Shadow Labyrinth [PC] | REVIEW

When you think of Pac-Man, you probably don’t expect grim alien worlds, combat rolls, or mech transformations, right? Well, Shadow Labyrinth aims to change that, with this unique spin-off from Bandai Namco reimagining the arcade icon in a dark Metroidvania setting. It’s an interesting concept with that can do some really neat things that emphasise just how cool the evolution upon the iconic character could be, but unfortunately, some rough edges and frustrating design choices keep it from reaching its full potential.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Shadow Labyrinth puts players in control of Swordman No. 8, a mysterious figure brought to life by a floating orb named Puck (which is this game’s stand-in for Pac-Man). The story unfolds slowly through scattered memory logs and encounters, though if I’m being honest, it never feels that compelling. There are numerous vague sci-fi lore drops that hint of an intriguing world as well as some quirky Pac-Man references, but most of it ends up fading into the background with little to hook you in.

At its core, Shadow Labyrinth follows the standard Metroidvania formula. Players navigate an expansive, maze-like world, gradually unlocking new abilities that open previously inaccessible areas. Hidden upgrades, backtracking, and interconnected paths are all here – and for fans of the genre, the structure will feel instantly recognizable, if a little uninspired.

If I’m being honest, Shadow Labyrinth doesn’t make the strongest first impression at all. The opening hours feel a bit barren and tame, with your character equipped with only basic movement and attacks. Thankfully, the game picks up as you start acquiring more tools such as air dashes, parries, grappling hooks, and special attacks, with each helping bring the world to life and offering more excitement to traversal. Things certainly get more fluid and satisfying the longer that you play, but the fact that it’s a bit of a slow-burn initially can be a real bummer and hurt the pacing.

“Shadow Labyrinth is a bold reimagining of a classic icon, but whilst it offers moments of inventive fun, it mostly stumbles in execution.”

At least combat is fast and satisfying, with enemies hitting hard and requiring careful dodging to deal with – particularly in the many exciting boss encounters scattered throughout the world that really up the ante. The ability to roll through attacks to avoid them becomes essential, whilst later upgrades allow for deeper strategies and more powerful combos that really play into the strengths of the game’s combat mechanics. There’s even an energy bar that governs certain moves, which adds an extra layer of tension, especially in longer fights where resource management really feels like it can be the difference between life and death.

The standout feature of combat? Your ability to transform into a massive Pac-Man-inspired mech. This invincible form is time-limited and must be charged by consuming enemies, but it’s a useful last resort during overwhelming battles that plays into the theming of the arcade classic perfectly. In fairness, these Pac-Man elements are sprinkled throughout Shadow Labyrinth, including sequences where you control Puck directly along arcade-style rails (which feel like a loving nod to the original game). Some references are more subtle than others and they’re rarely game-changing, but they provide bursts of variety that help break up the more standard gameplay. If I’m being honest, though? I do think more could have been done with the Pac-Man side of things, if only to help give Shadow Labyrinth that unique sense of character when compared to similar titles in the genre.

While Shadow Labyrinth eventually builds into a more interesting experience the longer you play, the difficulty can be really off-putting and tedious. The game rarely goes easy on you, and the lack of difficulty settings means you’re stuck with the default challenge curve with little to tinker with. Some of the tough boss fights and aggressive enemy patterns really demand sharp reflexes and patience – neither of which are helped by the game’s stingy checkpointing system, which will see you re-playing big sections with each death. This makes long stretches of gameplay particularly nerve-wracking, and with death often resulting in tedious backtracking, it’s easy to find the challenge more frustrating than rewarding.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Visually, the game is REALLY inconsistent too. Some environments, like the mechanical fortresses and strange forests, have a striking sense of style that can look wonderful, whilst other locales can just look a little blurry and bland. The animation quality is similarly mixed – some enemies have clever designs that even utilise ideas of the world of Pac-Man in creative ways, but others feel stiff or completely out of place. It’s never an ugly game at all, but, much like most elements of the game, it’s hard not to feel that more could have been done to make it better.

Developer: Bandai Namco
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed)
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1859430/Shadow_Labyrinth/