Shadow Labyrinth Review – A Complete “Pac”kage

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Initially, when I discovered that the “Secret Level” episode linked to Pac-Man was essentially a trial run for a game centered around an iconic classic, I have to confess my initial skepticism. Yet, everything positive I’ve heard about “Shadow Labyrinth” since then has proven accurate, with Bandai Namco delivering a brilliant dark and gritty science fiction interpretation of the timeless character, leaving no doubt that they hit it out of the park.

Navigating through the various stages and landscapes of the Shadow Labyrinth felt like only a small taste of what this 2D platformer had in store. On levels where I thought I’d left no stone unturned, I couldn’t shake the suspicion that hidden secrets remained just beyond my grasp.

Bandai Namco’s newest game offers a maze-like experience that is truly captivating. The levels twist and turn, guiding the new characters through various paths while often leading them astray. Additionally, these levels are filled with a diverse array of opponents, bosses, and hazards, making navigation as difficult as the intense battles.

To start, you use a fundamental sequence of sword strikes to gradually deplete an opponent’s health. Simultaneously, the ACTIV arm offers a powerful punch attack which charges the stun bar more quickly compared to your swordsman’s slashes.

Shadow Labyrinth offers straightforward enjoyment. Occasionally, there are minor inconveniences that surface, but these soon fade away when considering the bigger picture. As Swordsman #8 and Puck, or Pac-Man in this particular journey, gradually reveal the secrets of their world and deepen their understanding of each other, the fun remains constant.

Braving A Dangerous New World

In the fast-paced introduction, we witness a tutorial scene featuring a youthful character playing on an apparatus resembling the Nintendo Switch 2. However, he is unexpectedly transported to an enigmatic world. Transformed into a Swordsman, he engages in a short skirmish with mechanized aliens before encountering Puck, who assumes the role of his guide.

It appears that Puck is mysteriously confined on this planet, with the character known as Swordsman #8 being the one he refers to. This reference likely stems from a pilot episode. As you delve into the game, you’ll encounter several key elements: Ora, a sword imbued with ESP powers that functions as the game’s currency; Nano ER, a scarce healing aid; and ACTIV, a prosthetic arm that facilitates exploration of various levels in diverse ways.

As a dedicated player, mastering the art of dodging at just the right moment using the dodge key is every bit as crucial as relentlessly pushing forward in battle.

Starting your journey, Puck guides you through, engaging in battles against foes and bosses. Alongside this, you’ll navigate moderately complex environmental puzzles. The game’s standout art style and distinctive locations make for an eye-catching visual experience, all while maintaining a seamless, lag-free performance. Throughout my playtime with Shadow Labyrinth, I didn’t come across any frame drops or technical issues, and the overall feel is refined and polished.

That’s a massive advantage thanks to its mechanics, both in combat and while exploring the world.

Working With What You Have

In “Shadow Labyrinth,” the challenge isn’t about matching the toughness of Soulslike games, but rather in mastering its mechanics and strategically utilizing Swordsman #8’s skills throughout the main story. This makes confronting its enemies an engaging and satisfying hurdle to conquer. Initially, you wield a simple sword combo for chipping away at enemy health bars, while the ACTIV arm offers a powerful punch that fills up a stun meter more swiftly than repeated slashes.

Timing your dodges skillfully to avoid enemy attacks is just as crucial as continuing your offensive moves. But remember, each dodge depletes some of your energy or stamina, so use it wisely and strategically. Eventually, you’ll gain the power to transform into a colossal mech named GAIA. Once transformed, you can feed on defeated enemies to fill up the meter necessary to activate this powerful form.

At these smaller checkpoints, your game progress is automatically saved, and they serve as fast-travel points. However, they don’t replenish your Nano ER (Emergency Repair) supply; they only restore your health.

The challenge lies in the fact that you can sustain just three to four attacks before needing recovery, and in the early stages, there’s only one healing resource at your disposal. Consequently, avoiding harm becomes crucial, a strategy that remains vital even as additional healing options become available throughout the game. Unfortunately, the Miku Sol, which serve as checkpoints, replenish your health and healing items but respawn all basic enemies, are scattered quite distant from each other across the level.

