Play Shadow of the Beast II Online

Summary

The cover of Shadow of the Beast II still bears the unmistakable hand of Roger Dean, and the game even arrived with a black T‑shirt showcasing his artwork – a collector’s touch that still makes me smile.

Tim Wright’s soundtrack pushes the series forward, using a rack‑mounted Korg M1/R to layer ethnic samples and real‑sampled electric guitars across 17 tracks, including a memorable title theme and a gritty game‑over tune.

Beyond the Genesis, the title migrated to the Atari ST and FM‑Towns, and Dragon magazine crowned both Shadow of the Beast games with a perfect five‑star rating in 1991, cementing their cult status.

Gameplay feels oddly alive: Tree Pygmies stalk the forest, goblins guard the Crystal Caverns, and a bottle of booze from the Karamoon oasis must be handed to a goblin jailer to free Aarbron. Only after trading a ring and parchment does Aarbron grant a spell strong enough to challenge Zelek.

Storyline

Shadow of the Beast II follows Aarbron, now trapped in a half‑beast form, as he roams the harsh lands of Karamoon. His quest is to rescue his sister, who was snatched from their mother’s cottage by Zelek, the dragon‑shaped Beast Mage who serves the dark lord Maletoth. Along the way Aarbron gains an ally in Barloom, a wise dragon who guides him toward his goal. The hero must eventually confront and defeat the evil dragon Ishran. Hostile Tree Pygmies stalk the forest paths, while goblins lurk in the Crystal Caverns, adding extra danger to his journey.