Every movement feels reactive and snappy, giving the game a quicker feel than its inspirations.Ĭyber Shadow even includes midair control of your jumps. ![]() Unlike similar games such as Shovel Knight (developed by Yacht Club Games, the publisher behind Cyber Shadow), which featured slow, purposefully delayed jumping, and mechanics that felt like they were ripped from an NES cartridge, Cyber Shadow feels comparatively modern. The game is accompanied by an outstanding chiptune soundtrack.ĭespite its retro style, Cyber Shadow never feels old. Image: Mechanical Head Games/Yacht Club Gamesĭrawing inspiration from NES games like Ninja Gaiden, Mega Man, and Shatterhand, Cyber Shadow uses pixel art to bring out the gorgeous color contrast in each environment and highlight the game’s unique enemy designs. As in most platformers, this means that I spend most of my time jumping over spikes, traps, and dozens of other obstacles, all while using Shadow’s katana to take out the robots that are in my way. Developer Mechanical Head Games has modernized that approach to challenge with Cyber Shadow by making something that lives up to the legacy of those retro games, while also feeling approachable and fair.Ĭyber Shadow is a 2D action-platformer that follows a cyber ninja named Shadow who has to save a dystopian city that’s been overrun by evil machines. Ninja Gaiden, and other ultra-difficult platformers of its era, found charm in making you stick around through each punishing death. I kind of wish more of those elements were sprinkled throughout, but regardless they were definitely memorable sections.Cyber Shadow is inspired by a long line of games that didn’t seem to care whether you enjoyed them. These completely change up your gameplay and took me by surprise. In a later section of the game, you get to ride a motorcycle and control a mech suit. Many make an already punishingly tricky game even more insane, but they are enjoyable to take on.Ĭyber Shadow’s level designs are exceptional and well-paced. For those that are genuinely looking for a challenge and additional content, there are several feats you can tackle. I often felt like I reached the peak of my abilities during these fights, but with a bit of persistence and memorization of tells I was eventually able to overcome.īased on Cyber Shadow’s influence, I wasn’t expecting a very long game but was pleasantly surprised at the 6 to 7 hours it took for me to complete the main game. Late game bosses are massive and stand out both design-wise and from an overall gameplay standpoint. Out of its ten levels, there are usually two bosses for each stage. One of Cyber Shadow’s most impressive sections is its numerous bosses. This forces you to use them sparingly, which makes sense given the range and power some of the moves inflict. ![]() Offensive special moves are limited and must be refilled by blue gems from item drops. The same can be said for the other moves in the game, where your skills seem to evolve alongside Shadows. This only took some getting used to on my end and did add to the originality of the adventure. It’s not totally out of line with the era of games it’s emulating, but I was thrown off by the lack of the action when compared to a particular other ninja game on the NES. The trade-off is there is a slight lack of maneuverability, like crouching, which forces you to jump and move more to avoid obstacles. Special moves are typically initiated with the combination of the d-pad and strike button. These actions make up for the lack of directional sword attacks. After you complete levels or certain missions, you can obtain new attacks like a shuriken throw or upward flame strike. Gameplay begins incredibly straightforward, with only a jump and a sword attack. As you journey through the remaining ruins, you will butt heads with countless aggressive cybernetic enemies that have overrun the city. ![]() The mechanical L-gion informs you that your master and ninja clan require your help. Your character, Shadow, is awakened mid recovery from a massive blast that has destroyed a whole city. ![]() Thankfully Cyber Shadow by developer Mechanical Head Studios and publisher Yacht Club Games mixes the best aspects of retro platforming with new exciting moves for an experience that is uniquely it’s own.Ĭyber Shadow’s narrative is relatively ambiguous from the start. Unfortunately, some rely too heavily on nostalgia over any real substance, resulting in a pretty shallow experience. I’m always down for a challenging retro-inspired side scroller as I find it fascinating to see how developers implement modern gameplay sensibilities into the classic genre.
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