Shogun Showdown | PS5 Review

Shogun Showdown for the PS5 is a delightful little turn based roguelike deckbuilding experience in which you take on the role of one of several different shogun era classes with bonus perks that change the way you approach gameplay. 

It is with these innate abilities alongside their respective classes, upgradable weapon tiles, passive skills, and single use items dropped on the space based playing field or bought at shop vendors that you'll face off against foes who are implementing a similar strategy turn for turn. Your every action along the way counting as a turn whether it be equipping an attack, changing your looking direction, or moving or swapping spaces with ready to attack enemies. Same goes for the plotting and planning enemies. Since you are kept alive by a limited stock of health carefully minding your actions is the key to victory.

Shogun Showdown starts you off with a hands-on tutorial in which all the gameplay gimmicks are explained away through real time examples. This includes the implementation of movement, actions taken, and strategies related to waiting and swapping places at opportune moments specifically meant for the Wanderer class. You'll learn that your attacks are tied to weapon tiles that each carry a cooldown as well as damage level. You'll also learn that some tiles even effect the reach or direction of the attack. 

Outside of that the skills or buffs acquired are passive abilities that become available the more you progress, and spend your gained currency on said unlocks back at the base of operations and in intermittent shops along the playthrough route. It is at this base of operations, in particular, that you'll find details on all aspects of your attempts at completion alongside a resident vendor that offers newer tiles or skills for following runs. 

A single run in Shogun Showdown is a series of connecting paths and points of interests that house enemy and boss battles as well as shop vendors to spend collected currency on. All set to numbered days with added quest objectives related to feats. You'll start off by choosing your class or playstyle, and head out to your first enemy encounters with a full stock of HP, and a set number of tiles on hand. As you defeat waves of spawning enemies you will encounter upgrade shrines and the opportunity to nab additional tiles for use in combat later on. Unlike the map based shop offerings these additions are free of charge unless you want to reroll. Alternatively shops will offer single use items for sale as well as skills, and tiles. That and additional upgrades for a higher price. 

Clearing the lesser enemies first in the enemy encounters will lead you to a final boss fight with a huge health bar that must be depleted before death claims your character. The same gameplay mechanics apply here, but each boss attacks in a more varied way compared to their lesser enemy counterparts. They have their own unique patterns that must be learned and dealt with carefully to continue onto the map, and the next point of interest inline, be it a shop or another wave of enemy encounters. Successfully completing a wave of lesser enemies will help you earn the skull currency for permanent unlocks back at the base as well as aide in unlocking the other playable classes under condition requirements fulfilled. 

In the way of help single use items that can be held in up to three slots enable things like shields, enemy afflictions, and health restoration. Adding to the more basic skill and tile based combat. The upgrades along the way will also help in buffing tiles to the point of evolution in which new abilities are added to them. Things like cooldown reduction, added damage, and extensions to reach will change the way the tiles perform. 

The Presentation ...

Shogun Showdown is a byte sized pixel sprite inclusive indie that has a red, black, deep blue, and green color palette related to the time of day. Featuring feudal era details and building structures alongside characters that are dressed and equipped as if they were from feudal Japan. Added to this visual 2D display is a complimentary chiptune soundtrack with a somewhat oriental sound. The details are minimal yet effective while the soundtrack adds a nice atmosphere to the combat. 

The Verdict ...

Shogun Showdown tries to set itself apart from the competition, and in doing what it does I think it succeeded. The focus on spacing, positioning, and actions taken really adds a sense of applied skill, and proper challenge. The gameplay is, itself, very challenging by comparison to some deckbuilding roguelikes, and getting beyond the first boss is a trial in and of itself. There is, of course, a level of RNG at play in all of this, but it is more about plotting and planning to perfection that will be the deciding factor in progress or the lack thereof. 

As far as the presentation goes I like the choice of pixel design, and the chiptune soundtrack. It's simple yet effective in setting the proper period mood in relation to the game's feudal Japanese world. The fact that added replays are incentivized by the need to unlock staple features gives the game more value, and extends player retention. Mind you it's not the easiest game to master or adjust to mechanically, but it is a proper deckbuilding roguelike experience, nonetheless. If you fancy something different from this genre Shogun Showdown is out now for $15 (US) on the PS5. A must buy for genre enthusiasts and fans alike!