Styx: Master of Shadows Released, Reviews

With today's release of Focus Home and Cyanide's Styx: Master of Shadows, it comes as no surprise that an avalanche of reviews for the stealth-based RPG are ready and waiting for your reading pleasure.

Gamersyde goes with no score:

Looking back over their long list of past works it might not be a stretch to say that Styx: Master of Shadows is the finest game Cyanide Studio has made yet. Those who love the focused design of classic Thief games or the more modern Dishonored should find something here that they'll enjoy but one must keep in mind some of its frustrations. The sloppy controls mixed with an ill-conceived detection system can produce some frustrating, trial and error filled moments. Still, when everything eventually clicks, the end result can prove quiet enjoyable. If you're looking for a stealth game that is entirely devoted to stealth and have patience to deal with a bit of (jankiness) give it a try.


Entertainment Buddha gives it an 83/100:

Fans of the stealth genre looking for a new title to renew their love of a good breaking and entering will surely be thrilled with Styx: Master of Shadows. Newcomers, as well, are destined to enjoy Styx's journey, as the game's wonderfully executed mechanics, tremendous level design and enjoyable writing are enough to capture the imagination from the game's outset. Styx, and his misadventures in Master of Shadows are undoubtedly one of this year's biggest and stealthiest sleeper hits.


Strategy Informer gives it a 5.5/10:

Styx is a likeable protagonist and is quite possibly the best videogame goblin of all time, but his humorous nature and sailor-like vernacular isn't enough to lift his game beyond the abyss of mediocrity it languishes in. Very much stealth by the numbers, Styx's levels feel more like joyless assault courses built to test the skills honed in other games than truly entertaining experiences in their own right.


Hardcore Gamer gives it a 4.5/5:

Styx: Master of Shadows is as pure a stealth game as they come. It forces you to be thoughtful and to observe, and rewards your patience with a satisfying tension that few games can match. The abilities Styx has at his disposal are all great fun to use, and the levels are designed in such a way as to encourage experimentation and creativity. Ghosting through a level is exhilarating in ways I haven't felt in ages, and Styx brings a substantially better story to the table than most of its contemporaries. Despite a few rough edges, Styx: Master of Shadows deserves a place alongside Metal Gear Solid 3, Hitman: Blood Money, and Mark of the Ninja as one of the best titles the genre has to offer.


TechZwn doesn't score it:

Overall, Styx: Master of Shadows is a good game. Players who are not into stealth games will likely find it frustrating. Despite its varying difficulty levels, it plays overall like a hardcore stealth game. But for fans of the stealth genre, Styx is sure to be a memorable and challenging experience and is one of the best stealth games to come around in years.


MMORPG.com gives it a 7.2/10:

Nonetheless, despite its shortcomings, Styx: Master of Shadows is an enjoyable hardcore stealth game with the light trappings of its RPG forebear. At $30 and offering around 15-20 hours of sneaky goodness, if you can overlook the poor combat and budget animations, chances are you'll find a lot to like in Styx. The PC port controls are actually solid, though I still wound up playing the game mostly on the 360 controller, mainly because it was more comfortable. Just keep in mind there's a reason he's called the Master of Shadows, not the Master of Fighting, and you'll likely be very pleased with your purchase.


Twinfinite gives it a 3/5:

In closing, Styx: Master of Shadows is (read this in your best Yogi voice) slightly better than your average game . Problems can be frustratingly frequent just as moments of brilliance can fill an evening with a controller in your hand. The green menace Styx steals your heart only for inconsistent stealth mechanics to tear it from your chest. If you're a huge fan of sneaking around then this is definitely a game to consider. However with big title games like Alien: Isolation and Shadows of Mordor competing for your wallet, the little goblin has little chance of standing out. Rather than being the Master of Shadows, the little guy is a jack of all trades, master of none.


APGNation gives it a 6/10:

Styx is a fun stealth game with multiple routes and options, but sometimes can be very linear. The combat system is atrocious in my opinion and the auto-save is poorly executed. You're better off taking a moment to save every time you've made progress than relying on auto-save. The visuals are great, but at times the cut scenes seem lazy. I feel like this is a try before you buy type of game and may only really be targeted at those of you who really love stealth type games, while the players who don't care for that style will be left in the lurch. Styx pulls you in with a cool story and cool abilities but leaves you wanting better gameplay. I must say though there is something in me that strives to play more and do better, but there are too many fundamental flaws in my opinion.


GBATemp gives it a 7.5/10:

I enjoyed tearing through the world Of Styx, and truly felt I had that "Master of Shadows" title down to a T. While the game has its slight bumps here and there, it is a fantastic addition to the stealth genre, and I couldn't be more pleased with it's approach. There's enough innovation and elements sprinkled in there for you to have creative and tactical approaches to how you take on your enemies and truly, Master the Shadows.


GameNGuide features no score:

Styx: Master of Shadows is not a perfect game, but it does enough right to make it worth your time. Yes, it feels like it's missing something; different ways to assassinate foes, more ways to distract, but when it works, it really, really works and you stop thinking about what's not here and better enjoy what is here. For those seeking a challenge, or those who want a stealthy alternative to the glut of Assassin's Creed titles, it should scratch that particular itch. Or better yet, it will silently stalk that itch and then gut it in the back. Then hide it in a nearby chest. That's the Styx way.


And Fully 'Avin It gives it a 78%:

Our one main criticism of this game is the difficulty curve, it does feel a little unpredictable. Sure it starts off with a no-brainer tutorial mission, but the difficulty seems to spike willy-nilly soon after, before you get fully to grips with all of the aforementioned options for upgrades and interaction with the environment. Still, there's nothing better than creeping through the shadows like a Radio 2 DJ near a playground before popping up and shoving a small, stiff object deep into an unsuspecting victim.