By Jordan Campbell Stealth games are a bit like marmite to me, some I love and some I dislike. My first taste of stealth that really clicked me was Tenchu on the original Playstation. Since then I’ve really loved titles like Metal Gear Solid and the Hitman series. That said, the stealth element really has to land for me to hold interest. Ereban: Shadow Legacy has recently launched on Xbox Series X/S and is the first outing in the gaming world for developer Baby Robot Games. It’s been available on Steam for a few years with a stream of very positive reviews, so when I saw it coming to console I was naturally intrigued to get hands on with it. How does the gameplay stack up against the big hitters in the genre, keep reading our Xbox Nation review to find out!
Ereban: Shadow Legacy delivers a dynamic stealth experience where you play as protagonist Ayana. You are the last descendant of a forgotten race. Early phases of the game act as a tutorial, where you’ll be learning how to adapt to the shadow merging and stealth mechanics. Instantly I noticed how nice the fluidity and fast flowing the movement felt. Levels are designed allowing freedom to explore your surroundings to find different route and vantage points. Perfect for sneaking up on enemies, infilitrating areas or simply looking for places to escape.
Objectives are very simplistic throughout the chapters but its how you tick off those goals that make the gameplay loop interesting. You’re encouraged to approach scenarios in ways that you see fit, how you move and negotiate each level within the stealth aspect is essentially up to you. After completing a level you’ll be assessed on your speed, stealth and how effective you were, which is a nice touch for replayability should you wish to run through levels again. It is possible to sneak through levels undetected if you’re an expert in stealth but that will all depend on your patience. Personally, I’d loved to see a bit more variance in enemy types and the AI was a bit predictive, so sometimes it didn’t feel challenging enough. The trade off though was how great the shadow merging, platforming and traversal moments felt to engage with. It was genuinely fun enough to see out the eight or so hours I had with the game, so over the course of a week I decided to tick off a chapter a night. So you could have several short bursts or a couple of lengthy sessions to see out the entirety of the game.
Ereban: Shadow Legacy is a stunning game, given its price point and the fact that it’s the developers’ first crack of the whip. Environments are beautifully crafted in such a way that they make the most of the shadow merge mechanics. Performance was silky smooth on Xbox Series X during my time with the game, seemingly locked at 60 fps throughout. There are some excellent lighting details, and at times, I stopped briefly to admire how pretty the surroundings looked. Between the wonderful cel-shaded visuals and how well they blend with the animations from Ayana’s shadow form, they have done a cracking job with the presentation here.
Audio is also superbly put together, with all elements complementing the excellent design work. Ayana’s voicing was a pleasure to sit and listen to, with some playful banter thrown into the dialogue, which kept the storyline more engaging. The soundtrack is subtle yet brings intensity at the right moments. Sound effects blend well with the rest of the package, with brilliant clarity through a top-quality headset. Magnificent work from Baby Robot Games in an all-around well-polished experience.
Considering stealth games don’t always click with me, I had a lot of enjoyment with Ereban: Shadow Legacy. Some extremely clever mechanics keep you engaged throughout the eight chapters of the game. For a first attempt at a game from developer Baby Robot Games, they have done a cracking job.
Nothing is ever overbearing or complicated, and the focus is on satisfying gameplay and robust mechanics. Whilst it’s not a long experience, I have always believed that quality over quantity is the key to a successful game. If you’re someone who enjoys stealth-driven action with moments of gameplay you may not experience in other games within the genre, then you may just love this one. It’s well worth picking up at a reasonable cost of £16.19 for what feels more like a classic Xbox 360 title of double-A standard. If you fancy it for Xbox Series X/S, then you can purchase a copy right HERE.
Score – 80%
Pros
- Stealth mechanics are satisfying throughout the whole adventure
- Great performance on Xbox Series X at 60fps
- Beautiful art style and atmosphere
- Enjoyable shadow merge and traversal systems
Cons
- Enemy variance is limited
- Some environments feel a bit samey
- Attacking AI can sometimes be too easy
Aegis Malkav
Fletcher Wilkinson