Title: Styx: Master of Shadows
Developer: Cyanide Studio
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Release Date: October 7th, 2014
Game Engine: Unknown
Number of Players: Single
Gene: 3rd person hardcore stealth
I had mixed opinions with this game when I saw it on Steam on its release date. It claimed it was for ‘hardcore stealth fans’. I like stealth, but I also like a good ole fashioned “DIE IN THE FACE!!!”
Anyway, this game seems to have a lot of Dishonored in it (mainly playing stealthy, and looking through keyholes), and also how you have the option of hiding the body.
There’s also added editions to separate this game from Dishonored. Such as, you can scale walls, you can put out torches to remain in the shadows. You can also use sand with some of your spit to knock out distant torches.
Anyway, the plot. You’re on some far away planet (not Earth). You play as Styx, an old goblin who is a master at being stealthy (and again I make him look really bad at it). Humans are seen as ‘bad guys’, trying to siege control of amber from the Elves. Styx wants the amber to himself. And the way to get it is the source; the heart of the World Tree (no, not the one in WoW. This one glows). He wants it to be the last thing he does before he retires.
However, he gets captured. And after a rather lengthy cutscene, you eventually get to play. Styx seems to sometimes almost break the forth wall when he talks about how he needs something, or something is in the way (to the player). Almost feels like Deadpool at times.
In the second level, you get to use a clone of yourself to not only distract enemies, but get to areas you cannot access. Feels like a bit of The Swapper. Yeah.
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Right. Review time.
Good:
-Can’t really think of anything. Guess.. it’s not shit? That’s a good thing.
Bad:
-During some cutscenes, the FPS goes down to 20.
-Intro cutscenes take WAY too long…
-Plot isn’t that well explained. It’s another one of those “Was there a game before this?” things.
-Difficulty seems to not matter. I’m playing on Easy, and there’s no alertness bar. The second they see you, you’re fucked.
-Controls aren’t properly taught to you, especially the whole “throw sand at torch”. It never tells you how to select a torch.
-No way to do a non-lethal takedown (Dishonored had an option). It takes a good 15 seconds to do a muffled kill, exposing yourself to enemies you didn’t see.
-There was one part where I was literally stuck. Was watching this guy. Took too long, and now he won’t fucking move away from the window.
-Bad (yet hilarious) lip syncing.
Neutral:
-Game feels too punishing for people who suck at stealth. But it’s actually supposed to be.
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I dunno, guys. I guess the game assumes you know how it works before you play it? This just isn’t for me. I’m not that good at stealth. But as I said before, I love good stealth games. And this is a really, really good stealth game. Don’t get me wrong about that, but it doesn’t help n00bs like myself out. Plus, I wish I had something more than just a dagger.
Glad I got it for free. 🙂