Shadow Maze Review: Metroid solid work

Shade I didn’t achieve the best first impression, although I am not talking about the game itself. The concept of re -restarting Back Man She first raised her strange head in The secret levelAnthology that transformed outstanding video games into animated shorts, often felt as long commercials. This is exactly what the “Circle” Back Man Like a survival story in the blood, it turned to be. But although the episode was outside the episode, it turned out that the hypothesis is actually working for MetroidWork game.

For those who did not see The secret leveland Shade He puts you in the role of SwordMaster who has not been identified, and who awakens to find himself within a kind of dark, dark maze. He was received by a floating drone called Puck, which works as a guide and partner to stay in this treacherous world. puck, naturallyHe is Back Man.

For the largest part, the game plays a lot like Metroidvania Model. It is a heavy side pass game, such as Metroid DreadWhile the presidents are defeated and the gold collection, you will slowly expand your skills, which open the game more. The map -like maze full of solvency is full of clogged ends that you cannot explore until you get the correct ability, which includes nutrients such as double hook and struggle. You can also formulate different promotions, permanent and temporary, so that you can customize the character according to your desire. It is a satisfactory loop of exploration, fighting and problem solving (usually includes a kind of sequence of platforms), interspersed with tense trainer battles that depend a lot on preserving patterns.

I can describe many other games here, but there are some elements that are made Shade unique. It is mostly related to friendship. Set all over the maze bars that Puck can ride, such as PAC-Man moves on its way through the maze of classic corridors. It reminds us of the MORPH ‘Samus, except that it is deported to pre -defined areas of the map. Later, there is actual Back Man Mets to play through, also, with pellets and ghosts to eat.

The game is at its best when quickly exchanged between Puck and The SwordMaster, either to move in the sequence of a difficult platform or defeat enemies. In an early battle, I managed to use the railway on the ceiling to avoid the projectiles, then dropped behind the enemy for some rapid infiltration attacks. Early, Puck and SwordMaster acquires the ability to temporarily fusion together to create a somewhat similar force to a mechanical suit, which you can use to destroy most enemies and even avoid environmental risks. Oh, and when you are mechanical, you can eat your enemies to get materials required for this important opening.

One of the beautiful things about Shade Is this, unlike the previous moving short, does not exceed the dark tone. It can become a bit bloody when they are divided through creatures, but they are not unjustified. In fact, like many DreadThe repressive tone creates a kind of interesting tension, which makes the rare moments of comfort feel especially welcome. However, Cutscenes is self -experienced and complicated, and there are ridiculous moments where Puck becomes giant and eats bodies of bosses, but it is mostly easy to ignore if all you want to do is explore a complex map, Metroid-style.

This is what the game really offers. Fighting is strong, the platform is difficult, and the presidents are exciting. Fortunately, the tone often does not parasite the experience, while Back Man A topic that brings Just enough New to add interesting development to those who have good knowledge of Metroidvanias. The secret level Perhaps it was a commercial advertisement, but it was very poor: he missed what he really made Shade It is worth playing.

_{Shade It is launched on July 18 on PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC.}