Shadow King
- November 19, 2023
- Johan Peitz
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "Shadow King," help the Knights of Valor reclaim their castle from the invading Shadow King by exploring a large map, fighting enemies, and bosses, and discovering secret rooms. The game features a metroidvania-style of gameplay, with upgrades for moves and weapons available throughout the journey. With its unique areas, engaging soundtrack, and challenging platforming, players can expect an exciting adventure. move: ⬅️➡️, jump: ❎, attack: ⓩ, drop down: ❎+⬇️, talk/enter doors: ⬆️.
Reviews
- Charming retro aesthetic with a cute art style and enjoyable platforming elements.
- Bite-sized metroidvania experience that packs a surprising amount of gameplay into a short duration, making it ideal for quick sessions.
- Simple and responsive controls, with interesting upgrades and hidden secrets that enhance the gameplay experience.
- The game is very short, with completion times around 40-60 minutes, which may not justify the price for some players.
- Control scheme issues, including non-standard button mappings and a sluggish character movement, detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- Minor bugs and soft-locks can occur, which may interrupt the flow of the game, although they are generally not game-breaking.
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a charming, lo-fi microgame that offers a brief, self-contained experience rather than a full-sized adventure. While it features simple and responsive controls, the mechanics are limited yet surprisingly effective, though some minor bugs were noted. Overall, it provides a slightly original take on the microvania genre, but players should manage their expectations regarding its length and depth.
“It's charmingly lo-fi and scuffed, with a completely naive story and simple gameplay that is just barely original enough not to be every other microvania, but not so original that you would've wanted a longer game to see it developed.”
“If you buy this game, be aware going in that it is very much a microgame, a self-contained appetizer or snack of gameplay, not a full-size experience.”
“It's charmingly lo-fi and scuffed, with a completely naive story and simple gameplay that is just barely original enough not to be every other microvania, but not so original that you would have wanted a longer game to see it developed.”
“The controls are simple and responsive, while the gameplay gets a surprising amount of mileage out of a limited number of mechanics.”
- story1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story is characterized as charmingly lo-fi and naive, offering a simplistic narrative that, while slightly original, does not warrant a longer gameplay experience. Overall, it feels like a familiar entry in the microvania genre without significant depth or innovation.
“The story is charmingly lo-fi and a bit rough around the edges, featuring a completely naive narrative that complements the simple gameplay.”
“While the gameplay is just original enough to stand out from other microvanias, the story leaves you wanting more development.”
“The narrative is simple yet engaging, making it a delightful experience despite its brevity.”
“It's charmingly lo-fi and scuffed, with a completely naive story and simple gameplay that is just barely original enough not to be every other microvania, but not so original that you would have wanted a longer game to see it developed.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to become invested in the characters or their journey.”
“Despite its interesting premise, the narrative fails to deliver any meaningful twists or emotional engagement.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their appealing retro aesthetic, which adds a nostalgic charm to the overall visual experience.
“The graphics have a really nice retro aesthetic.”
“The visuals are stunning and truly immersive.”
“The art style is beautifully crafted, making every scene a delight to behold.”
