Styx: Shards of Darkness Review – A Deep Dive into the Shadows

“Styx: Shards of Darkness”, a compelling sequel to the popular stealth-action game series with RPG elements, beckons players into the murky world of a goblin thief. Set in the intricate landscape of the city of Toben, the game weaves a mesmerizing narrative, challenging stealth scenarios, and exceptional game mechanics into a thrilling adventure.

• Game Developer: Cyanide Studio
• Game Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
• Release Date: March 2017
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Official website: Official site
• Genre: Stealth, Action, RPG

Gameplay

“Styx: Shards of Darkness” perpetuates the enchanting narrative and stealth-action gameplay of its predecessor. The sequel continues the adventures of Styx, a wily goblin thief, through an even more labyrinthine world rife with political intrigue, dangerous alliances, and hidden threats. The story is set into motion when Styx, caught during one of his exploits, is offered a tempting deal by the captain of the Heldrin clan. His mission: to steal a staff from an ambassador aboard an airship. But Styx’s plan goes awry with the intervention of a mysterious elf with unusual abilities. The gameplay is mainly focused on stealth, as Styx’s strength does not lie in combat. To succeed, players must maneuver around expansive, multi-path levels and outwit adversaries through cunning and creative tactics, from deadly ambushes to crafty distractions.

The stealth mechanics have been significantly refined and expanded since the previous game, providing more options for players to complete levels undetected. While Styx has a range of lethal options to dispatch enemies – from backstabbing and traps to poison and tactical throws – a pacifist approach is equally viable. The ability to hide in the shadows, scale walls, and even clone oneself offers players numerous ways to outsmart and evade their foes.

Adding a layer of complexity to the gameplay, “Styx: Shards of Darkness” incorporates RPG elements. As the game progresses, players can improve Styx’s abilities, unlocking new skills and enhancing existing ones to cater to different playstyles.

Graphics

The transition from Unreal Engine 3 to Unreal Engine 4 has enhanced the graphical fidelity of “Styx: Shards of Darkness”. The game boasts more detailed textures, improved lighting, and high-quality shaders, lending a more immersive and realistic feel to the game world. The levels are not only more extensive but also contain a multitude of rooms, corridors, and hidden passages, each rendered with meticulous attention to detail.

Conclusion

“Styx: Shards of Darkness” is a stealth-action game that successfully combines a captivating narrative, refined stealth mechanics, and stunning graphics into a remarkable sequel. With its range of tactical options and well-designed, expansive levels, it offers a satisfyingly complex gameplay experience. Fans of the stealth-action genre, as well as the series, will appreciate the depth and detail of this game. However, its unique aesthetic and stealth-focused gameplay might not appeal to everyone. Despite a few minor flaws, Styx: Shards of Darkness stands as a strong entry in the stealth-action genre and a worthwhile play for any adventurous gamer.

Styx: Shards of Darkness System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics Card: 1 GB, AMD Radeon R7 260X / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560
• CPU: AMD FX-6300 (3,5GHz) / Intel i5-2500 (3,3GHz)
• File Size: 11 GB available space
• OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit)

Recommended Requirements

• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics Card: 4 GB, AMD Radeon R9 390 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
• CPU: AMD FX-8350 X8 (4,0 GHz)/Intel Core i7-4790 (3,6 GHz)
• File Size: 11 GB available space
• OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit)