Shape Shifter

[bartre]

I've been playing this game lately.
let me start with the good -
Parallax - this game has loads of it, and for the most part, it looks real nice
sound - i know, i'm praising the sound in a TG game, news flash, it is pleasing though, even the comedic voice acting.

now the bad -
control - my issues with the control revolve around 2 things, the fact that you "slide" of edges if you're not all the way on them, which can lead to some cheap deaths, and the fact that the hardest enemies are the bees, since they're nigh impossible to hit with a projectile weapon.
graphics - i'm really just commenting on one section with this, the forest.  the trees in the first layer of the background have huge uneven black borders that i can't not notice, it gets really distracting to me.

all in all, it's a fun sidescroller, but the issues with tiny enemies always bugs me.

what do the rest of you think of this one?

[Tatsujin]

Need me to play that game bit moar

[Sadler]

I really disliked this game the first time I played. It was one of those games that back in college myself and friends would cite as the quintessential shitty game. We never beat the first (spider) boss.

I picked this game up again maybe a year ago, figured I'd give it another shot. I actually really enjoyed it! I thought the graphics and sound were great and the game almost had a Castlevania feel to me as I went back and forth grinding for coins. I beat the first and second boss, got the cat shape and then went to the wrong area. I quit playing at that point because I thought the game was impossible. It wasn't until a month or two ago when I was watching a long play video that I realized I wasn't supposed to be where I gave up at. I haven't picked it up again, but I really should.

TLDR: I seriously misjudged this game, it's pretty awesome!

[bartre]

agreed, it's not without it's problems, but it's a pretty fun game.
i just keep getting cheap ko'd...

[Tatsujin]

Damn, now I will so totally fire that up tonite, lol

[incrediblehark]

just got this game the other day from senshi, it was a lot more fun this time around than the last time i played. but slipping off edges is really frustrating. the bees weren;t so bad for me, just falling to my death too many times.

[CrackTiger]

These should come in handy for anyone attempting to play through Shape Shifter:

https://www.superpcenginegrafx.net/img/shapeshiftermap.jpg

http://www.gamefaqs.com/turbocd/563793-shapeshifter-makai-eiyuuden/faqs/36655

[Tatsujin]

kewl, the map looks totally like those from the "new" style akuamjou dracula games.

[hoobs88]

I've always loved the voice acting in this game! I have gotten to the Shark Stage but my disc has scratches on it and I can't go any further due to the scratches

[Lilgrafx]

I liked the voice acting and graphics but god how can you get past the control?

[CrackTiger]

I liked the voice acting and graphics but god how can you get past the control?

Just don't try to play it as though it's some other game or a pre-defined genre. That's how everyone approached games earlier in the 8-bit generation. Once specific genres were established, everyone began expecting every game to mimic the major aspects of famous games. Shape Shifter is Shape Shifter, not The Legend of Metroidvania: A Super Mario to the Past.

[blueraven]

Shape Shifter is Shape Shifter, not The Legend of Metroidvania: A Super Mario to the Past.

ROFL Quoted for truth.

[nat]

The control in Shape Shifter isn't even bad.

The only form people really have trouble with is the cat, because he tends to slide off platforms if he's too close to the edge. Once you learn how to control the animal correctly, your problems disappear.

[Lilgrafx]

I liked the voice acting and graphics but god how can you get past the control?

Just don't try to play it as though it's some other game or a pre-defined genre. That's how everyone approached games earlier in the 8-bit generation. Once specific genres were established, everyone began expecting every game to mimic the major aspects of famous games. Shape Shifter is Shape Shifter, not The Legend of Metroidvania: A Super Mario to the Past.

Yeah I thinks it's because when I asked if it was any good people started comparing it to Castlevania which got me really excited, I'll give it another chance after I beat Bravoman

[nat]

I liked the voice acting and graphics but god how can you get past the control?

Just don't try to play it as though it's some other game or a pre-defined genre. That's how everyone approached games earlier in the 8-bit generation. Once specific genres were established, everyone began expecting every game to mimic the major aspects of famous games. Shape Shifter is Shape Shifter, not The Legend of Metroidvania: A Super Mario to the Past.

Yeah I thinks it's because when I asked if it was any good people started comparing it to Castlevania which got me really excited, I'll give it another chance after I beat Bravoman

Ha! Good luck, especially if you're going for a completion without using unlimited continues.

There are about 37 levels, and the later stages are insanely unfair and difficult.

[Lilgrafx]

I liked the voice acting and graphics but god how can you get past the control?

Just don't try to play it as though it's some other game or a pre-defined genre. That's how everyone approached games earlier in the 8-bit generation. Once specific genres were established, everyone began expecting every game to mimic the major aspects of famous games. Shape Shifter is Shape Shifter, not The Legend of Metroidvania: A Super Mario to the Past.

