After not quite nailing the 2021 release date for the threequel to the Shadow Warrior series, Devolver Digital released a slapstick self-deprecating trailer confirming the new release date for Shadow Warrior 3 will be March 1. The trailer pokes fun at the company's inability to release the game sooner, but as reported in October, Devolver Digital wanted to make sure it developed the highest quality game possible.
The story in Shadow Warrior 3 takes place right after the end of the second game, pitting the ex-Yakuza mercenary Lo Wang, his arch-nemesis Orochi Zilla - listed in the trailer as a comedic foil along with a mischievous rodent - and an overpowered god-tier witch named Motoko, the last sorceress of the Kumo Brotherhood, against a "massive F'ing dragon" they allowed to escape from a multidimensional prison cell.
To stop the dragon - and the end of the world – players will need to rouse a power trapped inside an Ancient Artifact that was, of course, devoured by the dragon. Aside from Wang's trusty katana, players will also need Hoji’s mask, an heirloom of Wang's late and only friend, to pierce through the dragon’s impenetrable hide.
Devolver Digital has expanded the free-running movement system in Shadow Warrior 3 by giving players the ability to perform slick martial arts-infused Parkour movements via wall runs and double jumping through the air. In what has become a staple in many games, the developer has also added a grappling hook that allows players to swing Spider-Man style across the battlefield.
Based on the trailer, there are plenty of ways to effectively use the environment to perform kills and carry out finishing moves that let players claim a piece of their foe and unleash its powers back on the demonic hordes. And if that wasn't enough zaniness, the "mischievous rodent" is a raccoon named Tanuki, which according to Devolver Digital, is a guardian spirit summoned by Motoko that fights like a demon, smells like a dumpster, and eats absolutely everything.
Customization is still a key feature, but Devolver Digital has streamlined it to let players focus on the game instead of dealing with frustrating weapon stats and load-out screens. All the game's available weapons can be used in any combination, so players can take whatever combat approach suits their style, and the arenas have been specifically designed to encourage the mix and match gameplay approach.
Pre-ordering Shadow Warrior 3 will earn players some exclusive bonuses, including a Koromodako Katana skin along with the previous two Shadow Warrior games for free. Both games become immediately available to play after ordering, letting new players to the series catch up on Lo Wang’s adventures ahead of the March 1 release date.
Shadow Warrior 3 is being developed for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.