{"id":10962,"date":"2025-07-18T20:16:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T11:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aireviewirush.com\/?p=10962"},"modified":"2025-07-18T20:16:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T11:16:11","slug":"shadow-labyrinth-assessment-ps5-push-sq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aireviewirush.com\/?p=10962","title":{"rendered":"Shadow Labyrinth Assessment (PS5) | Push Sq."},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<figure class=\"picture\"><a class=\"scanlines\" title=\"Shadow Labyrinth Review - Screenshot 1 of 5\" href=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157441\/large.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157441\/450x.jpg 450w, https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157441\/900x.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 799px) 450px, (min-width: 800px)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157441\/900x.jpg\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Shadow Labyrinth Review - Screenshot 1 of 5\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pushsquare.com\/games\/ps4\/pac-man_museumplus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pac-Man<\/a> has all the time been at house inside mazes stuffed with enemies making an attempt to kill you, so the transfer to a Metroidvania would not really feel like that large of a leap. Having mentioned that, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pushsquare.com\/games\/ps5\/shadow_labyrinth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shadow Labyrinth<\/a> takes Bandai Namco&#8217;s 45-year-old mascot in a wild new course, inserting him in a darkish, sci-fi world that the informal onlooker might not realise is said to the arcade hero in any respect.<\/p>\n<p>This can be a side-scrolling Metroidvania that follows the blueprint fairly faithfully. You navigate a labyrinthine map with quite a few pathways, a lot of that are blocked off till you discover new talents. Fight begins off feeling quite simple, however once more, talents and upgrades make it extra complicated.<\/p>\n<p>It is a construction many can be acquainted with, and it is executed competently right here. The sport&#8217;s map is huge and complicated, stuffed with secrets and techniques and unreachable areas teasing you with their presence.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture\"><a class=\"scanlines\" title=\"Shadow Labyrinth Review - Screenshot 2 of 5\" href=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157445\/large.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157445\/450x.jpg 450w, https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157445\/900x.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 799px) 450px, (min-width: 800px)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157445\/900x.jpg\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Shadow Labyrinth Review - Screenshot 2 of 5\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>As with many Metroidvanias, it takes some time for Shadow Labyrinth to heat up. When you begin unlocking new talents, similar to an air sprint, parry, and grappling hook, it turns into a extra attention-grabbing recreation, however it takes a number of hours to get there.<\/p>\n<p>The story is equally threadbare originally. 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.<\/p>\n<p>Clearly, the layers are peeled again as you make progress, however frankly, the narrative is not significantly engrossing, affected by myriad meaningless correct nouns and character names you will possible by no means bear in mind.<\/p>\n<p>The gameplay and design should carry it ahead, then, and whereas a lot of the sport is by-the-numbers by way of what&#8217;s anticipated of a Metroidvania, the Pac-Man touches and distinctive points give it a carry.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture\"><a class=\"scanlines\" title=\"Shadow Labyrinth Review - Screenshot 3 of 5\" href=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157436\/large.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157436\/450x.jpg 450w, https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157436\/900x.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 799px) 450px, (min-width: 800px)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157436\/900x.jpg\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Shadow Labyrinth Review - Screenshot 3 of 5\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Current in sure areas are rails that, when activated, you&#8217;ll be able to navigate as Pac-Man, controlling as you&#8217;d count on him to. This lets you navigate to new areas and offers a contact of traversal selection.<\/p>\n<p>This is not the one transformation you will make, although; as soon as charged, you&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p>You cost up the mech by consuming enemies you have defeated, and this additionally beneficial properties you varied assets you will must buy or make sure objects and upgrades.<\/p>\n<p>Whenever you defeat a boss, Puck will remodel right into a nightmarish black-and-red imaginative and prescient of Pac-Man and eat them, granting you a brand new means.<\/p>\n<p>It is parts like these that present Shadow Labyrinth some much-needed distinctive options, as a result of, as we talked about, it&#8217;s in any other case a reasonably customary Metroidvania motion platformer.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture\"><a class=\"scanlines\" title=\"Shadow Labyrinth Review - Screenshot 4 of 5\" href=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157440\/large.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157440\/450x.jpg 450w, https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157440\/900x.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 799px) 450px, (min-width: 800px)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157440\/900x.jpg\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Shadow Labyrinth Review - Screenshot 4 of 5\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>There&#8217;s some good selection in environments as you progress by means of, although \u2014 harsh metallic services, desert lands, a large tree, and extra. The artwork type can look fairly good in locations, however there are some areas that look fairly blurred, and it could actually come throughout as trying fairly low cost.<\/p>\n<p>The identical may be mentioned of enemies; there are some attention-grabbing foes and managers you will 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 chilly.<\/p>\n<p>Later into the expertise you acquire entry to a collection of levels which are extra recognisably Pac-Man. These extra arcadey sequences are enjoyable asides that change up the well-worn formulation, and are arguably a few of the extra pleasant elements of Shadow Labyrinth.<\/p>\n<p>The quick tempo and rapid enjoyable of those levels sadly leaves the principle recreation feeling and looking fairly bloated.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"picture\"><a class=\"scanlines\" title=\"Shadow Labyrinth Review - Screenshot 5 of 5\" href=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157432\/large.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157432\/450x.jpg 450w, https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157432\/900x.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 799px) 450px, (min-width: 800px)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.pushsquare.com\/screenshots\/157432\/900x.jpg\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Shadow Labyrinth Review - Screenshot 5 of 5\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>It isn&#8217;t a brief recreation; you are trying 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.<\/p>\n<p>Platforming and fight can really feel a bit wishy-washy. They are not horrible, and in a while when you&#8217;ve gotten a number of talents and perks these points are a lot improved, however they&#8217;re by no means as tight as you&#8217;d hope for.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;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 will need to trek by means of giant stretches to achieve new objects or areas, they usually might not be that rewarding.<\/p>\n<p>It is a difficult recreation to advocate. There are some enjoyable parts in right here, however they&#8217;re surrounded by a just-okay Metroidvania motion title. At instances the formulation works and it could actually really feel novel and enjoyable, however solely actually when it feels most like Pac-Man and least like the sport it really is.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"conclusion\">\n<h2 class=\"heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Shadow Labyrinth is an admirable large swing that locations Pac-Man in an odd new area. Sadly, whereas there are some enjoyable parts taken from the arcade basic and some neat concepts sprinkled in, the vast majority of the sport is a by-the-numbers Metroidvania that does not fairly come collectively. It appears like a recreation constructed to please Pac-fans and hardcore gamers that lap up the likes of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pushsquare.com\/games\/ps4\/hollow_knight_voidheart_edition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hole Knight<\/a>, however the finish result&#8217;s one thing that underserves each. It isn&#8217;t unhealthy, however with so many unbelievable 2D Metroidvanias lately, this one would not fairly do sufficient to measure up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pac-Man has all the time been at house inside mazes stuffed with enemies making an attempt to kill you, so the transfer to a Metroidvania would not really feel like that large of a leap. Having mentioned that, Shadow Labyrinth takes Bandai Namco&#8217;s 45-year-old mascot in a wild new course, inserting him in a darkish, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10964,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-10962","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-playstation"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aireviewirush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aireviewirush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aireviewirush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aireviewirush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aireviewirush.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10962"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/aireviewirush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10962\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10963,"href":"https:\/\/aireviewirush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10962\/revisions\/10963"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aireviewirush.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10964"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aireviewirush.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aireviewirush.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aireviewirush.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}