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The game has over 45 levels that feature fun and unique puzzles to solve. As gamers progress through each stage, their goal is to uncover the mystery behind the strange disappearance of Thomas Kane. Players new to the platformer game can keep these tips in mind to be help them complete Tandem: A Tale of Shadows with ease.
10 Coordinate Movements Between Light And Shadow
Players can constantly switch between Emma and Fenton to coordinate their movements on each level. Emma can stroll past objects and obstacles in a top-down view, while Fenton can walk on shadows in a horizontal view.
Players must alternate between the two roles in tandem to find a way across spooky stages and bosses that give goosebumps. Emma carries a lantern to light the way in each stage. Find the right angles with the lantern to help Fenton get to levers and buttons that clear the path for Emma.
9 Find The Crystals With Fenton
A unique gameplay element of Tandem: A Tale of Shadows is that Fenton can walk on shadows to reach areas on the map inaccessible to Emma. Carefully position objects on the map with Emma to make way for Fenton to find crystals on each level.
While Emma can move physical objects to create paths for Fenton, the teddy bear can walk and jump on pedestals and platforms to obtain crystals. Watching Fenton pass the crystal to Emma is one of the most satisfying parts of the game.
8 Collect The Keys To Clear The Level
Each level is densely packed with distinct objects that block Emma at every turn. There are gates on each stage that needs a key to be unlocked. In order to open these gates, players must locate the keys that are hidden away in the map, and to do so must maneuver Emma around these obstacles.
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Play as Fenton to navigate around the shadows and view the location of the keys. Be sure to activate any levers and buttons that can make the keys accessible to Emma. Players can’t proceed to the next level without unlocking the gates.
7 Unravel Dark Secrets in Kane’s Mansion
The morbid atmosphere of Kane’s Mansion makes Tandem: A Tale of Shadows mystifying to gamers. Uncovering hidden areas within the game can unveil details about Thomas Kane and his family that can shed light on his disappearance.
From secret exits to the spider’s den, players can explore Kane’s Mansion and dig deep into the dark sides of the couple that resides within. These secrets include the true face of Mrs. Kane, and the potions that Kane has concocted. Emma and Fenton can both discover different secrets on top-down and side-scroller views as they progress through the game.
6 Run For Cover
The game has several death-defying obstacles that stand in Emma’s way. While Emma can’t jump like Fenton can, she can certainly run to save her hide. Tandem: A Tale of Shadows is brimming with dangerous puzzles that can put Emma between a rock and a hard place.
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For example, walking past fire chambers can put Emma at risk. Run past the blazing cannons and pause between the fire chambers to avoid being burnt to a crisp. Without running, butcher knives can cut short Emma’s escapades. The gas stove is another hurdle that forces Emma to watch her step and run at the right time to clear.
5 Think Outside The Box
The game is entrenched with puzzles that require players to think outside the box. The way forward on any level isn’t as clear as night and day. Gamers can expect to spend hours stuck on a few stages where game design is exceptionally hard.
Simply moving objects in Tandem: A Tale of Shadows doesn’t solve anything; players have to pay attention to how they interact. For example, a few objects can be fed to other objects to make them bigger. Once the size of the object has increased, Emma can position it to help Fenton jump across the shadows, activate nozzles, and capture crystals.
4 Stay Away From Creepy Crawlies
This Victorian-era-inspired game features an intricate world that is beautiful yet dismal. In addition to the puzzles to solve, Kane’s mansion is teeming with insects and oversized critters that pose a threat to Emma.
Even a single hit from these creepy crawlers can be fatal to Emma. Stay away from spiders that shoot lasers from their eyes. Emma can be crushed by insects that roll around a rock at high speeds, and can be hit by purple-colored snails that obstruct her path. Players will also encounter humungous snails that move together in packs during later stages of the game. Do not come in contact with these creatures!
3 Trap The Foes
If running isn’t an option, players can try to trap the insects within certain spaces. Most of them move in patterns that can be memorized. Learn their movements to avoid getting hit and wait for them to crawl into confined spaces.
Restraining these insects isn’t easy to do. Players might have to move objects such as trolleys and chests from other rooms to make it happen, while ensuring that Emma is not detected by the spiders on patrol. Once the spiders move into corners, quickly reposition the objects to entrap them.
2 Teddy On The Toes
Since Fenton can walk and jump, venturing through Kane’s mansion can be a lot of fun with him. The teddy bear must be steady on its toes. When playing as Fenton, players can jump on pipes, panels, brick walls, glass, turbines, and buttons.
Turbines with rotating spikes can be found on most levels in the game, but landing on these spikes can be lethal to Fenton. Missing a step while jumping from panel to panel can also lead to Fenton being impaled. Players should also keep an eye out for vines with thorns that can ruin the game.
1 Look For Clues In The Mansion
The truth behind the disappearance of Thomas Kane remains a mystery until the end. While Thomas doesn’t actually appear in the game, there are plenty of clues left behind to give players a glimpse of his childhood at Kane’s mansion.
The grand piano, paintings of a lighthouse, recipe books, trophy mounts, and a life-size atlas can leave a lingering impression on people who have picked up the game. Chapters such as The Gardens, Boiler Room, and Greenhouse provide players a peek into Thomas’ struggles growing up in the mansion. Be sure to pay attention to the mansion’s surroundings, while solving the game’s puzzles.
Released on October 21, 2021, Tandem: A Tale of Shadows is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation 4.
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