Shadowman: Darque Legacy — Everything We Know

Blowfish Studios has buddied up with Valiant Entertainment to conceive Shadowman: Darque Legacy, an original action-horror tale set around the widely-acclaimed comic book superhero of the same name. And while the developer has yet to staple a release date to it, it has been confirmed that it'll be shaping up for a next-gen launch, i.e. Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PlayStation 5. It'll also be heading to PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

“It’s been an honour to breathe new life into such an iconic IP, with Shadowman’s first venture into gaming since the PlayStation 2 era,” said Clinton McCleary, the game director at Blowfish Studios. “We’re looking forward to ushering fans into the horrifying, punishing, but rewarding experience we’ve crafted. Stepping into the role of Shadowman, players will encounter a compelling cast of heroes and villains while taking their scythe to the most wretched denizens of the Deadside.”

So, with the introductory spiel out in the open, what more do you really need to know about the upcoming superhero chapter? Well, here's everything we've been able to collect based on the details provided by Blowfish and Valiant. Shadowman: Darque Legacy: what is it, exactly, and how will it tie in with Jim Shooter and Steve Englehart's Valiant Universe?

What Is Shadowman: Darque Legacy?

Shadowman: Darque Legacy is an upcoming action-horror game by Blowfish Studios. Unlike the first two games, which launched way back in 1999 and 2002, the latest iteration will feature a new hero—Jack Boniface, a novice Shadowman who's sworn to protect the living from the land of the dead. As such, the newly appointed hero will venture between Liveside and Deadside, two worlds parallel to one another, each housing the living and the dead, respectively.

According to Russel Brown, president of consumer products at Valiant Entertainment, Darque Legacy will be “a brand-new, out-of-continuity Shadowman story.” With that, you can rest assured that, in spite of the IP already having two video games, you needn't play them to understand the general flow of the next instalment.

Story

Darque Legacy, unlike the original Acclaim Comics that depicted Michael LeRoi's expeditions between the Liveside and Deadside, will focus its attention of Jack Boniface, a “novice” Shadowman whose purpose is to carry the family's legacy by becoming the next protector of the Liveside. Armed with the Shadow Loa—a voodoo power that grants its wielder a series of all-powerful abilities, you will venture forth and balance out the scales, halting the dead from passing over from the Deadside.

In Blowfish Studios' own words: “For centuries, the Boniface family has carried a dark legacy – the mantle of the Shadowman, walker between worlds, sworn to preserve the veil between life and death. Now, novice Shadowman Jack Boniface is thrust into the path of a growing evil that threatens everything his predecessors fought for.”

Gameplay

It's hard to paint a picture of what the gameplay will entail, given the lack of footage. That said, as this isn't the first of its kind, we do have a vague idea of how Darque Legacy will roll out; encased in a vessel built on mostly third-person gunfights and platforming. That's going by what the early Nintendo 64 chapters, mind you. With that in mind, you should definitely take this with a slight pinch of salt.

Going by what Blowfish Studios has said, Darque Legacy will let you “duel against a horrifying cast of enemies in challenging, visceral combat” by way of delivering “brutal and bloody finishers with a range of Shadowman weapons.” And not only that, but also gain exclusive access to a myriad of abilities and skills via a “RPG-lite character progression system.”

In addition to the combat which, granted, will take up the lion's share of the gameplay, Darque Legacy will also grant you the opportunity to “traverse vivid, detailed locations in the Liveside, and wade through their dark reflections in the hellish realm of the Deadside.”

Development

Blowfish Studios, a firm best known for its wide selection of independently developed and published puzzle and platform games, first announced its intention to revive Shadowman in the form of a video game on May 4, 2023. And while details surrounding the project were somewhat scarce, it was confirmed that the game would be heading to next-gen consoles and PC. It's believe that, with a little luck, it'll be coming out at some point in 2024.

Trailer

Yes, there is a trailer! Unfortunately, it doesn't give a great deal away as far as gameplay details go. That said, it does serve its purpose of escalating the hype ahead of its release. So, that's something. You can see it for yourself in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Shadowman: Darque Legacy will be coming to Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. A release date has yet to be announced. It also hasn't been said yet whether or not it'll be heading to ex-gen hardware, either. If by chance it does, then news is sure to spread over on Blowfish Studios' official site here. Just don't expect it to be at any point in the near future.

As it goes, there are no special editions of Shadowman: Darque Legacy to get your hands on. Having said that, it's still early days, so best watch this space while Blowfish Studios gradually work towards a concrete release date.

Planning on staying in the loop ahead of its eventual release? If so, then be sure to check in with the official social handle here for all the latest updates. Should anything major pop up at any point, we'll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Shadowman: Darque Legacy when it arrives on consoles and PC? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.