TL;DR
Unleash your inner shadow-walker in Erban: Shadow Legacy, a gripping stealth adventure where the darkness is your ultimate playground. As Erban, you will master the unique ability to merge with shadows, scaling walls and ceilings to outsmart surprisingly intelligent enemies. While the game features a stylish anime aesthetic and impressive performance, hitting up to 120 FPS on the PlayStation 5 Pro, it is the innovative shadow-walking mechanic that truly shines. Despite some linear level design, the combination of intuitive controls and a mysterious, evolving narrative makes every encounter a thrill. This is a must-read for any stealth enthusiast looking for a fresh take on the genre and a story that keeps you guessing until the very end. Read the full article now to uncover the secrets of the shadows and see if you have what it takes to survive the light.
In Erban: Shadow Legacy we play as the title character Erban, who is the last of her kind (she believes) and a shadow-walker. This means she can move through the shadows and even climb walls and ceilings. Light is her enemy as she is immediately revealed, but in darkness and shadow, she is invincible. It soon turns out that everything is not quite as it seems and that she might not be as alone as she thinks. She now needs to embark on the adventure of a lifetime to find the truth.
Game mechanics and gimmick
I really like games that have a gimmick. In Portal we get a weapon that shoots portals and we can move through these and really use our “little grey cells” to progress. In Erban: Shadow Legacy we instead move through shadows and can thus progress by climbing up a wall or moving across a ceiling. As long as it is dark and there are no lights, we can do almost anything.
Gameplay and learning curve
It immediately results in fun gameplay where you can do something other than sneaking behind perfectly placed obstacles to pop up behind the enemy. Here, you can simply use the shadow on the floor. The game mechanics are easy to learn, and it soon feels very natural to move through the environments in a completely new way.
The game slowly but surely goes through all your different abilities so you can keep up, explore, and experiment at your own pace. The enemies are numerous, and the game is truly developed to be a pure stealth game.
Enemies and challenges
The enemies are not as brain-dead as they usually are in games like this. They know they are hunting someone who moves through the shadows and are therefore prepared and equipped for it. It is anything but easy in some places. The graphics are well-made and provide an anime feel.
Technical experience on Playstation 5
I tested Erban: Shadow Legacy on Playstation 5 Pro and played as usual in Performance Mode. On the Pro version, I can get a full 120 FPS in 1080p resolution, something that isn’t possible on the standard PS5 where we only reach up to 60 FPS. In Fidelity Mode we enjoy native 4K resolution and 60 FPS on Pro, but only 30 FPS on the standard PS5. Personally, I always choose high FPS over shadows having a slightly smoother edge. The gameplay experience is what’s most important.
Limitations in level design
What bothered me a little with Erban: Shadow Legacy was that it quite often became painfully clear how the game creators have prevented us from exploring a room in any way other than what they intended. There are always very many unnecessary recessed light strips here and there that are only there to halt our progress. The levels try to appear open, but they are in fact quite linear.
Summary and recommendation
In summary, I want to recommend Erban: Shadow Legacy specifically because it is a gimmick game, and even though it is quite linear, it still becomes very entertaining to sneak up on enemies and attack them in ways they are not at all prepared for, and there is also a good story that you gradually get deeper into.
Baby Robot Games sent a review code for this test. Material senders have no editorial influence on our tests.
Review Highlights: Q&A
What is the main character’s special ability?
She moves through shadows to climb walls and ceilings.
Are the enemies challenging in this game?
Yes, enemies are prepared for shadow-walking tactics.
How does the game perform on the PS5 Pro?
It reaches 120 FPS at 1080p in Performance Mode.
What visual style does the game feature?
The well-made graphics provide an anime feel.
How open are the game's environments?
Levels are linear with light strips used as barriers.
Is the gameplay difficult to pick up?
Mechanics are easy to learn and introduced slowly.
