We recently were invited by Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia for a media event in Singapore where we got our hands on Shadow Labyrinth to give you a preview.. The session gave us about 30 minutes of play time on the PS5, and what initially looked like just another platformer actually delivered some surprising depth.

The game’s premise revolves around survival and transformation – you start as prey but gradually evolve into an apex predator by consuming enemies and discovering new abilities. You play as Swordsman No. 8, who awakens on a mysterious alien planet surrounded by the remnants of ancient wars. A floating yellow orb called PUCK becomes your guide and companion, choosing you as the instrument of its will.

Combat

The first thing that stands out is the combat system. Your attacks follow the direction of the left analog stick, giving you full control over where you strike. This directional freedom feels fantastic when you’re surrounded by enemies, letting you tackle threats from multiple angles. However, the system demands precision – sloppy inputs will get you punished, so every attack needs to be deliberate and well-timed.

Shadow Labyrinth doesn’t ease you into its world gently. The difficulty ramps up quickly, made more challenging by the game’s sensitive controls. Movement has a floaty quality to it, and there’s an unusual acceleration when jumping that can mess with your timing. This becomes especially noticeable during puzzle-platforming sections that require exact positioning and careful timing.

Story and Design

Beyond the combat and jumping, Shadow Labyrinth includes a proper narrative with NPCs you can talk to. This story element gives the game more substance than your typical action platformer, providing context and direction for your journey rather than just pushing you forward without purpose.

The game does have some rough edges that might frustrate players. Respawn points are often placed too far from where you die, meaning failed attempts at tricky jumps or boss encounters send you on long walks back to try again. This can really test your patience, especially during the more demanding sections.

On the positive side, there’s solid customization for your combat abilities. You can enhance your character with various perks and abilities using a point system where each upgrade costs different amounts of points. This lets you experiment with different builds and playstyles, including quality of life improvements like enemy health bars.

Boss Encounters That Test Your Skills

Boss fights represent both a highlight and a major difficulty spike. These encounters feature enemies that can deflect your attacks with mask-like shields and counter-attack immediately afterward. Button mashing will get you killed quickly, forcing you to study attack patterns and wait for the right moments to strike. It’s satisfying once you master the timing, but getting there requires patience and practice.

First Impressions

Shadow Labyrinth shapes up as a platformer that’s easy to understand but challenging to master. The game demands control precision and patience that won’t appeal to everyone, particularly players who dislike high-stakes platforming or punishing checkpoint systems. However, those who enjoy a solid challenge wrapped in stylish presentation should find plenty to like here.

The combination of directional combat, narrative elements, and customization options helps Shadow Labyrinth stand out from other platformers, even if some design choices around difficulty and checkpoints might divide players.

Want to see more Shadow Labyrinth? Check out preview video below.