Worse, the final phase adds some previously-unseen mechanics that will take a little time to decode. It's a multi-phase fight where you need to topple three bosses in a row without taking a breath. The one exception to that rule is the game's final showdown. All boss battles are distinct and memorable, and for the most part tough but fair. There are fast-moving bipedal synthetics, hulking mechs, and even an aquatic robot dragon. You'll need every skill in your repertoire to take down the game's 12+ bosses, which come in many shapes and sizes.
Cyber Shadow does an excellent job of making you feel like you're getting stronger, and devising clever level designs and gauntlets to match your new skill level. Towards the end of the game you'll be flying through empty space, bouncing on top of airborne enemies, deflecting bullets, and slashing robotic bad guys to shreds. Not only does this open up new pathways in older levels - providing backtracking and exploration opportunities that grant the game greater depth - but it bestows upon Shadow mastery of the air. The game really explodes open, however, with the addition of double jump and dash. Each of these mixes up the rhythm of the action and opens up new types of trials. At regular intervals Shadow will earn new abilities: shuriken, a vertical fire attack, parry, wall slide, etc. Everything works extremely well, due in part to the game's razor-sharp, responsive controls and in part to the steady way it bestows Ninjutsu skills. Still, there's nothing here that makes you want to punch your fist through a wall.Ĭyber Shadow is an action-platformer, so you can expect lots of death-defying jumping, deadly combat with rank-and-file enemies, and climactic boss battles. That includes plenty of checkpoints, the ability to spend accumulated currency for perks at said checkpoints, and several health and energy upgrades spirited away throughout the game.Īll that said, Cyber Shadow does stumble slightly with a few difficulty spikes and a handful of arduous platforming segments where checkpoints are few and far between. While the game leans into unforgiving platforming and combat situations from classics like Super Mario Bros., Mega Man, Contra, and Castlevania, it provides enough modern quality-of-life features to keep things from feeling truly hopeless. Similarly, the game exceeds expectations on the gameplay front, thanks to its commitment to Yacht Club Game's design philosophy: "the trials of NES games without the tribulations". In these ways, Cyber Shadow goes beyond what is typically expected from the genre. Finally, after several trips into the Ethos, a parallel plane of existence, we begin to wrap our heads around the religious ideology of the clan, and the continuum between life and death that underpins it. Thanks to left-behind computer logs and Shadow's preternatural ability to read the imprinted thoughts of deceased ninjas and civilians, we discover more about the unnatural deeds and human selfishness that precipitated disaster. Through flashbacks - presented via in-engine cinematics and Ninja Gaiden-esque animated cut-scenes - we learn more about life in the city before its fall. This is a fine, effective premise for a retro action game, but Mechanical Head takes the idea further. Awakened by a helpful drone in the ruins of Mekacity, Shadow fights back against a legion of synthetic lifeforms that appear to be harvesting humans for their life essence. The result is pretty much what you'd expect: a nostalgic action-platformer with tight controls, authentic NES-era presentation, a rocking chiptune soundtrack, and a potent mix of old-school challenge and new-school accessibility.Ĭyber Shadow follows the cyborg ninja Shadow, apparently the last remaining member of his clan. Hunziker, the one-man team behind studio Mechanical Head Studios, dreamed up the idea for C yber Shadow, a 2D NES-style game that borrows heavily from Ninja Gaiden and Contra, while Yacht Club leaned on its 8-bit experience with the Shovel Knight franchise to steer Hunziker's development and add an extra layer of polish.
The throwback ninja action game Cyber Shadow comes courtesy of developer Aarne "MekaSkull" Hunziker and publisher Yacht Club Games - and it's hard to imagine a more ideal match. By Evan Norris, posted on 26 January 2021 / 3,026 Views
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