Attention fans of ninjas and samurai: One of the best tactics games of recent years is currently available at a heavily reduced price on Steam. MeinMMO author CWaldboth explains why he is a big fan of the game – and what raccoons have to do with it.
I’m not the biggest fan of strategy games. That’s what I’ll say in advance and should be kept in mind as I begin to sing the praises of Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun.
The game from German developer Mimimi Games was released in 2016 and almost single-handedly revived the genre of real-time tactics that was believed to be dead. This refers to games like the old Commandos parts or Desperados, which also received a third spin-off from Mimimi. Despite some very good games, it’s a genre that seems cursed.
In these games you usually control a group of several characters, all of whom have different abilities. You mostly stealthily slash and deceive your way through challenging levels full of enemies, all from an isometric perspective.
Shadows Tactics is highly recommended as a modern representative of the genre. What’s more, the game currently costs just 4 euros on Steam. But what actually makes it so good?
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun – Gameplay Trailer
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A friendly group of heroes in ancient Japan
First of all, the game impresses with its scenario. The story takes place in Japan in the early Edo period, around 1615. A warlord named Kage-sama suddenly appears and endangers the peace that has just been restored. Together with the ninja Hayato, the samurai Mugen sets out to confront the villain. On their journey through the country they meet three other characters who also join the group of heroes.
The five characters all play fundamentally differently. While Mugen is a classic tank who deals a lot with his katana and defeats even strong samurai opponents alone, there are also characters like the thief Yuki. She uses a combination of traps and her flute’s call to send enemies into Nirvana.
Particularly strange is Takuma, an aging man who deals a lot of damage at long range with his sniper rifle. At his side is the raccoon Tanuki, who can distract opponents.
In addition to the different abilities, which are all a lot of fun, it’s also the characters themselves that I like. The story of the game is not particularly complex, as the focus is clearly on the gameplay. The characters are well characterized in the few dialogues.
The game is a real challenge
All five characters have one thing in common: they can’t take much. Shadow Tactics makes it clear from the start that direct confrontation with the enemy is the worst possible option.
That’s why you mostly sneak. If you select an opponent, their vision cone is displayed. This way, as a player, you always know whether you are still hidden or about to be discovered. And this is where the fun really begins: The opponents rarely stand around statically, but rather patrol from A to B across the beautifully designed maps. So it’s important to plan your own actions precisely, activate skills to the second and get enemies around the corner.
This is a real challenge, especially in the last of the 13 missions. Do you remember what I wrote at the beginning? That I’m not the greatest strategist? Yes, that’s right. And yet I had no problem exposing myself to the high level of difficulty. Still, I tried my luck only to fail and learn from my mistakes. I reloaded (yes, you’ll do that a lot) and tried again.
It’s thanks to Mimimi’s excellent game design that even the trickiest passages never feel unfair. On the contrary: the mistake is mine, and I know it.
When a plan works, it’s incredibly satisfying and gives me the feeling that I can master any task, no matter how difficult it may be, if I proceed skillfully.
Shadow Tactics is modern and comfortable
Yes, I can already hear the voices of those who are now saying: real-time tactics is a dusty genre that is a thing of the past. I disagree and invite you to give the game a chance. Because Mimimi Games has modernized the genre and added comfort functions in the right places. For example, the game reminds you if you haven’t saved for a long time. Exemplary!
Shadow Tactics was followed by Desperados 3 (2020) and Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew from last year. Then unfortunately it was over for the studio from Munich. Mimimi Games closed its doors. The reason given was rising production costs (via mimimi.games). In addition, the financing of new projects would be uncertain.
That’s a shame, because the studio’s games were consistently convincing and great fun. You can currently buy Shadow Tactics and the DLC Aiko’s Choice in the Steam Sale from Daedelic (Publisher). The main game is reduced by 90% and costs €3.99, the expansion €4.99. The sale ends on Thursday, February 1st, 2024.
It’s the perfect opportunity to rediscover the game, and possibly an entire genre. The following game, Desperados 3, is also recommended and is always on sale on Steam.