$20 Game of the Week: Shadows of the Damned (Xbox 360, PS3)

With yesterday being Halloween, it’s only fitting that we have horror inspired $20GOTW. Produced by Goichi Suda (Killer 7, No More Heroes) and Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil, Devil May Cry), scored by Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill), and released by EA, Shadows of the Damned is a horror action-shooter that’s barely more than the sum of its parts, however, it’s still a decent game. Playing as demon hunter Garcia Hotspur, you return home to find your girlfriend Paula being kidnapped by a demon named Fleming. Along with your sidekick/weapon Johnson, you travel into hell which resembles a city slum. Players must battle their way through the game’s levels, and can upgrade Johnson to use his weapon abilities. There isn’t much to the game besides some interesting visuals. The gameplay is still solid, and it’s a fun waste of time. While SOTD may not be as psychological as Silent Hill or as esoteric as Killer 7, it’s still an excellent game from two of gaming’s most unique visionaries.