History VideoGame / StyxShardsOfDarkness

''Styx: Shards of Darkness'' is a StealthBasedGame developed by Creator/CyanideStudio for PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and Xbox One, released on March 2017. The game is an interquel to ''Videogame/StyxMasterOfShadows'' and ''Videogame/OfOrcsAndMen''.

-->'''Styx:''' Did you stream that? I want a percentage on your BEST GOBLIN DEATH COMPILATION!
-->'''Styx:''' You know using the controller with your feet ain't gonna get you an achievement, right?

* InvisibilityCloak: A side objective in one of the levels is to find a magical cloak enchanted by Dwarven runes, which turns out to be one of these. When worn, it causes Styx's {{Invisibility}} power to only consume Amber when he's moving, at the cost of making him take more damage.

* EnemyMine: Helldryn, captain of a goblin-hunting organization, is hiring Styx in exchange for a large stash of Amber.
* ExpendableClone: Styx's ability to barf up clones returns, now with the ability to spawn them at a distance using craftable sacs.
* FallingChandelierOfDoom: Hanging chandeliers appear commonly, often with a conveniently easy to break chain and several hapless guards standing directly below. They're especially useful for being one of the few ways to kill {{Heavily Armored Mook}}s.
* FullBodyDisguise: You steal an elven heavy armor for Helledryn to disguise herself in.

* InsectQueen: The roabies have a huge worm-like queen which, among other things, is the deity of Kastasil/elves, and also [[spoiler:the source of Quartz]].
* InvisibilityCloak: A of side objective in one of the levels is to find a magical cloak enchanted by Dwarven runes, which turns out to be one of these. When worn, it causes Styx's {{Invisibility}} power to only consume Amber when he's moving, at the cost of making him take more damage.

* MineralMacguffin: The Quartz, a crystalline substance that enables the control of goblins, and grants Styx new powers. There are several types such as mineral, which is inert and needs to be activated into ''pure'' state, and also the one used in the weapons.

* OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame: Grumpy - check, drunk - check, love ''shiny valuable things'' - check, axe/hammer weapons - double check. They are, however, unique in the sense of having a keen sense of smell and can sniff out goblins (Styx included) if he doesn't camouflage his odour.

* PretextForWar: The [[spoiler:assasination of the dwarven ambassador is apparently taken only as an excusatory causus belli, since the dwarfs essentially smuggled a 100ft tall golem war machine as a gift sometime earlier into Korrangar, and Djarrak even remarks how the dwarfs have planned to attack the elves all along]].
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: The Kastasil (elves) are very much this, with an added fun flavor of fanaticism and religious zealotry.
* PurposefullyOverpowered: The Flow Control skill causes Amber to slowly and passively regenerate, allowing Styx to turn invisible and throw clones into danger without having to worry about resource management. Though it can only be gained after collecting all seven pieces of Pure Quartz and gaining every mastery skill, it avoids quite being a BraggingRightsReward since it's still useful for anyone who wants to replay the levels for 100% completion.
* RiteOfPassage: The Elven adolescents have to navigate a dangerous proving ground full of various traps designed to test their courage, strength, wisdom etc. Styx gets locked in and has to do the trials, as the tokens collected at the end are the only way out.
* SceneryPorn: Oh yes, tops the previous game to boot.

** Styx at one point refers to Amber (and again later to Pure Quartz) as his "[[Literature/LordOfTheRings precious" while doing an obvious Gollum impression]].

** Later on during the same mission, [[spoiler:when first encountering the Roabie Queen in the Quartz Mine]], Styx remarks that he's [[VideoGame/{{GodOfWar}} "no god of war"]] but still intends to [[spoiler:find a way to take it down and get the Quartz]].

* TheCameo: Arkail and Marhlok appear as part of the diplomatic meeting.
* ContinuityNod: The events of 'Master of Shadows' are mentioned, and you even get to meet Barimen, who is an optional assasination objective.

