July 20, 2009 - Chair Entertainment's Shadow Complex is the most anticipated XBLA game since last year's Castle Crashers. No wonder it's been chosen by Microsoft to cap of the Summer of Arcade on August 19. At just 1200 MSP ($15), it's one of the best deals we've seen on the Live Marketplace.

To get you prepped for Shadow Complex's release, we're going in-depth with various aspects of the game over the next month. Today, we look at mobility, a crucial element of Shadow Complex.

At the start of Shadow Complex, Jason Flemming is about as mobile as a turtle. After finding his girlfriend's backpack, he can climb. That's the start of his ability to navigate the Restoration's compound. But it's just the beginning. As Jason progresses through the headquarters, he finds pieces of a suit, which enable him new abilities. At first, it's a double jump and later a triple jump. Later on, it gets a bit more interesting.

Learn about mobility in our new video feature.

A personal favorite of the IGN office is the Friction Dampener. It's super speed. Hold down the run button for a few seconds without losing your momentum (by running into objects) and the dampener kicks in, launching Flemming forward with speed that would make The Flash blush. While in a full run, enemies Jason runs through disintegrate on contact and most objects explode on impact. Jason moves so quickly, he can run across water, up walls and along ceilings. A few hidden items can only be acquired by running along the ceilings. You won't have to master the Friction Dampener to beat Shadow Complex, but those who do will find easier ways to progress from one end of the map to the other.

While the Friction Dampener is cool, the most useful tool for getting to hidden items is the Hook Shot. Found fairly late in his adventure, the grappling hook allows Jason to latch onto walls and ceilings and quickly ascend through the compound. The Hook Shot is going to save your ass from a fall into a fiery pit or allow you to get up a ventilation shaft at the top of a room. The Hook Shot can also be used on enemies. There are bruisers with impenetrable shields you can disarm with the grappling hook, leaving them exposed for a blast from your shotgun.

Shadow Complex features a considerable amount of combat, but the core gameplay is exploration. As such, these different ways of getting around are crucial to earning upgrades and discovering every secret within the Restoration's Compound. With each new ability earned, new areas become accessible and new opportunities open for tackling combat situations.

This is just a quick look at one piece of Shadow Complex. Come back throughout the next few weeks to learn more about this promising XBLA title. Next up: The Foam Gun.