It's been about 6 years since I played the base game of Shadow Tactics, but Aiko's Choice served as a nice reminder of why I rated that game so highly. Nothing has really changed between games from what I recall, as this is essentially just a short, standalone mission pack with some additional story that didn't amount to much (especially given the time gap for me), but it did tug on my heartstrings a little bit from what I could remember about the original, and it gets me a little eager to replay it.
Not a bad way to spend a handful of dollars & hours, but it is on the shorter side and takes place late into the story of the original game, which makes it a strange choice as a standalone product.
Not a bad way to spend a handful of dollars & hours, but it is on the shorter side and takes place late into the story of the original game, which makes it a strange choice as a standalone product.
I haven't played the base game, but this stand alone DLC was very entertaining. Yes, it's only 5 missions (3 big and 2 short) but it was very enjoyable (and also frustrating... it's difficult), and taking into account that each missions will take probably 2 hours to complete , it was a good game. I like the stealth element of the gameplay.
Need more stages but I hope they still making a shadow tactics as series. The stories are insteresting. Stages are challenging. Hope there were also decision making mechanics at future games that affects the flow of the game.
Aiko's Choice is a wonderful little bite-sized interlude mission pack that takes place between missions from the main game. Perfect if you want more Shadow Tactics. Everything that was already in the main game is also present here, which is why I like to refer to my review of Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun. In addition, however, Aiko and the background of her training and old acquaintances are introduced. Nothing you really needed but as I said: More Shadow Tactics is good Shadow Tactics.
Review of the main game:
https://www.backloggd.com/u/pali/review/673227/
Review of the main game:
https://www.backloggd.com/u/pali/review/673227/
This game is currently in the Humble Choice for November 2022, this is part of my coverage of the bundle. If you are interested in the game and it's before December 6th, 2022, consider picking up the game as part of the current monthly bundle.
An expansion of an extremely solid tactical game.
Aiko’s Choice is a DLC or expansion for the original Shadow Tactics but a standalone title. This gives a fleshed-out campaign, where the same party again embarks on a new story focused more on Aiko’s character and past. There’s a slick style to the combat, requiring players to coordinate different characters in taking out targets and mostly sticking to the shadows.
At the same time, I struggled with this game, and maybe it’s due to being new to the game, but I had to use a lot of quick saves and loads. These have an extremely fast loading times but some players might not love that idea. Also, it’s not always clear if a strategy works until you try it, so there’s a lot of trial and error.
Pick this up if you like a tactical game, especially if you enjoyed Desperados from March of this year. The same studio made this, and it’s in a similar style, though the old west is swapped out for Feudal Japan. I will mention that this is about a third of the length of the original Shadow Tactics, so the price might be a little high, but it seems pretty solid, though I would recommend playing the original game first, that’s what I’ll be doing soon.
If you don’t happen to have Shadow Tactics, it will be available on Epic Games for free from November 10th to the 17th, Sorry if that date is in the past, but that’s why you should subscribe to my channel and ring the bell.
If you enjoyed this review or want to know what I think of other games in the bundle, check out the full review on or subscribe to my Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/sFC7gi3ZDQc
An expansion of an extremely solid tactical game.
Aiko’s Choice is a DLC or expansion for the original Shadow Tactics but a standalone title. This gives a fleshed-out campaign, where the same party again embarks on a new story focused more on Aiko’s character and past. There’s a slick style to the combat, requiring players to coordinate different characters in taking out targets and mostly sticking to the shadows.
At the same time, I struggled with this game, and maybe it’s due to being new to the game, but I had to use a lot of quick saves and loads. These have an extremely fast loading times but some players might not love that idea. Also, it’s not always clear if a strategy works until you try it, so there’s a lot of trial and error.
Pick this up if you like a tactical game, especially if you enjoyed Desperados from March of this year. The same studio made this, and it’s in a similar style, though the old west is swapped out for Feudal Japan. I will mention that this is about a third of the length of the original Shadow Tactics, so the price might be a little high, but it seems pretty solid, though I would recommend playing the original game first, that’s what I’ll be doing soon.
