Shadow of the Beast: More than just pretty parallax

There can be no talk of Shadow of the Beast without mentioning the mesmerising and much-praised parallax scrolling effect shown during its outdoor segments. The sheer number of planes—the clouds alone use a luxurious five, briefly obscuring the moon and any blimps (plural) that might be floating in the sky—on display here still eclipse those found in almost any game released after it, on any format. More than just a programmer’s flex, these shifting strips of art convey not just depth but also my warrior’s place within this strange land. This is a world that now has me in it, somewhere I run within, right through the middle—not a decorative stage set for my adventure, my avatar always the most prominent feature on the screen as the background slides away behind me. Multiple layers of grass and tumbling stone pass by in the foreground as I sprint along, confirming the world always extends in all directions, even those I can only ever catch a brief glimpse of. But which way do I run?…