PAX East 2025: Shadow Labyrinth Reimagines Pac-Man

Imagining new ways to shake up Pac-Man, ever thought of just tossing rocks at him? Weird, right? Yet there’s this game called Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures where you indirectly control him like that. Eh, not my favorite take. But then, ever consider him just chilling as a sidekick in a Metroidvania called Shadow Labyrinth? Yeah, that sounds much cooler.

At PAX East 2025, I got my hands on this game. Played it on a Nintendo Switch, which was kinda neat, and spotted a fellow media person trying it on a PC. Oh, and there’s this Amazon show, Secret Level, which is like a prequel. Might wanna catch that for some extra plot bits. Noticed the game chugged along at 30 FPS on the Switch. Yep, typical for Nintendo’s old gear. But hey, ran smooth at 60 FPS on PC. It’s not a deal-breaker, though. Combat’s a biggie in this game, so it’s something to think about. Oh, and they promise it’ll hit 60 FPS on Nintendo Switch 2. Nice!

Okay, picture this: Shadow Labyrinth throws you right into platforming and brawling. As Swordsman No. 8 (catchy, right?), you leap, double leap, and dash around like a madman. Sometimes, you transform into a tiny Pac-Man, munching pellets and dodging buzz saws. Tried tackling a platforming gauntlet, but yeah, epic fail on my part. You need your zen spot for that kind of practice, not amidst the hustle and bustle of a convention.

The combat, though, was a trip. Thankfully, there’s an on-screen cheat sheet to remind you which button does what. Attack, dodge, heal, you name it. You can even go giant Pac-Man and gobble up foes. The attacks — they’ve got this fluidity, and the challenge? Just right. Felt a bit like facing off against that first Metroid Dread boss. Weirdly familiar.

Punched through the boss and, surprise, turned him into a laser attack bonus. Came in handy when I had to blast through a wall. Later, my colleague discovered you inflate some enemies like in Dig Dug. Totally random, but it made my day. Supposed to be more homages to other Bandai Namco classics in different areas. Fingers crossed for a Galaga cameo.

Mark your calendars: Shadow Labyrinth drops on July 18. It’s coming to pretty much everything — Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and even the Nintendo Switch 2. They’re offering these crazy versions: Standard, Deluxe, and Secret Editions, the last one even comes with a black light for secret map stuff! The price? Thirty to sixty bucks. Felt like an adventure worth a look.

Walked away feeling kinda hyped. I mean, it’s a gritty Metroidvania with Bandai Namco vibes. Sounds like it shouldn’t work, but boy, it does. And if you’re into Hollow Knight, like me, keep an eye out. This one’s teasing greatness.