Whenever a developer delves into new territory and creates game in a completely new genre, it can be hard for that game to obtain any sort of hold on the flash gaming world, especially if the developer’s first series was such a massive hit. But even more so when that series was the Boxhead games, by developer Sean Cooper. But this is the challenge that faces his new game Shadez: The Black Operations. To take down its big brother and show the world that it too should be taken seriously.

Where Boxhead had a basic ‘shoot the zombies and don’t die’ scenario (and lets be honest, who doesn’t like games like that), Shadez goes in a completely different direction. Called by its developer ‘a twist on the RTS genre’, Shadez puts the player into the slightly scuffed boots of a General in charge of an elite force of Mercenaries, whose job is to fight the wars other governments don’t want to fight. You start off with a set amount of money, and as you kill enemy units you gain more money to buy extra units and new weapons with. As the game progresses, the enemy units get decidedly harder to kill, not to mention greater in number.

On paper it seems like a perfectly good game, but whenever a developer attempts to break into a new genre, it can immediately put caution into the minds of its players. If Nintendo suddenly stopped making Mario games, and started making Shoot Em Ups, we’d all think something was up. Big time. This is no different for flash games, especially when the difference is so great.

For Shadez, the question of whether it will be able to take down its big brother is easy to answer. It cannot. The first few waves of enemies may be fun, but after 7 or 8 levels, the game play starts to become repetitive, and you’ll start to wonder what else there is to play. The weaponry is way too powerful, so whilst the first few levels may challenge your strategic initiative, by the time you get the artillery the war is well and truly won. A couple of well placed artillery strikes near the enemies HQ, and the map is cleared. No survivors.

But, you may shout, if the first level is so easy, why not choose a harder map. Well, the truth of the matter is they’re not a lot different to the first. A harder level just means a few extra bumps in the middle of the map, which rather than hindering your progression can actually provide some reasonable cover from enemy fire. In the end, the only difference is that it takes longer to get to the inevitable point where you buy the artillery strike, and then the enemy is doomed, his computer generated existence terminated.

Whilst the gameplay may not be superb, the graphics on Shadez are top notch, and the best bit of the whole game. The sounds are not exactly much to shout about, but together with the graphics they make a nice accompaniment to the game itself.

If you’re looking for a quick 15 minute game with excellent graphics that doesn’t exactly demand a lot attention, then Shadez is a brilliant game for you. However, if you looking for a more lengthy game, you’d perhaps do better choosing something else.

Tips

• Don’t continually spawn soldiers. For the first few levels you only need a few, and all you’ll be doing is wasting money.
• When the map ends and the timer starts, any soldiers or units created will count for the next level. This can be a good way to get a head start on your enemy.
• Have all your missiles and bombs made before you start the map. This will save time and give you a strategic advantage.
• Watch how much money you spend per level. There’s no point buying something if it leaves you with next to no cash for the next level.