** One side mission has you stealing badges from C.A.R.N.A.G.E deserters. One's name is "[[VideoGame/{{Dishonored}} Carvo Attona]]," and another is named "[[VideoGame/{{Thief}} Garrett]]."

* AbandonedMine: Not really abandoned since the elves use roabies to excavate Quartz.

* FallingChandelierOfDoom: Hanging chandeliers appear commonly, often with a conveniently easy to break chain and several hapless guards standing directly below. They're especially useful for being one of the few ways to kill HeavilyArmoredMoods.

* HeavilyArmoredMook: Some humans and elves and all dwarfs wear heavy armor. This makes them NighInvulnerable to anything Styx can throw at them, leaving environmental hazards like falling chandeliers and poisoned food as the only thing that can do them in. On top of that the armor is so heavy that Styx can't even pick them up, meaning that dissolving them with [[HollywoodAcid Acid Vials]] is the only way to hide the body.

* ActionGirl: Helledryn, leader of C.A.R.N.A.G.E p. qualifies, and looks the part too.

* DuelToTheDeath: The elves practice this to appease their god. The loser gets to be looser; the winner, however...brrrr.

* HumanResources: [[spoiler:Well, more like Goblin Resources; the elves produce ther own Amber by capturing goblins, grinding them to mush, and extracting raw Amber that courses through their veins.]]

* SequelHook: The ending positively screams this.

* WhateverHappenedToThemouse:

* DivideAndConquer: [[spoiler:In order to prevent Lyssril from obtaining more Amber from the dwarves with which to keep the elves enslyved to her, Styx and Djarak plan on breaking the fragile alliance between the two by assasinating the dwarven ambassador and framing Lyssril.]]

* ElvesVsDwarves: The dwarves and the elves don't exactly like each other initially, but after Styx [[spoiler:assasinates the dwarven ambassador, the dwarves are quick to start preparing for war]].

* {{Golem}}: [[spoiler:The giant statue that the dwarves gave to Korrangar elves is actually a 100 foot tall war machine which proceeds to wreck the city. Styx naturally takes it down with a bit of effort.]]
* HaveANiceDeath: Anytime you die, [[BreakingTheFourthWall Styx shows up to mock and belittle you]] for getting him killed.

* HeavilyArmoredMook: Comes in elven and human varieties, you cannot pick up their bodies, but you can dissolve them completely if you have the right equipment.

* MediumAwareness: Styx is now aware that he's a video game character. As well as taunting players after death, he occasionally addresses the player in the game and comments on the writers.

* TheNoseKnows: Dwarves have keen smell and can sniff out goblins at some distance.

* PretextForWar: The [[spoiler:assasination of the dwarven ambassador is apparently taken only as an excusatory causus belli, since the dwarves essentially smuggled a 100ft tall golem war machine as a gift sometime earlier into Korrangar, and Djarrak even remarks how the dwarves have planned to attack the elves all along]].

* WretchedHive: Thoben, City of Hunters, Korrangar (in its own way), Styx even funnily remarks at one point how he could write a travel guide of all the wretched places he visited.

* ShoutOut: Some GameOver scenes pay homage to films, such as Styx crying "[[Film/{{Aliens}} Game Over, man!]]", or saying "[[Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay I'll be back!]]" before sinking to the floor and FlippingTheBird.
** One side mission has you stealing badges from C.A.R.N.A.G.E deserters. One's name is [[VideoGame/{{Dishonored}} "Carvo Attona".]]
--> ''Styx:'' You're bringing dishonor on the name, dude.

''Styx: Shards of Darkness'' is a StealthBasedGame developed by Creator/CyanideStudio for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, released on March 2017. The game is an interquel to ''Videogame/StyxMasterOfShadows'' and ''Videogame/OfOrcsAndMen''.

** One side mission has you stealing badges from C.A.R.N.A.G.E deserters. One's name is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/Dishonored "Carvo Attona".]]