Options Menu

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun

Status: Released
Year: 2016
Genre: Indie, Strategy
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

1. Summary

Full-screen Options menu with a left-side category navigation list and a right-side configuration panel. The available categories are Video, Gameplay, Audio, Key-Settings, Eye Tracking, and Credits. The background shows the main menu artwork or paused gameplay in a dimmed state. Action buttons such as Reset All, Apply, and Back sit at the bottom of the active settings panel.

Overview

The Options Menu is a full-screen, non-diegetic configuration interface accessible from the Main Menu and the in-game Pause Menu. The layout is split into two main regions: a left-side category list and a right-side settings panel, with either the main menu artwork or paused gameplay visible in a dimmed state behind the UI.

Six categories are stacked vertically on the left:

Video
Gameplay
Audio
Key-Settings
Eye Tracking
Credits

The active category is highlighted with a yellow/gold background. Clicking or navigating to a category loads its settings in the right panel.

Options category list showing Video, Gameplay, Audio, Key-Settings, Eye Tracking, and Credits

Settings Panel (Right Panel)

Each category displays its settings as labeled rows. The observed Audio panel uses:

Arrow selectors for language and speaker mode values.
Sliders for numeric volume settings.
Context help text at the top of the panel for the currently selected row.

The panel can show category-specific controls such as bindings, selectors, sliders, or toggles depending on the selected category.

Action Buttons

At the bottom of the active settings panel:

Reset All: Restores default settings.
Apply: Saves pending changes.
Back: Returns to the previous screen.

Visual Evidence

Options category list shown over dimmed main menu artwork with Back button

Audio settings panel with language selectors, volume sliders, speaker mode, and action buttons

Music Volume setting selected with a slider and left/right adjustment arrows

Options category list with Video selected

Options category list with Gameplay selected

Options category list with Key-Settings selected

Job Story

When I want to customize my gameplay experience before or during play, I want to adjust audio, video, controls, language, and accessibility settings, so that the game feels comfortable and is configured to my preferences.

Classification

diegesis: Non-diegetic
functional_type: Frontend shell

Wireframe

+-----------------------------------------------------------+
|  OPTIONS                                                  |
|                                                           |
|  +--------------+  +------------------------------------+ |
|  | VIDEO        |  |  Category Title (e.g., AUDIO)      | |
|  | GAMEPLAY     |  |  --------------------------------  | |
|  | AUDIO        |  |                                    | |
|  | KEY-SETTINGS |  |  Help text for selected setting    | |
|  | EYE TRACKING |  |                                    | |
|  | CREDITS      |  |  Setting Label        < Value >    | |
|  +--------------+  |  Setting Label        [ Slider ]   | |
|                    |  Setting Label        < Value >    | |
|                    |                                    | |
|                    |                                    | |
|                    |  [RESET ALL] [APPLY] [BACK]        | |
|                    +------------------------------------+ |
|                                                           |
+-----------------------------------------------------------+

Layout notes:

Dimmed main menu artwork or paused gameplay remains visible behind the Options overlay.
The category list is left-aligned and vertically stacked.
The active category uses a yellow/gold highlight.
The right settings panel slides or fades in over the right half of the screen.
Action buttons are anchored along the lower edge of the active panel.

Components

Category List (left panel): Vertically stacked buttons for Video, Gameplay, Audio, Key-Settings, Eye Tracking, and Credits. The active category is highlighted in yellow/gold.
Settings Panel (right panel): Dark panel displaying settings for the selected category. Observed Audio rows include Text Language, Voice Language, Master Volume, Music Volume, Sound Volume, Voice Volume, and Speaker Mode.
Setting Row: Label on the left, value/control on the right, with contextual help text at the top of the panel.
Slider: Horizontal slider with numeric value, used for volume settings.
Arrow Selector: Left/right arrows to cycle through discrete values, used for language and speaker mode selections.
Action Buttons (bottom):
Reset All: Resets settings to defaults.
Apply: Confirms and saves pending changes.
Back: Returns to the previous screen.

