Do you have complaints about the current state of the video game industry? Do you hate things like loot boxes, intrusive DRM, and pay-to-win mechanics? Well, the creators of Shadow of Loot Box sure do; so much so that they decided to create an entire game around it. Shadow of Loot Box is a first-person shooter (FPS) with light puzzle elements. It has a clear agenda to poke fun at the current blights of the gaming landscape.

Developer: Stately Snail

Publisher: Ratalaika Games

3 Hours Played // Review Copy Provided // $7.99

First and foremost, Shadow of Loot Box is an FPS. It has the mechanics and feel of an old-school, classic FPS: fast movement, no reloads, no way to aim down the sights. However, unlike one of these games, there are no ammo, weapon, or health pick-ups. Instead, there are loot boxes. You can find loot boxes throughout the levels or you can buy them with an in-game currency. When you open a loot box, it might contain health, ammo, experience points, or even a new gun.

For the most part, the mechanic works. If I was low on health or ammo, I would open a loot box and hope I got what I needed. Even when I didn’t get the desired loot, I always had enough loot boxes and/or money to just open more until I did. By including this mechanic, Shadow of Loot Box is commenting on loot boxes in modern games. This potentially frustrating gameplay loop simulates the role of loot boxes in pay-to-win games and seems intentionally designed to elicit feelings of malaise and dissatisfaction. However, while the mechanic here is a little frustrating, its ability to communicate that message is hobbled by the developers’ need to create a game that is enjoyable to play. They don’t take it to the extreme, because doing so would create a game that is simply not fun. The result here is then a game that falls somewhere in the middle. The game isn’t the best because there are these annoying features being used to make a point, but they’re not so annoying as to fully drive that point home.

Shooting while moving backward became my best strategy early on.

This type of commentary on the current state of video games is the focus of Shadow of Loot Box. Beyond the loot box mechanic, there are other instances of this. There are levels that are intentionally unfinished and buggy, as well as levels that pause throughout due to fake DRM. Also, the enemies in the game are evil loot boxes that you need to shoot and kill. Some of these critiques work well and are genuinely clever. However, there is no narrative to pull it all together.

You move from level to level with the game taking jabs at different aspects of video games, but with no overarching goal or plot. Why am I killing some loot boxes and opening others for sustenance? Why do I need to progress through this world at all — what is the end game here? There is no motivation provided. Not only does this cause issues from an enjoyment perspective, but it is also a huge miss for what the devs are trying to say about the industry. There could have been a narrative here to tie all of their commentaries together and provide a real critique. Instead, we just have these little pokes. Isn’t it annoying when a single-player game doesn’t work due to internet connection? Yes, but I already knew that — what else are you providing here?

Some of the jabs are spot on.

These problems could be overlooked if there were other great aspects to the game. However, nothing stands out. The controls are functional, but they do have some issues. Aiming is imprecise along with some of the button inputs. There were times where I had trouble lining up a shot or making a jump. There are some fun, light puzzles throughout the game, which I enjoyed. However, most of the time the goal is to just kill or collect enough things to get a key that will unlock the next area.

The graphics and sound are simple as well. Many of the assets, locations, and sounds are reused throughout the levels. The textures and models are plain. Everything feels generic. Again, this wouldn’t be a huge issue on its own. I’ve played poor-looking games before and still enjoyed them due to their great writing or gameplay. However, when coupled with the other issues present, it only detracts from the already diminishing experience.

Is this a snow level or are none of the textures rendered?

There is definitely something here, but it’s just not enough. I like the idea of taking shots at the current problems of the gaming industry, especially within a game itself. However, there is not enough follow-through on that promise. The other features of the game aren’t strong enough to hold it up, either. While there are some innovative ideas and decent puzzles sprinkled throughout Shadow of Loot Box, it is ultimately not that fun to play.

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