Shadow Labyrinthis one of the strangest takes on a classic arcade series in a long time, and from the fifteen minutes we played of the game so far, it seems to be a success.Pac-Manbegan in arcades in 1980 and simply ate as many fruits as possible before getting taken out by ghosts. Now we’re in a post-apocalyptic Metroidvania adventure that goes above and beyond what you’d expect from the yellow mascot from Bandai Namco.
Puck and the Swordsman On an Adventure
You play as two characters: Swordsman No. 8 and PUCK, an alternate version of the beloved arcade characterPac-Man. You’re on a mysterious, eerie planet that has all manner of monsters in your path. The swordsman is agile and can strike foes down with his blade, while Puck moves along electric trails and finds collectibles that can buff the Swordsman. For example, during the demo, you may pick up a HP boost. You’re also collecting pellets, just like the original arcade game, which can be used to upgrade your stats.
For an action Metroidvania game, there’s a surprising amount of 2D platforming. You have a whip that lets you swing across the terrain, and while it’s fun to use at first, this may be whereShadow Labyrinthcould fall short for some people. During the demo, there’s a difficult point in which you need to swing on multiple sections to get past a particular area. Unfortunately, after the second swing, it’s hard to aim the trajectory of your upcoming jump, leading to death over and over and over again. There were many tries within the last five minutes of the demo, but alas, this was unsuccessful.Shadow Labyrinthmay be a tricky pill to swallow for those averse from tricky platforming.
Combat That Likely Evolves Over Time
The combat so far seems relatively basic, but will likely grow as the game proceeds. There are abilities you’ll gain that can help you counter and hit opponents. The shield can defend against and even parry incoming attacks. As the demo continues, you eventually get a second ability that has you use a ranged slash in a wider area of effect. It feels satisfying to take down a group of tentacle monsters all in one go.
What doesn’t feel satisfying so far, however, is beating up the bosses inShadow Labyrinth. They seem simple to deal with, but that could be due to it being the first few levels of the game. It simply jumps up in the air, growls and strikes with its claws. It’s easy to deal with, especially if you use a certain power-up that hasn’t been brought up in this preview yet.
Shadow Labyrinth also has a TV episode based on it inSecret Level.
With the help of Puck, you turn into a monstrous beast that grows in size. It deals way more damage than your regular attacks and can dash in a fast manner. It feels great to slash your foes menacingly with this form. You only get it for a limited time, however, as you have to build a meter in order to activate it. If it’s the same form over and over again, but it could turn out to be boring.
Review: Pac-Man World Re-Pac
There’s a lot to enjoy here and if you enjoy 3D platforming or Pac-Man games, you need to give Pac-Man World Re-Pac a shot.
Going back to the combat, Swordsman No. 8 looks flashy with his sword abilities. He can strike in every direction, and while in the air, can perform a spike-move that looks similar to Link’s inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. While battling these foes, the DualSense sparks to life. There’s a great amount of vibration that comes from it, electrifying the combat.
Strangely, for aPac-Mangame, blood is involved inShadow Labyrinth. It’s a grittier take on the typically family-friendly character. If you look at the trailers as well, Pac-Man (Puck) is shown as a gruesome monster that eats anything it can get its teeth on. You can in fact consume fallen foes in-game, and it wasn’t particularly clear, but it seems like you can steal items and abilities from them.
An Impressive Art Style
The art style also helps with the mood the game is trying to set. The main character is in a creepy hooded costume with blue beaming eyes among the darkness of his face. you may see Puck is hovering above the character, opening its mouth, seeming to be ready to eat. The graphic novel-like look brings detail to NPC’s faces and the environments, giving it a unique visual style. The bosses have cool designs so far, adding to the edgier vibes thatShadow Labyrinthhas.
Despite the darker atmosphere, there are references to the original arcade game still present, just in a different form. In some sections, you play as Puck moving around an electrified field. You’re collecting pellets, jumping over rotating spikes, and trying to get to the other side of the maze without dying. Thankfully, Puck can stop in place, so you’re able to time your jumps (which feel somewhat difficult to control). The reward for completing these maze sections seem to be worth it from the demo we played at the MCM Comic Con.
Unfortunately, due to the convention floor, the sound couldn’t be picked up much. Pac-Man’s sound effects could be heard well among the chaos of MCM Comic Con, though.
Overall,Shadow Labyrinthhas a lot of potential. While the combat at first glance seems basic, there seem to be many abilities along the way that will keep the Bandai Namco title exciting. Additionally, the use of Pac-Man-like gameplay mechanics within a Metroidvania aesthetic is an enticing one as you’re challenged across these maze-like levels to reach the end and get a reward. It’s a shame that the bosses so far seem to be basic and the platforming may be cumbersome for some.
Shadow Labyrinthwill be releasing on August 10, 2025 for the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC (via Steam).
