In just a couple of days, developers from Cyanide Studio will release their new stealth-action game Styx: Blades of Greed. In connection with this, publisher Nacon has lifted the embargo on publishing final reviews, allowing journalists to share their impressions.
At the time of this news publication, Styx: Blades of Greed has an average score of 75 points on both Metacritic (PC version) and OpenCritic, with a recommendation rate of 50%.
Among the strengths, reviewers note the well-crafted level design and diverse protagonist abilities, while the weaknesses include technical issues, questionable voice acting quality, and cutscene direction.
Here's what the media writes:
DualShockers — 85/100
Styx: Blades of Greed is a must-play for stealth fans. Don't expect anything mind-blowing, but the developers have clearly put in the work in almost every aspect. ... If you enjoyed the previous games in the series, you'll have a great time here too. But even if you're new to the genre, the gameplay won't disappoint. Styx is a blend of classic game design and modern conveniences, and the new installment can rightfully be called the best in the series.
Pros:
- Freedom of action;
- Well-developed mechanics;
- Excellent level design.
Cons:
- Not the most outstanding story;
- Slow progression.
TechRadar Gaming — 80/100
Styx: Blades of Greed is the best classic stealth-action game of the last decade, with engaging mechanics and well-designed levels. Unfortunately, numerous bugs and technical issues on PC, not to mention poor-quality voice acting and cutscenes, reduce its appeal for those who aren't genre fans.
Pros:
- The game rewards risk-taking;
- Huge, well-crafted open locations that are a joy to explore;
- Diverse protagonist abilities and movement options;
- A surprisingly decent story with plenty of good jokes.
Cons:
- Many bugs and performance issues on PC;
- Voice acting quality is sometimes simply terrible;
- Cutscenes look rather cheap.
GamesRadar+ — 80/100
Styx: Blades of Greed is a dark fantasy stealth-action game with open locations and fantastically well-developed gameplay mechanics. Some technical issues and simplistic enemy AI can be annoying, but the sheer number of creative solutions – from decoy clones to using fireplaces – makes this world worth getting lost in.
Pros:
- Thoughtful stealth;
- Huge variety of ways to complete missions;
- Engaging movement and theft mechanics.
Cons:
- Guards are quite dumb;
- The game takes a long time to get going at the start;
- Technical issues on PC.
Metro GameCentral — 70/100
Fans of Dishonored who miss its unique blend of exploration and stealth will find much to like in the meticulously crafted world of Styx. The developers may not have had an Arkane-level budget, but they've managed to carve their own path, offering a rough-around-the-edges charming hero, thoughtful progression, and stealth sections that encourage experimentation. This makes Blades of Greed a fine addition to the series.
In short: A long-awaited new entry in the series that increasingly resembles a spiritual successor to Thief: The Dark Project, with excellent levels in the best tradition of stealth sandboxes.
Pros: A charismatic anti-hero and multi-layered locations that reward experimenting with Styx's new abilities (especially the grappling hook and glider).
Cons: Wilderness maps are less interesting than urban ones and have quite a few bugs.
Gamereactor UK — 70/100
All gameplay elements of Styx: Blades of Greed are executed superbly. The stealth and movement mechanics are meticulously thought out and a joy to use. The Metroidvania-style level design works excellently, and each time you return to a familiar place, it feels like you're exploring a brand new location. The protagonist's arsenal is better than ever in the series, you move faster than before, and our favorite goblin has become even greedier. However, there are elements in Styx: Blades of Greed that prevent me from calling it truly amazing, but even so, it's a very, very good game, and I'm ready to praise this old-school stealth-action title with all its flaws.
Pros:
- Engaging world exploration;
- A worthy story;
- New abilities;
- Verticality of locations with Metroidvania elements.
Cons:
- Visual bugs;
- Unstable AI performance;
- Issues with voice acting and cutscenes.
Styx: Blades of Greed releases on February 19th for PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series with Russian text localization.