Pac-Man: Shadow Labyrinth Assessment – Assessment

Pac-Man is celebrating his forty fifth anniversary in 2025 and to have fun, Bandai Namco made a darkish dystopian Metroidvania starring a presumably nefarious incarnation of the gaming icon referred to as Shadow Labyrinth that follows up on a weird brief movie from final 12 months’s Amazon Prime collection Secret Stage. Glad birthday, Pac-Man, hope you want darkish sci-fi. To say it is a bizarre proposition is an understatement. Setting apart the provocative setup, Shadow Labyrinth is definitely a extremely enjoyable Metroidvania. It’s not an all-timer, however it is a well-built journey that contains a wealth of novel exploration, intelligent map layouts, and wild references to Bandai Namco’s bafflingly complete timeline.

Let’s again up and arrange the story, or at the very least as finest as I can as a result of a few of this actually goes method over my head. Throughout an honest variety of their legacy arcade video games, Bandai Namco has been protecting a unified timeline for the United Galaxy Area Drive. It contains the likes of Galaga, Galaxian, Bosconian, and Xevious. Mr. Driller and Dig Dug issue into this timeline. Cyber Sled, too. Oddly sufficient, Pac-Man hasn’t been a primary a part of it, till now. Shadow Labyrinth is ready far on the finish of the timeline with the galaxy in some type of damage after all of the wars and occasions of all the opposite video games.

You management Swordsman No. 8, who wakes up and is greeted by a Pac-Man-looking fella named Puck. The unvoiced Swordsman is then guided by Puck all through completely different environments with the objective of escaping the planet and finishing the mission Puck has been attempting to complete for years. Plot is thrown at you a large number, with discuss of wars and operations and all kinds of names you might need the urge to seek for on-line to see if it’s tied to Cyber Sled or Star Blade or one thing. I acknowledged a handful of references to Namco video games, however at the same time as somebody who has performed various Namco Museum video games that includes the video games on this shared universe, most of this didn’t ring any bells for me. However the writing right here is tight sufficient that I’m keen to miss a few of the absurdity of this story, particularly because the Pac-Man ghosts are charmingly labored into it as recurring enemies known as “G-Hosts” that additionally often drive you right into a Pac-Man maze. It’s such a gonzo transfer to make this the brand new Pac-Man sport and thru all of it, it sort of works.

Although the story solely works as a result of the foundational gameplay is stable. Whereas it has some tough patches, particularly within the first third, Shadow Labyrinth is an gratifying Metroidvania. It’s very centered on melee fight, which is the place a few of the early points come from. Your Swordsman has few choices early on, with only a primary combo and a token particular capacity. This made for some irritating brick partitions, particularly within the first main branching path area as you may encounter some robust non-compulsory bosses which might be tough to inform in the event that they’re on the essential path or not. However after getting entry to extra talents and customization choices, you may tune your Swordsman to fit your play fashion. Whereas I’ve positively performed video games on this style that extra closely depend on fight and kill rooms, a few of the reliance on fight right here will get irritating largely due to some barely unclear hit detection and comparatively punishing fail states. Dodging and parrying is essential in fight, however typically it’s robust to inform should you’re secure or not relying on the enemy placement and scenario. Additionally for a sport so centered on exploration, one false step can set you again many rooms, although fortunately you keep any collectibles and forex you acquired alongside the best way.

Along with a slate of unlocks that function twin goal fight and exploration instruments, like an air dodge with horizontal motion and a grapple, you may also equip a wide range of Perks. These Perks strengthen particular talents, improve the vary of talents and assaults, add on additional well being, or energy up the enormous mech you may rework into. Sure, you may rework into a large mech on this sport, too. Known as GAIA, this big mech can be utilized to bypass some hazards nevertheless it’s finest utilized in robust battles as a borderline get-out-of-jail-free card. It’s time-limited so you may’t abuse it, nevertheless it’s all the time enjoyable to show right into a mech. GAIA additionally introduces a weird mechanic the place you devour enemies after you kill them to earn supplies which might be then used to purchase Perks and gadgets in addition to carry out some upgrades. I perceive Pac-Man eats issues and this retains that aspect alive, however including in supplies as one other factor to trace as you play this sport felt like overkill.

Shadow Labyrinth is surprisingly massive, following quite a lot of twists and turns of the story. It’s within the ballpark of 15 or so hours to completion, with 100%-ing including much more. The completely different areas you go to have each visible and structural selection. A forest you go to has quite a lot of branching paths and dead-ends, however then a futuristic-looking tower has a comparatively simple climb with extra of a hub and spoke format.

Whereas I primarily performed on Change 2, this sport is on the market on each Change 1 and a pair of, with a free improve obtainable should you purchase it on Change 1. The Change 2 model runs on 4K and 60 frames per second, although I skilled some slowdown throughout extra intensive moments. In the meantime over on Change 1 you’re nonetheless getting 60 frames per second, however decision is dropped all the way down to a max of 720p. Loading occasions are additionally barely longer although not excessively so. Each variations are completely superb with equivalent content material.

I admittedly thought Shadow Labyrinth was a dumb joke sport when it was first introduced. As Bandai Namco confirmed off the sport although, it’s clearly made by individuals who need to simply make a enjoyable sport with the wild Pac-Man lore as a mechanical overlay. I had a blast exploring this darkish nook of the Namco multiverse that’s basically Pac-Man’s mid-life disaster. Shadow Labyrinth is assuredly probably the most attention-grabbing Pac-Man evolution because the hero’s 20s. Typically the most important collection left turns wind up being a hell of an excellent time.