Shadow Tactics Aikos Choice Torrent is an action game developed by Mimimi Games and published by Daedalic Entertainment. Shadow Tactics is a strategic covert game. Within it, you’ll utilize the distinct abilities of five individuals whose paths would otherwise never intersect. A heavily protected samurai named Mugen is deadly with a sword up close and is capable of carrying an enormous amount of weight independently.
A ninja named Hayato can eliminate adversaries from a distance, although he’s somewhat delicate in close-quarters combat. Yuki is an apprentice ninja, surpassing other characters in agility, and can set traps and diversions. Aiko, the central character in this expansion, can camouflage herself, neutralizing foes through cunning and toxins.
The ultimate character, Takuma, is elderly and somewhat frail but is lethal with a rifle from an extensive distance. He can also deploy his tamed Tanuki (raccoon) named Kuma to divert enemies and make them face away from areas where you might want to take action. This unexpected group comes together over thirteen missions in the main game, and this expansion introduces an additional six outings—three primary and three interlude missions. Altogether, this standalone contributes approximately half a dozen or so hours to the package, depending on your preference for thorough missions, be it full stealth or an all-out assault-style.
The three principal missions couldn’t be more distinct. Nagoya, the urban setting of the initial mission that also serves as the primary base for the Blades of the Shogun, will have you vaulting over rooftops, exploiting narrow corners, and navigating well-protected courtyards. Unlike many missions in the main game that allowed for ample breathing room, here you must stay vigilant—there are eyes in every direction.
By right-clicking on an adversary, you can observe their field of vision, enabling you to plan your moves in advance. Shadow Tactics equips you with the necessary tools to progress, and it’s up to you to decide how to proceed, rewarding innovative strategies and the utilization of all the characters. The Shadow mode permits you to queue each character’s actions to execute simultaneously or sequentially.
The familiar gameplay loop of quicksaving, attempting a strategy only for it to fail, and reloading is present. The game doesn’t penalize save scumming; instead, it actively endorses it. Even the slightest flaw in your plan could lead to disaster, making overcoming the challenge all the more satisfying.
Shadow Tactics Aikos Choice Torrent is divided into multiple chapters, featuring main missions that adhere to the traditional Shadow Tactics design and three mini-chapters equivalent to a single encounter. The larger missions are evidently the main attraction, wonderfully designed and presenting unique challenges that test your stealth skills. Each takes a couple of hours to complete.
However, the smaller missions offer a substantial 20-minute challenge to solve. In total, there’s an impressive 8-15 hours of replayable content to explore. After completing a chapter, specific challenges emerge, requiring further planning, and higher difficulty levels are punishing but enjoyable. Not too shabby for a standalone expansion.
Regarding the visuals and sound, it remains largely unchanged from before. Yet, this is far from a drawback; quite the opposite. The captivating painted aesthetic of the original Shadow Tactics game returns, breathing life into the Edo period of Japan. The same applies to the sound design, with character voices bringing a sense of camaraderie through banter.
Shadow Tactics Aikos Choice PC/System Requirements
- OS *: Windows Vista/7/8/10/11 64-bit
- Processor: Intel i3 2nd-Generation 2.5GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GT640, AMD Radeon HD7750
- DirectX: Version 10
- Storage: 4500 MB available space
