I had excessive hopes when beginning Shadow Labyrinth that the sport could be as weird as offered in its announcement trailer. I’m joyful to say it’s. However I’m sad to say it additionally will get caught in what ought to have been avoidable traps of the 2D motion/platformer style.
This occurs on the very begin, the place a complicated setup appears to don’t have anything to do with the occasions readily available. We all know that Pac-Man is concerned, however the sport begins you off in mech fight.
Then we get a glimpse of some hooded determine taking part in a sport on a handheld system. Then a prisoner someplace is rescued by a metallic-looking Pac-Man named PUCK (see what they did there, historians?).
We’re that prisoner, known as Swordsman No. 8 (I ponder what occurred to the earlier seven). PUCK takes us to a sword we will’t use, however that’s simply solved by the floating robotic arm that attaches itself to our physique. Lastly, our journey begins. To what finish? All we all know is that PUCK has an agenda relating to the state of this planet and our positioning on it, and he’s hell-bent on executing that agenda.
In fact, extra is revealed as you play alongside, however the disjointed narrative by no means actually picks up constant momentum. I completely love that the builders have introduced a lot into the Pac-Man world, but it surely might have been offered in a extra compelling method.
Nonetheless, apart from studying how Pac-Man met the Ms., storytelling was by no means actually the collection’ forte. Gameplay was what mattered, and Shadow Labyrinth certain does change that up. Gone are the mazes and ghosts, for probably the most half, changed by Castlevania-like caverns and enemies of all sizes and styles. Swordsman No. 8 will run, soar, dodge, and struggle his manner by means of quite a few environments in typical 2D-action trend, and all of it works OK. The environments are extra linear than followers of the style might like, maybe as a result of enemies are fairly tough at first. It looks as if the sport is much less about exploring and extra about dying, leveling up, and changing into robust sufficient to advance.
Leveling up is dealt with at checkpoints and retailers the place you should buy and craft key upgrades.
It’s possible you’ll not have the forex to purchase them straight away, however objects you purchase down the street stay obtainable after you die and return to a checkpoint. Sadly, not all checkpoints help you buy upgrades. Worse, they’re actually unfold out; replaying areas isn’t rewarding in Shadow Labyrinth, it’s mandated. Worse nonetheless, not the entire boss battles have checkpoints proper earlier than them. If you’re defeated by one, it could take some time to get again to it.
That’s the kind of factor that can immediate me to simply stop taking part in, therefore the delay on this evaluation.
There are some distinctive parts to Shadow Labyrinth that can preserve gamers going. First is using PUCK on what the sport calls D-lines. These enable PUCK to develop into Pac-Man correct, attaching himself to rails he can slide alongside to munch on power pellets, defeat enemies, and attain in any other case inaccessible areas. Motion is initially computerized as in common Pac-Mac, however you possibly can cease and even hop off or onto adjoining D-lines.
It’s a enjoyable twist, and I want it will have been a larger focus of the sport because it’s the half that actually looks like Pac-Man (there’s even free DLC that converts this portion’s audio results to the normal Pac-Man arcade sound). I additionally want the controls weren’t so awkward. Using the D-Line is easy sufficient, however leaping from it and attacking is usually imprecise, resulting in pointless frustration.
The opposite distinctive component is that defeated enemies can (and will) be devoured. Right here, PUCK mainly turns into the pinnacle of Shin Godzilla (see it in theaters this August) and eats the fallen, the purpose of which is to amass elements in your upgrades.
Doing this requires power, nevertheless, that could be higher used elsewhere, reminiscent of an emergency well being replenishment. It’s very annoying once you waste that power as a result of the enemy disappeared earlier than you might eat it otherwise you simply missed, which shouldn’t even be potential.
The sport does all carry out effectively, although (I performed Shadow Labyrinth for the Change 2, obtainable as a free improve for those who begin with the Change model), and I actually just like the darkish design with splashes of shade. The visuals felt nearly like correct Pac-Man in that regard (some enjoyable, nostalgic nods pop up every so often, too). For those who’re going to flesh out Pac-Mac’s world visually, this was a great strategy to take. The precise characters appeared a bit robotic with their actions and presentation, however contemplating the sport’s intro, that didn’t really feel misplaced.
So, in some methods, I did get from Shadow Labyrinth what I’d hoped for. For those who’re going to replace a basic arcade sport, I favor you go loopy with it as an alternative of simply bettering the visuals and including achievements. Which means, nevertheless, that many Pac-Man followers will likely be higher served by Pac-Man Museum+ than this. Shadow Labyrinth is supposed for 2D motion/platformer followers, and even they are going to discover issues to gripe about. However the sport presents sufficient distinctive parts to make it value a visit to the arcade.
