With just a few days to go for the discharge of Bandai Namco’s gritty and darkish reimagining of Pac-Man, a beloved presence in gaming historical past, followers of the character are positive to be itching to dive into the brand new journey that “Puck” (as he’s affectionately known as) is ready to embark on.
Nevertheless, Shadow Labyrinth from the stables of Bandai Namco may be a shock if you happen to’re anticipating the same old light-hearted gameplay loop that Puck is thought for. Bringing a brand new protagonist who works alongside Puck as they discover a darkish world that homes sinister threats and quite a lot of lore to uncover.
If that comes as a shock to you, right here are some things to bear in mind earlier than you decide up a duplicate of Shadow Labyrinth in your platform of alternative and get began on tackling this ingenious tackle one in all gaming’s classics.
11.Secret Degree Has A Prequel Episode To Shadow Labyrinth
Amazon Prime’s Secret Degree featured an anthology of recent gaming’s hottest figures in standalone adventures that explored their motivations in numerous methods. Pac-Man’s ravenous starvation as he explored The Maze, an alien world within the 12 months 3333 within the episode “Circles” is definitely a prequel to Shadow Labyrinth.
Accompanied by an enigmatic character named Swordsman #7, Puck’s adventures within the episode neatly tie into the upcoming title, the place Swordsman #8 takes over as one of many protagonists, diving deep into the brand new world and tackling its many threats in an effort to come out on prime.
10. No DLC
Shadow Labyrinth is ready to be a “full bundle” from day one in all its launch, in accordance with the sport’s producer and advertising and marketing supervisor who sat down to debate the upcoming title with RollingStone.
Whereas which will deter a few of you who simply can’t get sufficient Pac-Man to fulfill you, there isn’t any purpose to imagine {that a} lack of post-launch content material takes something away from what’s already on supply. Early previews of the sport counsel that there’s a lott o do and see on this new journey, with intricate ranges and mission designs that may problem even essentially the most seasoned followers.
Its hack n’ slash fight is ready to carry a layer of problem to the desk (extra on that in a bit) whereas different options can preserve you entertained for fairly some time when you get began.
9. NPCs With Distinct Tales Flesh Out The Lore
As you discover the brand new darkish world in your quest to rid it of the evil that plagues it, you’ll meet many NPC who supply up aspect quests so that you can tackle. Their goal within the sport is 2 fold: present lore drops in regards to the tragedies that befell its world previous to your arrival, and function tongue-in-cheek references to different Bandai Namco titles from years previous.
For a narrative that reimagines what Pac-Man is and the place the character got here from, that is an fascinating contact that would steadiness nostalgia and a way of discovery, making Shadow Labyrinth a sport that’s narratively fleshed out whereas its gameplay makes it as memorable because it may probably be.
What’s extra, every NPC may probably be a supply of latest talents and upgrades for Swordsman #8 and Puck as they start to tackle lethal threats or discover harmful areas within the Maze. We gained’t have to attend too lengthy to seek out out!
8. The Story Explores Puck’s Origins
Bandai Namco has performed issues near the chest in the case of Shadow Labyrinth’s major story. Whereas the prequel episode served to determine the sport’s premise, it additionally strongly implied that it takes place within the United Galaxy House Power universe. For all you Bandai Namco veterans, that ought to ring a couple of bells.
It stays to be seen if that performs an element in Shadow Labyrinth’s major story. Nevertheless, what we do know is that Puck is a prisoner in The Maze, and desires the Swordsman’s assist to flee, requiring that they offer up their very own life within the course of. The how and why of Puck’s predicament is unknown, and it is going to be fascinating to see if the sport’s story permits its protagonists to seek out one other approach fully, or maybe shed extra gentle on how Puck managed to be trapped within the first place.
There may be a tear or two on the horizon for Shadow Labyrinth’s gamers if Bandai Namco performs its playing cards proper.
7. Different Bandai Namco Titles Will Make An Look
With early hands-on previews of the sport already discovering secrets and techniques that callback to Bandai Namco titles like Galaga, Dig-Dug, and so many extra, it’s evident that Shadow Labyrinth is ready to make connections that transcend its allusions to United Galaxy House Entrance.
Whereas particulars of its secrets and techniques and story stay amongst Bandai Namco’s rigorously guarded secrets and techniques, the excellent news is that we gained’t have to attend too lengthy to seek out out what they’re.
