- Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment
- Release Date: Dec 6, 2016
- Also On: Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
- Unscored
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LEVEL (Czech Republic)Feb 6, 2017After many years, we have a clever game with a fantastic design set in the original environment, that upgrades the gameplay of Commandos and Desperados series almost to a piece of art. [Issue #271]
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Dec 6, 2016Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is the prince's sweet kiss on a beautiful sub-genre which has been sleeping for far too long. A revitalising effort which should be supported whole-heartedly.
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Jan 17, 2017Shadow Tactics’ impressive missions, laden toy box and likeable cast make it one of the greatest stealth games of the last decade.
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Sep 11, 2017A remarkably strong challenge of your tactical skills hides some wonderful world-building and character-driven storytelling that helps this game really stand out.
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Aug 15, 2017An excellent and challenging update to a familiar formula, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is one of those games that makes you cheer at your well-planned success when everything goes off without a hitch, and groan at your own poor planning when it doesn’t. It gets so much right, that the relentless difficulty, and slightly less gorgeous console port can’t mar its beauty. This one snuck up on me, and I couldn’t be more glad that it did.
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Mar 12, 2017For fans of real-time tactics and stealth games, Shadow Tactics is very nearly without compare. It’s that same classic Commandos gameplay wrapped up in an exquisite new shell; still punishing yet not cruel.
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Feb 1, 2017Few games show the level of care and polish put into this production. From the superb music to the beautiful graphics, and of course its great gameplay, only the requisite of huge patience, some random spikes in difficulty and long loading times could be mentioned as minor faults in a great overall. A game no fan of the genre should miss, but should also be prepared to spend hours playing it.
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CD-ActionJan 13, 2017There’s a lot going on in Shadow Tactics, the scenarios are really well designed and I enjoyed the game immensely till the end. The only thing I can accuse it of is being too conservative in terms of characters – I wouldn’t mind some more creativity in this department. [01/2017, p.60]
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Jan 11, 2017A brilliant tactical puzzle game, interesting story, engaging characters, slick controls and beautiful maps make this a very enjoyable play. It’ll take you while to get through each level but it’s very rewarding when your plans all come together and you feel like a master ninja!
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Jan 4, 2017The excellent stealth game is equal in everything with its legendary genre predecessors. Must have for all Commandos-series fans.
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Dec 15, 2016Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun follows the gold standard of this sub-genre set by the Commandos series: big maps that feel alive, different playable characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and lots of ways to complete a level.
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Dec 7, 2016If the name "Commandos" sparks a welcoming nostalgia feeling then Shadow Tactics should be a game you should not miss. Mimimi Productions manages to convince us beyond doubt that this niche and long forgotten genre is not only far from obsolete, but rather feels as fresh as the first time we put our hands in Pyro’s first endeavour.
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Dec 16, 2016Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is the Commandos serie heir, with some camera problems but great mechanics.
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Game World Navigator MagazineJan 25, 2017There are multiple ways to complete each mission, and to spur player’s imagination, developers offer additional challenges – for example, a playthrough with no firearms, or a pacifist one. So, even though Blades of the Shogun only has a dozen missions, it will keep you entertained for a long time. [Issue#216, p.40]
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Jan 3, 2017Fifteen years have passed since the last Commandos, and Mimimi Productions managed to revive the legacy of Pyro Studios. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is an excellent tactical game, deep and profound, albeit some minor and forgettable flaws (probably due to the inexperience of the German software house).
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Nov 23, 2016Old school stealth tactics game in a modern style with motivating and great level design that requires strategic finesse.
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Feb 7, 2017Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun demonstrates that the Commandos style of gameplay is timeless. And that not only do we need more of it, we would be fortunate if Mimimi Productions were at the helm. Their Japanese squad-based stealth experience is as challenging as it is satisfying, rivalling a series that is now a fading memory. It has immaculate level design, exacting guard positioning, and a pet Tanuki that is cute and helpful.
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Jan 11, 2017Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a pleasant surprise. In a time when the genre is making a comeback, it adheres to some of the popular traits while still providing a fresh setting, an interesting story and a good set of characters. Stealth fans will love the level of intelligence in the enemies, while light strategy fans will love the various options at their disposal for accomplishing even the simplest of tasks. With a good presentation and solid controls for both keyboard/mouse and controller, Shadow Tactics is an excellent choice for anyone who's looking for the next strategy or stealth game fix.
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Dec 26, 2016Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a fantastic return to form for the real-time tactics genre, with a particular emphasis on stealth based gameplay. Reminiscent of Commandos, it offers a fantastic tactical approach in a brilliantly designed world that will do more than enough to grab anybody’s attention. Not without its difficulty, it's never too hard that it's unfair.
