6.8 /10 1 Votes
3.9/5 GOG Initial release date 17 May 2016 Publisher Frozenbyte Mode Single-player video game | 7/10 Steam 53% Metacritic Developer Frozenbyte Genre Stealth game | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Platforms PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows Similar Frozenbyte games, Stealth games, Other games | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shadwen is a stealth video game developed and published by Frozenbyte for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4. It was released worldwide on 17 May 2016.
Contents
Plot
An assassin named Shadwen embarks on a quest to kill the king and must also protect a young girl named Lily.
Lily's father was taken to a quarry by kingsmen, and her mother died in the recent spring. She kept herself alive by finding food and shelter throughout the summer, but struggled to feed herself as the weeks went on. She meets Shadwen while trying to steal apples from a tree in the city graveyard. Her mother used to tell her stories where kind and gentle people came out on top. Her opinion of Shadwen can change depending on if she sees Shadwen kill people or not.
Shadwen lived in the Dark Forest and was hired by the current king to kill the former king. The current king went back on his word to pay her and instead burned down the forest where she lived to try and kill her. Seeking revenge, Shadwen makes her way to his castle to either end his life or exact payment.
Development
The game was first announced on 4 December 2015. It was released for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 on 17 May 2016.
Endings
There are four possible endings depending on the choices made in the game.
If Shadwen kills and allows Lily to see it, and also kills the king, Lily will refuse to go with Shadwen afterward because she is a murderer.
If Shadwen kills and allows Lily to see it, and does not kill the king, Lily and Shadwen will venture off together.
If Shadwen does not kill (or does not allow lily to see it), and does not kill the king, Lily and Shadwen will part ways at the end of the game.
If Shadwen does not kill (or does not allow lily to see it), and kills the king, Lily and Shadwen part ways at the end of the game.
Reception
Shadwen received mixed to negative reviews from critics and has a score of 50% on Metacritic.
Destructoid awarded it a score of four out of 10, saying "I'm really disappointed with Shadwen and certainly wouldn't recommend it." Hardcore Gamer awarded it a more positive review of three out of five, saying "Shadwen does enough to warrant repeat returns and while it lacks visibility beyond the central pillar that is its gameplay, it's said gameplay that keeps the game from fading completely out of sight." The Sixth Axis awarded it a score of 3 out of 10, saying "At the very least, it tries to do something a little bit different, but simply doesn't pull it off."