Shape Shifter

[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.

[Black Tiger]

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

[Black Tiger]

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:
http://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:
http://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.