Aragami: Shadow Edition

It takes a while to get going and it has its fair share of annoying quirks, but as it progresses Aragami becomes a solid stealth game with a compelling story. The addition of extra DLC chapters gives the game a welcome boost in longevity, and though its temperamental mechanics prevent it becoming an unarguable gem, its stylish look and the range of abilities you acquire by the end mean fans of stealth games (and fans of stealth only) will still have a fun time with it. Eventually.

Even though stealth games are not among my favourites, I still found Aragami: Shadow Edition quite entertaining. I chose a rather brutal approach: waiting for enemy movement patterns, warping between nearby shadows and striking, hiding the bodies again, and returning to the darkness. If a guard became alerted, I would eliminate them with an ability and make them disappear as well. The fact that enemies show no concern for missing people or bloodstains? Well, for me that was secondary—the fun came first. I also liked the idea of displaying shadow energy and selected abilities through markings on the character’s cloak. With a mostly slow and cautious playstyle, I was able to progress through the game quite comfortably. Of course, this does make the pacing suffer somewhat. At times, I also would have preferred more generous checkpoints. In the Nightfall campaign, I had to abandon my approach of eliminating as many enemies as possible, as the difficulty became too high for that style of play. Additional challenge is provided by the third difficulty level and optional medals. Unfortunately, performance issues slightly detract from the experience. I would also have preferred full voice acting, as it would have supported the atmosphere better. At times, it is also not entirely clear why certain areas—such as rooftops—cannot be reached, even though they appear to be within range and sufficiently shadowed.

In embracing a more old-fashioned approach to stealth gameplay, Aragami: Shadow Edition makes itself standout but it also limits itself.

Aragami - Shadow Edition is a third person stealth action game with a unique art style, simple gameplay mechanics and a compelling plot which is bound to captivate Nintendo Switch players. It takes a while for players to get used to its controls but any fan of stealth action games will feel more than rewarded when putting their hands on this piece of work.

However, if you want to experience the game in all of its visual majesties, you should greatly consider buying it on any of the other available platforms because, at least from a visual point of view, the Switch version seems like a shadow of its former self (pun intended).

Overall, Aragami: Shadow Edition delivers what it sets out to. An immensely good stealth-based adventure. While the rest of the game isn’t anything spectacular, stealth fans looking for a challenge will find one with this game. If you’re unfamiliar with the genre, or aren’t too keen to it normally, the story and game play won’t be enough to make it worth it, and the art and music won’t be enough to keep you invested. And the price won’t help justify it for many either.

With its methodical, unforgiving gameplay, Aragami: Shadow Edition is not for everyone. However, it doesn't try to be. It's aimed squarely at the Tenchu crowd, with whom it should be a hit. If you're a younger gamer who's never tried a true stealth game, Aragami is a great place to start.

If you can look past some low-budget graphics, there's a nice stealth experience waiting for you in Aragami.

The game has its own limitations and weaknesses like limited A.I and it doesn't feel very tight. however, the gameplay experience can be quite addictive once you submit to its rhythm. the storytelling is also very well done and carefully structured. the technical performance for this version is not perfect though.

If you desperately need a stealth hit, then stick to the PS4 or PC versions which are likely cheaper by now anyway. Aragami: Shadow Edition is a bad port that feels like a rushed attempt to cash in on the Switch’s popularity. Both the Switch and the game deserve better than this terrible port.