Both machines were made by Williams in the mid 90s. Both are considered great games despite their relatively cheap price. Both are drainers. Both are based on movies that bombed.
Now that my neighbour hippochrome has a BSD, and therefore a game that can be compared with one of mine, it's time to decide which is better.
Which is the better game? Which keeps you coming back? Which would you take to a deserted island (that was level and had an outlet)?
I vote for The Shadow. It's just got more going on. It's go the battlefield (the best pinball toy ever), changeable ramps, and a funner theme. It is also Keanu free!
Have
Want
-The Getaway: High Speed II!! -Spider-Man -F-14 Tomcat -Guns N' Roses -Lord of the Rings -Twilight Zone
-Medieval Madness! -Indiana Jones (Williams) -Star Trek: The Next Generation -Champion Pub -Terminator 3 -Congo -Johnny Mnemonic -Tales of the Arabian Nights
Shadow, by a landslide. BSD = multiball, rinse, lather, repeat. Shadow has so much more going for it. Fantastic game with a challenging wizard mode, great modes, different MB, Vengeance, Super Vengeance, etc.
For me it's two hard to compare the two, the are pretty much on equal footing, bot amazing games.
Reason I say that is while I think Shadow has more to it, it has one damable flaw, Vengeance. The Vengeance mode is too easy to exploit almost to the point that there is no point in shooting anything else. I've been able to rack up 4 billion in points alone on Vengeance, it really is way to over powered. But the game itself is so varied, it's got allot of really interesting shots and a great modes. Overall a great game.
Now had you not been able to exploit Vengeance I would rank it higher then BSD from a players perspective, but BSD is one of the great player games. Tough, tight shots, yes it's shallow with very little do do, but this game is all about control. Once you lose control you lose your ball. Also it has one of the coolest toys ever in mist multiball, I still think it is awsome to watch that ball creep across the playfield.
If I had to take one to a deserted Island, I wouldn't care which one I ended up with, I could play both for hours and hours, a most own for any player.
Own Magic, Star Gazer, Batman Forever, STTNG, Mystery Castle (project)
Gone Fairy, Secret Service, Meteor x3, Title Fight, Eight Ball Deluxe, Bone Busters Inc., Seawitch, Starship Troopers, Strange Science, Arena, Hook, Pin*Bot x2, Time Warp, Motordome, Robocop, Black hole, Jurassic Park , Wipe-Out, Pinball Pro: Challenger I, Swords of Fury, Stargate, Party Zone
First, I bought BSD and sold it, then regretted selling it.
Then bought Shadow...one of my favorite machines!!!
Then found a 2nd BSD and bought it
I only have one of the 2 left: Shadow...
The Drake is tough as nails, but the one that gets my downstairs to plays a few games is Shadow. Starting Final Battle is VERY hard...finishing it is a another story by itself.
Wife loved BSD: for its looks, sounds and dots...but she doesn't play my machines...therefore >>> SOLD the 2nd Drake and I haven't looked back ever since.
Mes deux cennes,
Frosken
Current 'working' lineup: ( 2 ) Flipper Football, The Shadow
Gone but not forgotten: ( 22 ) City Slicker, Dirty Harry, CFTBL, Big Shot, Big Guns, Black Rose, Judge Dredd, Indianapolis 500, Big Game, BS: Dracula x 2, Beat the Clock, Fire!, F-14 Tomcat, Getaway, Breakshot, Cheetah, Meteor, El Dorado, Nitro Ground Shaker, Chexx Hockey, Slugfest
Well if we're talking about the movies there's no contest. The Shadow is a MEGA TURKEY! I couldn't even sit through the entire thing. But BSD is pretty good in spite of Keanu.
Playable Now: Centaur II, Doctor Who, High Speed. Playable Soon: Breakshot, Sorcerer Later: Flash, Genie, Seawitch Fondly remembered: Firepower
Pins: Tough call. I'd own either....but I own Drac, so I'll say Drac right now. Plus, my BSD (and all that don't have the promo plastics) is Keanu free Your Shadow is not Alec Baldwin free (can't say the same for Medvets ) Movies Drac: hands down! Best movie...and has my uncle Anthony in it... Shadow: fell asleep every time I tried to watch it....so, I'd say it pretty boring.