Styx: Shards of Darkness
- March 13, 2017
- Cyanide
- 17h median play time
What's worse than dying in a game... dying and being heckled for doing so.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Styx: Shards of Darkness" is a stealth adventure game featuring the goblin assassin Styx. Explore large open environments, sneak past or assassinate enemies, and experiment with new abilities and weapons. Play solo or in co-op mode, and climb, swing, and hide through multi-layered environments. Gain experience to learn new skills and abilities, and complete missions with high stakes for your kin.
Reviews
- Great stealth mechanics with multiple ways to approach objectives.
- Humorous writing and character dialogue, especially from Styx.
- Improved graphics and level design compared to the first game.
- Reused levels in the second half of the game feel lazy and repetitive.
- Abrupt and unsatisfying ending with unresolved plot points.
- Clunky controls and inconsistent AI behavior can lead to frustrating gameplay.
- story910 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of "Styx: Shards of Darkness" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it lacks the depth and engagement of its predecessor, "Master of Shadows." While some appreciate the humor and character of Styx, others criticize the narrative for being disjointed, predictable, and ultimately unsatisfying, particularly due to an abrupt ending that leaves many plot threads unresolved. Overall, the game is seen as more focused on gameplay mechanics than on delivering a compelling story, making it a decent experience for stealth enthusiasts but potentially disappointing for those seeking a rich narrative.
“The first Styx was a real hero’s journey; he learns of his true nature and strikes out against the original Styx to become his own separate person, and that is the emotional core of the storyline.”
“The story is nice and Styx is cool.”
“The story is engaging and does not overstay its welcome.”
“The story is exceptionally boring and unengaging, and Styx is incredibly annoying to listen to, particularly because the writers clearly think he is being very funny when I only vaguely smirked at maybe one of the jokes in 12 hours of playtime.”
“The story is the worst thing I've ever seen; it was written by a 5-year-old with learning difficulties.”
“The story is messy and unfinished, as if cut during development or the writers simply gave up.”
- gameplay533 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Styx: Shards of Darkness" is a mixed bag, with many players praising its solid stealth mechanics, diverse abilities, and improved level design compared to its predecessor. However, frustrations arise from clunky controls, inconsistent mechanics, and a lack of engaging combat options, leading to a somewhat repetitive experience. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable stealth gameplay and a humorous protagonist, it suffers from technical issues and a less compelling narrative.
“While not the best stealth game, Styx: Shards of Darkness offers some fun, unique gameplay.”
“The gameplay mechanics in Styx: Shards of Darkness are its strongest suit.”
“The stealth mechanics from the first game have been polished such that mostly things just work, and in a way that makes sense.”
“Gameplay is mediocre, there are nearly no checkpoints and missions are just too long.”
“The gameplay felt like the developers themselves were tired of this game ever since they were somehow forced to make it.”
“The game is fundamentally flawed; jumps miss for no other reason than poor mechanics.”
- humor227 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players enjoying the witty, fourth-wall-breaking remarks of the protagonist, Styx, and finding the dark humor and absurd situations amusing. However, some reviewers feel that the humor can become repetitive and cringeworthy over time, detracting from the overall experience. While the game offers plenty of funny moments, opinions vary on whether the humor consistently hits the mark or falls flat.
“The writing is funny, the art is astounding.”
“Styx himself is a funny, fourth-wall-breaking character, and I actually laughed at some of his commentary and quirky attitude.”
“The humor, the funny anecdotes, and the breaking of the fourth wall are well done.”
“It has frustrating mechanics, a boring story, repetitive levels and music, and insufferable chronically unfunny dialogue.”
“The combat, crafting and skills were greatly improved from the first game; however, the humor in it is horrid and just plain cringey.”
“He used to be this sarcastic, amoral anti-hero; now he's been revamped into a pop-culture referencing, Deadpool-wannabe that can't stop with his cringey, unfunny jokes and constant whining.”
- graphics200 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the significant improvements over its predecessor, "Styx: Master of Shadows," and noting the beautiful environments and solid visual design. However, some players pointed out issues such as graphical glitches, texture pop-ins, and a cluttered art style that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered good for their time and well-optimized, they are not without flaws, leading to a varied reception among players.
“The graphics are really nice, especially for its time.”
“The graphics are great and still look good on the lowest settings.”
