Shadow Labyrinth: PS5 Review

Developed by Bandai Namco Studios
Published by Bandai Namco
Platform: PS5

45 years is a long time for a gaming icon to survive.

And arguably Pac-Man, when it was released in 1980, painted itself into a corner - it was a very simple premise: consume the dots, kill the ghosts and escape the maze. Perhaps the key to its success was its simplicity and its ability to do exactly what was expected.

But over the years, game makers have taken on the challenge of Pac-Man and fiddled with the expectations. None more so than Shadow Labyrinth, a Metroidvania style take on the yellow peril that sees you an unnamed warrior forced to team up with a mysterious floating orb called Puck and try to break your way out of a prison and into a wider world.

Essentially a hack and slash platformer, Shadow Labyrinth succeeds in doing something different with the iconic character and imbuing the universe with a sense of mystery. Sure there are elements of the original game as you get to transform into the Pac-Man and consume dots, but there's more to this than just simple reverence.

A feeling of difference soaks into both the art and execution of the game, ensuring that platform fans have something to engage with - and while some may feel the whole game itself doesn't feel like it's one thing or another, those familiar with Pac-Man and its lore will be intrigued by the darker take on what plays out.

Atmospheric, dark and with some tough boss fights - as well as some retro surprises - Shadow Labyrinth shows there's a whole world beyond just mazes for Pac-Man or competitive game elements chomping against each other.