Pac-Man has all the time been at residence inside mazes filled with enemies attempting to kill you, so the transfer to a Metroidvania would not really feel like that massive of a leap. Having mentioned that, Shadow Labyrinth takes Bandai Namco’s 45-year-old mascot in a wild new path, putting him in a darkish, sci-fi world that the informal onlooker could not realise is said to the arcade hero in any respect.
It is a side-scrolling Metroidvania that follows the blueprint fairly faithfully. You navigate a labyrinthine map with quite a few pathways, lots of that are blocked off till you discover new skills. Fight begins off feeling quite simple, however once more, skills and upgrades make it extra complicated.
It is a construction many might be acquainted with, and it is executed competently right here. The sport’s map is huge and complicated, filled with secrets and techniques and unreachable areas teasing you with their presence.
As with many Metroidvanias, it takes some time for Shadow Labyrinth to heat up. When you begin unlocking new skills, reminiscent of an air sprint, parry, and grappling hook, it turns into a extra fascinating recreation, but it surely takes just a few hours to get there.
The story is equally threadbare in the beginning. You play as Swordsman No. 8, a soul summoned right into a bodily type by Puck, a floating yellow orb. The aim of that is the prevailing thriller, as is what precisely has occurred on the unusual planet you discover.
Clearly, the layers are peeled again as you make progress, however frankly, the narrative is not notably engrossing, affected by myriad meaningless correct nouns and character names you may doubtless by no means bear in mind.
The gameplay and design should carry it ahead, then, and whereas a lot of the sport is by-the-numbers when it comes to what’s anticipated of a Metroidvania, the Pac-Man touches and distinctive elements give it a carry.
Current in sure places are rails that, when activated, you’ll be able to navigate as Pac-Man, controlling as you’d count on him to. This lets you navigate to new areas and offers a contact of traversal selection.
This is not the one transformation you may make, although; as soon as charged, you’ll be able to flip right into a mech, a limited-time power-up helpful for clearing rooms of enemies or dealing an enormous blow to bosses.
You cost up the mech by consuming enemies you have defeated, and this additionally good points you numerous assets you may must buy or make sure gadgets and upgrades.
Once you defeat a boss, Puck will rework right into a nightmarish black-and-red imaginative and prescient of Pac-Man and eat them, granting you a brand new capability.
It is components like these that present Shadow Labyrinth some much-needed distinctive options, as a result of, as we talked about, it’s in any other case a reasonably commonplace Metroidvania motion platformer.
There’s some good selection in environments as you progress by means of, although — harsh metallic amenities, desert lands, an enormous tree, and extra. The artwork type can look fairly good in locations, however there are some areas that look fairly blurred, and it will possibly come throughout as wanting fairly low-cost.
The identical may be mentioned of enemies; there are some fascinating foes and executives you may go up in opposition to (and hardcore Bamco followers will little doubt spot some far-reaching references right here and there), however animation work and a few odd designs left us a bit of chilly.
Later into the expertise you acquire entry to a number of phases which are extra recognisably Pac-Man. These extra arcadey sequences are enjoyable asides that change up the well-worn components, and are arguably among the extra gratifying components of Shadow Labyrinth.
The quick tempo and quick enjoyable of those phases sadly leaves the primary recreation feeling and looking fairly bloated.
It is not a brief recreation; you are wanting within the tens of hours, and whereas that is pretty regular for a Metroidvania like this, Shadow Labyrinth would not fairly have the standard wanted to maintain that playtime.
Platforming and fight can really feel a bit of wishy-washy. They don’t seem to be horrible, and in a while when you might have just a few skills and perks these elements are a lot improved, however they’re by no means as tight as you’d hope for.
We’re additionally not followers of the checkpointing; main save factors are just a bit too few and much between. It makes going again to earlier areas really feel like a chore, as you may must trek by means of massive stretches to succeed in new gadgets or areas, and so they will not be that rewarding.
It is a difficult recreation to suggest. There are some enjoyable components in right here, however they’re surrounded by a just-okay Metroidvania motion title. At occasions the components works and it will possibly really feel novel and enjoyable, however solely actually when it feels most like Pac-Man and least like the sport it really is.
Conclusion
Shadow Labyrinth is an admirable massive swing that locations Pac-Man in an odd new house. Sadly, whereas there are some enjoyable components taken from the arcade traditional and some neat concepts sprinkled in, nearly all of the sport is a by-the-numbers Metroidvania that does not fairly come collectively. It seems like a recreation constructed to please Pac-fans and hardcore gamers that lap up the likes of Hole Knight, however the finish result’s one thing that underserves each. It is not unhealthy, however with so many unbelievable 2D Metroidvanias lately, this one would not fairly do sufficient to measure up.
