Shadow Labyrinth (Nintendo Switch 2) – Le test

2025 marks the 45th anniversary of PAC-Man, icon of world-recognized video games, and for the occasion, Bandai Namco decided to take everyone on the wrong foot with a project as unexpected as it is bold. Announced during the Game Awards in a trailer that has left more perplexed than exciting, Shadow Labyrinth is the direct continuation of the episode PAC-MAN: Circlefrom the animated series Secret Level broadcast on Amazon Prime. And as much to say it from the outset: this mEtroidvania Dark and twisted is not afraid to break the codes, even if it means disturbing.

Bandai Namco is off the beaten track

This project, overseen by Bandai Namco, is a rare example where a major publisher allows itself a radical reinvention of one of its most emblematic mascots. After surprising with the horrific animated short film PAC-MAN: CircleBandai pushes the delirium further with a game which takes up the visual and narrative foundations while transposing them into a rich, complex and resolutely dark video game universe.

Shadow Labyrinth takes place after the events of PAC-MAN: Circle. The player embodies Swordsman No. 8a former soldier invoked by PUCKthe enigmatic yellow orb already present in the short film. The duo is evolving in a tender science fiction world, ravaged by war, populated by hostile creatures, technological vestiges and disturbing references to other Namco franchises. The story, deliberately obscure, distills its lore Through rare dialogues, environmental elements and meetings with a few NPCs. Clear narration enthusiasts may be confused, but those who love read between the lines will have something to be passionate about.

The word that comes up most often when we previously talked about the gameplay of Shadow Labyrinth, is « tight ». And for good reason: whether in exploration or in combat, the title offers an extremely experience nervous, precise and gratifying. We find the fundamentals of the Metroidvania genre: double jump, dash, powers to be unlocked to open new areas, hidden secrets and backtracking. But here, the execution is particularly rigorous. The feeling recalls demanding titles like Hollow Knight (in particular his White Palace) or Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.

Among the notable mechanics, we find a grapple allowing both dynamic air trips and contextual attacks, A mecha Gaia form – triggered via the two sticks – which offers a short moment of destructive power, as well as The possibility of using Puck To navigate rails inspired by the Pac-Man universe, where he devours “ora” serving as money. Finally, A MODE MINI-PUCK Occasionally transforms the gameplay into a puzzle/platform phases at the Megaman, adding a welcome touch of variety.

The fights are both readable and ruthless. The alternating defense system between parade et shieldand it is crucial to learn to juggle between the two. The clashes against them act as real skills testspushing the player into his entrenchments.

A demanding and labyrinthine level design

Shadow Labyrinth Definitely bears his name: this is probably one of the most labyrinthine metroidvania in recent memory. The world is divided into interconnected areas which offers a myriad of paths. Each area offers a triptych of events – platforms, puzzles and fights – to be tackled in the desired order. If this structure works well in the first hours, it becomes repetitive and we feel a lot of lack of variety. That said, the game strongly encourages non -linear exploration, notes and spatial memory, rewarding the attentive player with new powers, shortcuts or secrets.

Shadow Labyrinth is not just a horrifying pac-man game: it is a real degenerate museum of Namco culture. The references are omnipresent, but always diverted with a sinister touch. We think in particular to the ghosts of PAC-Man revisited as demonic entities, to a hilarious sequence where we face a gwarized version of Dig Dug (which must be inflated with the grapple until explosion)or To winks in Bosconian, Splatterhouse and other obscure licenses in the Namco catalog. The whole bathes in a cyber-horrifying aesthetic, where each environment tells a story of ruin, war and manipulation.

An artistic direction that hits the bull’s eye

Graphically, Shadow Labyrinth evokes Ender Lilies or Ender Magnoliabut transposed into a SF universe. THE animations are fluidcontrolled light effects, and backgrounds strengthen the worldbuilding. The visual atmosphere, sometimes almost organic, gives a real personality to the game. The variety of environments remains to be confirmed, but the first levels already show a ambitious and consistent artistic direction.

On the sound side, the game also takes risks. While we expected rock or industrial electro, the title screen welcomes us with a Suave and cozy jazzrecalling the Yakuza for a moment. This unexpected choice sets the tone: Shadow Labyrinth Don’t try to be predictable. The music at stake oscillate between dramatic tension and heavy atmosphere, while the sound effects – especially those of puck transformation or grotesque explosions – support the horrific and surrealist dimension of the title.

Handling requires an adaptation time, especially for the grapple and the millimeter jumps. But once the mechanics are assimilated, the game becomes Fluid and technical playgroundideal for speedrun and challenges lovers. The transformation into a PAC-Man rail also offers more calm, almost contemplative moments, before leaving in pure action.

Even if the game comes out on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, our test was done on Switch 2 but with the game in “Switch 1” mode. The upgrade is free on the day of the outing, but not yet available before. If the game is already very fluid before this Switch 2 patch, it will benefit from a 4K resolution at 60 images per second when it is played in Docké mode on Nintendo Switch 2.