Everyone knows Pac-Man’s little dots, ghosts, and waka-waka noises, so it’s a bit jarring to see the iconic puck mercilessly devour grotesque creatures. But that’s exactly what happens in Shadow Labyrinth, a bizarre Metroidvania that puts a cerebral twist on Pac-Man, celebrates Namco’s history, and serves as the bedrock of a fascinating new universe. It’s a tough-as-nails action platformer with a tremendous focus on platforming and exploration, and while it’s one of the most perplexing games of the year, that might be a good thing.
In Shadow Labyrinth, you play as an unnamed figure summoned to an alien planet by the mysterious Puck, a cybernetic, floating Pac-Man. You don’t know where you are, and you don’t know why you’re here, but you have to survive in a hostile environment.