Yeah I thinks it's because when I asked if it was any good people started comparing it to Castlevania which got me really excited, I'll give it another chance after I beat Bravoman

Ha! Good luck, especially if you're going for a completion without using unlimited continues.

There are about 37 levels, and the later stages are insanely unfair and difficult.

Christ I though It had like 20 levels or so... looks like I'm looking up a code.

[nat]

Yeah, I was exaggerating, but either way, it's about 15 levels too long. It's over 20, that much is for sure.

[CrackTiger]

I liked the voice acting and graphics but god how can you get past the control?

Just don't try to play it as though it's some other game or a pre-defined genre. That's how everyone approached games earlier in the 8-bit generation. Once specific genres were established, everyone began expecting every game to mimic the major aspects of famous games. Shape Shifter is Shape Shifter, not The Legend of Metroidvania: A Super Mario to the Past.

Yeah I thinks it's because when I asked if it was any good people started comparing it to Castlevania which got me really excited, I'll give it another chance after I beat Bravoman

It's the general kind of game now labeled "Metroidvania", similar to the many other free-roaming side scrolling adventure games from the 8-bit era onward. You also shape-shift like SotN, although again, this predates that. Just approach it as you would Zelda II, Ys, Blood Gear, Bomberman, etc the first time and you'll get the hang of it in no time. You may not be doing flips into the air like Ecco, but it is very cool to growl as a Psionic Shark, blasting away everything in your path.

[Shrapnoid]

Hoobs, you should be able to get those scratches removed at certain video rental stores for just a few dollars.
There's one near me that does this with a machine for just 3.00

Shape Shifter... yeah it can be irritating at times but, over all it's a lot of fun if you like action/adventure side scrollers.
It's a little like Legendary Axe and a little like Rastan except that you get the power to turn in to other creatures every time you free one of the ancient wizards.

The falling off of the ledges thing will piss you off more times than you care to count.
It's worse when you're the Shadow Cat and even worse as the Rock Creature but, if you can stay calm, focused and power up in the right order, you'll eventually get through it.

I've only beaten it once and that was probably back in the mid '90s and as much fun as it can be, as nice as the graphics, music and voice acting is, this game will really test your patience.

[Tatsujin]

is shape shifter expensive as US version?

[Sadler]

is shape shifter expensive as US version?

Not the last time I looked. One of the cheaper US titles.

[bartre]

i think it was $15-$25 usually.
I got mine in a bundle for $40 with a couple other good games.

[Shrapnoid]

I think I got mine from TZD for about 30

[CrackTiger]

I paid $70 for mine and had to wait at least a couple months for the TurboDuo to be released to actually play it.

The Turbo version of Shapeshifter is pretty cheap.

[esteban]

I have yet to beat ShapeShifter. I got stumped/stuck at some point. I should follow Tat's lead and play it, but I'm too busy playing Mystic Formula.

I paid $70 for mine and had to wait at least a couple months for the TurboDuo to be released to actually play it.

The Turbo version of Shapeshifter is pretty cheap.

Ha! I think my copy has the UPC/TurboPoints (whatever they were called) cut out of the instruction manual.

Or maybe I'm confusing games. Senility.

[T2KFreeker]

Shape Shifter is an awesome game. Funny thing is that this is another one of those weird titles that most people either really like or really hate. I don't really see much middle ground in it on the opinion side of things.

[kiketonto]

These should come in handy for anyone attempting to play through Shape Shifter:
https://superpcenginegrafx.net/img/shapeshiftermap.jpg
http://www.gamefaqs.com/turbocd/563793-shapeshifter-makai-eiyuuden/faqs/36655

Thank you very much for the help. I got the japanese version and don't know where to go at the start!
Thank you!

[Shrapnoid]

These should come in handy for anyone attempting to play through Shape Shifter:
https://superpcenginegrafx.net/img/shapeshiftermap.jpg
http://www.gamefaqs.com/turbocd/563793-shapeshifter-makai-eiyuuden/faqs/36655

Thank you very much for the help. I got the japanese version and don't know where to go at the start!
Thank you!

I only use walkthroughs when I get absolutely stumped and try everything that I can imagine without success but, using one as a guide to play all of the way through a game takes the fun out of it.

[kiketonto]

I only use walkthroughs when I get absolutely stumped and try everything that I can imagine without success but, using one as a guide to play all of the way through a game takes the fun out of it.

Me too! In fact when I get crazy in a game going around and around and no finding nothing to do, stop playing for a couple of days and turn back to him founding the solution...probe it! it works, really.
by the way i found the map very useful

[Turbotracks]

I bought this game with my Duo back in the day.  I remember being blown away by the "transformation".  I played it the other day for the first time in years and I was still impressed with what the Turbo was doing back then.

