  • Graphics: Andrew Bond, Lee Doyle
  • FM Towns Graphics: Nicky and Lee Carus Westcott
  • Sound Effects: Tim Swan, Kavin Collier
  • Music: Derek Austin, Jimmy Jaketh
  • Guitar: Ray Deefholts
  • Music Produced By: Derek Austin, Bob Butterworth
  • Recorded In: Roland RSS Stereo at Boxmead Studios UK
  • Character Speech By: Tim Bentinck
  • Quality Control: Pat Russell, Paul Euason, Graeme Love
  • Story and Documentation: Nick Wild
  • Project Management: John White, Mike Simpson, Tony Parkes, Steve Cain
Copyright 1994 Psygnosis Ltd
Source:
In-game credits
Shadow of the Beast II MCD credits.pdf
[13]

  • Japanese Translation: Yu Kakinomoto
  • Producer: Kazuo Nakamura
Source:
In-game credits (JP)
Shadow of the Beast II MCD JP credits.pdf
[14]


Magazine articles

Main article: Shadow of the Beast II/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #52: "November 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #16: "December/January 1993/1994" (1993-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1994-03: "March 1994" (1994-02-08)
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Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1994-06: "June 1994" (1994-05-07)
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Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1994-09: "September 1994" (1994-08-08)
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Print advert in Mega Power (UK) #12: "July 1994" (1994-06-23)
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Artwork

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
60 №6, p28-31
Sega Mega Drive
60
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[17]
Consoles + (FR)
65
[18]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
76
[7]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
65
[19]
Game Power (IT)
76
[20]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
88
[4]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
86
[21]
Joypad (FR) PAL
85
[22]
Joystick (FR) PAL
86
[23]
Mega (UK) PAL
70
[24]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
59
[25]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
35
[26]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
58
[27]
Player One (FR)
82
[28]
Play Time (DE) PAL
68
[29]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
51
[30]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
78
[31]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
78
[32]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
79
[33]
Sega Force (SE)
98
[34]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
68
[35]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
45
[36]
Supersonic (FR)
86
[37]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
54
[38]
Video Games (DE) PAL
27
[39]
Sega Mega Drive
68
Based on
25 reviews

Shadow of the Beast II

Mega Drive, US
SotB2 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
SotB2 md us cart.jpg
Cart
Shadow Of The Beast II MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
SotB2 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Shadow of the Beast II MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Shadow of the Beast II MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, SE rental (HENT black)
SotBII MD SE rental cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, SE rental (ALT - HENT orange?)

Mega Drive, BR
SotBII MD BR cover.jpg
Cover

Mega-CD version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
60
[40]
Consoles + (FR)
89
[41]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
34
[42]
Electronic Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
50
[43]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[44]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
40
[45]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
63
[46]
Joypad (HU)
82
[47]
Mega (UK) PAL
58
[9]
Mega Power (UK) PAL
83
[48]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
50
[49]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
0
[50]
Player One (FR)
70
[51]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
62
[12]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
51
[52]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
65
[53]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
59
[54]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
38
[55]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[56]
Sega Mega-CD
58
Based on
19 reviews

Shadow of the Beast II

Mega-CD, JP
SotB2 MCD JP Box Back.jpgSotB2 MCD JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
ShadowoftheBeastII MCD JP Spinecard.JPG
Spinecard
SotB2 MCD JP Disc.jpg
Disc
Mega-CD, US
SotB2 MCD US Box Back.jpgSotB2 MCD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
SotB2 MCD US Disc.jpg
Disc
Sotb2 mcd us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega-CD, EU
SotB2 MCD EU Box Back.jpgSotB2 MCD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
SotB2 MCD EU disc.jpg
Disc
Shodow of the Beast II MCD EU Manual.jpg
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Shadow of the Beast II/Technical information.

References

  1. File:SotB2 MCD JP Box Back.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/mcd/soft_licensee.html (Wayback Machine: 2019-06-10 17:56)
  3. Sega Visions, "November/December 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 93
  4. 4.0 4.1 GamePro, "March 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 48
  5. 5.0 5.1 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 11
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Sega Zone, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-28), page 8
  7. 7.0 7.1 Computer & Video Games, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-15), page 76
  8. Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1994" (JP; 1994-02-08), page 9
  9. 9.0 9.1 Mega, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-19), page 39
  10. 10.0 10.1 Mega Power, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-20), page 28
  11. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1994-07-25), page 17
  12. 12.0 12.1 Sega Magazine, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-06-16), page 78
  13. File:Shadow of the Beast II MCD credits.pdf
  14. File:Shadow of the Beast II MCD JP credits.pdf
  15. Game Players, "Vol. 6 No. 12 December 1993" (US; 1993-1x-xx), page 152
  16. GamePro, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 188
  17. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 203
  18. Consoles +, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 74
  19. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 87
  20. Game Power, "Gennaio 1993" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 54
  21. Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1993" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 46
  22. Joypad, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 98
  23. Joystick, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 237
  24. Mega, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-17), page 56
  25. MegaTech, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-20), page 40
  26. Magazina Igrushek, "1/1996" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 64
  27. Mean Machines Sega, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-28), page 58
  28. Player One, "Janvier/Février 1993" (FR; 1993-01-10), page 94
  29. Play Time, "6/93" (DE; 1993-05-05), page 106
  30. Sega Power, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-07), page 50
  31. Sega Pro, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-14), page 53
  32. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
  33. Sega Zone, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 44
  34. Sega Force, "2/93" (SE; 1993-03-18), page 8
  35. Sega Force, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-14), page 78
  36. Sega Force, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-06), page 75
  37. Supersonic, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 12
  38. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 154
  39. Video Games, "2/93" (DE; 1993-01-27), page 88
  40. Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1994" (JP; 1994-07-08), page 22
  41. Consoles +, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 130
  42. Computer & Video Games, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-15), page 67
  43. Electronic Entertainment, "July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 86
  44. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 34
  45. Famitsu, "1994-08-05" (JP; 1994-07-22), page 1
  46. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 3 March 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 56
  47. Joypad, "2/1994" (HU; 1994-xx-xx), page 12
  48. Mega Power, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-21), page 26
  49. MegaTech, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-19), page 62
  50. Next Generation, "April 1995" (US; 1995-03-21), page 96
  51. Player One, "Mars 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 114
  52. Sega Magazine, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-15), page 96
  53. Sega Power, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-04-28), page 36
  54. Sega Pro, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-21), page 56
  55. Sega Zone, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-xx), page 48
  56. VideoGames, "February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 80


Shadow of the Beast II

ShadowOfTheBeastII MDTitleScreen.png

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Sega Mega-CD
Demos: Beast II Demo Disc (1994)

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