6. Puck Is Playable In Sure Sections
The identical previews that uncovered Bandai Namco’s tongue-in-cheek references to different titles in its huge library introduced extra excellent news: Puck is certainly playable at sure factors within the sport!
Shadow Labyrinth’s gameplay loop is a steadiness between Swordsman #8’s fight prowess and Puck’s traversal expertise, requiring its gamers to take management of the latter in platforming sections that require as a lot precision and finesse as its fight.
Puck’s shot at freedom signifies that the character is sort of motivated to be as useful as doable as you discover The Maze, and taking management of him is certain to carry again many fond recollections of easier instances in your gaming adventures.
5. PC Specs
Shadow Labyrinth’s distinctive artwork type and fast-paced gameplay loop requires a reasonably robust set-up if you happen to’re taking part in it on PC. Its minimal necessities embody an Intel Core i3-3225/ AMD A6-7400K with 4 gigs of RAM and a alternative between the Intel Arc A580, AMD Radeon R9270X, or GeForce GTX 750Ti to energy its graphics. These specs ought to get you to 1080p with 60FPS though chances are you’ll expertise a decrease framerate if the sport’s cutscenes show too demanding.
Nevertheless, an Intel Core i7-4770K or AMD Ryzen 3 3100 with related RAM with graphics powered by both the Intel Arc A750, AMD Radeon RX Vega 64, or the GeForce GTX 1660 Tremendous can guarantee a extra constant expertise general. Your mileage might range primarily based in your setup nevertheless it’s nothing that a couple of tweaks to your graphic settings can’t repair.
4. Swap Gamers Get A Free Improve To The Swap 2 Model
Bandai Namco isn’t leaving anybody behind, with Shadow Labyrinth obtainable on the Nintendo Swap. The sport will run at 1080p, 60 FPS when the console is docked however drops to 720p in handheld mode. The Swap 2 model, how go ever, manages 4K, 60fps when it’s docked and 1080p in handheld mode.
If you happen to haven’t been in a position to get your fingers on Nintendo’s very potent successor to the Swap, the excellent news is which you can improve Shadow Labyrinth to the Swap 2 model totally free whenever you lastly make the “change” (get it?) to the brand new console.
3. A Stable Fight System
If its previews are any indication, fight in Shadow Labyrinth is surprisingly deep, requiring that you simply handle Swordsman #8’s assaults, dodges, and parries by way of an ESP bar that features as his Stamina. Parry home windows are fairly tight, requiring you to review enemy assaults and reply with precision in an effort to nail them, with failure being punished reasonably severely.
Nevertheless, the sport eschews the custom of dropping rewards upon dying, permitting you to maintain your ORA (Shadow Labyrinth’s in-game foreign money) if you’re unlucky sufficient to be knocked down. Nevertheless, that incidence may be extra frequent than you assume with vicious enemies hell-bent on protecting Puck trapped within the maze.
Furthermore, the addition of assorted unlockable expertise for Swordsman #8 and potential unlockables for Puck point out a fight system that may simply shock you with its depth and the extent of problem it brings to the desk.
2. Flip right into a Large Mech
Talking of difficult fight, Bandai Namco has been good sufficient to provide Shadow Labyrinth’s gamers GAIA, a large mech that may knock its opponents flat whenever you accrue sufficient energy to summon it.
Nevertheless, its restricted time on the sector and the very fact that you’ll want to remain on prime of your sport to earn the power to summon it within the first place guarantee that you’ll want to be strategic about when to make the most of its providers within the area.
1. There Are Many Distinctive Bosses To Face Down
A wonderful fight system means nothing if there aren’t suitably sinister enemies to check your mettle in opposition to. Thankfully, Shadow Labyrinth is all-set to maintain you lined on that entrance.
Apart from myriad grunt enemies with various designs and quite a lot of wrinkles in the way you cope with them, Bandai Namco’s upcoming title options about 30 distinct bosses that may take a look at your expertise to their limits. Every of those monstrosities comes with distinct strengths resembling shields that make a frontal assault redundant till they’re destroyed to weaknesses that Swordsman #8 can exploit if a proficient participant is pulling his strings.
The Maze’s threats are shaping as much as be harmful skill-checks if what we’ve seen of the sport is any indication.
And there you may have it. Shadow Labyrinth is clearly not the Pac-Man expertise that veterans of the character’s adventures predict. However for individuals who method it with an open thoughts, there’s quite a bit to love on this upcoming title, and quite a lot of enjoyable available in an journey that’s pac’d (pun supposed) to the brim with nostalgia and motion.
