Shadow of the Orient Review (Switch)
Summary: Shadow of the Orient is a 2D action-platformer with tight gameplay, stunning visuals, and brutal yet rewarding combat. A solid adventure spread across 3 acts with plenty of secrets to find, gear to unlock, and abilities to use, makes Shadow of the Orient both a great quick "pick up and play" type of game as well as a game that's fun to master.
3.6
Shadow Box
Slay dragons and wall jump past spiked traps in this adventure to save the village! Shadow of the Orient is a 2D pixel art action-adventure platformer developed and published by Spacelab Games, released on October 5, 2024 on mobile devices and PC, and March 27th of 2025 on consoles. Players assume the role of Xiaolang, a young warrior endowed with elemental fire powers, on a mission to rescue kidnapped children and confront the dark lord threatening the Orient. The game is a throwback to the golden era of 2D games and pulls inspirations from Metroidvania-styled adventures while carving out its own identity by being very action oriented (no pun intended).
After 200 years of peace and prosperity, a dark presence has been reborn. This ancient evil has summoned minions to help wreak havoc across the lands by kidnapping children and spreading chaos. Xiaolang, a young brave hero, has taken up the task to take the darkness down. He must trek through the labyrinth layout of multiple environments, go up against the many relentless foes summoned by this ancient evil, and save all those that were taken by punching and slashing his way across the Orient.
Shadow of the Orient offers engaging action-platforming gameplay across 15 handcrafted levels, each filled with secrets, quests, and loot. You will encounter a variety of enemies, including samurai warriors and mythical creatures, each with unique attack patterns that require strategic combat approaches. The game also features three end-of-act boss fights and five speedrun levels for added challenge.
If you’re looking for a mindless hack-and-slash, this isn’t it. Enemies are relentless, and button mashing will get you nowhere. I learned that the hard way when I got destroyed by a sword-wielding samurai within the first ten minutes. Enemies are pretty much fodder for your fists at first and more like an obstacle to get past, but your foes later on prove to be much more challenging, with each encounter becoming like its own small puzzle with the way you have to evade and use the environment to your advantage. Combat is all about timing, spacing, and figuring out each enemy’s pattern. Once you get into the rhythm, though, it feels incredibly satisfying to land perfect combos, dodge an attack at the last second, and set enemies ablaze with Xiaolang’s fire abilities.
There are many different enemies you’ll come up against like bats and horse riding slayers. Each has their own unique way of attacking you which means you have to have a certain strategy to approach them. Jumping behind a darting adversary works well enough, but sometimes you might only get a few hits in before you have to retreat from their counter attack. There’s a nice push and pull here that makes every move you do feel important. Besides fighting enemies, there are traps you’ll have to watch out for. Rotating spiked platforms, swinging or falling boulders, and blocks that you can’t simply punch through are all cascaded throughout your journey and it’s very easy to find yourself victim to one while you are platforming around. Being careful, but adamant with your decision making is key to successfully complete Shadow of the Orient.
The five speedrun levels offer up some replayability and kept me coming back after I was done with the main campaign. I’m a sucker for leaderboard challenges, and shaving off milliseconds to improve my time had me hooked. There are also hidden secrets scattered across the levels, rewarding exploration with extra gear and currency to buy in-game items and abilities to make each new run through a level a little bit more relaxing and fun. There are chests that harbor lots of goodies, but you will have to find the key somewhere in the level first. The key can be behind a tough enemy or hidden in a secret area behind a wall. While you can just skip chests all together, going through the challenge to obtain what’s inside them will always prove extremely valuable in the long run.
Right from the first level, Shadow of the Orient pulls you in with its crisp pixel art and fluid animations. Every frame feels meticulously crafted, from the vibrant backgrounds of ancient temples to the glowing fire attacks Xiaolang wields. I love the way the light shines through cracked walls in the background and how layered the scenery can look, truly making this world feel alive. I found myself stopping in the middle of playing several times just to appreciate the scenery. It’s a love letter to old school games but without feeling dated, like a lost gem from the SNES era that just so happens to play like a dream on modern hardware. It reminded me of something like Kid Chameleon with its distinct artstyle and crunchy audio design. The sound of picking up the multi-colored gems is especially satisfying, making me go out of my way and sometimes losing a massive amount of health to reach some hard to reach jewels.
Final Thoughts?
Shadow of the Orient is a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern action-platforming. The difficulty might scare off casual players, but for those who love a challenge, it’s an incredibly rewarding experience. Whether you’re in it for the gorgeous pixel art, the tight combat, or the speedrun challenges, there’s something here to keep you hooked. It’s not just a game, it’s a journey into a beautifully crafted world where every battle won feels earned.
About the Author
Nay Clark Gaming holds a special place in my heart and I never stop talking about video games. I really love all types of games and have an interest in games that have complicated stories and lore because I enjoy untangling the mystery of it all. When I'm not gaming, I unsuccessfully try to control three amazing and incredibly bright kids.
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