[Sanek]

Well, after more than 10+ years of break I'm going to play Shadow Warrior again. I played it a couple of times when I was a kid but never had much interest in it. However, since then I become more interested in Build games in general, and when you guys started all that SW Beta/Deadly Kiss talk down here, I suddenly become intrested in SW and want to play it again.
I come to Steam looking for it and they have 2 versions of the game - SW Classic and SW Redux. Classic is free, while Redux cost money. I assume that Redux is better, since you can confige both keyboard and screen resolution + it have 2 official expansions for it. In Classic edition you just have the old DOS version of the game and worse graphics. I don't know what version I should have, so I came here and want to ask SW fans about it. I create a poll so you can vote for your favorite.

[Ninjakitty]

You can have both, but classic redux is probably far better (just make sure to go into the graphic settings and set the graphics to retro, otherwise it looks like poo )
Classic redux actually allows you to look up and down, rather than stretching pixels on the bottom or top (at least I think that's how the original did it), and it allows you to change the resolution and stuff, which is the main reason I like it.

[Hawke]

Depends on if you want to bother with DOS or not really, the two addons included in Classic Redux are completely free to download anyway so you are only losing the port itself, sometime in the (hopefully near) future Shadow Warrior will be getting another higher quality downloadable source port anyway which should make Classic Redux obsolete. Not that there is a great deal wrong with Classic Redux, it works a lot better than the current alternative ports.

[NY00123]

There's also the currently free offer from GOG.com, which includes the two expansions. In order to obtain the various SW prototype builds, though, you should get SW as available from here: http://store.steampo...r_Classic_1997/

Classic Redux is also available from GOG.com, but I have no idea about any difference from the Steam release (e.g., the availability of Steam Workshop and achievements).

[Hank]

I have both versions from GoG
One is called Shadow Warrior Classic Complete. It's free and includes all expansions, and works with the integrated DosBox.

The other is called Shadow Warrior Classsic Redux, and is as Ninjakitty described, and worth the $10.

As for the poll, I pass. Both versions are fun to play. If you are into pure games, get the free version, if you prefer a little better graphics, go with Redux.

[axl]

Hawke, on 02 September 2017 - 07:14 AM, said:

Depends on if you want to bother with DOS or not really, the two addons included in Classic Redux are completely free to download anyway so you are only losing the port itself, sometime in the (hopefully near) future Shadow Warrior will be getting another higher quality downloadable source port anyway which should make Classic Redux obsolete. Not that there is a great deal wrong with Classic Redux, it works a lot better than the current alternative ports.

Sorry dude, accidentally downvoted your post. And apparently i can't undo it.

[Ninjakitty]

axl, on 02 September 2017 - 01:03 PM, said:

Sorry dude, accidentally downvoted your post. And apparently i can't undo it.

IKR!!!!!
It really should be possible to undo it

[necroslut]

Even if you're going the DOSBox route, Redux includes the DOS version with the expansions preconfigured. As does the (now also free) GoG version. Be advised that Shadow Warrior seems to crash every now and then in DOSBox though.

It's a shame they never bothered to add multiplayer to redux or to fix the remaining bugs.

[Phredreeke]

A short summary

Original game in DOSBox:
-Most authentic
-Classic renderer
-Highest resolution is 800x600, no widescreen support
-Available for free on GOG and Steam

SW Redux
-Native code
-Easier to set up
-Polymost renderer
-Supports resolutions up to 2048x1536, including widescreen resolutions
-Some odd rendering bugs, such as mines appearing underground until triggered, and enemies missing shadows.

[Sanek]

necroslut, on 02 September 2017 - 02:08 PM, said:

It's a shame they never bothered to add multiplayer to redux or to fix the remaining bugs.

What kind of bugs it have?

[axl]

Phredreeke, on 03 September 2017 - 06:09 AM, said:

A short summary

Original game in DOSBox:
-Most authentic
-Classic renderer
-Highest resolution is 800x600, no widescreen support
-Available for free on GOG and Steam

SW Redux
-Native code
-Easier to set up
-Polymost renderer
-Supports resolutions up to 2048x1536, including widescreen resolutions
-Some odd rendering bugs, such as mines appearing underground until triggered, and enemies missing shadows.

Might I add that SW redux has, in some cases, mouse input lag issues.

[Sledgehammer]

Sanek, on 03 September 2017 - 07:20 AM, said:

What kind of bugs it have?

I forgot many of them, but I still do remember the most annoying one (for me at least) which still presents on Steam: on the second map when you load your saved game with a button (F9 by default I think) the game often crashes (so, the only way to avoid this is to load a save from the game menu).

Also, it's a shame that there is still no EDuke32-like port for SW (where did ICD go), I tend to drop Redux too often because it's not as good and I think I finally finished the main game (yeah, without addons) 4 months ago, although I consider Redux superior SW port at the moment. EDuke32 really spoiled me I guess.

[CryptKiller]

There are a few places where you can jump into level geometry and die. I remember finding one in the submarine level, jumping on one of the "computer machines" made me drop through the level geometry and die in a void, and saw one on vine where jumping into sink in another level had the same result. Also, someone on this forums mentioned mines being invisible until activated.

[Hendricks266]

Sledgehammer, on 03 September 2017 - 11:54 AM, said:

Also, it's a shame that there is still no EDuke32-like port for SW (where did ICD go)

His work was not going in the direction of an EDuke32-like port. It would have been like Doomsday: showing competence with hardware-accelerated graphics and absolutely nothing else.

