Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew (Reviewed)
Released: Aug 17th, 2023
Price: $40 USD
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is an RTS tactical stealth RPG in which you join the cursed pirate crew on a ghost ship with a living soul. Embrace magical abilities to defeat the army of the Inquisition, which stands between you and the renowned treasure of Captain Mordechai defeated by the hands of the Inquisition leaders. Mimimi Games is well-known for their high-quality tactical gameplay that is both tough and rewarding, as well as entertaining and I would highly recommend checking out their previous titles like Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun or Shadow Tactics: Aiko's Choice if you're in the mood for this type of genre.
Story
The Curse of Lost Souls haunts the mysterious island chain known as the Lost Caribbean, which is under the control of the terrible forces of the Inquisition.
They abhor all things supernatural using soul-devouring fire to track down cursed pirates like yourself, to the extent of seizing Captain Mordechai's ship the Red Marley.
You find yourself in a position to bargain with the ghost ship as you liberate it from its restraints in exchange for a part of the long-lost treasure you've been looking for.
It agrees while allowing you aboard in exchange for your sea-faring expertise.
Presentation
Fantastic
The game appeared to be well-made and without defects. I encountered no game-breaking bugs or graphic issues during my time. The pirate voice acting and music tied everything together, being of high quality besides one character.
The game has a greater impact on me because of my interest in pirates and sea-faring. It's a fantastic genre that opens up endless possibilities for sea adventures. While the game itself is built on tactics and missions. It's was still fun to play.
Listening to each character comment on actions and to each other is a lovely addition that opens up a lot of possibilities for the player to sympathize and connect with each of their characteristics. Instead of being drab and bland throwaways.
Gameplay
There is a lot in terms of gameplay with tons of freedom of choice. You can play more strategically, passively, or run and gun. If you have the crew and equipment to do so. However, the AI is quite stupid when it comes to noticing you, and giving up.
Assemble Your Cursed Pirate Crew
Each shipmate is a playable character with their own personality and set of abilities. Launch a friend or opponent with Galle's cannon, open a magical portal with Mr. Mercury's soul anchor, or sprint across spacetime for split second stealth assaults with Afia's fabled sword, there are countless ways to handle situations.
Outsmart Your Enemy
Defy the soldiers of the Inquisition, pull off an enormous theft and recover a hidden treasure of extraordinary power. Infiltrate their strongholds and behind enemy lines. Using well researched tactics, cleverly mix your crew's magical abilities to take out a range of opponents. When your strategy falls into place precisely, you'll feel great!
Your Ship, Your Home
The Red Marley, a ghost ship with a living spirit. Plan your next trip on deck, or simply hang around with your crew mates while they enjoy their un-life. Learn about the Lost Caribbean's fabled cursed pirates. Discover their backstories, who they are, and what led them on their cursed journeys through specific character missions.
Exploring the Lost Caribbean
Set sail and land on a variety of unique islands. From haunted soul magic-infused landscapes to tropical beaches and bustling pirate shanty towns, each island is a one-of-a-kind hand-crafted playground where plenty of missions await you. Before each mission, you can freely choose your crew members.
Use distinct powers to devise innovative ways to combat the Inquisition. Plot your own path to enter and escape each island, be covert or more aggressive in your play style, and take use of the environment. It's your playground, so have fun!
Manipulate Time
The Red Marley's time-manipulating magic is now yours to wield. Pause for a moment to think about your strategic options, or queue up various character actions.
Make a mental note of every passing moment to refer back to in case things go wrong. Change your strategy and tactics to find your own unique solutions!
Conclusion
A well rounded experience
My main concern was the AI. It didn't matter if it was the easiest or most difficult mode. The only things that changed were the amount of health you started with and the speed with which they saw bodies and chased you, it didn't feel all that different or difficult. They were all still relatively foolish, allowing you to pick them off one by one as they approached you after hiding in a nearby thicket.
It's all about the lore, the atmosphere, and, most importantly, the gameplay. However, I hope they reconsider their AI to make it a little more difficult for those of us who like a more tactical approach, since you can pretty much just go in and finish the objective with little effort so long as you choose anything but high difficulty.
This concludes my views of this game; while my opinions may be met with criticism, that is what distinguishes gamers; you don't have to like the same things as others, nor do you have to agree with them.
If you want to catch me on one of my streams or locate me on social media, you may do so at the following locations, I'm always playing something new.
- Pawkt