I’m a one-armed at stealth games. I like them a lot because of the planning, having to react with agility and the always satisfying feeling that the plans go well, but my patience is scarce and my tolerance for frustration is quite on par. Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew It’s the first game where I’ve dodged those two issues completely.
With the trend of pirates as the flag, the creators of the formidable Shadow Tactics and Desperados III sign here a twist on the classic gameplay of Commandos to offer a much more accessible approach without losing any of the strategy and depth that the most demanding fans demand.
Turning the menu into part of the narrative
Save game and load game, probably the two actions that you repeat the most in a game in which the idea is to plan the death of your enemies in the most accurate way possible. right there is where Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew begins to shine, integrating that well-known action into the narrative.
Hand in hand with a group of underworld pirates in search of the greatest possible treasure, the great protagonist of Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew It is the ghost ship that accompanies us. Not only because of its weight in the story and act as a HUB from which to get to know the crew better, choose a mission and play specific missions, but also because of its power to manipulate time.
The ship will be in charge of reminding us to save the game regularly in case things go wrong, and also to load the last save point at the click of a button. No menus, both for saving and loading, the agility is amazing, thus promoting experimentation, and it is even a detail that becomes part of the story itself (I don’t want to ruin any more surprises, and there are a good handful of they).
But my favorite play of the proposals by Red Marley is that of stop the time. With three characters per game, the game allows you to stop progress at any time at the click of a button to execute automated strategies.
You kill this one, you throw something there to mislead that other one, and the third one deals with the one that remains. Run action. It works like a charm and gives way to a fantastic range of brutal combos between characters that, supported by their own abilities and a formidable design of scenarios and situations, make Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew a delight from start to finish.
Shadow Gambit: in the variety is the taste
There are those focused on melee attacks, those who attack from a distance, those in charge of misleading enemies and creating cover… A very varied collection of characters that we will gradually unlock as we overcome levels and return to old acquaintances to face new challenges.
Despite the fact that he tries with special zeal, perhaps the weakest point of this is probably the lack of variety in the setting between some scenarios and others. Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew.
The islands are relatively limited for how long the story can drag on, and while we can jump from a collection of wrecks to the fortress of drastically changed enemies, something more disruptive is missing from most settings.
Luckily the new objectives and the narrative make approaching them again provide enough variety so that it does not become repetitive (special mention to when you must overcome them taking advantage of the abilities of a specific character in a superb way), but in reality Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew it makes him come quite well.
The key is that, with the possibility of choosing your next challenge freely and with three characters per phase that you choose at the start of each game, it is in the combination of their different abilities that really continually adds freshness.
The game encourages this by making those who stay on the ship more eager to join the next level, offering more experience points if you decide to choose them instead of the regulars, and thus allowing you access to improved abilities that modify their special attacks and make that exchange a decision that is not difficult to face.
VidaExtra’s opinion
Due to the accessibility of his proposal, the depth that emboldening himself can bring by carrying out strategically designed joint attacks, the hilariousness of his radically different abilities, and the good use he makes of the narrative, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew I found it an essential jewel even despite its details.
It is true that a little more variety of enemies and scenarios would have finished shaping a fantastic game, but the work he does with the tools at his disposal and how his level design completely squeezes the choice of characters you make in each adventure, makes it easy for you to forget about any complaint you may have.
Price of Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is available for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series for a recommended price yet to be revealed and launches on August 17, 2023.
Duration of Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
Although if you are quite skilled with this type of games it is easy for you to stay in some 30 hoursthe possibility of carrying out secondary missions to learn more about the characters or go to secret challenges can end up adding a good handful of hours to the counter.
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
| platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X / S and PC (reviewed version) |
|---|---|
| multiplayer | No |
| developer | Mimimi Games |
| Company | Mimimi Games |
| Launch | August 17, 2023 |
The best
- An unrivaled game of stealth and strategy
- The variety of its characters
- Easy and Satisfying Combos
Worst
- Some additional scenario is missing
- Not all characters are equally interesting
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