Ain’t nothing like the unreal thing

A year after Shadow of the Beast rewrote the definition of aesthetic, limitation-defying splendour, Ubi Soft gave Psygnosis a sprint for their money, unveiling the 16-bit-exclusive, jaw-dropping work of art, Unreal. In accord with Shadow of the Beast, it's set in a low-tech, sci-fi fantasy realm where swords, sorcery and feral monsters dictate the lifespan of its anxious inhabitants. Most significantly, where it deviates from its forebear is with the addition of third-person, 3D flying sequences. Whilst these blocky, low-resolution interludes can't hope to match the exquisitely illustrated landscapes showcased throughout the 2D platforming stages, they are nonetheless technically impressive given the era in which Unreal was released.