“The graphics are beautiful, and the physics are fairly tight.”
“Uninspiring, questionable, clumsy, and aesthetically unpleasing.”
“Textures are better, but the art style is cluttered and a mess of colors.”
“Folks, the graphics on Styx 2 are poor, the perspectives are poor, poor enough to deeply affect the game right from chapter 1.”
- music67 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its immersive quality and fitting atmosphere, while others criticize it for being repetitive and uninspired. Many highlight the soundtrack as a strong point that enhances the gameplay experience, particularly in stealth sequences, though some find it lacks memorability. Overall, while the music is generally considered good and well-suited to the game's themes, it does not break new ground.
“From the ambient noises of the environment to the tense music during stealth sequences, every audio element is meticulously crafted to draw players deeper into Styx's world.”
“The music and sound design are incredible and truly immerse you into the gameplay.”
“Along with this, this game has a lovely, fitting soundtrack which keeps you on edge and helps draw you into the world, something the previous game lacked.”
“The theme of repetition is also in the music - the music is not very inspired at all and it really numbs your mind when the same bland tracks are repeated over and over and over.”
“It has frustrating mechanics, a boring story, repetitive levels and music, and insufferable chronically unfunny dialogue.”
“Conclusion, sound and music works as they are supposed to be, but nothing special.”
- stability62 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a significant number of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with AI behavior, graphical pop-ins, and freezing at startup. While some users noted improvements in platforming mechanics and overall fun gameplay, the frequent technical problems, particularly in multiplayer modes, detract from the experience. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" and "unpolished," with a recommendation to approach it with caution or wait for patches.
“Other than that, the game is bug-free as far as I can remember.”
“Visually very pleasing; I also experienced no glitches, bugs, or crashes.”
“Haven't encountered any bugs yet, and it runs great on my PC.”
“The game is buggy right from the start, and with it being very mediocre, it really upsets me to see that not the same amount of love that I fell in love with from the first game wasn't also placed here.”
“Game has too many glitches to the point where it is almost unplayable.”
“Sound kept cutting out and Styx stopped talking halfway through his lines while the music picked up in volume for no reason. The camera kept flying through walls and was unable to decide if it wanted me to see Styx or the rope he was looking at. It's just too buggy to play as is and is a complete waste of money in my opinion.”
- atmosphere42 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its dark fantasy elements, immersive sound design, and engaging worldbuilding, creating a moody and oppressive environment that enhances gameplay. While some reviews note a decline in atmospheric depth compared to previous titles, many players appreciate the unique settings, character humor, and overall aesthetic, contributing to a satisfying stealth experience. Despite some criticisms regarding narrative and technical aspects, the game's atmosphere remains a standout feature, effectively drawing players into its richly crafted world.
“The sound design in Styx: Shards of Darkness is top-notch, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere.”
“The world of Styx is a dark and atmospheric place, reminiscent of classic fantasy settings with a darker twist.”
“Great gameplay that allows you to finish the levels in a multitude of ways, amazing dark fantasy atmosphere, good story and characters, and an amazing soundtrack.”
“Whether it's climbing (which this game tries a bit) to add verticality, story, atmosphere, world, abilities, creative areas, etc., this game just feels... soulless.”
“Old Styx but improved in every way except atmosphere.”
“Atmosphere and mood are absent.”
- replayability31 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, "Styx: Shards of Darkness" offers decent replayability due to its multiple paths, optional objectives, and diverse challenges, with a solid score of 7.3/10. While many players appreciate the variety of gameplay styles and unlockable skills that encourage exploration and replay, some feel that once the game is completed, the replay value diminishes, particularly compared to other titles like the "Hitman" series. The inclusion of collectibles and achievements adds further incentive for replay, but opinions vary on the long-term engagement after initial playthroughs.
“With its multiple paths, optional objectives, and diverse challenges, Styx: Shards of Darkness offers decent replay value.”
“The different styles of play are not always compatible with each other when you are completing each mission for the first time, so it adds replayability if you want to improve on your score.”
“The main story isn't long (took me about 10 hours) but there are plenty of challenges and collectibles, along with different ways to complete each mission that add to the replayability.”
“My only critique is that the game builds you up to be this powerful master thief assassin, but by the time you get to that stage the game is over; there is not much in the way of replay value.”
