The Siege and the Sandfox Review (PC & Steam Deck)
Summary: A beautifully crafted stealth Metroidvania offering rewarding exploration and engaging mechanics, though some players may find the stealth elements require patience.
4.5
Gorgeous
Metroidvania games have long captivated players by rewarding exploration, often layering innovative mechanics onto familiar foundations to forge engaging experiences. The Siege and the Sandfox embraces this formula, uniquely infusing it with elements of stealth and parkour to craft a compelling blend of platforming and sneaky maneuvering. Developed by Cardboard Sword, the game unfolds within a visually stunning pixel-art world, rich in both atmosphere and intrigue.
In terms of the narrative, you step into the role of The Sandfox, a renowned protector of the city and a loyal servant to the crown. Your world is shattered when you witness the Queen commit regicide, only for her to then turn on you, leaving you for dead at the bottom of Traitor’s Fall with a glass dagger in your side. Framed for the King’s murder, your journey becomes one of desperate escape and eventual redemption. You must navigate the labyrinthine depths beneath the city to ultimately return and expose the Queen’s treachery.
With that basis, the game’s narration lends a storybook-like quality to the experience, making it feel immersive despite its relatively conventional plot. While the overarching narrative might be straightforward, the smaller, more personal tales encountered along the way significantly enhance the adventure with added depth and intrigue.
The Gameplay
At its core, The Siege and the Sandfox is undeniably a Metroidvania, meaning exploration is paramount. Armed with only a marker on your map, you are tasked with navigating the breathtaking architecture to progress. The world itself evolves into a complex puzzle, often requiring you to retrace your steps and organically discover new pathways. Adding to this is the introduction of fluid parkour mechanics, allowing you to wall-run, nimbly climb cables, and slide through tight gaps to traverse the environment. The level design thoughtfully supports this focus on movement, ensuring that each action feels both fluid and genuinely rewarding.
Stealth plays an equally crucial role in the gameplay loop. Rather than encouraging direct confrontation with guards, the game subtly guides you to patiently observe patrol patterns, waiting for the opportune moment to slip by unnoticed. You can utilize hiding spots within boxes, strategically extinguish lights to create diversions, or silently eliminate threats with a swift strike from the shadows. Light and darkness are significant mechanics, encouraging a deliberate and methodical approach to each encounter. Cleverly, your character’s appearance subtly shifts in darker areas, providing an intuitive visual cue about your visibility without cluttering the user interface.
Fans of the original Prince of Persia will immediately recognize the deliberate, weighty jumps and the demand for precise movement that characterize the platforming in The Siege and the Sandfox. Much like Jordan Mechner’s classic, movement here requires purpose and calculated positioning to navigate the environment effectively. Whether you’re sliding down walls before executing a daring leap to safety or skillfully scaling a building, the game implements each element with finesse to deliver a consistently thrilling experience. The fluid animations and parkour-inspired traversal feel like a modern and respectful homage to the cinematic platforming of the original Prince of Persia, making it both a nostalgic and surprisingly fresh experience that plays exceptionally well on a PC (via Steam) and also the Steam Deck.
Graphics and Audio
Visually, The Siege and the Sandfox stands out as a truly stunning example of pixel-art, seamlessly blending meticulously hand-painted animations with modern and dynamic lighting effects. Powered by the Unreal Engine, these visuals significantly enhance the stealth mechanics, making shadows feel both tangible and deeply immersive. The sound design is equally impressive, featuring an atmospheric soundtrack that expertly builds tension and effectively highlights moments of danger. From the subtle echo of footsteps in vast chambers to the quiet rustling of clothing as you move through the shadows, every audio cue serves a distinct purpose, making sound an integral and enriching part of the overall gameplay experience.
Final Thoughts?
The Siege and the Sandfox successfully and elegantly blends the rewarding exploration inherent in Metroidvania design with engaging stealth mechanics, ultimately creating a game that manages to feel both comfortably familiar and excitingly fresh. While its overarching story might tread somewhat conventional ground, the quality of the narration and the richness of the world-building significantly elevate the overall experience. The fluid parkour-inspired movement, combined with the thoughtful nod to Prince of Persia-style platforming, makes simply traversing the world a genuine joy. Coupled with the tense and engaging stealth mechanics, and wrapped in gorgeous pixel-art visuals and immersive sound design, this is undoubtedly a game that deserves your attention.
The Siege and the Sandfox Trailer
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