Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
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  1. GameCritics
    Aug 17, 2017
    95
    It’s not hyperbole when I say that by recognizing all of its ifs and thoroughly ironing them out, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is one of the best tactics title I’ve ever played, and it’s certainly one of the finest games I’ve played this year. As a masterpiece in nearly every respect, I salute Mimimi Productions and eagerly look forward to their next work.
  2. Worth Playing
    Sep 7, 2017
    90
    I can't recommend Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun enough to fans of strategy and stealth titles. There is a high level of replay value, and there's a sandbox feel to the levels, so players can determine how to beat them in a variety of ways. The only thing holding it back is the lack of co-op, which makes every game better since I can play it with my younger brother. I have no doubt that there will be a sequel in the future, and if it is anything like this one, I'm already saving my pennies to get it on day one.
  3. PlayStation LifeStyle
    Aug 4, 2017
    90
    An immense stealth game that features dozens of satisfying mechanics and an undying focus on the art of tactical warfare. Even on normal difficulty, the game will force the player to use every iota of their tactical nuance as they assassinate their way through an emotional story-line that takes them to all manner of settings across the island nation. The game’s camera system is the only misstep in an otherwise superb port to console.
  5. PlayStation Country
    Jul 31, 2017
    90
    Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun has made the leap from PC to PS4 and has not only survived the fall but killed a guard on the way down. The controls take a little getting used to but the characters, level design and strategy-stealth gameplay will reward you plenty for putting in the effort.
  6. PlayStation Universe
    Jul 25, 2017
    90
    One of the most satisfying and fulfilling games i’ve played this year. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a great game that makes you think three steps ahead. I was hooked from the very first kill to the very last.
  7. Push Square
    Jul 25, 2017
    90
    A welcome return to a type of stealth-strategy that hasn’t been seen on PlayStation for many a moon. The period setting forms a great backdrop for the action, missions are steeped in atmosphere, and the central characters are just plain cool. Lack of co-op is a missed opportunity, but the addictive challenge badges will keep you coming back for more. Shadow Tactics: Blade of the Shogun is a serious tactical treat.
  8. Areajugones
    Jul 28, 2017
    88
    Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a great title for the fans of the strategy genre that play on consoles. Very deep and lots of content to explore.
  9. GamePro Germany
    Jul 25, 2017
    86
    Shadow Tactics: Blade of the Shogun has completely captivated me.
  10. 4P.de
    Aug 7, 2017
    85
    While the level design shows some inconsistencies and there are no real consequences depending on your choice of subtle oder bloody methods. But nonetheless this is a very entertaining and thanks to the competent AI challenging modern interpretation squad based realtime strategic infiltration à la Commandos.
  11. COGconnected
    Aug 10, 2017
    82
    Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a solid stealth experience with a lot of variety both in hero use and level design. It’s a beautiful game that should please any strategy buff, particularly those who enjoy the whole ninja/samurai aesthetic.
  12. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Sep 8, 2017
    80
    A cunning, demanding game, but never overwhelming or confusing. It wants to challenge you, but it also wants you to succeed, feeling like the coolest killer of all. [Oct 2017, p.96]
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  13. Everyeye.it
    Aug 4, 2017
    80
    For the time being, however, it can dominate unchallenged, as there are no rivals on the horizon.
  14. Eurogamer Italy
    Aug 4, 2017
    80
    After about six month from the PC release, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun comes to consoles bringing the way of thinking of Real Time Tactics in your controllers. Can’t match the comfort of the mouse and keyboard combo and the story remains a weak point, but it’s still enjoyable thanks to the delightful design and gameplay variety. If you recall games like Commandos and Desperados with pleasure, it’s time to few versus many again.
  15. SpazioGames
    Aug 4, 2017
    80
    Shadow Tactics is as good as it was some months ago on PC, with the added benefit that on both PS4 and Xbox One there are fewer worthy real time strategy games. We sincerely hope to see more of these games in the near future on consoles.
  16. Metro GameCentral
    Aug 3, 2017
    80
    It may have been over a decade since the last official Commandos game, but this smart new mix of stealth and strategy continues the legacy with great aplomb.
  17. TheSixthAxis
    Aug 2, 2017
    80
    While a fun and interesting take on the genre, Shadow Tactics will prove a little too demanding for some. Although self-contained, levels are surprisingly big, each crammed with an array of moving clockwork pieces. With some stretching past the half-hour mark, it can be an overwhelming and sometimes exhausting game to play. Still, you’d be hard pressed to find a stealth game as satisfying or rewarding.
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  1. Eurogamer
    Aug 9, 2017
    A winning premise of cleverly combined genres let down by a series of irritating design issues.

Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best PS4 Game of 2017
45
#45 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

User Reviews

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User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 139 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 116 out of 139
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 139
  3. Negative: 14 out of 139
  1. Wolfenstein51
    Aug 2, 2017
    10
    Brings me back to my days playing Commandos 2 on PC. The game is excellent, has a very clean look and is really fun to play. You really haveBrings me back to my days playing Commandos 2 on PC. The game is excellent, has a very clean look and is really fun to play. You really have to plan your approach to succeed in this game, but the payoff is worth it. This is a game I will be playing for a long time. If you like a bit of strategy in your stealth games, pick it up.… Full Review »
  2. Ikenda
    Aug 3, 2017
    10
    Wow I'm just shocked by this. Didn't see it coming. I tried the demo and realized that this is Commandos in feudal Japan! I bought itWow I'm just shocked by this. Didn't see it coming. I tried the demo and realized that this is Commandos in feudal Japan! I bought it immediately I'm having so much fun. Graphics are slick, controls are great for a console and the game is a total through back to the Commandos games which i really loved. This is going to resurrect this genre and I'm loving it! A must buy for anyone who even remotely knows what Commandos is and a must try for all the youngsters since there is a demo (another dying thing). Top notch!… Full Review »
  3. GBG_Jason
    Sep 28, 2017
    9
    A very astute man patrols the walkway, lined with stone and shrubberies, ensuring his fellow colleagues are safe. A battle has emerged at theA very astute man patrols the walkway, lined with stone and shrubberies, ensuring his fellow colleagues are safe. A battle has emerged at the front gate, and it is a battle life or death for the guards of the fort. The walls are lined with gunmen, firing away at the invading army of the Shogun. On his way back home for the night, the guard feels the cold steel of a katana cut across his neck, and all so suddenly tastes the copper of his own blood as he slinks to the ground and is dragged into the very bushes he kept walking past unknowingly. An assassin was waiting for the perfect moment to strike, as the Shogun would surely rule this land.

    Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a game that mixes two genres that go hand-in-hand: stealth and strategy. If there’s a genre that is most often either a hit or miss, it’s stealth. If the mechanics are off just enough, it ruins the entire game. Likewise, strategy can often be unplayable thanks to the difficulty and/or a lack of actual options. Luckily, this manages to harness the best from both genres, while also having a great story and plenty of replay value.

    There’s a lot that goes into the 13 levels you’ll be playing. While each one has a badge for completing it within a certain amount of time, (5 minutes, 15 minutes, etc), chances are you’ll be spending a lot more time than that. The first level took me about 45 minutes, and that’s not including all the reloading I did because I messed something up. The game allows for quick saves by pressing the touch pad, which only takes a few seconds. It keeps your three most recent saves, because we all know that when you save in a game like this, chances are you do so at a terrible time and need to rethink a portion of the game. This will save you so much frustration, and keeps the game fresh as you try different tactics in each level, as loading a quick save is near immediate.

    You start off with a ninja, but are soon introduced to a samurai and sniper, all of which you’ll end up controlling. As the game is constantly moving regardless of who you are, you need to ensure the characters are in safe spots when left alone. Crouched in a hidden spot is ideal, unless you’re keen on dying. This is a bit less of an issue if you’re killing everything in your path, but for those that are doing non-lethal playthroughs and only knocking characters out, the guards may come looking for you once they come to, and it doesn’t take them long to do so.

    Each of the five characters you gain control of has their own abilities, adding their own flare to each level. These include combat as well as distractions. When you are first introduced to a character, there are fairly obvious places to use them. The levels are designed to teach you their abilities if you are so inclined, although you don’t have to. The game is also sure to inform you of level specific features, such as riding in a wagon to get past guards or using the environment for kills. These will often factor into the badges for each level, and typically have a trophy attached. You’ll find that certain sections of levels are seemingly impossible without a bit of teamwork that you’d find in the likes of Modern Warfare with your AI sniper taking out the left as you kill the right. Luckily, the game offers a shadow mode that lets you set up an action per character, and lets you execute it at the perfect time with the press of the triangle button. This is extremely satisfying.

    The nice thing about the camera is it lets you view enemy patterns all around the level, and you can reset it back to who you’re currently in control of, which is nice as you can easily become lost in the maps. When wandering around, you will undoubtedly walk into an enemy’s vision cone that you overlooked. This will bring up a green cone that fills up with yellow until it reaches you, at which point it’s red and you reload your save. You CAN keep playing – you have life and whatnot – but with how often you save (the game reminds you ever minute and twenty seconds with a spiffy graphic) there’s really no reason not to reload. You are also able to view each enemy’s vision cone (one at a time) by pressing left on the d-pad, which allows you to get to the next bush at just the right time, or draw their attention and kill them just out of sight while their buddy surveys the area.

    If you are a fan of stealth or strategy, I highly recommend Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun. It offers so much content, and presents it better than most games in the genres it covers. The only downfall is the camera, and it is a big one once you spend some time with it, but that’s hardly a reason to not play this. Mimimi Productions has created a gem of a game, and their future looks very bright.    … Full Review »
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