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Dec 16, 2016Shadow Tactics fills a hole in modern gaming by harkening back to a forgotten genre and style. It enhances its smart, challenging gameplay with likeable characters, beautiful art and clever new features. It's a style of game that I haven't seen done properly in more than a decade, and while it's handled differently than classics like Commandos, Shadow Tactics packs in a wonderful team of varied characters and tons of ways to experiment with your strategy.
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Dec 8, 2016For fans of Commandos and similar squad-based games, Shadow Tactics is a must play. It is a pure tactical bliss, even more so if you're into Japanese culture and history.
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Nov 28, 2016A glorious return for the hardcore tactical stealth genre.
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Nov 23, 2016If you like your realtime tactics with a flavor of old school like Commandos or Desperados then you can look forward to intense infiltration with challenging missions and superb AI.
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Nov 22, 2016A Commandos-like RTS that manages to revive a genre by itself.
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Nov 23, 2016Shadow Tactics does a beautiful job of reviving the Commandos formula, with challenging missions, interesting characters and varied level design. A robust user interface and three slots for quicksaves make sure that not only the hardcore audience, but virtually every player can have a great time with Shadow Tactics. All you need is a bit of patience.
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Dec 15, 2016Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun’s uncommon attentiveness to characters and story elevate what is already a really entertaining and mentally stimulating quest across 17th-Century Japan. The near-constant annoyance of the camera definitely hindered my feeling of being a zen ninja assassin. Overall though, developer Mimimi has put together one of the most punishing and clever top-down stealth games I’ve ever skulked through.
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Feb 10, 2017We may never find ourselves playing a new version of Commandos, but Shadow Tactics offers the closest experience to what Commandos series used to offer. A Stealth-Tactical RTS game based loosely on Japan’s Edo period that every single Commandos fan should play.
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Jan 27, 2017Shadows Tactics: Blades of the Shogun offers a fresh look at an old genre. MiMiMi knew what it was doing, and made a game for many gamers to enjoy.
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Dec 20, 2016I've spent a few work nights staying up way too late playing, just to see what it would throw at me next. With the replayability built into each mission, I can imagine a few more of those nights on the horizon.
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Dec 18, 2016Shadow Tactics' basic ideas are masterfully executed, making it one of the best stealth games in recent memory.
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Dec 16, 2016Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun provides a satisfying challenge, making gamers feel like a badass for even the smallest of victories.
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Dec 14, 2016Shadow Tactics is a fantastic successor of the best stealth-tactical games like Commandos or Desperados.
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Dec 12, 2016Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun will have you plotting the art of war like a master tactician. You will forge elaborate plans and test them in the fires of a a beautifully realised Edo-period Japan.
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Dec 7, 2016A fantastic spiritual successor of the classic Commandos series. If you like stealth tactics games, you will enjoy with Shadow Tactics and his epic strategic action with ninjas and samurais.
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Dec 6, 2016Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a brilliant revival of the "hardcore stealth tactical games" formula. The german developer Mimimi Productions overcome the tradition by offering some new features that surely modernizes the original gameplay. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is fun and challenging, with some technical issues.
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Dec 4, 2016Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun manages to resurrect a genre without a good representative for almost a decade. Minor shortcomings of this title can't lessen the satisfaction of every successful mission or a smart move around enemies.
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Dec 1, 2016Shadow Tactics brings back the strategy-tactical action, and it does it in an excellent way. It's challenging and satisfying, and if you like its concept, you shouldn't miss it.
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Dec 1, 2016Each level takes plenty of skill, and you’re given some great abilities and weapons to execute your attack, even if the levels take a long time to complete.
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Nov 27, 2016Shadow Tactics brings back the atmosphere of some classics, like Commandos and Desperados, with a hard and fun tactical gameplay.
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Nov 21, 2016There aren’t many games like Shadow Tactics, and thankfully, it sets the bar high for any would-be challengers. The blend of RTS controls with stealth-oriented gameplay and level design create incredibly satisfying, almost puzzle-like encounters. It takes a lot of time and patience to be able to discover the solutions to these puzzles, however, and the hours long missions often left me feeling fatigued before I was even halfway through with them. Shadow Tactics is a unique exploration of the stealth genre with a great amount of polish, but if you’re going to dive in, be prepared for just how deep the water is.
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| This publication has not posted a final review score yet. | |
| These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation. | |
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Dec 2, 2016Atmospheric and impossible to rush, Shadow Tactics is a fabulous game – a game I think I prefer to both Commandos 2 and Desperados. I can see myself replaying it regularly.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 342 out of 404
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Mixed: 37 out of 404
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Negative: 25 out of 404
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Dec 7, 2016
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Dec 6, 2016
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Dec 7, 2016