Aragami

Very fun stealth game. It is quiet buggy sometimes and the dlc isn’t that great but all in all it’s still worth the few euros I spent to buy it.

In Aragami you play a summoned warrior made of shadows, and shrouded in mystery that you will slowly uncover throughout the game. There are 13 Chapters in total, and a multitude of ways to traverse the many night time landscapes that lay ahead. Try to be a saint and finish each level without a single death, or leave no witnesses.

Pros:

Timeless Art Style
Captivating and Immersive Soundtrack
Steam Deck/Linux Friendly
Uncapped Framerate
A Gripping Storyline
Includes Level Editor and Steam Workshop
Multiple ways to play
Fun to play Handheld, at the desk, or in front of a TV

Cons:

None?

Aragami is definitely worth considering if you like stealth! Highly recommend!

After completing this game 100%
Summary: Aragami is a must buy for anyone who enjoys the older "more stealthy" stealth titles. At it's core the gameplay is very fun with a lot of flexibility, pair that with the overall atmosphere + customisation options and you have a really solid game that lets you be the shadow ninja you dreamed of. It's a shame the studio has shut down but I am grateful to them for creating such a memorable experience :)
Overall rating: 4/5
✅ I liked...
The progression. You are quickly introduced to the bread and butter mechanics that will remain key throughout the entire game. As you advance through each mission, new features will pop up that will keep you thinking of different approaches; this is normally through the introduction of a new enemy type, map feature to work around or ability to add to your arsenal. Each level also has 3 badges that you can obtain by either killing every single enemy, killing no enemies or never being detected. Collecting these badges was a lot of fun as you get to play through the game at least twice with a completely different playstyle.
That they made this an actual stealth game. It sounds weird to say but in my opinion, games nowadays treat stealth like an option where it doesn't matter if you get caught since you can just fight your way out of it. In this game you don't even have an "attack" button, so you really have to take a step back and think about how you're going to proceed. It adds a nice reminiscent, almost tribute feeling to the older stealth games I would play as a kid.
The care that went into the design of this game. The overall aesthetic was very satisfying to me, from the music & art style to the abilities you could unlock, it all just clicked together really well.
The customisation. Not really a lot to say on this point I just liked the diversity in gear you could equip and then all the colour options on top of that. You can make some really cool looking characters in this game.
How rewarding the gameplay was. This wasn't a particularly difficult game but after playing for enough time to get comfortable with the mechanics and the different abilities this game does a great job at making you feel like an unstoppable shadow assassin.
The co-op experience. Adding onto my last point, the only thing that could top being a unstoppable shadow assassin is having other unstoppable shadow assassins that you can team up with. If you're able to play this game with someone else I would highly recommend it.
❌ I didn't like...
The boss battles that much. Every now and then you would encounter a boss level which would play more like a linear puzzle, as opposed to the more freeing standard missions that would allow for more creativity. I can sympathise with the difficulty of making a boss fight for a game like this though, you can't have the boss getting one-shot like other enemies, but the lack of an attack button means you have to take other measures to do damage to them. It just didn't feel as fun to me personally.
How short it was. I think the base game took me around 20 hours to 100% which is normally fine, but I really enjoyed this game and I wish it had more baked into it.
The DLC as much as the base game. You have less abilities and the map design was a bit too open for me. It almost felt like you should play the DLC first so that the experience gets better as you progress and you conclude the title with a better aftertaste.

Live in shadows-emerged from a dreams I will be the one who put you to sleep. Im birlliantly crafter ninja with nothing to see and nothing to hear.
Artsy shell shaded graphics, slow-fast pasted gameplay action with mistery and magic of shadows. Call back to older era titles where fun and engaging gameplay was first on the line. Nothing will feel more powerful than you skill on executing perfect moves.
Craftmanship on its finest form

Great Stealth/Ninja game. story is good (could've been better). cool abilities

The game has been in my library for years. I finally got to play it, and it's a lot of fun stealth game, simply Mark of the Ninja in 3rd person story is predictable but, the gameplay is so much fun.

This is how you felt when you wrapped a dishcloth around your head when pretending to be a ninja at age 5.
The Story:
Aragami has you playing as well, an Aragami. A paper swan. Ha, comedy. Nailed it ;). An aragami is actually a revived soul who, in your case specifically, is tasked by a mysterious sorceress to do her monthly shopping. Collecting various trinkets she needs to ultimately free her from her wrongful imprisonment. She appears as a projection to help guide you on your mission throughout the game.
The Gameplay:
Aragami plays from a third-person perspective and is primarily designed as a stealth game. Combat does exist, but it is rarely a successful engagement if there is more than one enemy as you can die in one hit. Sort of like when the boys gang up on you on Friday night roasting sessions.
If you've ever played Arkane's "Dishonored" series, you'll notice some similarities in terms of abilities. You can't steal fruit with the power of your mind and pickpocket so fast it's surprising their pants don't come off with it, but you can blink, alongside other similar tools used for stealth.
Since there's a war between the forces of light and darkness (literally), your ability to move effectively and stealthily requires you to use darkness to the best of your ability. Not only is your "magic" drained when in well lit areas, but it is inversely restored when in complete darkness. It is also helps keep you hidden, if that wasn't obvious. The magic is used to blink around, so without it, well, you're a candle trying to survive a hurricane.
Some Pros:
- The entire game can be played in co-op.
- It has a serene, vibrant art style that is very thematic and beautiful to look at.
- The music is epic, from more slow songs to rock N roll boss fights.
- Lots of verticality and routes to reach your objectives.
- Various playthrough medals and and collectables for replayability.
- Goes on sale fairly often for cheap.
Some Cons:
- The one hit kill thing is a bit irritating not because you die in one hit, but if you're in the animation of hiding a body or a kill, you're locked in place. Leaving you vulnerable.
- The teleport ability to move around can be a bit finicky around ledges.
- Enemies aren't incredibly varied.
Conclusion:
Aragami is a fantastic game to play through with a friend or even just for lovers of stealth in general. It's complex and satisfying enough to play, combined with gorgeous art and epic music, it's sure to keep you entertained. Now go get that dishcloth!
10/10, will sneaky-sneak again! :D