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A captivating art style, an intriguing storyline, and the thrill of stealth gameplay are just a few reasons to delve into the world of Aragami. This game casts you as an embodiment of shadows, wielding darkness as your weapon against an army of light. This review explores Aragami’s strengths and weaknesses, diving into its unique mechanics, captivating visuals, and challenging level design.

alt text describing shadow powers in Aragami gameplay

Darkness: Your Ally and Lifeline

In Aragami, darkness isn’t just a cover; it’s your lifeblood. As Aragami, a vengeful spirit with the power to manipulate shadows, you must harness the darkness to survive and progress. You’ll navigate levels by clinging to shadows cast by objects, minimizing your visibility and replenishing your shadow essence. This essence fuels your primary ability: Shadow Leap, allowing instantaneous teleportation between shadows within a certain range. This mechanic facilitates swift approaches, silent escapes, and breathtaking maneuvers, all without a sound.

alt text describing the importance of shadows for stealth in Aragami gameplay

While you can create temporary shadow fields, this ability drains your power significantly, requiring careful resource management. Despite the seemingly overpowered nature of shadow manipulation, Aragami presents a formidable challenge. The game demands meticulous observation, environmental awareness, strategic planning, and precise execution. Even minor mistakes are punished severely, often with instant death. The autosave points are spaced strategically, adding to the tension and requiring patience and perseverance.

Masterful Level Design and Challenging Gameplay

The brilliance of Aragami lies in its level design. Each level, regardless of difficulty, requires a combination of observation, planning, and precise execution. The game offers freedom in your approach, allowing for creative strategies, but it’s unforgiving in its consequences. Detection by enemies usually results in immediate death. While taking down individual enemies is relatively simple, groups present a significant challenge, requiring careful maneuvering and utilization of your abilities.

alt text describing collecting scrolls in Aragami levels for ability unlocks

You’ll unlock new abilities by collecting scrolls scattered throughout the levels, which also provide valuable story insights. The combination of challenging gameplay, strategic depth, and rewarding exploration makes Aragami a compelling stealth experience.

A Visual Masterpiece Under the Moon

Aragami boasts a distinct visual style, reminiscent of traditional Japanese woodblock prints. Bold colors, sharp contrasts, and a pervasive sense of atmosphere define the game’s aesthetic. The moonlight plays a crucial role, casting an ethereal glow over the environments, creating a dreamlike quality. From dancing fireflies to swaying cherry blossoms, Aragami transports players to a mystical world.

alt text describing the visual art style of Aragami inspired by Japanese aesthetics

Every scene feels like a work of art, capturing the essence of a dark fairy tale. This captivating visual style enhances the immersive experience and makes Aragami a truly memorable game.

A Disappointing Multiplayer Experience

Aragami features a multiplayer mode allowing cooperative gameplay. However, this aspect of the game falls short of expectations. The small player base makes finding online partners challenging, limiting the potential for spontaneous co-op sessions.

alt text showing Aragami gameplay screenshot

More importantly, the level design, while brilliant for solo play, feels cramped and restrictive with two players. The increased risk of detection and the significantly reduced difficulty detract from the core gameplay experience. The resources dedicated to the multiplayer mode might have been better utilized to expand the single-player campaign with more of the excellent level design that defines the core game.

Conclusion

Aragami stands out as a remarkable stealth title, offering a compelling blend of challenging gameplay, stunning visuals, and a unique shadow-based mechanic. While the multiplayer component disappoints, the single-player campaign delivers a truly memorable experience. If you’re a fan of stealth games, Aragami is a must-play. Its captivating world, challenging gameplay, and stunning visuals will leave a lasting impression.

System Requirements

Minimum:

• OS: Windows 7 / 8.1 /10 64-bit
• CPU: Intel Core i3
• RAM: 4 GB
• VGA: DirectX 11 compatible with 1 GB VRAM
• HDD: 6 GB

Recommended:

• OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
• CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 3.6 GHz
• RAM: 8 GB DDR3
• VGA: ASUS GTX 750 Ti Strix OC 2 GB GDDR5
• HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1 TB