A Unique Blend of Stealth and Platforming
Introduction
Baby Robot Games’ 2023 independent title Ereban: Shadow Legacy is a stealth and three-dimensional platforming game. Even though the implementation falls short of the premise’s expectations, this is still a fun and flawed game that might be worth trying out, especially for genre enthusiasts or those seeking something different.
A Unique Premise: Shadow-Wielding Assassin
You take on the role of Ayana in the game, the final survivor of an enigmatic race known as the Ereban. These were formidable stealth agents since they could practically disappear into the shadows. Early on, Ayana manages to escape Helios’ grasp—a dubious company with ulterior intentions for ensnaring her. Driven by her aspiration to uncover the reality about her ancestry and Helios’ motives, Ayana embarks on an exploration voyage.
Story & Writing: A Missed Opportunity
Although the plot isn’t bad, it doesn’t work as the game’s primary attraction. The main offender in this case is the writing, which uses jargon exclusive to Ereban lore and awkward dialogue. This can occasionally make it difficult to follow the plot and leave you unclear about the objectives and reasons. The good news is that the gameplay takes precedence over the plot, allowing you to concentrate on the enjoyable aspects without becoming bogged down in the story.
Stealth Mechanics: Easy Does It
Stealth is the main gameplay mechanic of Ereban. Most of your time will be spent dodging detection in environments manned by both robotic and human guards. It’s as easy as sneaking up on an enemy and pushing a button to take them down. But it goes a little deeper than that. Your morality rating is affected since you can only kill human enemies—not incapacitate them. Robots, on the other hand, can have their bodies disabled, but unless you employ a special ability to conceal them, their allies will discover them and may be able to bring them back to life.
The main problem with stealth is that it’s frequently too simple. Ayana can blend into the shadows for extended periods of time thanks to her shadow-melding skill. Although there is a meter that controls how long you may remain in the shade, it drains slowly and replenishes swiftly. This allows you to easily and quickly avoid most adversaries.
The game provides upgrades and devices to expand your skill in stealth, although they frequently seem pointless. Since the basic stealth mechanics are already rather simple, they tend to be used sparingly and don’t present much of a challenge. This is particularly true in the game’s early half, which has expansive, open areas. Ereban’s open portions suffer from easy objectives, boring opponents, and monotonous surroundings, despite the potential benefits of open-world architecture. The first part of the game is the least engaging because there’s little need to explore these vast areas.
Platforming and Level Design: A Slow Burn
Another essential component of the gameplay is the platforming components. In the initial part of the game, there are a few instances where you have to jump precisely and navigate flowing shadows, but these are not your typical platforming obstacles. You’ll mostly utilize your shadow-melding skill to scale buildings and enter new regions in this area. Subsequent parts have a more linear level design with riddles and platforming obstacles thrown in. When the game keeps this concentration, it excels and makes you wish it had come out sooner.
Technical Performance: A Mixed Bag
The technical performance of the game is a little inconsistent. Although there were bugs for certain players, they seemed to be more prevalent in the first part of the game. Ereban’s use of a cel-shaded aesthetic is visually striking in some contexts. Still, a lot of environments have monotonous, repeating designs. The adversary range is likewise insufficient. The voice actress for Ayanna does a fantastic job, and the sound design is passable. Though there are a few amusing scenes where enemy sentries declare their feelings before speaking, the remainder of the voice acting is erratic. The music is unmemorable and leaves little effect.
A Short But Enjoyable Experience
Ereban: Shadow Legacy can be finished in as little as six hours. Even while collectibles and exploration offer ways to prolong playtime, you probably get tired of the material before you finish it. Despite the simple stealth, the main gameplay loop can be enjoyable, particularly when the platforming and puzzles are involved.
Conclusion
Ereban: Shadow Legacy is a mixed bag all around. Particularly considering that this is a small team’s debut release, the implementation of the intriguing fundamental concept of fusing stealth with 3D platforming is respectable. But the game’s easy stealth mechanisms, poor level design, and uninteresting story prevent it from living up to its full promise.
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FAQs
The core stealth mechanics are on the easier side. Ayana’s shadow-walking ability makes it very forgiving, and enemy AI isn’t the brightest.
The game can be completed in around 6 hours.