Parameters & Audio

Parameter	Value	Type	Notes
Navigation sounds	Audible feedback when moving between categories or setting rows.	Text	—
Slider adjustment	Subtle click/tick sound when dragging sliders.	Text	—
Selection confirm	Distinct sound when toggling values or selecting options.	Text	—
Button press	Confirm sound for Apply/Back/Reset All actions.	Text	—
Background music	Continues from the main menu but can be muted via the Audio panel.	Text	—

Navigation

Entry from Main Menu: Select the "Options" button from the main menu.
Entry from gameplay: Open the Pause Menu during gameplay, then open Options.
Category switching: Click or navigate to a category in the left list to load its settings in the right panel.
Exit options:
Apply: Saves pending changes.
Back: Returns to the previous screen; may leave unapplied changes unchanged.
Reset All: Resets settings to their default values.
Return destination: Main Menu if entered from there; Pause Menu or gameplay flow if entered during play.

Dependencies & Logic

Game state: Options can be accessed from the main menu or in-game pause menu. Some settings, such as display configuration, may require confirmation or a restart depending on platform behavior.
Display capabilities: Available resolutions and display modes depend on the connected monitor and platform.
Input devices: Key-Settings and control-related options depend on the active input hardware.
Eye tracking hardware: Eye Tracking options are only relevant if supported hardware is present.
Language availability: Text and voice language options depend on installed language packs.
Persistence: Apply writes changed values to the player's settings profile.

BDD Scenarios

Scenario: Change audio language and volume

Given: the player is on the Options Menu with the Audio category open
When: the player changes Text Language to English and Voice Language to Japanese
Then: the settings are saved
And: adjusts a volume slider
And: presses Apply
And: the selected text and voice language values remain visible when the Audio category is reopened

Scenario: Reset settings to default

Given: the player has modified settings
When: the player presses Reset All
Then: the settings revert to their default values
And: the visible controls update to reflect those defaults

Scenario: Navigate between option categories

Given: the player is on the Options Menu
When: the player selects Video, Gameplay, Audio, Key-Settings, Eye Tracking, or Credits from the left category list
Then: the selected category is highlighted in yellow/gold
And: the right-side panel updates for that category when a configurable panel is available

Scenario: Return from Options

Given: the player is on the Options Menu
When: the player presses Back
Then: the player returns to the previous screen

Edge Cases

Unsupported resolution: Selecting a display mode the monitor does not support may require a safe fallback or confirmation timeout.
Missing eye tracking hardware: Eye Tracking options should be disabled, hidden, or clearly inactive if supported hardware is not connected.
Controller disconnection: If a controller is disconnected while configuring input-related settings, the UI should remain navigable with keyboard/mouse.
Key binding conflicts: Assigning the same key to multiple actions in Key-Settings should show a warning or resolve the conflict consistently.
Language pack missing: Selecting a language that is not installed should fall back to an available language rather than showing placeholder text.
Unapplied changes: Pressing Back with pending changes should either discard them consistently or prompt the player before leaving.
Panel overflow: Long category panels should remain scrollable and keep action buttons reachable at supported resolutions.

QA Notes

Verify all six categories (Video, Gameplay, Audio, Key-Settings, Eye Tracking, Credits) are selectable from the left list.
Verify the active category highlight is clear and moves correctly with mouse, keyboard, and controller navigation.
Test that audio slider values update visually and persist after Apply.
Test arrow selectors for language and speaker mode values.
Test Reset All restores defaults.
Test Back returns to the correct previous screen from both main-menu and in-game entry points.
Verify right-side panels remain readable over both dimmed main menu artwork and dimmed paused gameplay.
Verify the Options menu scales correctly at supported resolutions and aspect ratios.
Verify unavailable hardware-dependent options, such as eye tracking, are disabled or handled clearly when hardware is missing.

Mechanic Links

Character Ability System - Controls settings allow remapping of ability activation keys and shortcuts
Character Movement System - Controls settings configure input bindings that drive character movement commands
Shadow Mode Coordination System - Eye tracking settings enable gaze-based camera control and target selection for Shadow Mode coordination
Four-Slot Ability Binding Framework - The Options Menu exposes control customization, which can affect the input bindings associated with ability commands.

References

1.
THE SIEGE - Ep. 1 | Let's Play Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun Gameplay (0:38-0:55)
2.
THE SIEGE - Ep. 1 | Let's Play Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun Gameplay (10:40-11:00)