- Publisher: Bandai Namco Games
- Release Date: Jul 18, 2025
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox Series X
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Aug 10, 2025It pains me to say this, but Shadow Labyrinth feels somewhat like a relic in terms of structure, level design, and combat – one that seemingly never witnessed the birth of games like the Ori series or Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. In principle, it offers the foundations for a solid Metroidvania and is by no means a bad game. In practice, however, many of its competitors do things significantly better, especially when it comes to art style and combat. Unfortunately, not even the occasional nods to other Bandai Namco retro titles or the random Pac-Man mazes can quite make up for this.
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Jul 17, 2025It’s best enjoyed as a rare act of reinterpretation, flawed as it is, in a medium that’s so tightly wound about brand guidelines nowadays. In that way, it’s truer to the series’ ’80s roots than any nostalgia-focused Pac-Man game in the past few decades, a gonzo game destined to be remembered as a piece of weird video game trivia. There’s no shame in that if it winds up being its ultimate legacy. It’s better to be memorable than boring, and Shadow Labyrinth certainly isn’t the latter.
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Jul 17, 2025Shadow Labyrinth is one of the best Metroidvanias I’ve played in years. Bandai Namco avoided making this a cheap gimmick title and instead crafted a brilliant reinterpretation of Pac-Man that takes advantage of its genre switch. With tight combat controls and challenging puzzle sections, this is one of 2025’s best platformer titles. [Highly Recommended]
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