In this game, there are smaller checkpoints scattered around, which primarily serve as save points and fast travel locations. These spots also restore your health, but not your Nano ER. To quickly move from one location to another on the map, you’ll need to spend ORA to acquire a specific item from vendors within the region. This adds an extra layer of strategy to the fast travel mechanic, as other games often overlook this feature. It’s a thoughtful addition, given the way levels are designed in this game.

Managing Menaces

As you progress through the game’s various stages, you tactfully combat dangers while maneuvering through dangerous terrains. Controls may require some initial learning, but they quickly feel intuitive. The difficulty comes from choosing battles wisely between checkpoints, preserving your scarce resources for tougher fights and of course, acquiring enhancements.

Investing ORA for boosting your attack strength or extending your ESP meter might appear costly initially, but soon enough, you’ll realize that there’s an abundance of it available to you since none is lost upon death. Furthermore, regularly utilizing GAIA on defeated foes ensures a steady supply of crafting materials, enabling you to buy equippable perks for Puck, enhancing its capabilities in the long term.

The engaging pattern of play in this game is hard to resist, and before you know it, you’ll find yourself cycling between the stylish jumping sequences and strategic battles with Swordsman #8 and Puck. It’s a captivating loop that keeps you coming back for more!

However, you’ll find out that these advantages become less significant as you encounter the game’s challenging bosses. Each main and field boss serves as a test of skill, demanding that you understand their moveset and react accordingly while making strategic decisions to chip away at their health. The boss designs are impressive, with one particular adversary manipulating the battlefield with an intimidating gaze, tempting you to attack only for him to counter your blows ruthlessly. Field bosses return after a few deaths, emphasizing the importance of being cautious and making the most of your available resources.

The engaging gameplay pattern of Swordsman #8 and Puck swiftly turns into something you can’t resist getting back to, making each encounter a blend of sleek jumping sequences and strategic fighting.

Style and Substance

In Shadow Labyrinth, Bandai Namco skillfully combines a distinctive visual design and engaging gameplay, elevating the experience with discreet tributes to their other series and delightful references back to the classic Pac-Man games. The result is an exciting journey that was incredibly challenging for me to step away from.

Characters within the game are just as enigmatic as their own world, with each one connected in some way to Puck’s obscure past. As you progress through the narrative, these connections gradually unravel, offering intrigue and leaving me eagerly wondering about their involvement in Puck’s incarceration or connection to his life before that moment. They effectively enhance the overall gaming experience.

In simpler terms, the music played during battles with the boss is worth noting, as there are a few tracks I’d consider adding to my work playlist, assuming such an option exists.

In future updates, Bandai Namco might want to adjust the platforming segments featuring Puck for a smoother experience. While Puck glides effortlessly along designated rails and switches between Pac-Man mode and Swordsman as needed, leaping between platforms can be tricky due to the precise control required with the left-stick, which sometimes results in undesired directions.

At first, I assumed the mistake was due to stick drift on my controller. But when I tested it on another device, I realized the issue stemmed from the game’s design itself. It’s quite frustrating to repeatedly jump onto and off a rail platform, attempting to reach a ledge, only for Puck to collide with a wall instead. This trial-and-error approach seems out of place in a game that is otherwise well-crafted and polished.

It’s great that the audio design is top-notch! Enemies emit endearing sounds as they try to defeat the Swordsman, and it only makes the bosses more intimidating. The music during boss battles stands out, with a few tracks I’d love to include in my work playlist if it’s feasible.

In essence, the revamped version of Shadow Labyrinth offers an irresistible gaming experience, guaranteeing endless enjoyment for players as they journey through the captivating world designed by Bandai Namco. This adventure might even linger in their memories long after they conclude its engaging narrative.

Simply make sure to familiarize yourself thoroughly with its controls at your own pace, and don’t forget to investigate every hidden corner you come across.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

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2025-07-19 11:12