Every character, from Shadow to any of the massive bosses to a tiny robot minion, is beautifully designed and a solid reminder that graphics do not have to be realistic in order to blow players away. Each stage and its corresponding backgrounds are equal parts nostalgic and new, and the level of detail that goes into a game like this honestly shouldn’t be so entrancing, yet it is. On top of the soundtrack, the graphics are simply breathtaking. The nice thing about parrying is that it does not use SP like all of your secondary weapons, like shuriken, so once you get a feel for it, this becomes a powerful tool in the game. Pulling this off against normal enemies is one thing, but consistently pulling it off against a boss is a feeling second to none. It is the difference between getting easily frustrated and having a blast, so choose wisely.Īnother cool addition is the ability to parry, which allows Shadow to swing at projectiles in a timely manner allowing them to be thrown back at the user with extreme force. These bosses will rip you apart if you go in sword-swinging and ability-using, so take your time and study them. Each of them have relatively easy to choreograph rhythms that simply require you to be patient. They are often big, bad, and wildly gratifying, and at no point do these bosses feel unfair. The boss fights, in particular, are excellent. Although Cyber Shadow borrows a lot from games like Contra, Ninja Gaiden, and even more modern indie titles like The Messenger, it does plenty to separate itself and offers significant changes that propel the game to different heights. Thanks to this, dying is not such a big deal, so some of the more difficult action and platforming areas are significantly less intimidating than the NES titles that Cyber Shadow draws inspiration from.īut don’t let any of what I say misinform you. For those familiar with Contra and Ninja Gaiden, Cyber Shadow eliminating lives in favor of checkpoints breathes new life into the side-scrolling action genre that it borrows from, and it makes the game feel so much better because of it. Some of the challenges within these areas will really test you, but they are loads of fun and a welcomed addition.Īnother major improvement is the use of checkpoints, that also serve as a hub of sorts to purchase health and items. You see, Cyber Shadow allows for some backtracking so that you can collect items from previous stages that were inaccessible but become so after obtaining certain abilities. You will also learn an assortment of ninja abilities throughout the game that allow you to wall jump and ninja run, and it is in learning these new abilities that things open up even more. The frantic and fast-paced action is a reminder of how the old coin-slot arcade titles used to function, but Cyber Shadow takes this approach and transforms it in such a way that it is accessible and even more entertaining.Īfter the game’s intro, you will be slashing, dodging, and platforming like a ninja in no time. It is a masterfully told story that Mechanical Head Studios deserves enormous praise for, and the game only continues to impress from there.Ĭyber Shadow is a nostalgic trip down the 8-bit lane, and many older gamers will immediately feel the connection with NES titles like Ninja Gaiden and Contra as they blaze their way through the cyberpunk world. It is very impactful while also tragic, and it is hard watching Shadow collapse as he struggles to move on and finish what he started throughout the game. The story in Cyber Shadow gripped me way more than I expected. Only Shadow is left to unlock the secrets to his clan’s ancient powers as he continues to uncover what started the path to perpetual ruin. We find out rather early that the world has been taken over by synthetic life forms, and they have been infecting the world and all the skilled ninja of the secret clan within Mekacity. Thankfully Shadow lives on in the form of a cybernetic suit, and the game moves quickly as your master has gone missing and it is up to Shadow to save the day. So is this a cyberpunk world that you should actually invest in (Sorry, Cyberpunk 2077)? The short answer is yes, but let’s talk about why you should.Ĭyber Shadow starts off with our hero, Shadow, experiencing a cataclysmic disaster that sees himself and the city he protects perish from a massive explosion.
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