Styx: Master of Shadows Reviews
Styx gets its hardcore stealth right, but its controls and platform elements fall short.
Admirably open levels that reward exploration means there's high replay value if you're prepared to overlook the back-tracking.
Clunky combat, bad AI, and so-so stealth leave Styx lingering in the shadows of mediocrity.
Styx: Master of Shadows is as pure a stealth game as they come. It forces you to be thoughtful and to observe, and rewards your patience with a satisfying tension that few games can match.
You're not going to love Styx. It's not the kind of game you're going to be itching for a sequel to. It seems kind of unfortunate that it was released within a week of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Alien: Isolation. But sometime five or ten years from now you'll be talking about stealth games with a friend and you'll go, "Oh, hey, remember Styx? That was pretty good."
A challenging, well-designed stealth game only let down by irritating combat and a lack of visual flair.
Pure stealth that you'll gleefully die your way through.
Overall, Styx: Master of Shadows is a great game that completely took me by surprise. It is strategic, intelligent, and offers players hours and hours of sneaky gameplay. Although the game does have a cookie-cutter story and some goofy voice acting, it is a great buy for the $30 price tag. I recommend picking up a copy if you have ever played Of Orcs and Men or are a fan of stealth games.
This isn't a game that takes itself overly seriously and it knows it. It's a good budget stealth game that actually takes the stealth part seriously.
Styx's stealth is less "Master of Shadows" and more like the lyric from his namesake band "This jig is up. The news is out. They finally found me."
Styx: Master of Shadows surprised me. The fluid controls and inventive game play kept me coming back to its lengthy campaign. I also liked Styx as a character. I might not have remembered what he did, but I had a good time getting him there. The price might be a little scary at $30, but for those that enjoy a pure stealth game, this one is definitely worth a look.
[D]espite its shortcomings, Styx: Master of Shadows is an enjoyable hardcore stealth game with the light trappings of its RPG forebear. At $30 and offering around 15-20 hours of sneaky goodness, if you can overlook the poor combat and budget animations, chances are you'll find a lot to like in Styx.
In closing, Styx: Master of Shadows is (read this in your best Yogi voice) slightly better than your average game . Problems can be frustratingly frequent just as moments of brilliance can fill an evening with a controller in your hand.
"Styx: Master of Shadows" has something special inside it, but with muddy, ugly character models, control hindrances and A.I. issues, a lot of the fun will be lost on casual gamers. Those who love stealth action games will find it an immense challenge however and will be able to look past most of the game's issues to, at the very least, have it steal about a dozen hours of their time.
Despite some wonky mechanics and frustrating gameplay, Styx: Master of Shadows is an excellent throwback to the glory days of the stealth genre.
Styx: Master of Shadows has a promising set-up that, at times, feels like a much-needed boost to the stealth genre, and that's something fans can appreciate after being let down by Thief. However, broken combat mechanics, combined with audio and level design issues, leave this game feeling somewhat incomplete. Stealth fans may be tempted to give it a try, but not everyone needs to pick up Styx.
Styx is an honest attempt at a traditional stealth title that, like its protagonist, all too often grasps for the ledge and falls short.
A slow and steady stealth experience with a gross protagonist and stark art style.The puzzle-like approach to stealth gameplay makes for an intense ride along the rafters, even if the loading screens grate after a while.
He may be an ugly little punk, but Styx still offers the player pure and largely unadulterated hardcore stealth action. It's still rare to find action games with a proper stealth emphasis, and rarer still to find them done as well as Styx: Master of Shadows. If you're looking for a game with good graphics and an emphasis on sneaking around in the dark and trying to achieve your aims with as little blood spilled as possible, you have your title right here.