If you don’t happen to have Shadow Tactics, it will be available on Epic Games for free from November 10th to the 17th, Sorry if that date is in the past, but that’s why you should subscribe to my channel and ring the bell.
If you enjoyed this review or want to know what I think of other games in the bundle, check out the full review on or subscribe to my Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/sFC7gi3ZDQc
Más DLC que expansión independiente.
Pros:
- Volver a un título excelente como Shadow Tactics siempre es agradable.
- Las pocas misiones que incluye están muy bien diseñadas y permiten mucha rejugabilidad.
- Los ataques grupales perfectamente sincronizados siguen siendo tan orgásmicos como el primer día.
Contras:
- No añade nada nuevo a lo visto en el juego original, por lo que su condición de expansión independiente resulta un tanto extraña.
- Algunas mecánicas siguen tan rotas como en el juego original, como la atracción de enemigos con el Tanuki.
- Con más frecuencia de lo deseado algunas animaciones se rompen o no se activan en absoluto.
Pros:
- Volver a un título excelente como Shadow Tactics siempre es agradable.
- Las pocas misiones que incluye están muy bien diseñadas y permiten mucha rejugabilidad.
- Los ataques grupales perfectamente sincronizados siguen siendo tan orgásmicos como el primer día.
Contras:
- No añade nada nuevo a lo visto en el juego original, por lo que su condición de expansión independiente resulta un tanto extraña.
- Algunas mecánicas siguen tan rotas como en el juego original, como la atracción de enemigos con el Tanuki.
- Con más frecuencia de lo deseado algunas animaciones se rompen o no se activan en absoluto.
It's a very good expansion, but it's a shame that it's based on the original Shadow Tactics instead of Desperados 3 and thus lacks things like the tactical pause and mission recaps. It's pretty much just "more the same" when it's been 5 years and the original was already good, I don't mind at all.
Personally I'd prefer the missions to be about half as long as they are (~2 hours each), but I guess it was to be expected from an expansion. Desperados 3 is still the king of tactical stealth, and I think the next step is to scale the missions down to be less time consuming.
Personally I'd prefer the missions to be about half as long as they are (~2 hours each), but I guess it was to be expected from an expansion. Desperados 3 is still the king of tactical stealth, and I think the next step is to scale the missions down to be less time consuming.
Really nice small stealth strategy game, fist Shadow Tactics I ever played, got me interested in the other installments
Literalmente a mesma coisa do jogo normal, o que não fede nem cheira. Adicionou uma história legal. Ser muito curto e ter vindo como um jogo standalone pelo preço que veio me fez tirar meia estrela mas pra quem gosta de shadow tactics vale.
Wish it was longer, but can't complain
Más ninjas y más commandos digooo shadow tactics.
¿Qué es lo que no te va a gustar de este DLC? Pues que si vienes a ello sin haber jugado el juego base, te va a parecer brutalmente difícil, porque la complejidad de sus misiones tiene bastante tela.
Muy buena experiencia volver a usar a esta banda. Me sigue recordando que tengo que jugar al Desperados III.
¿Qué es lo que no te va a gustar de este DLC? Pues que si vienes a ello sin haber jugado el juego base, te va a parecer brutalmente difícil, porque la complejidad de sus misiones tiene bastante tela.
Muy buena experiencia volver a usar a esta banda. Me sigue recordando que tengo que jugar al Desperados III.
Standalone expansion taking place before the final sections of the main game. Includes three main missions and two very short side missions. The missions are solid but aren't doing anything too interesting starting with a fairly simple stage that is more of a way to get back into playing the game, the second featuring individual small islands that each hold an objective, and a somewhat short finale with traps to make use of and multiple ways to deal with your final target. Does miss the better tactical pause system and fast forward button added in Desperados 3 and makes no improvements or edits to the base game but if you just wanted more of an already very good game this is it.
https://youtu.be/VFrtzIog8_c
https://youtu.be/VFrtzIog8_c
Es básicamente más de lo mismo, pero eso es exactamente lo que quería. Incluye 3 misiones principales, todas bastante buenas; 2 mini-misiones, una muy curiosa y otra muy básica; y 1 epílogo jugable pero que lo único que hace es aportar un poco a la historia.