For a game that consistently shows up on best-games-ever lists and fond retrospectives of mid-'90s classics, "Super Metroid" has surprisingly few direct imitators apart from the last decade's "Castlevania" games.

But now there's one more, and "Shadow Complex" is a darn good "Super Metroid" clone.

The hero of the game is Jason Fleming, who gets drawn into a struggle for survival when his outdoorsy date, Claire, is captured by soldiers from the sprawling base built into the caves she and Jason are exploring. What starts as a plan to rescue Claire turns into a full-on battle against a legion of goons.

The game ties into Orson Scott Card's novel "Empire," about a second American civil war. The villains here are the same as in the book, a radical leftist group called the Progressive Restoration. But politics aren't on display here – to a player going into "Shadow Complex" blind, the Restoration forces are just the latest in a long, long line of faceless video game goons.

Jason starts out with climbing tools for hanging onto walls, and he soon finds a pistol. As he explores the sprawling Restoration complex, he'll find more powerful guns as well as several special weapons useful for combat, exploration and opening up new passageways.

Access to new areas is carefully blocked off by color-coded barriers that can only be destroyed with the right weapon.

Jason also discovers a suit of high-tech armor and several attachments for it, such as double- and triple-jump modules, a grappling hook and a sound-barrier-shattering speed booster that allows him to run through barriers.

The base is also littered with modules that increase his ammo for each special weapon, as well as boosters for his health and armor, and several bars of gold and card keys that unlock secrets.

Aside from his equipment, Jason also levels up periodically, gaining boosts to his accuracy, precision and stamina. His empowerment is gradual but significant, and by the end of the game he's all but unstoppable.

Not that the Restoration won't try. Enemies are numerous, ranging from small robots and low-level soldiers to heavily armored shock troops and massive walking tanks.

The game looks great – though it plays in two dimensions, the environments are in 3-D and enemies frequently attack from the background.

PICKS AND PANS

Wolfenstein

3 stars

The "Wolfenstein" shooter series has been dormant (aside from an iPhone RPG) since 2003's "Enemy Territory." The series' latest revival brings back B.J. Blazkowicz to battle the Nazis and foil their supernatural plans. And this new "Wolfenstein" is a good-looking, solid shooter.

The Nazis have discovered a strange artifact in an archaeological dig outside Isenstadt, the town that serves as a hub for the game's levels. B.J. is able to steal the artifact and use it for himself, so aside from World War II-era weapons, he'll have access to several mystical powers – slowing down time and seeing into the alternate dimension of the Veil, for starters.

He'll also pick up some exotic experimental devices the Nazis have devised, and he can use money he finds and earns to upgrade his weapons in Isenstadt's black market.

The online component of the game offers players a choice of three character classes – soldier, medic or engineer – each of which can be upgraded with cash earned through play. The three classes have their own specialties, weapon sets and Veil powers to learn.

PC, also for Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3; $49.99 ($59.99 for consoles) • Age rating: Mature

Groovin' Blocks

3 stars

Pretty much a cross between the puzzle games "Columns" and "Lumines," "Groovin' Blocks" is an entertaining puzzle game that's easy to, well, groove to.

Vertical clusters of three blocks drop down from the top of the screen; players can change the blocks' order as desired to make groups of like colors, which will dissolve and provide points when there are enough of them connected.

But there's a trick to getting high scores: Pressing down will speed up the blocks' drop and set them in place instantly, and doing this in time with the music (and its visual indicators) will make the blocks worth more and increase the score multiplier. A level lasts only as long as its song does, and the tempo can change several times per track, so players must work fast and pay attention to the beat if they hope to rack up high scores.

"Groovin' Blocks" started out as a WiiWare offering; this version features new levels and songs.

Nintendo Wii; $19.99 • Age rating: Everyone

– Justin Hoeger