E3 2016 Impressions — Styx: Shards Of Darkness

Styx: Shards Of Darkness

While at E3 I was able to see Styx: Shards Of Darkness in a more intimate setting than just a trailer. Here’s my take on Styx: Shards Of Darkness

One of the other smaller titles on the floor at E3 that I was excited for was Styx: Shards Of Darkness. This would be the sequel to one of the smaller cult classic titles that Cyanide Studios gave us back in 2014. It is a fun little stealth action title that builds off the story of Styx: Master Of Shadows and from the looks of things builds off the expanded power of the Unreal Engine that they just didn’t have before. Thankfully we don’t have much longer to wait as the game is still slated to launch later this year for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. But I didn’t have to wait that long to see it in motion.

The first thing that was quickly noticeable in Styx: Shards Of Darkness is the fact that the visuals were greatly updated given the power of the new engine. Before things looked a bit more cartoony and in that style. Now things look a bit more “realistic” and proportioned even though it is all set in a fantasy world. It adds a whole new level of immersion and depth as we can see further and get more detail among the world and when you have to sneak around that is always a welcome addition. But of course graphics don’t always make the game and there is more than just that here.

Obviously we are going to get the same old mechanics that made Styx a fun title in the first place but now we have a few more. Specifically, when it comes to the clone that we can vomit up. That is nothing new for the franchise but what is new is the fact that there is more of a mystical connection between the host and the clone. That of course being the fact that we can now teleport to or from the clone during the game. In the demo shown there was a particularly difficult platforming section where the clone was used to get across. Instead of risking Styx to do the same thing we risked the little bit of power and then just exited out of the clone in safety. Kind of like a personal “check point” system as was stated by the dev.

It also looks like the AI and abilities of the enemies have been greatly improved to offset the bonuses that we have here for mechanics as well. Some of who can see through the darkness we use to hide in and others will actively search us out when they think something is not right in the area. It adds a whole new level of strategy and planning here in Styx: Shards Of Darkness to be able to go in and get the kill and I can’t wait to see what other hidden gems that Cyanide Studios has placed into the game for us. I am sure this is only the start of it all.

I found the first game to be an amazingly fun little title even if it wasn’t slated as a AAA affair. I see Styx: Shards Of Darkness building off of that fun and hope it catches the eyes of more gamers out there as it is what Thief had yet to deliver and I think this one will give us something to love while we wait for the next AAA in the genre to come. For all we know Styx: Shards Of Darkness could be that title but only time will tell. I am hoping it will tell it well.