Shadow Merge is the unique ability of the Ereban, mysterious people who can literally merge with the shadows. But the Ereban have all been lost to time, except for Ayana, their last descendant. After a soured meeting with megacorporation Helios, Ayana finds herself seeking the truth behind her lost ancestors and their unlikely relationship with Helios. What will she unravel?

The last Ereban in search of the truth

If the synopsis of Ereban: Shadow Legacy’s plot sounds generic, it is because it very much is. While the plot does pack its fair share of narrative twists, the overarching premise and opening arc does not do it much favours. 

That said, this title packs more originality in its presentation. The vibrant, cel-shaded-like aesthetics are reminiscent of recent Zelda titles and stand out with its science-fantasy elements across its diverse locations. You’ll come across autonomous robots, ruins of past civilisations and magical abilities that bring Ereban: Shadow Legacy’s universe to life. You’ll also get to explore vast areas in open-ended fashion.

The attractive visuals are supplemented by professional voice acting. The latter was a pleasant surprise, considering that this is an indie title with a relatively small budget and scope.

However, explorable areas often do feel too underpopulated for their own good; and they are populated, they are filled with similar robots and enemies. Some diversity in NPCs, friendly or otherwise, would be a welcome change.

  

Stealth legacy with a twist

While Ereban: Shadow Legacy is described as a story-driven game - and there is indeed an overarching plot, even if generic-sounding - the focus is more on the gameplay. As a stealth title, it draws inspirations from classics such as Metal Gear Solid with a focus on non-lethal action. You’ll have to pay close attention to the movement patterns of enemies, hide behind environmental elements and plan your way to your destination without getting detected. 

To get past enemies, you have the option to avoid them, distract them or silently take them down; and your playstyle further contributes to your overall score at the end of each level. Taking a lethal approach might often be tempting but the bodies can be found later, putting troops on alert. This puts you at risk of getting found, which will in turn lead to a game over screen and prompting you to restart from the last checkpoint. This adds a welcome layer of challenge and encourages sneaking past enemies creatively. However, checkpoints are often confusing. I often respawned to a location I wasn’t familiar with and had to get my bearings again.

Such careful planning, strategizing and slow-paced gameplay is in line with traditional stealth mechanics and Baby Robot Games executes this well. However, with Ereban: Shadow Legacy the developers added a welcome twist to the formula with the fast-paced Shadow Merge ability of the Ereban. 

This mechanic is clearly inspired by Splatoon’s own and can be activated when Ayana is in the shadows where her suit will start to glow. This indicates that she can merge with the shadows and move along continuous shadow paths for as long as she has the stamina to do so. By using Shadow Merge, Ayana is also more quiet and will not attract unwanted attention from patrolling enemies. And if she gets detected, merging with the shadows offers an opportunity to escape. This results in interesting and satisfying gameplay sequences that mixes the slow-paced sneaking with fast-paced, parkour-like gliding. 

In addition to assisting in stealth, Shadow Merge also adds a layer of puzzle-like platforming progression. Platforming sessions are well paced in between stealth ones and also makes use of Ayana’s abilities. With Shadow Merge, Ayana can reach otherwise inaccessible areas such as behind locked doors or heights; as long as there is a continuous shadow path. As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock sci-fi gadgets and abilities in a skill-tree manner that further assist Ayana in her mission. 

Baby Robot Game’s promising debut

Despite a generic premise, limited enemy types and desolate areas, Ereban: Shadow Legacy delivers an interesting stealth experience. It merges slow-paced mechanics inspired by classics of this genre with fast-paced sequences and strategic planning in a satisfying way. It’s a commendable output as Baby Robot Games’ debut title that is tailored for fans of classic stealth games and I look forward to their next title.

Ereban: Shadow Legacy - Release Date Trailer