[Phredreeke]

Sledgehammer, on 03 September 2017 - 11:54 AM, said:

I forgot many of them, but I still do remember the most annoying one (for me at least) which still presents on Steam: on the second map when you load your saved game with a button (F9 by default I think) the game often crashes (so, the only way to avoid this is to load a save from the game menu).

Also, it's a shame that there is still no EDuke32-like port for SW (where did ICD go), I tend to drop Redux too often because it's not as good and I think I finally finished the main game (yeah, without addons) 4 months ago, although I consider Redux superior SW port at the moment. EDuke32 really spoiled me I guess.

It would often crash for me if I reloaded a save with a Sumo, while also present in the current game

[Hendricks266]

Phredreeke, on 03 September 2017 - 01:13 PM, said:

It would often crash for me if I reloaded a save with a Sumo, while also present in the current game

That has also happened to me in SWP. It ruined the save and I had to use an older one.

[Sledgehammer]

Hendricks266, on 03 September 2017 - 12:56 PM, said:

His work was not going in the direction of an EDuke32-like port. It would have been like Doomsday: showing competence with hardware-accelerated graphics and absolutely nothing else.

Well, considering you guys are busy with Duke I mentioned his version of SW port instead (which is still based on EDuke32). It's still the closest thing since there is no alternative from your or someone else's side yet.

The closest of course doesn't mean perfect, there is definitely a room for improvement, the room isn't small for sure (especially because it's not finished yet), hence I said that I consider Redux the best SW port right now. So yeah, I still would like to see a proper and finished EWang32 (or how ever you going to call it when you get your hands on SW port).

[Hendricks266]

Sledgehammer, on 03 September 2017 - 01:51 PM, said:

Well, considering you guys are busy with Duke I mentioned his version of SW port instead (which is still based on EDuke32).

No, we're busy with Ion Maiden.

[Phredreeke]

Hendricks266, on 03 September 2017 - 01:17 PM, said:

That has also happened to me in SWP. It ruined the save and I had to use an older one.

Yeah, thankfully SW Redux doesn't have a habit of corrupting saves.

[leilei]

Phredreeke, on 03 September 2017 - 06:09 AM, said:

-Highest resolution is 800x600,

That's only due to SETMAIN. You can take a trip to editing the SW.CFG file. The limit is as high as the VBE gets you (DOSBox's internal S3 vbe is 1600x1200 when vmemsize is set to 4 on certain builds, for example)

axl, on 03 September 2017 - 07:51 AM, said:

Might I add that SW redux has, in some cases, mouse input lag issues.

Typical Vsync induced issues.

[Sanek]

Well, I added BOTH SW Classic and SW Redux to my Steam collection. I really can't play Classic edition because of the terrible mouse behavior and screen resolution. In Redux case I will got better gameplay expierence (and Steam achievements too!), while Classic edition will be reserved for the betas and stuff like that. Thanks everybody!

[Poorchop]

I got Redux not too long ago and I played through the first map a bunch of times. It's an extremely well done port in my opinion. I had a lot issues with mouse sensitivity and mouse look whether I was using DOSBox or SWP but Redux fixed those issues. It plays as smoothly as eduke. Polymost is a really nice bonus and you can still retain the classic feel by reverting to classic graphics and original textures.

It's 200% worth it to me. I've been enjoying Duke 3D too much lately but I'm really looking forward to Shadow Warrior Redux when I'm ready to take a break from Duke.

[Doom64hunter]

Classic, for the sole reason of actually having a working multiplayer mode.

[Phredreeke]

I think Redux is a good port but there are still a few fixes I'd like to see (support for skyboxes, shadows, proper rendering of mines)

[Ninjakitty]

Phredreeke, on 04 January 2018 - 09:50 AM, said:

I think Redux is a good port but there are still a few fixes I'd like to see (support for skyboxes, shadows, proper rendering of mines)

Don't forget adding back HRP support

[Zaxx]

Is there any way to play SW Redux with the old hud instead of the HD one?

Edit: Oh, it looks like simply deleting the fuck out of the "hires" folder does the job without messing up anything. Cool, no more stuttering when the HD fonts are being displayed!

[Avoozl]

Honestly I think Redux is pointless when you can already get the original game for free and use a source port such as SWP, but I have to use version 4.3.0 and an iso for the music. SWP has way more customization options than Redux.

[MetHy]

I really don't like the fact that Redux forces that opengl renderer.
Also the original plays perfectly fine using DOSbox, it's not like Blood which has higher requirements.

For me the only advantage for me is that Redux has better framerate for some rare cases, for instance the outdoor section of my map is quite shoddy in DOSbox but butter smooth in Redux and SWP. I've only had this problem with usermaps though.

Redux does come with the DOSbox versions of the game and the add-on pre-installed though, which is what I use.

[Phredreeke]

SWP also has a much narrower FOV compared to Redux

[Avoozl]

One thing I forgot to mention is SWP does have a sound issue on newer OS's, it needs to be put on compatibility for windows 7 in order to fix it. Also as I said earlier about using version 4.3.0, 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 have the save corruption and crash issue and it's best to use 4.3.0 instead, as I read elsewhere some time ago that the differences of the later versions are only very minor and don't affect gameplay whatsoever, so it's no real loss to go back to 4.3.0. I seem to recall someone else besides the original creator did make a new version of SWP after 4.3.2 but I am not so sure. Anyways the source code to this game was released long ago, if anyone else was inclined to they could make a new source port for the game I suppose.