Shadow Labyrinth Review (Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S & PC)

A few years ago, if someone had told us that Pac-Man would evolve into a dark, action-packed platformer, we would’ve probably laughed. Pac-Man is all about eating pellets and avoiding ghosts, right? Well, Bandai Namco is celebrating Pac-Man’s 45th anniversary in the most unexpected way with Shadow Labyrinth. This isn’t your typical Pac-Man game. Instead, it reimagines the yellow dot-eater in a sci-fi world full of intense action, exploration, and surprising depth.

At first, it might sound like a weird spin-off, but once you dive in, you’ll see that Shadow Labyrinth is way more than just an odd take on Pac-Man. It mixes platforming, tough combat, and puzzles into something truly unique. Shadow Labyrinth is a bold and exciting new chapter in the Pac-Man legacy, celebrating 45 years of gaming history in a way no one could’ve predicted. Let’s dive into this review and see how the game turns the classic Pac-Man world into a thrilling, dark adventure.

A Dark Reboot of Pac-Man’s World

The story of Shadow Labyrinth is definitely a far cry from the usual Pac-Man vibe. Instead of the classic bright mazes, we’re thrown into a ruined future where the galaxy’s been destroyed after some serious wars. Picture a sci-fi dystopia, with broken planets and the aftermath of battles. Surprisingly, the game features a shared universe of older Bandai Namco games like Galaga, Mr. Driller, Cyber Sled, and more. Notably, Pac-Man wasn’t really part of this universe before, but now, Shadow Labyrinth brings him into it in a pretty wild way.

You play as Swordsman Number Eight, a warrior who wakes up in this messed-up world. He meets Puck, a character who looks a lot like Pac-Man, and together they try to escape the planet and finish a mission Puck’s been working on for years. Along the way, you’ll spot references to other Namco games. Of course, some may be confusing unless you’re into the deep lore of these classic titles.

The story can get a bit complicated and full of jargon, talking about wars and operations that might leave you scratching your head. If you’re not familiar with the older games, you might even find yourself looking up some of the names. But even with all the confusion, the story still keeps players hooked. The best part is how Pac-Man’s iconic ghosts make an appearance as enemies, sometimes even trapping you in Pac-Man-style mazes. So yeah, the plot can be a bit all over the place, but it’s still fun to see Pac-Man reimagined in such a cool, sci-fi setting.

Classic Metroidvania Loop

The real meat of Shadow Labyrinth lies in its gameplay. As a Metroidvania, you’ll spend most of your time exploring interconnected areas, solving puzzles, and battling enemies. The game is built around melee combat, which is where things can feel a little slow at first. Swordsman Number Eight starts with just a basic attack combo and one special ability, which feels a bit weak early on. Consequently, the first few hours can feel frustrating as players figure out how to deal with more challenging enemies and bosses. 

However, the good news is that Shadow Labyrinth gets a lot better as you progress. As players move through the game, they unlock new abilities that give them more combat options. You get new attacks, movement abilities like air dodges, and even tools that help with exploration, such as a grapple. As you unlock these, the combat becomes much more enjoyable. Nothing is cooler than the satisfaction of coming back to crush enemies that once gave you trouble in the earlier areas of the game. 

Now, the game isn’t just about combat, though. Exploration is a big part of what makes Shadow Labyrinth so engaging. It’s not just about fighting; you’ll spend a lot of time wandering through different environments, finding hidden paths, and unlocking new areas. This is where the Metroidvania aspect really shines. As you unlock new abilities, the world opens up more and more. Players will revisit old locations, but now they will access places that were previously unreachable in the game. 

One thing to keep in mind is that while the game does have some light RPG elements, such as leveling up and collecting materials, it doesn’t go overboard. There are no complex skill trees or deep inventory systems. Everything is fairly simple, making it easy to get into.

The Giant Mech

One of the coolest features in Shadow Labyrinth is the ability to transform into a giant mech called Gaia. As players progress, they can summon Gaia, a massive robotic suit, to help them in battles and certain environmental puzzles. It’s a pretty awesome twist that adds strategy to the game. Notably, the transformation is limited in time, so you can’t just spam it whenever you want, but it’s a lot of fun to unleash Gaia’s power, especially during tough fights.

Gaia is also tied to a strange mechanic where you devour enemies after you defeat them to collect materials. These materials are then used to buy upgrades, perks, and items that help with both combat and exploration. While this mechanic is definitely a nod to Pac-Man’s pellet-eating roots, it can feel a little over-complicated. The whole devouring process adds another thing to keep track of while you’re trying to focus on exploring and fighting. Nevertheless, it’s still an interesting addition to the game.

It’s a fun change of pace to suddenly become this unstoppable giant robot, and Gaia feels like a “get out of jail free” card when things get tough. You can’t overuse it, though, since it has a time limit, so you’ll have to plan carefully when to deploy it.

The Bad

While the combat does improve as you unlock more abilities, it’s worth noting that it can be frustrating at times. The biggest issue is the hit detection. Pliers will be dodging attacks left and right, but sometimes it’s difficult to tell if you’ve actually dodged an attack or if you’re still in danger. This can make certain fights feel unfair, especially when you’re fighting enemies with hard-to-read attack patterns.

Another frustrating aspect is the game’s save system. Like many Metroidvania games, Shadow Labyrinth involves a lot of backtracking. While exploring new areas is fun, sometimes one mistake can set you back quite a bit. If you accidentally wander into a tough fight or take a wrong turn, you might end up losing a lot of progress. Thankfully, players don’t lose collectibles or items when this happens, but it can still feel discouraging when they’re sent back multiple rooms after one bad encounter.

Even with these issues, the combat becomes much more rewarding once you unlock more abilities and get a feel for the game’s systems. It’s just that those early hours can feel a bit rough.

A World Full of Surprises

One of the standout features of Shadow Labyrinth is its level design. The world is huge and filled with variety. As players explore, they will visit a bunch of different environments, from dark, eerie forests to high-tech towers. Interestingly, each area has its own unique look and feel, and there’s always something new to discover around every corner.

What makes the level design work so well is how interconnected everything is. Once you start unlocking new abilities, you’ll be able to revisit old areas and find hidden paths or new sections to explore. This gives the game a real sense of progression, as you gradually open up more of the world. It’s a rewarding feeling when you revisit a place and realize you’ve gained enough abilities to access areas that were previously off-limits.

On the other hand, some areas are more linear, while others are full of dead ends and branching paths. This keeps things interesting, though it can sometimes lead to a bit of backtracking. But overall, the exploration is a major highlight of this 2D platformer game, and there’s always something new to uncover.

Verdict

When Shadow Labyrinth was first announced, players weren’t sure what to expect. The idea of turning Pac-Man into a dark, Metroidvania-style game seemed pretty ridiculous at first. But as it turns out, Bandai Namco has pulled off something pretty special. The game is a great mix of exploration, combat, and nostalgia, with enough twists and turns to keep things interesting.

Sure, it has its issues. The combat can be frustrating at times, and the story is a little challenging to follow if you’re not familiar with Bandai Namco’s older games. But the world is fun to explore, and the abilities are satisfying to unlock. Similarly, the giant mech transformation is a blast. In the end, Shadow Labyrinth proves that sometimes the weirdest ideas can end up being the most fun. If you’re a fan of Metroidvania games or just curious to see how Pac-Man can evolve in a completely new direction, Shadow Labyrinth is definitely worth checking out. It’s a wild, fun, and unexpected adventure that’s sure to surprise you.