Latest Styx offering disappoints in second half
While stealth has become something of an afterthought in games - even in big franchises such as Metal Gear Solid and Assassin’s Creed who built their reputations on lurking around, undetected in the shadows - there are still developers out there who are flying the flag for a genre that has, somewhat ironically, become lost in the ostentatious bustle of modern gaming.
One such developer, Cyanide Studios, managed to turn a number of heads with 2014’s Styx: Master of Shadows and are now seeking to capitalise on the gaming communitie’s warm reception towards their debut effort with their latest offering: Styx: Shards of Darkness. While Shards of Darkness unashamedly draws high-fantasy inspiration from works such as Lord of the Rings, the decidedly low-fantasy and oddly endearing Styx is our ghoulish protagonist.
Styx is written to be comically vulgar, but his attempts at humous generally feel uncomfortably close to the realm of toe-curling slapstick, while his clumsy endeavours at breaking the fourth wall feel annoyingly contrived. There are, however, some moments where his comedic exploits will elicit a few laughs and his ambling, Gollum-like gait feels rather charming.
Shards of Darkness would be nothing without its fluid controls. Running, crouching, and jumping are responsive and complement the opportunities to interact with your environment. A cover mechanic makes Styx adhere to the nearest wall and often recognizes your intended cover. That same button also lets Styx grab onto the ledge if you walk off the edge of a surface, which helps avoid dangerous falls and makes engaging in wall scaling a breeze.
Shards of Darkness features nine missions and roughly 15 hours of gameplay. Oddly enough, despite the wisecracking toilet-humour present in much of the game, the plot actually deals with some pretty weighty themes that become more and more apparent as the game progresses. Without giving anything away, the story is surprisingly decent and well worth the full playthrough.
Level design is far and away the game’s strong point, but also where Shards of Darkness ultimately falls flat. The first half of the game feels wonderfully designed, while the second half is immensely disappointing in its rehashing of previous content. While the current gaming market is utterly dominated with the heavy-hitting AAA titles, there should always be time to check out what the underdogs have to offer and Cyanide Studios Styx: Shards of Darkness is no exception. While it may not be perfect, it is a delightful 15 hour romp perfectly suited to the casual gamer.