Shadow Bug (Nintendo Switch) Review

By no means should platforming work without jumping. It is perhaps the most crucial element involved in movement within the genre, so removing it would naturally create the necessity for a workaround. Muro Studios has stripped players of the ability to jump in Shadow Bug and replaced it with a touching mechanic where vertical movement is only possible through tapping enemies on the touchscreen. It isn't just an alternative to jumping, however. The touch element allows for the eponymous bug to pass through walls non-traversable via walking and to jump indefinitely so long as enemies are on-screen. In many ways, the removal of a conventional jump has paved the way for more varied movement.

As conceptually strong as the movement through touch mechanic is, it's valueless without the level design to back it up. Thankfully, each stage is crafted in a way where the mechanic can be fully taken advantage of. Levels take on traditional platforming scenarios and unique situations reliant on the lack of jumping alike. It's almost humorous finding Shadow Bug in a situation that could be easily trivialised by jumping. The need to wait for enemies to pass by, in order to trigger a lunge at them, is an inspired take on platforming, one that ignores all common sense in favour of an interesting alternative.

The unique situations, where stages are more walled off than they are full of bottomless pits, typically make great use of chaining enemies to gain momentum and height. Boss fights, also, put Shadow Bug in situations that wouldn't be possible in a traditional platformer. The first boss, especially, is a great example of what can be done without a conventional means of jumping. There are two enemies floating in the air that need to be attacked to dodge the boss, but the boss can also kill said enemies, necessitating careful touches. A touch too early can result in Shadow Bug landing straight on the boss and dying, but a touch too late could mean stranding Shadow Bug as the boss will have already taken out the foe.

Shadow Bug's short length naturally lends itself to speedruns and replays, although it's not without fault. While there is a ranking system at play, it's incredibly easy to get three stars. For the majority of the stages, it's more than likely to get a perfect rank on a first go round. With a few exceptions, the main game does fall on the easier side, but those exceptions are quite difficult in their defence. That said, however, a mostly easy title with some incredibly challenging stages doesn't exactly make for a satisfying difficulty curve. The last few stages, especially, crank the difficulty up to disproportionate levels. On the plus side, it is difficulty bred out of the need for legitimate skill. A quick finger is absolutely necessary in mastering the last stretch. While there is an alternative gyroscopic approach to the controls, it is not recommended. Aiming with the Joy-Con simply isn't as responsive as touching the touchpad. In fact, using a controller for the whole game would likely double the challenge given. The gyroscope aiming simply doesn't offer the fluidity necessary for this type of platforming.

Aesthetically, Shadow Bug is definitely better for its unconventional art style and colour palette. The emphasis of black and white on muted, yet still vibrant, backgrounds makes for a highly memorable experience. Enemies, obstacles, and death traps are made incredibly clear by the art direction. It would be easy to muddy all the assets together, but enough care is taken to ensure that playing the game is never confusing. Creative both artistically and aesthetically, Shadow Bug makes for a fulfilling alternative to the typical platformer.