Cynthia: Hidden in the Moonshadow is an ambitious 3D story-driven adventure game from the small but dedicated Cattia Games
developer studio for Steam, Xbox One and Series X/S and Nintendo Switch. Gameplay is primarily a mix of simple puzzle solving, stealth and archery in a beautifully detailed fantasy world. Because the game lacks any form of standard and direct combat the player will need to keep a keen eye out for things they can use to distract or incapacitate guards while they make their way through the levels. There is also a basic but engaging crafting system and a small handful of optional collectables to find to round out the gameplay.
The story begins with a young Huntress named Cynthia Stranborg returning home after a long time away to find her peaceful village being raided by a strange group of invaders led by a man who seeks an ancient artifact to obtain ultimate power. Now, to save her loved ones Cynthia must venture forth and use the magic and skills she's honed to rescue her people and stop the power-hungry madman before it's too late and she loses everything. With newfound resolve and determination Cynthia sets out on the greatest adventure she's ever experienced... but where will her journey take her? There's only one way to find out...
Tropes found in Cynthia: Hidden in the Moonshadow include:
- And Your Reward Is Clothes: Several optional collectables give Cynthia new outfits to wear that can be equipped at any time from the pause menu.
- Attack Animal: Early in the game Cynthia finds an injured bird in a cage that has been captured by the invaders. After freeing it and nursing it back to health it then becomes a powerful assist ally that can be ordered to attack foes to incapacitate them for a short time. Its uses are unlimited but are also on a fairly lengthy cooldown timer after each assault, preventing the player from spamming it too much.
- Big Bad: Isador, the leader of the invading dark priests from the north who attacks Cynthia's village and serves as the final boss of the game. Though it's ultimately the Moonshadow Goddess who finishes him off after regaining her power rather than Cynthia herself.
- Collection Sidequest: In addition to being able to pray for blessings at scattered Moonshadow Goddess statues Cynthia can equip various different outfits that she finds during her journey.
- Distressed Dude: Hector, Cynthia's love interest, is kidnapped by the main villain at the beginning of the story and she spends most of the remaining game trying to save him and the rest of her people.
- Fanservice: The main character Cynthia is an attractive and buxom young lady who can be equipped with some pretty revealing outfits. There are also a small handful of DLC outfits that push this a bit further.
- Fungus Humongous: One of the last sections of the game is filled with several giant mushrooms that are big enough for Cynthia to use as platforms to reach higher ground.
- Generic Doomsday Villain: This is one of the few genuine flaws the game has. Isador is your typical evil sorcerer who attacks the player's village, turns everyone to stone and kidnaps their love interest because he wants a powerful ancient amulet they possess. Aside from that he doesn't have much of a personality or even a stated goal beyond simply acquiring the amulet, he just wants it and sends his army to take it because otherwise there wouldn't be a plot.
- Item Crafting: Cynthia can craft different types of arrows at a campfire using ingredients she finds while exploring the world.
- Jiggle Physics: Cynthia's chest has a mild but noticeable bounce to it. This is accentuated by performing certain actions or wearing certain unlockable outfits.
- Photo Mode: One of the more welcomed bonus features of the game is a fun photo mode that the player can use to show off the detailed environment and Cynthia's small but diverse wardrobe of sexy and stylish outfits.
- Scenery Porn: Everything about the world is lush, beautiful and detailed. Particularly impressive, considering the tiny dev team and sheer scope of the levels, character designs and graphics.
- Sexy Santa Dress: One of the optional bonus outfits is a sexy "Xmas Costume" that can be either bought as separate DLC or acquired via the special deluxe addition bundle that includes everything for the game.
- Taken for Granite: Cynthia's entire home town is petrified by the Big Bad and Cynthia spends most of the game trying to restore them back to normal.
- Trick Arrow: Cynthia's only form of direct attack against her enemies are special magic arrows that can be used to disable the guards, such as arrows that reduce their field of vision for a short time.