[ParanoiaDragon]

I have yet to beat ShapeShifter. I got stumped/stuck at some point. I should follow Tat's lead and play it, but I'm too busy playing Mystic Formula.

I paid $70 for mine and had to wait at least a couple months for the TurboDuo to be released to actually play it.

The Turbo version of Shapeshifter is pretty cheap.

Ha! I think my copy has the UPC/TurboPoints (whatever they were called) cut out of the instruction manual.

Or maybe I'm confusing games. Senility.

I'm pretty certain that the Japanese version is much easier(not that it's easy).  I remember getting to the moon with not too much difficulty when I first played it in Japanese, but then a friend of mine overwrote my save file, thinking there was more then one save!  Anyhoo, when I finally beat it, it was the US version, & it was tough, & I cheated a bit.  I haven't tried playing the Jp version in awhile, but I think what makes it easier is that enemies take off less damage.  Actually, I think most of the menu's n' stuff are in english...could probably make a US version that's easier by just replacing the tracks, assuming that none of the events that point to the audio tracks have been tinkered with.

[esteban]

I have yet to beat ShapeShifter. I got stumped/stuck at some point. I should follow Tat's lead and play it, but I'm too busy playing Mystic Formula.

I paid $70 for mine and had to wait at least a couple months for the TurboDuo to be released to actually play it.

The Turbo version of Shapeshifter is pretty cheap.

Ha! I think my copy has the UPC/TurboPoints (whatever they were called) cut out of the instruction manual.

Or maybe I'm confusing games. Senility.

I'm pretty certain that the Japanese version is much easier(not that it's easy).  I remember getting to the moon with not too much difficulty when I first played it in Japanese, but then a friend of mine overwrote my save file, thinking there was more then one save!  Anyhoo, when I finally beat it, it was the US version, & it was tough, & I cheated a bit.  I haven't tried playing the Jp version in awhile, but I think what makes it easier is that enemies take off less damage.  Actually, I think most of the menu's n' stuff are in english...could probably make a US version that's easier by just replacing the tracks, assuming that none of the events that point to the audio tracks have been tinkered with.

Now I'm curious about the Japanese version.

Has anyone made a detailed side-by-side comparison? <--This is the sort of thing that CrackTiger always did an excellent job at (careful, detailed comparisons).

[ParanoiaDragon]

I agree, this is a BT thang

[Colossus1574]

(haven't been on the forums in ages, so here goes...)

Wow! Shapeshifter eh?

Can't remember too much on the game as i only played it after it was released, then traded it in after i finished it. Don't remember it being too hard. I kinda placed it in that medium...wasn't the greatest game but not the worst. I just find the art and design lacked a defining style...seemed like it couldn't make up it's mind what it wanted to be, hahaha, kinda fitting they called it Shapeshifter i guess 

I'm suprised nobody mentioned the music though  I found it the high point of the game for me. It had some atmospheric horror, some light action rock, and some mischievous medieval tunes if i'm right. Believe it or not, i remember dubbing all the tracks onto cassette before selling that game, heh.

[ParanoiaDragon]

I like the music in it, but I would've appreciated a few more tracks.  As it is, one of them is on there twice with some very slight tweaks.

[esteban]

Believe it or not, i remember dubbing all the tracks onto cassette before selling that game, heh.

I believe it, because I did the same thing.

[Colossus1574]

Believe it or not, i remember dubbing all the tracks onto cassette before selling that game, heh.

I believe it, because I did the same thing.

HAHAha, those were the 90's for ya my friend  I had Gates of Thunder blasting in my car's cassette deck many a times....

PDragon: ya, i believe you're talking about the 1st stage track...one had a slower paced intro to it, whereas the "tweaked" version was regular pace throughout?
Please don't make me pull out the cassette to confirm 

[esteban]

Believe it or not, i remember dubbing all the tracks onto cassette before selling that game, heh.

I believe it, because I did the same thing.

HAHAha, those were the 90's for ya my friend  I had Gates of Thunder blasting in my car's cassette deck many a times....

PDragon: ya, i believe you're talking about the 1st stage track...one had a slower paced intro to it, whereas the "tweaked" version was regular pace throughout?
Please don't make me pull out the cassette to confirm 

The best thing: sometimes (rarely, I suppose), there were Red Book tracks on the CD-ROM that were never used in the game. I love that! It's like finding a treasure .

[tggodfrey]

I had to go back to playing this after the original poster brought it up.  I had this game new and i remember it not being too easy.  This tiem around I am not finding it hard at all.  As long as you can stop is a safe spot to let your life force get recharged/filled by the eclipse, your good to go.  

