Game: Shogun Showdown
Genre: Strategy, Roguelike
System: Nintendo Switch (also available on Steam (Windows), PS4&PS5 and Xbox)
Developer|Publisher: Roboatino | Gonlinz Studio
Age Rating: EU 7+ | US Teen
Price: US $14.99 | UK £12.49 | EU €14,99
Release Date: September 5th, 2024
A review code was provided, and many thanks to JF Games.
Shogun Showdown: Your Next Roguelike Addiction
Shogun Showdown is a turn-based combat game that cleverly blends deck-building mechanics with roguelike elements. At first glance, its pixel art design might seem unremarkable, especially in a genre filled with increasingly flashy titles. However, don’t let the simplistic visuals fool you. A few runs into the game, and you might just find yourself completely hooked. Its easy-to-learn mechanics and the ability to jump in for short sessions make it especially appealing to gamers who may not have hours to commit but still crave a rewarding gaming experience. Just when I thought I’d grown tired of roguelikes, Shogun Showdown pulled me back in with its addicting gameplay loop.
Straight Into the Action
Set in a pixelated, fictional version of feudal Japan, Shogun Showdown plunges you directly into the action. You play as a lone wanderer, seemingly on a quest to take down a shogun, battling enemies in turn-based combat. The environments range from lush, green forests to tranquil, night-lit villages, all rendered in a charming pixel art style that, while familiar, feels fresh due to the care the developers have put into detailing every character and setting.
Although the story isn’t explicitly outlined, the minimalist presentation makes it easy to let your imagination run wild. On one run, my wanderer was driven by vengeance; on another, they were simply out to prove their superiority. The lack of a structured narrative doesn’t detract from the experience; in fact, it enhances the player’s freedom to invent their own story. This focus on immediate gameplay, rather than elaborate storytelling, is part of what makes Shogun Showdown so appealing. It doesn’t waste time, getting you right into the action from the start.
The Roguelike Formula
In true roguelike fashion, your goal is to enter an area, defeat waves of enemies, and eventually face a boss. Each time you enter combat, you’re presented with a series of weapon tiles at the bottom of the screen. Initially, your character starts with a dual sword tile, allowing you to attack enemies on either side and a bow and arrow tile for ranged attacks. Every action you take, whether it’s moving, equipping a weapon, or attacking, allows your enemy to make a move as well.
Strategically, every action counts. For instance, equipping a weapon and then attacking takes two turns, giving enemies a chance to advance or strike. Even turning your character to face the correct direction costs a turn, meaning every movement must be carefully planned. Each weapon also comes with a cooldown period before it can be used again, adding another layer of strategy to each encounter. This encourages you to think ahead, sometimes setting up opportunities to defeat multiple enemies at once or even tricking them into attacking each other.
The enemies’ movements and attacks are displayed on-screen, giving you a chance to anticipate their next move and plan accordingly. This setup leads to thoughtful, tactical gameplay where every decision feels significant. It can be challenging, but it’s a rewarding kind of difficulty. Even when you make a mistake and lose a run, each failure feels like a valuable learning experience, helping you better plan your next attempt.
Mastering the Controls
The controls in Shogun Showdown take a little getting used to, but the game does a good job of easing you into its mechanics. The shoulder buttons handle movement, while actions like attacking, waiting, and selecting weapon tiles are mapped to the face buttons. It’s a simple enough system, but occasionally, I found myself pressing the wrong button and wasting a turn. This is a game where stopping to think is crucial, and rash decisions can cost you dearly.
Unfortunately, there are no touch controls available in handheld mode, which is a bit disappointing for a game that seems suited for quick, on-the-go play. Still, the on-screen control reminders and the intuitive layout make it relatively easy to adjust. After several runs, you’ll likely find the control scheme will click.
A Deeper Strategy Awaits
As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock new weapon tiles and have the opportunity to buff your existing ones. After each boss fight, you can visit a vendor where you spend your hard-earned coins to enhance your weapons or buy new ones. However, buffing weapons often comes with trade-offs. For example, adding more power to a weapon might increase its cooldown time, requiring careful consideration of when to use it.
The game’s randomly generated levels and encounters keep each run feeling fresh. The randomness forces you to adapt on the fly, which adds to the game’s addictive nature. Every run is a new opportunity to test different strategies, try new weapon combinations, and see how far you can get.
What really stands out is the sense of progression, not just in unlocking new abilities or tiles but in your own skill as a player. Over time, you’ll start to notice enemy patterns, allowing you to anticipate their moves and outsmart them. This growth in your own abilities feels incredibly rewarding, especially when you finally manage to beat a particularly tough boss who gave you trouble in earlier runs.
Plenty of Content to Explore
Each time you defeat a boss, you’re rewarded with skulls, which can be used to unlock new tiles and abilities that will appear in future runs. As you advance further into the game, you’ll also unlock new characters, each with their own unique starting tiles and special abilities. These characters provide even more replay value as they offer different playstyles and strategies with which to experiment. If I was to cite one niggle the number of unlockable characters feels a tad light compared to other games in the genre.
The content on offer feels well worth the price of admission. With each run being randomly generated and the constant unlocking of new abilities, tiles, and characters, Shogun Showdown provides an immense amount of replayability. It’s the kind of game that keeps pulling you back for just one more run, and before you know it, hours have passed.
Conclusion: An Honourable Entry into the Roguelike Genre
Shogun Showdown is a dangerously addictive roguelike but in the best way possible. Its challenging but fair gameplay encourages you to learn from your mistakes, and the more you play, the more you’ll improve. It’s perfect for fans of the genre, but its quick play sessions and easy-to-understand mechanics also make it a great choice for gamers who are short on time.
Don’t be deceived by the simple pixel art. Shogun Showdown offers a deep, rewarding experience that’s well worth exploring. The game excels at delivering satisfying, strategic gameplay that keeps you coming back for more. A free demo is available on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot
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