The 2024 Game Awards recently wrapped up, and as usual with each year’s showcase, there were plenty of exciting reveals and world premieres. Perhaps the most surprising and unexpected among them was Shadow Labyrinth. Although it may not have been obvious at first glance, Shadow Labyrinth is actually an upcoming Pac-Man game set within the same world as the Secret Level episode, and it aims to take the IP into previously unexplored territory in a number of ways.
Shadow Labyrinth‘s trailer showed off some flashy and impressive-looking gameplay that also contained glimpses of what appeared to be a gauntlet of intense bosses. Expanding on the latter aspect, producer Seigo Aizawa and Pac-Man Brand Marketing Manager for Bandai Namco Entertainment America Knoah Piasek chatted with Game Rant about the large number and variety of bosses that players can expect to encounter in Shadow Labyrinth.
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Shadow Labyrinth Developers Discuss Its Origins and Vision [Interview]
Game Rant speaks with Shadow Labyrinth developers about its design approach, darker portrayal of Pac-Man, and relationship with Secret Level.
Shadow Labyrinth Will Have a Big Bounty of Bosses for Players to Battle
In Shadow Labyrinth, players will take on the role of a “Chosen One” known as Swordsman No. 8. Trapped in a deadly maze and guided by Puck (its iteration of Pac-Man), they will be tasked with navigating through its diverse environments filled with menacing monsters and imposing bosses. When asked about the range of these bosses players will need to overcome, Aizawa said,
Regarding the boss battles, there are about 30 different types. Each boss has a unique characteristic. In order to beat them, players will need to acquire a certain ability, play a certain way, or transform into Puck. There are many tactical ideas and mechanics incorporated into fighting them.
While it does seem to have
Metroidvania aspects
, which Piasek acknowledged,
Shadow Labyrinth
is being officially labeled as a “2-D action platformer.”
Shadow Labyrinth Will See Players Go From Prey to Predator
Aizawa also revealed that these bosses share some of the same themes as Shadow Labyrinth as a whole. The idea of consumption is there, with a dark sci-fi twist, and it appears that a lot of monsters and bosses could be based on animals. Speaking to the inspirations and design philosophies behind the bosses in Shadow Labyrinth, Aizawa noted,
We wanted to incorporate that dark sci-fi taste into it. We referenced a lot of ancient animals, and those types of monsters and bosses are included in it. The little sneak peek in the announcement trailer really is just a small portion of the whole. When you start playing and exploring, you’ll find many different types of stages and bosses, all designed in certain ways.
Shadow Labyrinth‘s wealth of bosses will challenge players on multiple fronts. Fans will need to acquire the right items, learn how to properly and effectively use them along with other unique abilities, and apply these skills and knowledge in order to take each boss down. Aizawa also went on to explain how Shadow Labyrinth will play with one of Pac-Man‘s key elements and fundamental aspects– the concept of eating to grow more powerful– and apply it to boss encounters. The idea is that fans will “turn the tables on enemies and become the alpha predator.” Armed with the correct equipment and combined with the right approach, players will eventually find themselves at the top of the food chain in Shadow Labyrinth, able to tackle more of its wide array of daunting bosses.
Shadow Labyrinth has a 2025 release window for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.