Cloak & Dagger: Shadow Operations
- March 29, 2023
- Knight Division Games
Get on Steam"Cloak & Dagger: Shadow Operations" is a single-player, tactical stealth action game set in 199
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Cloak & Dagger successfully captures the essence of classic stealth games like Splinter Cell, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.
- The game features well-designed levels that allow for multiple approaches to objectives, enhancing replayability and strategic thinking.
- Despite its rough edges, the game showcases impressive graphics and lighting for an indie title, reflecting the passion and effort of its solo developer.
- The game suffers from significant AI issues, with guards often behaving erratically and failing to respond appropriately to player actions.
- Cloak & Dagger is very short, with gameplay lasting less than 30 minutes, leaving players wanting more content and variety.
- Numerous bugs and lack of polish, such as clunky controls, missing melee options, and inconsistent sound mechanics, detract from the overall experience.
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is characterized by a series of short missions that allow for open-ended gameplay, but players have noted issues with AI behavior and a lack of a quick save system, which can lead to frustrating experiences. While some missions, like the oil rig, are praised for their tension and the satisfaction of stealth gameplay, technical glitches, such as camera issues after completing objectives, detract from the overall experience. Overall, the narrative is engaging but marred by gameplay mechanics that can hinder immersion.
“Death comes swiftly if you're caught, so missions are pretty tense.”
“The oil rig mission was my personal favorite.”
“It did feel good to ghost missions with no alerts or knockouts.”
“There are only a few missions and they won't take long to complete, unless you suck at Splinter Cell.”
“I was not fond of not having any saves, but then again it was a short mission, so it didn't bug me much in the end.”
“- when I completed a mission objective by hacking a terminal, my camera was stuck facing that terminal, and I had to complete the rest of the mission facing that direction.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed feedback; while some users find them unimpressive overall, others praise the dynamic lighting and art style as outstanding. Recent patches have improved the visuals, but players have noted performance issues, particularly with frame rate drops when settings are maxed out. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point by many, enhancing the game's atmosphere significantly.
“It's fully complete, and the art style is just astounding; the lighting and shadows are just too good.”
“I want to really emphasize, I love the graphics and art style.”
“The graphics are nothing special, but the dynamic lighting adds to the atmosphere.”
“The developer quickly released a few patches that fixed some bugs and also improved the graphics.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a visually appealing style and generally smooth mechanics, set against an intriguing 1990s backdrop. However, players have noted significant issues with sound design, particularly the lack of audible enemy footsteps, which detracts from the stealth experience. While the light-based stealth mechanics are praised, the overall gameplay lacks distinctiveness and polish, suggesting that the ambitious scope may have overwhelmed the solo developer.
“The style is beautiful, the game runs pretty well, the mechanics that are there work well, and the 1990s setting is interesting.”
“I found the light-based stealth mechanics and sound-based detection systems to be spectacular.”
“The gameplay offers a unique blend of mechanics that, while not perfect, show a lot of effort and creativity from the developer.”
“The sound design is also not great; I played it with headphones but did not hear any footsteps from the enemies, which is a critical mechanic to have in a game like this (the original Splinter Cell had it).”
“I'm on the fence on this one; there are a lot of basics that are just awkward, and the bare gameplay isn't distinctly unique or refined enough. However, the effort and work put into it clearly generated a lot of experience for the creator. It might have been too much for a single person to undertake in the end, though there are a couple of distinct issues I'd like to point out for polish sake.”
“The sound mechanic is kind of weird.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its playful nod to classic gaming mechanics, such as the exaggerated vision cones, which some players find amusing despite their potential to hinder gameplay. Many users report experiencing genuine laughter during missions, indicating that the game's comedic elements effectively enhance the overall experience.
“I found this to be really funny, though it did make me lose a few runs lol.”
“I've played through only a few missions of C&D and I keep catching myself laughing like a maniac.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits notable stability issues, particularly with climbing animations that can lead to players becoming stuck. While some glitches and oversights are common in indie games, there is hope that these problems will be addressed in future updates.
“The game can be pretty buggy, particularly during climbing animations, which a few times resulted in me getting completely stuck and unable to move.”
“There are some glitches and oversights, as with many indie games, but hopefully these can be resolved over time.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for issues such as AI freezing during encounters and imprecise melee and interaction zones, leading to concerns about its overall performance and smoothness during gameplay.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the graphics may not stand out, the dynamic lighting effectively enhances the overall atmosphere of the game, creating a more immersive experience.
“The graphics may not be groundbreaking, but the dynamic lighting significantly enhances the atmosphere.”
“The immersive sound design and ambient effects create a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
“The combination of stunning visuals and haunting music establishes a truly unforgettable atmosphere.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been positively received, particularly the radio tracks, which enhance the atmosphere, along with clever text snippets that add depth to the experience.
“I loved the radio music and the little texts over the guards.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing every moment.”
“The variety of music tracks keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
