Shadow Labyrinth Reviews
Shadow Labyrinth is a surprisingly dark and demanding 2D action Metroidvania that successfully reimagines the Pac-Man universe. Its deep combat and labyrinthine level design are its best assets, reinforced by the distinctive Puck mechanic. However, its high difficulty and some discrete visual aspects may be an obstacle for some players.
Shadow Labyrinth is a game celebrating 45 years of Pac-Man and offers a great “what if the game were like that?” possibility. Mysterious, labyrinthine, full of references, and with a deep, thought-provoking story. Unfortunately, the high price for the image quality delivered may scare off new players, but it’s certainly a full and refreshing dish for the old guard.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
One of the main themes from the Secret Level episode that acts as a prequel to Shadow Labyrinth is ‘strength in repetition’. They took that a step too far in Shadow Labyrinth itself. At times, it almost felt like a chore to play Shadow Labyrinth. There are certainly some good elements here, so the game isn’t a total failure by any stretch. However, the highlights are so few and far between that overall, I can’t in good conscience recommend this game to anyone other than the biggest Metroidvania or Pac-Man fans.
Shadow Labyrinth is weird, bold, and incredibly compelling. It takes one of gaming’s most iconic franchises and reimagines it into something brooding, mysterious, and challenging — and somehow, it works. The moment-to-moment gameplay is satisfying, the world design is smart, and the mix of lore, mechanics, and visual storytelling is impressive.
To celebrate Pac-Man’s 45th anniversary, Bandai Namco decided to adapt the famous character to a sci-fi universe with the bold and mysterious vision of Shadow Labyrinth. Unfortunately, no one remembered they also had to think about the gameplay.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Shadow Labyrinth takes a beloved character and goes wild, crafting something bold and impressive.
Pac-Man meets Metroidvania in this bizarre yet bold experiment. Shadow Labyrinth mixes arcade nostalgia with punishing Souls-like mechanics, but uneven controls and a harsh checkpoint system take away from the experience. While its Pac-Man-themed platforming shows moments of creativity, the shallow world design and clunky combat make it feel more like a curiosity than a must-play.
Shadow Labyrinth manages to captivate with solid boss fights, a vast world, and a fresh reworking of an old classic. However, one should not expect an exceptional or narratively original work.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
I have to admit that I was really looking forward to Bandai Namco's game, but the first few moments were a bit lukewarm.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
An ambitious—even daring—game that dares to reinvent an icon like Pac-Man in the Metroidvania genre. It strikes a remarkable balance by reimagining classic elements within a dark science fiction universe but has some noticeable visual flaws, sprawling and often confusing areas, and a slow pace of progression. Despite this, the title offers great boss battles, an outstanding soundtrack, and solid level design.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I was hopeful for Shadow Labyrinth when it was announced, but as I played the game a lot of that eroded over the hours and hours I spent with it. It’s not a bad game for sure, I’ve played far worse Metroidvania’s over the years, but it’s also not a great game, held back by some archaic design decisions, a mostly bland art design, and some frustrating control moments.
A game that failed to surprise and that won't become as iconic as it could have been
Review in Italian | Read full review
Unfortunately, Shadow Labyrinth trips itself up, spoiling an experience that showed so much promise.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Shadow Labyrinth is a different view of the PAC-Man character. It is darker and certainly not family -friendly. The Metroidvania setting ensures the necessary walking back and forth, which certainly does not feel wrong. In addition, you are mainly looking for objects to make it easier for yourself towards the end. The only blemish on Shadow Labyrinth is the story. It gets going too slowly and you should have seen the episode Circle of Secret Level on Prime Video.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
While the combination of metroidvania platforming and Pac-Man provides an interesting concept, the execution leaves something to desire. The inaccurate attacks, sparse save points and lack of direction, combined with irregular difficulty spikes, hinder the game more than they should.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
If you like your action thoughtful and your pacing steady, this one’s in your wheelhouse.
It 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.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
In conclusion, the best parts of the game can feel like a product of a bygone era, almost akin to an old Game Boy title. Unfortunately, it also comes off as a cheap attempt at a Metroidvania with some occasional fun moments. And while I can appreciate the effort to do something different with Pac-Man, I think it’s better off sticking to the arcade.
"Even dark and gritty Pac-Man enjoys sunlight."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Shadow Labyrinth stands out as a bold experiment, fusing the arcade style of Pac-Man with the complexity of a metroidvania. Its hybrid mechanics, polished visuals, and adrenaline-pumping moments guarantee a satisfying experience, but it's ultimately hampered by confusing level design and unbalanced difficulty. Still, for fans of the genre, it's a worthwhile journey, albeit one that isn't memorable.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review