Styx: Shards of Darkness

Styx: Shards of Darkness is a really good sequel to Styx: Master of Shadows as the game offers more of the same, with improvements to everything that required it. If you've enjoyed Master of Shadows you'll enjoy this game as well, but playing Master of Shadows or having any knowledge of it isn't required at all. The team clearly had more budget to work with as the locations are much more varied and better looking, with some being downright gorgeous. The levels of the game are a good example of the difference between the word "small" and the word "compact": levels in Shards of Darkness don't always take a lot of horizontal space, but they're all very vertical and have a ton of hidden things and intricate paths, and there's new environmental objects that make going around the level more fun, such as ropes to climb or tiny windows on top of buildings. The only thing I liked more in the first game was its simple binary light/dark system: either you were in shadows, or you weren't. In Shards of Darkness there's varied level of light and I feel it's just harder to measure whether you can be seen or not. Not a big deal though. Styx was always a fun character, and this time around breaks the fourth wall all the time. I think this type of humour is hard to pull off and Shards of Darkness has a too thick layer of it, but it never bothered me personally. The story in the second game has too many plot twists (in fact, they happen almost after every mission) which makes it feel too hectic. It's not a bad story and it gets the job done, but nothing more. It's the main reason I give the game 4 stars instead of 5. It took me 23 hours to completely finish the game and unlock all the achievements, and I was taking my time exploring and collecting everything; it's not mandatory and won't even give you that many rewards, but I think it allows the player to fully enjoy and interact with all the details of the intricate levels, which is what the game is all about.

So far this is the last chapter of Styx and I gotta say Cyanide really stepped it up. You can clearly see the evolution of Cyanide in this game series and this is their masterpiece from a technical standpoint. The graphics look really sharp and nice. Beautiful graphics and breathtaking vistas. The only shotcoming to me was the story. It was feeling like a filler game before the final game, which so far has not manifested yet (but hopefully will some day!) The movement is smooth and in its best form. It is really fun to time your stealth perfectly in between masses of enemies. It feels like in some spy move films where everything is timed perfectly if you can pull it off. Very satisfying. And finally all achievements work (atleast for me so far!), compared to Of Orcs and Men and Master of Shadows. I can recommend this to every stealth fan in existence. All the tools, skills and abilities feel worthwhile for different playstyles. Styx' one liners are the best they have ever been (if you like that cheesy stuff!). I can only wish Cyanide will make another chapter of the Styx story, while finally filling the plot hole between Shards of Darkness and Of Orcs and Men. We all deserve this!

If you liked Styx:Master of Shadows, but, like me, were disappointed at the lack of mobility in some of the controls, then let me tell you, this game is an improvement from the previous title. It sets out to be a stealth game, and it does so excellently. Styx as a character is as harsh and meta as ever, which makes the game feel refreshing from the norm. Personally, I think a game does a good job when it makes me want to come back and play it again after I've pent the evening before playing it, and when I don't find any major frustrations while playing the game. Styx: Shards of darkness did both. I wanted to come back and play it again every day, and Only once throughout my entire playthrough did I get frustrated with the game, and it was a minor issue. If you enjoy stealth games, you'll enjoy this title.

which in terms of Styx is great. Yeah sure, the graphics are better, the controls more refined, you get some new skills. However master of Shadows looked good enough to me (can't argue on that but have to decide for yourself via Gameplay footage). In terms of the new skills I can't even remember them. What I remember is, that you get more then enough upgrade points. I think this is fine, as the challenges and side quests feel less necessary since you get enough points anyway. E.g. don't like collecting? Just skip it :) I think in this game it is more satisfying not to kill your enemies, while in master of shadows I killed some while having a second pacifist playthrough. However I like the idea that now you get gold, silver or bronce medals instead of all or nothing. For me the level design feels like a mixed bag: Some are great, most of them are good, some just okay. Even though Master of Shadows had more backtracking, the levels felt more intense, e.g. many levels had more satisfying vertical gameplay. The story is less satisfying but still enjoyable. To come back to my headline: Since I came from Master of shadows I felt a bit underwhelmed since it doesn't feel as fresh as my first contact with Styx. However with some time between them I consider them equal. So, if you can stand the graphics, start with the first one. MoS: Overall more satisfying level design, worse graphics (which I still liked and are conpensated by good art design anyway), better story, controls could be better but are still good enough. SoD: Better graphics, better controls, some minor improvements (Skills, achievement system), okayish story, some great new levels while others feel less intense but still good though.

Styx in new adventures. Similar gameplay as the first game. No need to have had anything changed anyway! Very interesting story again with some twists. This time, it doesn't concern Styx personally as was the case in the first game, but it has some connections with it. And of course humor, lots of it! The game again gets difficult as it progresses, but again not in an unfair way. I love his voice too! So fitting to him! The game ends in a promise of a third part, to which I’m surely looking forward!