Shadow Warrior

Shadow Warrior is a bold reimagining of the classic 3D Realms shooter from Flying Wild Hog — the independent developer behind Hard Reset — starring the legendary, quick-witted warrior Lo Wang. The reboot combines the brute force of overwhelming firepower with the elegant precision of a katana to annihilate the merciless armies of the shadow realm, transforming the original first-person shooter into something faster and more deeply choreographed.

The story is offbeat in the specific way the franchise has always been. Lo Wang is the corporate shogun of Zilla Enterprises, ordered by his deceitful employer to acquire a legendary blade of limitless power. Betrayed and left for dead, he learns the blade's connection to ancient gods from another realm preparing to push our world to the brink of destruction. The reluctant hero has to become legend through a masterful combination of gun, blade, magic and wit to uncover the truth behind the demonic invasion and banish evil back into the darkness.

The combat is the game's signature. Elegant swordplay lets you slice enemies apart with precisely targeted swings or unleash fluid combos and special attacks to cut through hordes of enemies with a single sweep. Combined with an upgradeable arsenal that includes stylish revolvers, quad-barrel shotguns, explosive-tipped crossbow bolts and laser-guided rocket launchers — each with several unique upgrades — the loadout encourages aggressive playstyle mixing.

Mystical powers complete the toolkit. Call upon ancient abilities to protect yourself, paralyze enemies, or use their own severed heads and still-beating hearts to bring them to their knees. The combination of melee, ranged and magical combat is fluid and exhilarating, and the visual style — flashy, blood-soaked, full of sharp pop-art energy — supports the gameplay perfectly. For fans of fast modern FPS games with real depth in the moment-to-moment combat, Shadow Warrior is one of the genre's most underrated 2010s entries.