I found the Cat Boss to be tricky and that took me a while to figure out, the merman is not hard but its time consuming.  The rest so far have been easy.  I am on Level 10.  the one thing I have done is played a level beating it regardless of how many lives i lost then starting back over and beating it without dying at all and saving that point.  That has been the time consuming part.

I have been using the map online so I havent had to deal with trying to figure out where the next entry point is for the higher levels.  I think 9 and 10 would have been tricky to find but flying around with the dragon, I would have found them eventually.  I do enjoy going back into levels to see if I missed anything.


Controls arent bad once you get used to them and understand the limits of each character.

Music I love, perhaps one of the best music sets.  I need to go find the red book to listen to that, I havent done that yet.

I wish the game had more weaponry and armor and perhaps more game play.  At this point it seems very short.

Terry

[CrackTiger]

Believe it or not, i remember dubbing all the tracks onto cassette before selling that game, heh.

I believe it, because I did the same thing.

HAHAha, those were the 90's for ya my friend  I had Gates of Thunder blasting in my car's cassette deck many a times....

PDragon: ya, i believe you're talking about the 1st stage track...one had a slower paced intro to it, whereas the "tweaked" version was regular pace throughout?
Please don't make me pull out the cassette to confirm 

The best thing: sometimes (rarely, I suppose), there were Red Book tracks on the CD-ROM that were never used in the game. I love that! It's like finding a treasure .

There are also hidden PSG tracks in games like Magical Chase and Kabukiden.

[esteban]

Believe it or not, i remember dubbing all the tracks onto cassette before selling that game, heh.

I believe it, because I did the same thing.

HAHAha, those were the 90's for ya my friend  I had Gates of Thunder blasting in my car's cassette deck many a times....

PDragon: ya, i believe you're talking about the 1st stage track...one had a slower paced intro to it, whereas the "tweaked" version was regular pace throughout?
Please don't make me pull out the cassette to confirm 

The best thing: sometimes (rarely, I suppose), there were Red Book tracks on the CD-ROM that were never used in the game. I love that! It's like finding a treasure .

There are also hidden PSG tracks in games like Magical Chase and Kabukiden.

Oh snap! I have to check that out. Thanks for the scoop .

[CrackTiger]

Oh snap! I have to check that out. Thanks for the scoop .

The extra PSG track in Magical Chase was used for the tutorial in the GBC version. Chances are it was planned for the PCE version but got cut.

The extra tracks for both games are in their hes rips.

[OldRover]

Hidden PSG tracks are cool. There's one in Neutopia as well... it was used in the sequel.

[esteban]

Hidden PSG tracks are cool. There's one in Neutopia as well... it was used in the sequel.

At least it didn't go to waste! But, I can't help but wish that they didn't recycle it for Neutopia 2...because then we would have a truly unique "unreleased" track.

Can you think of any games that have PSG tracks unused in the games themselves?

I would love to create a page with this info and the tunes .

Oh snap! I have to check that out. Thanks for the scoop .

The extra PSG track in Magical Chase was used for the tutorial in the GBC version. Chances are it was planned for the PCE version but got cut.

The extra tracks for both games are in their hes rips.

That's sounds totally plausible. I bet you're correct.

As I asked Rover...do you know of any other unused PSG tunes? I'd love to make a page+music for folks.

I suppose I should actually start a new thread for this. HA!

Valis II (and Lady Phantom) has some unused Red Book tracks. For Valis II, they are variations on the main theme (and they are great, IMHO!!!). For Lady Phantom, I think they have some random stuff that was either: unused (unfinished? not polished enough?) and/or from another game.

Actually, a few Telenet games appear to share random audio bits (I reckon the image/code shares stuff as well...Chris Covell will find some (more) for us one day ).

I've been meaning to find my old notes and re-listen to all the telenet stuff to document all of it.

"Shared Assets" is the boring, working title.

[ParanoiaDragon]

I believe Exile has an unused song.  I've beaten it a million times, & never heard the track.  I think it's track 17 or 18, I'm too lazy to check.  Also, Air Zonk has 1 track late in the sound test that I've never been able to hear in the game.  I've beaten that game a million times as well!  It has a slight "adventurey" sound to it, I was originally thinking of remaking it for N3.

[esteban]

I believe Exile has an unused song.  I've beaten it a million times, & never heard the track.  I think it's track 17 or 18, I'm too lazy to check.  Also, Air Zonk has 1 track late in the sound test that I've never been able to hear in the game.  I've beaten that game a million times as well!  It has a slight "adventurey" sound to it, I was originally thinking of remaking it for N3.

Thanks! Of course I can count on you to help me when it comes to questions about these tunes .

I gotta check out the tracks you mentioned, immediately!