“Great for a single playthrough, but with no other options in approaching a problem, there is little replay value - unlike, say, in Hitman games.”
“Worth a playthrough, I personally didn't find much, if any, replay value after one run through though.”
- optimization28 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users reporting smooth performance and stable frame rates across various hardware configurations. While some players experienced significant issues, such as stuttering and lag, the majority found the graphics well-optimized and the gameplay enjoyable, particularly in the stealth genre. The consensus leans towards a solid optimization experience, making it accessible for a wide range of players.
“The performance and optimization of this game is also top notch.”
“The game is really rewarding if you are into the stealth genre and the optimization is icing on the cake.”
“Looks good, runs stable, performance is very good.”
“Optimization of this game is so horrible, that it makes it impossible to play.”
“Between stuttering animations and some bizarre lag and desync issues despite having a fast and stable internet connection, if the guest enjoys the game it's not going to be because the game really wants them to enjoy it.”
“It seems like the new AAA games that are being released are all rushed and unpolished, riddled with bugs and performance issues.”
- grinding19 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 84 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to repetitive material gathering, challenging boss fights without checkpoints, and cumbersome controls. Many reviews highlight that the game becomes monotonous as players are forced to repeat sections, leading to a loss of interest and enjoyment. The crafting system and enemy mechanics further contribute to the feeling of unnecessary busywork, detracting from the core gameplay experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Gathering materials is very tedious, especially since almost all the materials it gives you are ones you do not want.”
“The problem is in the later levels: too many enemies have special abilities (smell/hearing) or defenses (heavy armor), that make them very difficult and/or tedious to eliminate.”
“This is a casual jump&run stealth game that you will probably enjoy - especially if you are a stealth fan ... up until you hit one boss level in the middle of the game: the grinding begins - you can't save and you are cursed to start the level over and over and over and over again ;-( ...the riddles in the game are nice and manageable but this level is all about banging your head against a door until it breaks - stupid and monotonous.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 89 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players feeling a lack of depth and attachment to characters and events, particularly in the sequel, Styx 2, which they found to lack the emotional punch of its predecessor. While there are moments that evoke strong feelings, such as frustration and a sense of dedication, many felt that the overall narrative and character development were insufficient to create a meaningful emotional experience. Some players did find moments of genuine emotion, but these were often overshadowed by repetitive gameplay and lackluster design choices.
“The first Styx was a real hero’s journey; he learns of his true nature and strikes out against the original Styx to become his own separate person, and that is the emotional core of the storyline.”
“I cried a little bit on the inside when the ride was over.”
“It got my hands sweating and it made me want to cry.”
“It has frustrating mechanics, a boring story, repetitive levels and music, and insufferable, chronically unfunny dialogue.”
- character development3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being poorly executed, with a disjointed storyline and lack of depth in character arcs. While the character design shows some improvement over previous installments, it does not compensate for the overall shortcomings in narrative and development.
“The weak side of the game is the story, which is very roughly patched together with no character development.”
“Huge and useless levels, stupid storyline, awful character design...”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for intrusive fullscreen advertisements that disrupt gameplay and display issues, suggesting a lack of thorough testing before release. Additionally, misleading advertising regarding hardware compatibility has raised concerns about the game's overall quality and polish.
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by ads.”
“I feel like the game is designed more to extract money from players than to provide a fun experience.”
“The in-game purchases are so expensive that it feels like you can't progress without spending real money.”
Critic Reviews
Styx: Shards of Darkness Review
Styx: Shards of Darkness is an incredibly fun game - provided you are ok with slowing down the pace and willing to put up with uncompromising stealth. If you are looking for an action heavy stealth experience, this isn’t really your cup of tea. However, if you’re like me (though I’m terrible at stealth on the whole) and want a great, difficult challenge, Styx: Shards of Darkness might be right up your alley.
80%Styx: Shards of Darkness review
A mean-spirited character leads a big-hearted game; you’re unlikely to dwell on its lore but its features combine well to create a satisfying stealth experience.
79%Styx: Shards of Darkness Review - PS4
Overwhelming in size and overflowing with freedom with which to tackle its sprawling campaign, Styx: Shards of Darkness is an unapologetically pure stealth title that might struggle to expand its hardcore appeal beyond the die-hard fans of the genre.
75%
